Here's an update on the situation in Michigan:
Ralph Nader's WH '04 campaign "thought it was on track to put him" on MI's ballot as the Reform Party candidate. "But there's more than one Reform Party. And until they decide who's in charge, Nader can't be the candidate of either," says Sec/State Terri Lynn Land.
That confusion "means that for now, Nader is out" of the WH race in MI, unless supporters, including state GOPers, gather the minimum 30K petition signatures to put Nader on the 11/04 ballot.
Nader's name was submitted 6/25 to Land "as the official candidate of the Reform Party of Michigan." The document "was signed by John Muntz, who identified himself" as the Reform Party chair. The letter "also was signed by Eleanor Renfrew as the Reform Party secretary." But Matthew Crehan, not Muntz, is the Reform Party of Michigan chair. Muntz is chair of the Independence Party of Michigan, according to Sec/State records.
The difference "is the Independence Party is affiliated with the Reform Party USA, which indeed has endorsed" Nader for pres. But the Reform Party of Michigan "is not aligned with the Reform Party USA. And it has not endorsed Nader." Crehan "said Nader's campaign never even asked for his party's endorsement."
Land's decision "not to accept Nader for the ballot drew harsh words" from nat'l Reform Party USA chair Shawn O'Hara. O'Hara "said Muntz's group is the only one recognized" by the nat'l party. "And he vowed to sue 'that lily-white' Land for discriminating against Nader because of his Middle Eastern heritage, and the Hispanic lineage" of VP candidate Peter Camejo. O'Hara: "Every Arab-American in Michigan should raise their fist in anger that this discrimination is going on" (Christoff, Detroit Free Press, 7/13).
(The racial accusation at the end of this is hilarious.)
Wow, that's too funny. In Michigan, Nader has
5% approval
89% disapproval
Is Nader trying to make that worse?
