On December 5, Ralph Nader filed this brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, in Nader v Democratic National Committee, 08-7074. He argues that the lower court erred when it refused to permit a trial in his lawsuit for damages against Democratic Party behavior in 2004.
The brief says, “The Conspirators filed 29 complaints before 19 tribunals (i.e., in 19 states) within 12 weeks, regardless of probable cause and regardless of the merits of the cases, as part of a coordinated nationwide effort to bankrupt the Plaintiff Candidates’ campaign and effectively bar them from running for public office; and in certain key states, where litigation alone would not be sufficient to accomplish their improper purpose, the Conspirators engaged in coordinated acts of sabotage and other systematic efforts to prevent the Plaintiff Candidates from complying with state election laws, in order to manufacture legal grounds for their otherwise baseless litigation.”
This brief further highlights the extent to which the Democratic Party’s challenge in Pennsylvania was brought using state government resources, which was illegal, since challengers to Pennsylvania petitions must be private, not government, entities.
If both Obama and McCain were ineligible to serve as being not natural born, Nader could argue that perhaps he was the next highest vote getter and denied access to the electoral college by false certification by the GOP and DEM national parties.
This would be a fitting final law suit for Nader et al and the third party ballot access effort. Obama obviously knew that he had a problem needing special care (coverup) just as apparently Chester Author did over a century ago.
I can only summise there is a conspiracy in this country to block third party candidates.
Ballot access laws across the country are insane and differ from state to state. Why is it okay to get 800 signatures in one state and 75,000 in another, along with all the complicated criteria that comes with it?
If third parties entered the playing field, it would change things completely, but power does not cede easily. It’s sickening to see this happening in what is supposed to be a democracy and one where we’re sending people to die in other countries.
Nader is taking on an enormous task for all of us. We must stand behind him in any way we can.
Thank you for keeping us apprised of the actions taking place in this historic case.
I believe Nader’s run in 2008 was in response in part to the Pennsylvania case.
I honor him for his tenacity in seeking justice and fighting for national ballot access laws that insure freedom of speech for candidates and voters.