Ralph Nader campaigns at WVU
September 25, 2008 ·
Ralph Nader is making his third attempt at running for president. Nader visited WVU Wednesday and said he’s taking positions that are in clear contrast to Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.
Ralph Nader is making his third attempt at running for president. The consumer activist ran in '00 and in ’04. Nader visited West Virginia University Wednesday and said he’s taking positions that are in clear contrast to Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.
"I refer to full Medicare for all, government insurance with private delivery of health care, and free choice of doctor and hospital. Both McCain and Obama have taken that off the table. I refer to a living wage for one out of every three full-time American workers who are making $7, $8, $9, $10, no more than $11 an hour, Wal-Mart wages, which are not a living wage," Nader said.
While McCain and Obama have tiptoed around their positions on mountaintop removal mining, Nader gave a definitive explanation of his position on this coal mining practice: he wants it to stop. In fact, he didn’t speak highly of coal in general.
"Someday, maybe in the next few decades, it will be considered a crime against humanity to expose workers to mining coal and to mine coal given its affect on the land, on the streams, and on global warming. The best way to deal with our energy problems is massive fuel efficiency, which we are fully capable of as the most wasteful country, along with Canada, of energy in the world."
Twice during the press conference, Nader criticized Gov. Joe Manchin. He said the governor should stop a mountaintop removal operation on Coal River Mountain and stay out of a class action lawsuit against DuPont.
"He must be aware that he is putting his foot in a bear trap if he continues, under guise of a technical inquiry, to represent the interest of a chemical giant, DuPont. He would be well advised to withdraw any participation in the pending appeal to the state supreme court of West Virginia."
Following the press conference, Nader told WVU students that he wants to be included in presidential debates. The first debate between Obama and McCain was scheduled for Friday, but McCain has asked to postpone it because of the economic crisis.