Stumping For A Third Choice
Tim Robbins, who is supporting Ralph Nader for president, says Nader should have been allowed to join the presidential debates.
Robbins explains to CBS News Early Show Anchor Bryant Gumbel that Nader wasn't allowed into the hall when Al Gore and George W. Bush debated in Boston.
"He had a ticket to the Boston debate and was met en route by a representative of the debate commission and members of the Boston police who told him he was not welcome. It's pretty outrageous. He had a ticket. He just wanted to watch. They wouldn't let him in the hall," says Robbins.
"There is an exclusion of candidacy, and you have to look no further than the way it is set up. It's set up by the Republican and Democratic Parties. It's no longer a nonpartisan group like it was even eight years ago," when the League of Women Voters set up the debates.
Robbins says he does not mean that every person running for president should be allowed to debate.
"There are not 200 people that have 5 percent in the polls or have a history of advocacy in consumer products, that have actually worked to improve the health…of this nation," says Robbins.
"I think if you've got a viable candidate who is recognizable and someone that has contributed significantly to the well-being and health of the United States, I think they deserve a right to have their voice heard."
Robbins thinks Pat Buchanan should have been allowed in the debate, too.
"It would have been more exciting than last night," suggests Robbins.
Robbins says he's an ardent Nader supporter because he feels that America is a democracy in crisis.
"In the last election, I think 94 million voters didn't even show up," says Robbins. "They know they're not being given a significant choice, and they are not voting out of protest. I think we're in a situation where we have to really reinvent and reinvigorate democracy and the only way to do that is step outside of the two-party system and establish a viable and credible third party."
Robbins doesn't view his vote for Nader as a wasted vote, even though he doesn't think Nader can win.
"What we've seen by voting for the lesser of two evils…I understand that thinking and I have voted that way in the past two elections, but… I don't think we're being represented by any progressives, or people that are outside the mainstream Washington power structure," said Robbins. "I think a vote for the Green Party, for Nader or even for Pat Buchanan is a vote to say, 'Hey, guys, shape up, we're not being heard here.'"
In response to the criticism that a vote for Ralph Nader is in effect helping George Bush win the White House, Robbins says that Gore supporters should vote for Gore. He's trying to reach "the 94 million people that didn't show up at the last election."
Robbins says there is a choice.
"Come out and vote," urges Robbins. "It's only goig to benefit the Democratic party if those people that are not going to vote show up and vote."
Robbins' political satire Bob Roberts is being released on DVD Friday. He feels the movie, which takes a cynical view of politics, still works.
"It was done eight years ago…At the time, people said he was Bush. But I'm afraid he might have been more Bill Clinton than George Bush," Robbins said wryly.