By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Former presidential candidate and long time consumer rights advocate Ralph Nader talked with Michael Ruhl to discuss the status of his lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee (DNC). This was immediately following the circuit court argument for Nader vs. DNC. Nader claims that he was harassed and burdened in 2004 presidential election by the DNC, in what he calls “an abuse of the legal process” and malicious prosecution. In this interview, Nader explained background of the case, and the case’s current status. He said, “there is no other western democracy that comes close to obstructing voters and obstructing candidates as is the case in our country.”

Nader also spoke about the two-party system, and the effect that his case has on future third party candidates in the presidential process. He said that his case is designed to draw boundaries, to make sure that third party candidates can exercise their First Amendment rights. Nader also referred to the issue as one of democracy, because he said in limiting ballot access, one is truly limiting the right of the people to decide who they want to represent them. Nader called for national ballot standards, instead of ballot standards which vary state by state. He also advocated instant runoff voting and public funding of public campaigns.

Nader said that the two-party system is not allowing third parties access to the higher tiers of federal government, and this two-party system is moving gradually to a one-party system, where gerrymandered districts make reelection almost certain for many members of Congress. He called this a system that can be rented by the rich. In spite of the stronghold that the two parties have on the system, Nader said that he has talked with several members of Congress who may be interested in helping to move legislation on election reform. He mentioned by name: John Conyers (D-Mich.), Ron Paul (R-Texas), Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), and Jessie Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.). He anticipates this reform effort to be difficult, because as he said, “the foxes are guarding the chicken coop.” Nader seems ready for a fight.

(08:50)

 

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DNC Chairman Howard Dean says that although Obama has been accused of killing campaign finance reform, his ability to solicit small donations directly from people took power away from special interest groups, which was the original intention of campaign finance reform (0:44).

 

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RNC chairman Robert Duncan says that based Obama’s support for offshore drilling, merit pay for teachers, and a tax cut for 95% of Americans, Obama ran the most successful moderate Republican campaign since Dwight Eisenhower (0:37)

 

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Although RNC chairman Robert Duncan described his attitude about the previous night’s election results as hurting too much to laugh but being too big to cry, he nevertheless made an effort to find the bright side in Obama’s landslide victory.

“While it was a difficult night for Republican candidates, it was a historic night for the republican party. The election of America’s first black President… has realized the vision of a color-blind society that first inspired the Republican party,” Duncan said during a National Press Club discussion with DNC Chairman Howard Dean that touched on the United States’ current political trajectory, the preceding election season and campaign finance reform.

Duncan dismissed the notion of a mandate for the democratic party, and pointed to Obama’s support for offshore drilling, merit pay for teachers, a tax cut for 95% of Americans.

“Put simply, Barack Obama just ran the most successful moderate Republican campaign since Dwight Eisenhower”.

Duncan described the political situation that Obama will be facing as president, saying that Obama will be heading a center-left party but presiding over a population that is still center-right on most issues. Duncan raised the specter of Newt Gingrich and Ronald Reagan, warning that an attempt to move the agenda to the left would result in a Republican victory in the mid-term elections.

Dean disagreed with Duncan’s assertion that the country is right leaning and said that Obama’s victory meant that there was a mandate.

“I don’t think this is a center-right country…we did a lot of polling when I first became Chairman. It turns out that most people in Nebraska, not exactly known for being a very liberal state, actually agreed with democratic positions more than they agreed with Republican positions if you put them in the words of each party.”

Both chairmen discussed campaign spending, with Duncan claiming that the only transformational aspect of the Obama campaign was the way it will affect the financing of future presidential campaigns.

“Presidential campaign financing as we know it died last night. No major candidate will ever submit to public funding restrictions,” said Duncan.

” Less than two election cycles ago since the passage of campaign finance reform, the system has failed…the result is a campaign finance system far less transparent, less accountable, and more vulnerable for corruption.”

Dean countered that the Obama campaign’s ability to raise small donations was a form of campaign finance reform in its own right.

“I think the president-elect ought to get credit for the inspiration that he gave to the American people who were willing to give 5 and 10 at a time averaging 86 dollars per donation. That is campaign finance reform. That is putting politics back in the hands’ of individuals and taking it out of special interests’ hands.”

Duncan brought up the future of the Republican party, describing how the RNC was poised to make an effort to better address their voters concerns. Duncan said that one way this this will be done is through an online forum titled Republican for a Reason.

