Sam Waterston Gives Unity08 A Boost

"Law & Order" Star Says Independent Group Will Have Beneficial Effect

(CBS/AP)  After 13 years as "Law & Order" prosecutor Jack McCoy, and many other roles including what may be his other favorite – Abraham Lincoln – Sam Waterston is ready for some real life politics.

The actor, who may have one of the nation's most recognizable faces and voices, has decided to put his star power to work in backing a movement aimed at promoting the political center rather than the left or right.

Waterston, 66, told George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week" that he has joined Unity08, a group that would like to elect a bipartisan ticket to the White House.

"There's a huge majority of the American people who are ready for this, who are not represented in the current system. And this is an opportunity for those people to speak up," the actor said.

"I think by its existence it will have a beneficial effect on anybody who's running for president, because they will be obliged to look over their other shoulder at the center, and not simply address the partisan factions that have so much sway in primaries," Waterston said.

The aspirations of Unity '08 actually go a bit beyond the traditional meaning of bipartisanship – in that GOP and Democratic party leaders would not be calling the shots when Unity08 decides who will be on its slate of candidates.

On its website, the group says "Unity08 believes neither of today's major parties reflects the aspirations, fears or will of the majority of Americans. Both have polarized and alienated the people. Both are unduly influenced by single-issue groups. Both are excessively dominated by money."

Unity08, which stresses the inclusion of Americans of all sorts of different backgrounds, counts among its founders students, entrepreneurs and some noted names from politics. They include Doug Bailey, a former GOP consultant; Carter administration stalwarts Hamilton Jordan and Gerald Rafshoon; and former U.S. Ambassador Tom Strook, a former Wyoming state senator who was leader of the GOP in that state.

[r9119111]

Unity08 will help me as an Independent Voter. I have not been represented by my government for a long time. Whom can I trust in the Political Arena? Which ones aren%u2019t controlled by Corporations, Big Money Interests and Special Interest Groups? I have been taxed without representation. I hope all voters will become better informed and do better next time around.

Democracy functions best when everyone has been represented fairly and given an opportunity to succeed and when decisions are made through adequate discussion and consensus.

GLAC

[dallison7]

I see nothing new here. Just another 'third party'.

Third party candidates cannot win, they are simply spoilers. It was the green party that gave us George W. Bush. Had Nader not been on the ticket in Florida, Gore's victory could not have been challenged.

I suspect this farce, led by Sam Waterson, is another brainchild of the far right. They know they cannot win a two party race because of the corruption of the Bush/Cheney regime. They will try to put forth a candidate who is attractive to liberals and hope to steal enough votes in enough states for a GOP vicory.

This is a very critical time, our country can not withstand another GOP president. I urge you to THINK when you decide who to vote for in the next election. PLEASE DO NOT THROW YOUR VOTE AWAY!!

[bluestardad]

The Republicans will fund this idiot to split the Democratic Vote! We are going to have a 3rd party candidate because this is part of the Rove plan!

[ademeyer]

This administration is so far to the right it makes moderate Republicans look like socialists. Naturally, moderate Republicans want to find a place where they can be in power again, but they are so used to thinking of Democrats as 'the enemy' they want to create a third choice. I think this Unity08 is more about trying to find a place for moderate Republicans than 'unity' with moderate Democrats. Democrats are less interested in Unity08 because they are intent on winning back power from the rightwingers. There is no incentive for Democrats to jump ship.

[nyckate]

Plowhandle - well obviously the callousness, political gameplaying, wanton money-grabbing of Washington has gone totally unnoticed by you.

People who want a better more competent, more answerable government are the smarter ones - you on the otherhand just proved that your obsession with the 1960's has held you back. I bet you even voted for Failure-of-the-Century George W twice didn't ya!

[nyckate]

dallison7 - Perot accomplished more than 'spoiling' an election - he awoke a feeling that we can indeed do something with our votes - he scared the political world by gaining so much support - what we need is THIS generation's Perot.

[Razzl]

These "centrist" movements always whither away because they are based on a rejection of ideology and politics, but--guess what!--nobody can comprehend what they really stand for, nor can they explain themselves, without reference to issues or ideology. After one election campaign they inevitably come off sounding confused and inconsistent and retreat in confusion from the national stage, never to be seen again, but doing damage to left or right when a level playing field was needed.

I would advise everyone who is disgusted with the current Bush administration to hold fast to the Democratic Party in '08 in order to achieve the goal of removing the Rove/Cheney dictatorship from power. The Party is the only tool capable of getting the job done at this moment, and paying attention to these soft-headed centrist sideshows may damage our future beyond repair.

[dallison7]

dallison7 - Perot accomplished more than 'spoiling' an election - he awoke a feeling that we can indeed do something with our votes - he scared the political world by gaining so much support - what we need is THIS generation's Perot.
Posted by NYCKATE


WRONG!!!

