We need 'a landslide victory': Legendary activist Daniel Ellsberg endorses Joe Biden
November 2, 2020
By Roxanne Cooper- Commentary
‘Tis the season for some progressives to argue that the best way to build a progressive political movement in America is to stick it to the centrist Democrats–who have rejected progressive nominees and platforms–by voting for a third party, even in swing states. If that helps elect what many regard as a “greater evil” Republican, some third party supporters argue, it will radicalize significant parts of the electorate, help the third party grow, and gradually increase the prospect of victory for genuinely progressive politics.
As die-hard progressives, we strongly disagree. Few beliefs among progressives have been so thoroughly tested in empirical reality over the last twenty years–and few have been so thoroughly discredited–than the idea that running third party candidates in swing states during close elections is a good way to build a progressive voting bloc.
In 2000, Ralph Nader, running as a Green, received 2,882,955 votes, which was 2.74% of the popular vote. In 2004, Nader (running as an independent) received 465,650 votes, which was 0.38% of the popular vote. The Green Party’s candidate, David Cobb, received 119,859 votes, or 0.10% of the popular vote. These two candidates combined received about 20% of the votes that Nader alone received in 2000. An 80% decrease in your voting bloc is not exactly grounds for confidence that “boycotting” or “protesting” the two-party duopoly via voting for a third party in swing states is likely to expand your voting bloc.
Why did the Nader and Green voting base fall off a cliff after 2000? The answer is obvious. In 2000, Nader was more-or-less open that he was intentionally trying to help get George W. Bush elected, under the (now discredited) theory that hard-right regimes somehow swell the ranks of radical voters.
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https://www.rawstory.com/2020/11/we-need-a-landslide-victory-legendary-activist-daniel-ellsberg-endorses-joe-biden-and-explains-why-disenchanted-progressives-vote-for-him/
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Note: It's a good article but difficult to read because the paragraphs are messed up.
