Signature gatherers try to hide Nader’s name on petitions

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Chris Wetterich
Staff writer

A mysterious pair of men were gathering signatures on a petition Monday outside the Kroger store on Charleston’s West Side — apparently in an effort to get independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader on West Virginia’s ballot in November.

One of the men told at least two people, including a Gazette reporter, that the petitions were not for Nader. But Nader supporters were gathering signatures outside a Dunbar Kroger store on Sunday, and one woman at the West Side Kroger said she saw the petitions, and they were for Nader.

Helen Lanham said one of the men asked her if she was a registered voter and whether she would sign a petition to “get a minority on the ballot.” She asked who it was, and they “hemmed and hawed” and wouldn’t tell her.

They had the name of the candidate covered up with a pencil on the petition, Lanham said. She said she moved the pencil aside and saw it was for Nader.

more: http://wvgazette.com/section/News/2004071235

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. Gee, I wonder if it's at ALL possible

that these are GOP shills that are collecting signatures :eyes:

[MountainLaurel]

6. hmmmm?

Ponder, ponder, ponder.

[beyurslf]

2. They did it the same way here in KS. Had the sig gatherers saying

"Will you sign a petition to allow democracy to work in America?"

When I asked what it was about they said "ballott access." I asked if it was for Dem's or R's and they said it was an independent.

So I said, you mean Nader? No thanks!

[drumwolf]

3. We need to make a major stink about this story

If everyone knows about this, Nader's credibility will be damaged even more than it already has been -- possibly to the point where it might not even matter whether he does get on the ballot in some states.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

4. this is pure bullshit

i personally know the coordinator of the wv effort and he's as honest as they come. the same gazette that endorsed the extremist rightwing republican cecil underwood over populist democrat charlotte pritt and picked coal industry puppet jim rowe over warren mcgraw is not on the side of progressives. hence their manchin endorsement in the primaries this year. the gazette will take any postion the corrupt state republicrat leadership tells it to.

as i sad, i know the nader people. i worked for them in 2000. this is not the way they do business. either this is a fluke by a lone petioner or they're just making shit up. given the piss-poor writing job on this story, i tend to think it's the latter.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. But wouldn't the right-wingers want to put Nader in a positive light?

What to they have to gain by vilifying a guy who is likely to take votes away from Kerry?