http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040909-115705-2949r.htm
Third parties seen as threat to Bush
By Steve Miller
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Three third-party presidential candidates have ballot access in more states
than Ralph Nader and pose as much, if not more, of a threat to President
Bush than to Democratic contender Sen. John Kerry.
The Libertarian Party is now on the presidential ballot in 44 states and
the Constitution Party in 35 states, both more than the 24 that Mr. Nader
has managed amidst a concerted effort from state Democrats to thwart his
bids.
The Green Party, on whose ticket Mr. Nader ran in 2000 and received 2.8
million votes, is now on the ballot in 28 states.
The Libertarian and Constitution parties appeal to disenchanted
conservatives who are fed up with the president's stance on immigration, too
permissive in those quarters, or his coziness with centrist Republicans like
Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter.
"We are playing to the conservatives who do not have a party to vote
for," said Libertarian presidential hopeful Michael Badnarik. "For example,
Republicans have traditionally stood for smaller government, but this
president has not adhered to that standard."
The Bush bolstering of the so-called war on drugs, the Patriot Act and
the proposed constitutional amendment to ban homosexual "marriage" are all
at odds with the Libertarian party line.
Accordingly, Mr. Badnarik has appeared in homosexual-rights parades, has
called the move to combat in Iraq a venture based on "fairy tales" and said
that "the war on drugs is more of a threat to our liberties than drugs
themselves."
And he has done so unfettered by Republicans, even when a recent poll in
New Mexico found him earning the nod from 5 percent of voters.
Republicans, even while getting savaged by erstwhile ideological
competitors, have distanced themselves from any action to prevent third
parties from the ballot, while Democrats have moved in several states
against Mr. Nader, who has been admonished by Democratic officials from top
to bottom for his entry into the race.
Not that Republicans wouldn't make political hay of the situation.
"The difference between the parties is the Republican believe voters
have a right to cast ballots for anyone who is on the ballot, whereas
Democrats are engaged in an effort of intimidation to prevent Ralph Nader
from being on the ballot," said Republican National Committee spokeswoman
Christine Iverson. "Republicans are confident they can win no matter who is
on the ballot."
Conservative talk-show host Pat Buchanan, appearing on "Hardball" on
Tuesday night, noted to host Chris Matthews that given his disagreements
with Bush policy, would still vote for the president, but "there is a chance
I might vote for Peroutka ..."
Mr. Matthews' reply was "Who? "
Exactly, but Michael Peroutka, a Maryland lawyer, is the Constitution
Party's presidential candidate, a man who seeks to draw the votes of the
religious right, among others.
His campaign has run ads in Mr. Buchanan's magazine, the American
Conservative, and is preparing ads criticizing the president for not backing
former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, who last year placed a Ten
Commandments monument in the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building. Mr.
Moore was subsequently removed from the bench for his action.
"We do disagree with some Bush policies," Mr. Peroutka said. "He is the
man that so many people look to and he claims to be a Christian. I don't
judge his heart, but there are things he could do, for example, as far as
abortion and he simply hasn't. We question whether the commitment is there."
Mr. Peroutka is a wealthy man who stands to make a mark on the
president's vote share, said Richard Winger, editor of Ballot Access News,
which tracks the access of third-party candidates.
Further, Mr. Winger added, the Democrats stumbled when they spent so
much money trying to keep Mr. Nader out of the race and ignored Green Party
presidential candidate David Cobb.
"The conventional wisdom is that Cobb hurts Kerry," Mr. Winger said.
"But the Democrats haven't done anything to hurt the Green Party, even
though Cobb will be on as many ballots as Nader."
Irie
--
The heathen back there, pound the wall.
--
The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give
it.
Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, 1957
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