The Democratic National Committee held a conference that discussed the Republican hypocrisy of voter registration. In light of the arrest of Mark Jacoby, whose company Young Political Majors, has been accused of tricking residents of California into registering Republican, Jacoby has ties with the California Republican party and the Republican National Committee.

California Democratic Party chairman, Art Torres, said that the Democratic party does not tolerate voter fraud. Torres went on to say that “The RNC needs to immediately eliminate their ties with the committees that have been accused of voter fraud, and unfortunately, instead of doing so they have accused the Democrats of starting it.”

DNC General Counsel, Joe Sandler, brought up the issue that the RNC yells voter fraud against the Democrats, but when a Republican official is asked to list incidents of voter fraud, they are unable to do so. Sandler also criticized Republicans saying “The RNC needs to stop accusing the Democrats of voter fraud when most, if not all of the cases are on their side.”

With 14 days left until voting day, Sandler believes that this is not the last time the public will hear about voter fraud. “This is all the RNC has left, to yell voter fraud and blame it on the Democrats,” Sandler said at the end of the conference.

John Nichols, reporter for “The Nation”, speaks with Talk Radio News Service reporter Elia Herman at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, CO. Nichols talks about the recent Supreme Court ruling striking down the Washington DC handgun ban and its role in the election.

 

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A group of high-profile female Democratic politicians gathered to speak at the DNC Women’s Caucus. Among these women was Michelle Obama, the wife of Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). Also in attendence at the caucus was Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who emphasized Senator John McCain’s (R-AZ) negative voting record on issues such as abortion rights and equal pay for women. She stated that he has a “zero-percent voting record in favor of issues important to women.” Boxer declared, “[Obama] is a hero, McCain is a zero.”

During the caucus, a group of anti-abortion protesters broke into the meeting. Every delegate in attendence stood up and started chanting “Obama.”

Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) drew attention to the importance of the female vote in the coming election: DeLauro stated “[women] set the agenda, and [women] make history,” referring to the so-called gender gap (in which women are more likely to vote for a Democratic candidate, and influence the election) in the current world of politics .

Mrs. Obama cited the hardships Senator Obama watched his hard-working mother and grandmother endure during his childhood as making him understanding and compassionate about female issues and ideals. She discussed Mr. Obama’s legislative plans, such as ending wage discrimination against women and supporting pro-choice legislation.

Talk Radio News Service bureau chief Ellen Ratner interviews Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Rep. Charles Rangel at the Democratic National Convention. (4:29)

 

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Former Vice- Presidential hopeful Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Texas) discusses Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) choice of Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) as his running mate with Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner. He also discusses his congressional district and issues facing Americans. Edwards answers questions about the current energy crisis as well as the American health care system and claims that it is not impossible for Sen. Obama to win Texas in the November election (5:17).

 

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by Holly Jackson

Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Barbara Lee were among twenty-six members of congress named as honorees by the Global AIDS Alliance Fund on Monday for their legislative efforts in fighting the AIDS epidemic.

The event, “Spreading Hope: The Congressional Leadership Awards in the Fight against HIV/AIDS,” ran concurrently with the opening day of the Democratic National Convention.

Although the group said it strives to make the fight against AIDS a bipartisan issue, it favors Sen. Obama’s AIDS strategy, with many at the event referring to Sen. Obama as the next President. Senators Obama and Hillary Clinton were also named as honorees, but were not in attendance.

Moderator David Munar of the AIDS Action Council said, “The drivers for change are coming from the Democratic Party.”

The organization also asked candidates for U.S. Congress to sign a pledge to provide leadership in fighting AIDS domestically and abroad, saying the U.S. needs to devise national AIDS strategy to combat the disease.

Actor Danny Glover, the Chairman of TransAfrica Forum, said “There is a country where a new epidemic, a new infection happens every nine minutes.” Glover continued, “There is a city where one out of 20 people are infected with HIV. That country is the United States and that city is Washington, D.C.”

Glover also said there were serious problems with President George W. Bush’s legislation “President’s Emergency Plan on AIDS Relief” (PEPFAR) approach to fighting global AIDS. The legislation requires that one-third of funds provided to AIDS-infected nations must be used for abstinence-only programs. Glover’s organization, TransAfrica Forum, is an African-American lobbying organization for Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean for AIDS relief funding.

The Global Aids Alliance Fund will also be present at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis next week.