What we need is a chance for this country to heal. What we need is a change of leadership to clean up after the most dishonest and corrupt adminstration in the history of this country. Whether you like it or not we have a two party system in this country (republicans and democrats) AND ONE OF THOSE TWO PARTIES WILL WIN THE ELECTION!! If it were not for the jello-heads trying to 'make a statement' by voting for Ralph Nader in 2000 we would not be faced with the devastation we now see. When asked if he would run in 2008, Ralph Nader said, "Probably, if Hillary wins the nomination". He knows that a third party is simply a spoiler party, why don't you?

[forthepeaple]

why dont you all in the media that say we are here to help americans find out the truth about the whitehouse and bush,rumsfeld,and vp *** cheney, why wont you just say the truth to us stupid americans out here in america. because thats what the whitehouse kiss *** press secrutary thinks all i see comming out of his mouth is trash,lies on top of lies. i really hope he sleeps good knowing that he to is responsable for all the murders of our troops..so getting back to what i was saying, how about haveing a big round table section and let me ask all congress and the press secretary god i hate him. some simple questions that all america wants to know....and yes they will not know what i would ask. and all this would be on tv radio,newspapers,showing all america what they think and while i am here why haven;t any news media put this story in the faces of all ameica and americans than why hasn't the media been all over this with all of washington..go to .. www.scoop.co.nz and look under search for pentagon whistle-blower on iraq/iran.. after reading the 9 pages tell me why we americans shouln't have been told about this sooner,, why why why. AND ALL IN WASHINGTON WILL NOT LIKE WHAT WE AMERICANS THINK AND WILL DO,THATS WHY AMERICANS ARE GOING TO VOTE IN A NEW GOVERNMENT CALLED AMERICANS FOR AMERICA AND OUR COLORS ARE RED WHITE AND BLUE. SO VOTE FOR HIM DAVID A BELANGER FOR PRESIDENT AND CHANGE WILL BE DONE.SEND A NOTE AT [e-mail]

[scott4261]

While I appreciate the centrist sentiment and I do believe that we need to break out of a two party system, I think the Democratic nominee for president must win this next election.

I self-identify as a liberal independent who happens to trend his voting Democratic. The exception is in local elections. If the democratic candidate doesn%u2019t appeal to me, I will tend to vote for independents of various party names there (especially for the Green Party).

Having said that, I do agree with the Democrats on this thread. This upcoming election is way too important. I plan on casting my vote for the Democratic nominee in 2008 (my gut tells me that the nominee won't be Hillary Clinton. But if she is, I will just have to hold my nose and vote for her - much the same as I did when I voted for John Kerry in 2004.). One thing is for sure: we must take our country back from these right-wing loonies!

[petey64]

I think this is a good thing, by reading the posts already here it is something that's needed, the left has proven that they are truly not tolerant and excepting of others, it's either there way or the highway and that just isn't America, like it or not this country is about compromise.....so both sides stop your goose stepping and chill. there's room for everyone here.

[toolmangler-2009]

Most Politicians are neither as 'good' or as 'bad' as the media paints them. However since MSM is a multibillion dollar 'business' they are going to hedge their bets by small almost imperceptable nudges in the daily news. Those who think political parties are running the country are in for a rude awakening. Business runs this and every country on Earth. Some are more open than others about it 'U.S.A., England, Europe, Spain, South America (minus 'Communist Venezuela' now) are all governed by Big Business. Big Business even runs China and Cuba but is less open about it. Keep your eye on Walmart if you want to see the real 'Powers that be'. They make it possible to get a candidate elected by manipulating the 'media' and getting yucks like you and me stirred up against a certain candidate or law. It was never about 'oil' except as a business tool (they know it won't last very long).

[randalds]

I like Sam Waterston as an actor. I also respect the fact that he is a progressive like me and even is a fellow "long time subscriber" to The Nation Magazine. None of that changes the fact that he is just plain wrong here. It's not time for a bi-partisan ticket as the right wing would only use the power we leave them to screw up all of the emergency changes needed to undo the damage the loony toons who've had us all be the throats the last 6 years have done. We must CRUSH the neocons now. We must NOT underestimate their potential for destruction in our country and the world. If there were any true republicans left in the republican party I might feel different. But there are no Barry Goldwater's or Jerry Fords left on that side to have a reasoned discussion with. The neocons have run them all out. Just like during Vietnam you had to torch the tunnels to kill the vermin you might have ,missed, America needs to torch a large part of the republican party and burn the neocon cancer out once and for all. The moderate republicans apparently can't do it and they'll thank us later for killing the infection of the Robertsons, Dobsons, Delays, Bushs, Cheneys and even McCains in their party. The republican party that we all know is no more. It is diseased and needs a strong cure. This is one baby that needs to be strangled in it's crib NOW, before it turns into the next Nazi party.