Ralph Nader Is No Fan Of President Obama

Consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader spoke with Democracy Now host Amy Goodman at 92Y on June 6, 2013. In this clip, Nader gives his frank assessment on the lack of progress on a minimum wage increase, as well as a strong criticism of President Obama.
On lack of results for a minimum wage increase, Nader reiterated a question he previously posed to Amy about the President, asking, "Has there ever been a bigger con man in the White House?"
He added:
"The one ingredient you want when you vote for somebody...it's their moral courage and the fire in the belly. That's what makes all the difference in the world."
Do you agree with Nader's criticism of the President? Comment below.

[@chomsky88]

In the late 60's Nader was considered to be the 4th most influential person in the United States and now he's almost invisible. Does that tell you anything about corporate propaganda and control?

[@whatdoiput807]

Ya, why don't we like things from the sixties anymore? Bring back mass smoking on busses, too!

[@_hvman_]

​@@whatdoiput807 Ya, lets bring back driving without airbags

[@whatdoiput807]

@@_hvman_ hell ya with the coffee-table glass windshields. I'm all for it.

[@peterstafford4426]

He should be invisible. He is a worthless piece of trash. In the 60's he was influential with consumer products. That is his area of expertise. He knows nothing else.

[@CyberspacedLoner]

The 40-50 old slow Corporate State Coup that began with the Chamber of Commerce Powell Memo Excess of Democracy

[@strangeways75]

Nader is right as usual.

[@ducksauss]

Ralph Nader being Ralph Nader. Tell it like it is brother. Tell it like it is.

[@mhkpt]

Love this guy. More like him are needed. And more journalists like Amy Goodman too.

[@silversurfer4441]

Moral courage and fire in the belly. Damn, we need some of that right now.

[@JustCamus]

Thank you for sharing! Ralph is awesome!

[@yeiou1]

o-bomb-a: from "hope and change" to "bought and paid for"

[@tompain2751]

He was just there to pave the way for Hillary,A Black,then a woman....DNC logic!

[@jshalom65]

This is the only man I ever voted for twice for the presidency,and voted for proudly!

[@mljenk21]

jshalom65 #McKinney2020

[@frankherman5195]

I remember when Ralph was the man looking out for Americans

[@johntao6822]

Still is, looks like

[@franklindelanoroosevelt9177]

He was sanders before sanders

[@stirgy4312]

What he said at the end really got me. Basically you need someone with a fire in the belly no matter what his/her politics are.

[@AssanRaelian]

Affirmative! 👋🏿

[@chazchillings3019]

Seven years ago and naders finger was on the pulse.

[@abrahamguejdi5444]

Nader is a true American

[@thisnthat1070]

Hell yes.

[@singloc3021]

Economist may not agree that raising the minimum wage would be a good idea but they do agree that when consumer incomes increase, the economy grows due to consumption. When you look at inflation, raising the minimum wage to $10 is not going to hurt the economy since it matched inflation in the first place. Wages have increased but not real living wages.

[@Myndir]

I'll always be grateful for him for the Bush II presidency ❤. The best spoiler a Republican could hope for!

[@joecaner]

Oh Bummer! I'm sure he'll be weeping all the was to his estate in Martha's Vineyard.

[@rsr789]

You can't confuse people like Patrick Humphreys with demonstrable facts, they'll just lash out with utter nonsense.

[@greatcesari]

rsr789 You are confused

[@jirijulku1093]

aoc or bernie should get this.

[@SilverAura]

You know, I was coming to this expecting to be upset because I assumed he would say something I'd disagree with but he is absolutely correct and this is something I've been criticizing Obama on despite defending him against the ridiculous claims most Conservatives have been trying to pin down on him. He's not as bad as most conservatives make him look but that can't stop us from pointing out just where he truly is fucking up.

[@terryaden5839]

@ Patrick Humphreys - Wrong, Patrick. Domination of government by big corporations and Big Money is what's deplorable. You have it exactly backwards.

[@mowriter]

I roll centrist-left. I wish my far right friends who delusionally call me librull would hear things like this or anything from Amy Goodman to get a lot more perspective.

[@mikeroby1313]

Mundo correcto. When right-wing plankton describe him as a socialist or worse, I mention to them the fact that many 'real' lefties don't even consider him a Democrat. These conversations are often followed by a burning odor and puffs of smoke out of their ears.

[@mokushmasmo6009]

Mike Roby right wing plankton 😭😭

[@highwayrockstar1]

Darn....Im sure health care cost are going to GO DOWN soon as long as mean ol Bernie stops trying for UHC. RIGHT????

[@ogs.i.c.k6263]

This the dude that play on The Simpsons😂

[@freedomandliberty93]

I like the way madam Goodman looks in that chair.

[@sistitulasi]

What the hell is he talking about? $10.50 keeps up with inflation?! That’s laughable. This was 8 years ago? A couple who each earn 10.50/hour couldn’t afford to qualify for a mortgage. That’s @42,000 for a household.

[@northpole9311]

He could save America if they would only let him...rich and poor.

