NBC's Meredith Vieira played the role of disappointed Democrat on this morning's Today as she repeatedly asked Ralph Nader if he's worried he'll be remembered in history as Al Gore's "spoiler." On to promote his book The Seventeen Traditions, Nader deflected Vieira with his usual spiel about the need for more "progressive" voices in the process, even going as far to push for a Bill Moyers campaign. The following are all of Vieira's questions to the former Green Party candidate on the January 30th, Today.
Meredith Vieira: "Consumer rights activist, humanitarian, election spoiler. Ralph Nader has been called a lot of things during his remarkable career but now he's out with a new book called The Seventeen Traditions, about lessons that he learned during his childhood. He's also the subject of a new documentary called An Unreasonable Man, a profile which examines the charge that his presidential campaign cost Al Gore the election in 2000."
[Begin clip from documentary]
Jimmy Carter: "Go back to examining the rear end of automobiles and don't risk costing the Democrats the White House this year as you did four years ago."
Phil Donahue: "That's the real tragedy. It's, it's gonna be the first line of his bi-, of his obit. It's really, there's a Shakespearean feature to this."
[End clip]
Vieira: "Ralph Nader good morning to you. I want to talk about the book it is terrific but first Phil Donahue, what he just said. Do you worry that when everything is said and done the first thing they say about Ralph Nader will be, 'spoiler,' instead of 'consumer crusader?'"
[Nader]
Vieira: "Well do you ever wonder, 'what if I hadn't run?'"
[Nader]
Vieira: "So you think you actually helped him."
[Nader]
Vieira: "Let's talk about this book, The Seventeen Traditions, because in it you list the 17 lessons really that your family taught you. What was your goal in writing this book?"
[Nader]
Vieira: "Yeah some of them are kind of obvious like education and discipline but others are not. You talk about the tradition of listening and solitude and simple enjoyments. Why those? What did you gain from those?"
[Nader]
Vieira: "One of the biggest problems you say that parents face today is they don't have any self-confidence? Is that right?"
[Nader]
Vieira: "You were, you were raised to care very deeply about this country. Are you thinking about running again for President?"
[Nader]
Vieira: "Too early to say? So there's a chance?"
Nader: "Well there's always a chance but I like other people. In fact there are a lot of people who think Bill Moyers should run because he's had this White House experience with Lyndon Johnson and of course is a great communicator."
Vieira: "Ralph Nader always a pleasure to see you. The book, again, The Seventeen Traditions. And An Unreasonable Man opens in theaters tomorrow."
—Geoffrey Dickens is the senior news analyst at the Media Research Center.



















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Nader's answers ignored. Now
January 30, 2007 - 15:58 ET by Mr. KafirNader's answers ignored. Now if Vieira's questions were ignored this would be a perfect report. ;-)
Remember how Perot was alwa
January 30, 2007 - 16:29 ET by FlashmanRemember how Perot was always being called a spoiler by the MSM once Clinton got elected?
</sarcasm>
Ralph Nader did more to harm
January 30, 2007 - 16:59 ET by Dave RRalph Nader did more to harm the American automobile industry than a whole planet full of Japanese could have ever done. His war against the Corvair scared the Big Three away from any technical innovation whatsoever. There was abslolutely nothing wrong with that design. Its only "sin" was that it was different (rear engined).
People were getting killed in VW's, Falcons and other cars, too, but nobody mentioned that. As a result, American companies continued to build over-weight behemoths that were poorly made and worse, ill-handling. When oil prices shot up in the early seventies due to the "Oil Crisis," the Japanese were there with the right cars.
Ralph, you call yourself a consumer advocate, but you have done much to deprive Americans of innovative products, and much more to bring about the rise of product liability litigation to the point where the last hammer I purchased was covered with warning labels. Gee, Ralph, do I need a stupid warning label on a hammer suggesting I not hit my hand with it? Do you?
And by the way, Ralph, in the immortal words of Brock Yates, "Speed Kills, my a$$!"
Idiot.
Al Gore and Al Gore alone did
January 30, 2007 - 17:04 ET by bigtimerAl Gore and Al Gore alone did himself in!
Gotta love that secret lock box!
I also would like to point ou
January 30, 2007 - 17:47 ET by Dave RI also would like to point out that Ralph Nader and Bill Moyers are probably two of the most colossal bores that have ever lived. I wish thewould both run so I could sleep through the debates.
Nader
January 30, 2007 - 18:37 ET by Jerry MackThese people are so screwed up that they can not come to a conclusion why Gore lost. Let me help them. President Bush won more electoral votes.
hmm.. I dare say, this is a g
January 30, 2007 - 19:34 ET byhmm.. I dare say, this is a good place to try out my new signature... :o)
They just don't make 'em like Walter anymore...
Debra, Walter who? On a dif
January 30, 2007 - 22:08 ET by MikeBDebra, Walter who? On a different thread I thought you were talking about Walter Cronkite. On this one, it could be Walter Mondull. Which Walter are you talking about?
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