Independent candidate wants to get his name on California’s ballot By Jennifer Kordela, Senior Staff WriterIndependent Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader spoke to anaudience of about 130 people Tuesday in a rally held at the San DiegoPublic Library.

Nader, along with his running- mate Peter Camejo, wanted toencourage San Diegans to write-in his name on the ballot.

Nader’s speech touched base on several key issues includingexcessive military spending, lack of social spending, betterstandards for health care and opposition to the war in Iraq.

As he described Bush and Kerry’s political stances on the issuesin comparison with his own, he said he hoped to challenge whetherpeople are upset enough to change the political landscape inAmerica.

Chuck Stemke, a member of the International SocialistsOrganization, which has a division at San Diego State, was at theevent with other members to show support.

Nader is part of a write-in campaign in California and has gottenon the ballot in 34 states and Washington, D.C. so far, Stemke said.He said there are a number of campaign lawsuits currently happeningright now, but his supporters are hoping to get him on the ballot in40 states by the time of the election.

According to a www.cnn.com article, yesterday a Pennsylvania court decided to remove Nader from the ballot because supporters submitted more than 32,000 invalid signatures, including “Fred Flintstone,”Mickey Mouse” and “John Kerry.” Nader said he is supported by a coalition effort, includingSocialists and the Green Party.

He said the Green Party has officially endorsed another candidatefor the 2004 election. That candidate, David Cobb, has a runningstrategy to campaign only in battleground states, rather than thoseconsidered to be in favor of John Kerry, he said.

“This is a fundamental problem,” Stemke said. “We’ve been tryingto point out Kerry’s policies are very pro-war.”

Nader addressed this issue and said he is campaigning in all 50states because he believes politicians should address the needs ofall people and respect all citizens.

Many people are concerned, however, that a vote for Nader willtake a vote away from Kerry, and thus help Bush win the election.

Some are even infuriated by this concept, because they believethis is why President Bush was elected in 2000.

A couple of protesters interrupted Nader’s question-and-answersession by yelling for him to do something useful and get off theplatform.

One protester yelled, “I voted for you in 2000 and Bush gotelected.”

The protester also called Nader a “closet Republican” and a “Bushsupporter.”

Nader appeared to be undisturbed by the sudden interruption andcontinued his speech.

Nader admitted he wants to beat Bush more than Kerry because Bushis against the living wage — a movement to changeminimum wage to a standard Americans can live by. He also said he hasa plan to leave Iraq.

John Falchi, a retired English as a second language instructor atSan Diego State, said he believes his vote for Nader will count.

“Last time I voted for Nader and Gore won by over a million voteshere,” Falchi said, referring to California in the 2000 presidentialelection. “Nader is setting a precedence for other third partieswith the legal challenges he’s facing.”

He said the more people vote for Nader, the more media attentionhe will receive. With more coverage, third parties will have addedinfluence, he said.

“Nader is an honest speaker,” Falchi said. “He answered everyquestion. I admire him.”

Although Falchi was pleased with the speech, he said young peopleare more open to Nader’s views because older people are generally setin their ways.

Stemke said he believes Nader is more popular among 18 to 25 yearolds.

Nader admitted a third party couldn’t win, unless there issignificant change. He said if there’s not a mass movement, theDemocratic Party is not going to change.

Nader remains positive despite the limitations he faces being athird-party candidate. He said small parties so far have brokenground in slavery and women’s suffrage.

In an attempt to sum up what his platform stands for, Nader quotedthe Pledge of Allegiance.”We stand for liberty and justice for all,”he said.