[@jenamirgholi6004]

ya, they should be embracing this sort of thing.

[@GabrielSparkletits]

Oh they make perfect sense - you just need an education to understand them. And as someone who is, I use that information to stay the hell away from Sowell and his baseless rants. Case in point: Your diatribe on the 1% terminology addressed nothing of what I was saying. I know goddamn well wealth fluctuates. Doesn't have anything to do with the point.

[@thosethatcan]

Hello.. savdis"...

[@OdeeOz]

Wait'll he suspends the votes and stays in for life.

[@buckcubmandingo6772]

This did not age well and we have a current president-elect that openly discusses doing the same thing as a trial balloon. I'm guessing you'd be okay w/ it because no reasonable liberal would have speculated that about Obama

[@johntao6822]

@@buckcubmandingo6772 they're still waiting for Obama to take their guns SOMEHOW

[@maestrogringo]

8 years of Obama will be different how...??

[@franklindelanoroosevelt9177]

2013 was an easier time

[@BlakaveliX]

It really wasn't... In hindsight

[@terryaden5839]

@Patrick Humpphreys Wrong again, Patrick. W/o gov interventions in the economy, like minimum wage, corporations and the wealthy would render what's left of the USA Republic a full plutocracy. Your Libertarian-oriented nostrums are nothing but elitist magical thinking.

[@rsr789]

There is no war with Libya. Try again.

[@robertdu2107]

Me probably not fan of you if you say bush is lawless.

[@jenamirgholi6004]

The Lord can redeem. mr. president you are exactly what the government is supposed to be.

[@GabrielSparkletits]

...kinda like you.

[@Leshutchens4]

How many times in the past, has someone promoted "minimum wage increase" as the cure of the ills of the poor... watched it pass EVERYTIME... and then complain that the poor need help, and to help them, we're going to increase minimum wage. The government needs to get OUT of individual employer/employee contracts. Period!

[@highwayrockstar1]

Well if we had medicaid for all then the corporate business wouldn't have to pay part of our insurance premiums and could put that same money on workers' paychecks! Why wouldn't corporate want that? No loss for them and gain a healthier workforce.

[@Chickasaw88]

Ralph...increasing the minimum wage to $10.50 would make the USA's unemployment look like Spain's unemployment...21%.

[@greatcesari]

Jennifer Ray Huh?

[@David53D]

Imagine living with someone who sees fault in every conceivable thing?

[@rsr789]

And... you're insane.

[@cobramcjingleballs]

Eh minimum wage increase hurts as much as it helps, because small businesses can't afford higher labor costs...that extra bit they pay may backrupt a company...so they have to higher less people...a higher wage does little good if your fired or unemployed...the best thing to alleviate suffering is attack the problem...get rid of inflation by getting rid of the FED and going back to a gold standard...which means savings will be worth doing again and not lose value and prices will stop going up..the last time no central bank and gold standard prices were DEFLATING, wouldnt that be awesome and alleviate suffering

[@cobramcjingleballs]

rock Onmyboi agreed...but no business wants to lose money...they tend to raise wages above norm naturally when labor is scared. Hell, ford raised wages to keep workers way back in the 1900s on his own. in the 2000's when jobs exceeded labor, mcdonalds was offering a few dollars above min wage to get workers. its a natural function, but government mandates on the economy are ALWAYS bad... the fact that labor unions are the biggest supporters of higher min wage says something...they dont want competition. (and dems by default) higher min wage means less jobs for the poorest people, which means they do not get job skills to get higher wages does anyone STAY at mcdonalds for example their entire life? hell no, they get skills, and move on to get higher wages. makes sense no...but fewer people getting those entry jobs...figure it our for yourself

[@cobramcjingleballs]

rock Onmyboi totally feel for you. I created my own business during this current recession...so totally understand where you are coming from....but...BUT...would that min wage be open to you if the min wage was higher.. the bare facts are...they have a budget...if wages are higher they cant afford as many worker or give raises... that's how min wage hampers people, and its really common sense, no?

[@cobramcjingleballs]

rock Onmyboi well from what I understand...thats how most recessions end..ppl start businesses...the thing with people getting increased wages is it encourages inflation also... unfortunately, we have the fed increasing inflation now just to bail out the banks now...we're broken...sure you have noticed the 30% increase in food prices the last 3 yrs.

[@cobramcjingleballs]

rock Onmyboi so mandatory min wage does not good in the long term, only increasing inflation, and in short term, makes employers not want to hire as many low wage employees. yay?

[@jmjfanss]

damn right, jfk tried to do that and he got killed.

[@randalltoure5252]

Thank you Ralph Nader for giving us 8 years of George Bush and the Iraq and Afghanistan War because of your narcissism.

[@Myndir]

Unironically yes. Al Gore and John Kerry would have been a disaster for the US. It would have been exposed to terrorist attacks, left Afghanistan to Taliban rule, and resulted in a major recession.

[@David53D]

Nader the complainer.

[@GeoffreyTButler9096]

Ok Karen.