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Morning News

Nader: Democrats, Republicans 'Selling the American Government to the Highest Corporate Bidders'

Aired August 18, 2000 - 11:24 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We are joined by the head -- the lead candidate from the Green Party. We're here covering the Democrats in Los Angeles, but we have the chance now to talk with Ralph Nader, the presidential candidate for the Green Party, joining us from Washington D.C. this morning.

Good morning, thanks for joining us.

RALPH NADER, GREEN PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thank you.

KAGAN: During your campaigning, have you had any time to check out the Democratic convention?

NADER: Yes, I was watching it. It's rather similar in terms of the corporate presence to the Republican convention, with the exception of the tobacco industry. Unfortunately, these conventions have a certain outcome. There's no competition between the candidates, no discussion on the issues.

The big play is the corporations pouring money into the coffers of the party and the candidates, paying off politicians for present and future favors with the politicians being able to shake down these corporate fat cats, too. It's a very unpleasant situation, in terms of selling our democracy, selling the American government to the highest corporate bidders.

KAGAN: So then can I take it you didn't hear anything from this convention that would change your mind about how you felt about the Democrats or Republicans before the conventions took place?

NADER: Well, the rhetoric of the Democrats is much better than the rhetoric of the Republicans. The problem is that all the people the Democratic Party says they're going to help, they're not giving any power to these people.

So when the Democrats get back to Washington, they're more a look-alike party with the Republicans, apart from the rhetoric, because both parties are beholden to giant corporations that control so much of our government, fund so much of our elections, and, shall we say, have quite a bit of influence over the media and the workplace and the marketplace.

KAGAN: So what do you think's been the most effective part of your campaign with the Green Party so far?

NADER: Well, we've campaigned in 50 states. We have tens of thousands of people logging into our Web site, asking to volunteer or help in any way with contributions. The Web site, by the way, is Votenader.com. And we have hundreds of coordinators on college campuses, senior citizen groups all over the country.

There's a group called "Labor for Nader" that's forming with local rank-and-file people in the Steel Workers' and Teamster and Auto Workers' Union. We're going to surprise a lot of people in November. And win or lose, there's going to be a strong Green Party with hundreds of candidates, local, state and national, saying to the two parties that you better shape up or you're going to shrink down.

KAGAN: Quickly, Mr. Nader, looking ahead, do you see a day when we'll have more than just two strong parties here that people can choose from in the U.S.?

NADER: Yes, I think Ross Perot started that in 1992. The two- party domination is crumbling. The people in this country are going to have wider choice, more candidates, and most important, broader agendas than that which now prevails in the two-party duopoly in Washington, D.C.

KAGAN: Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader joining us from Washington, thank you very much.

NADER: Thank you.

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