Those mischievous Republicans backing Nader

Salon's editor David Talbot gets Ralph on the phone. Nader exhibits all the characteristics of delusions of grandeur that have endeared him to millions of Americans.

Talbot: Why are these groups giving you money and trying to get you on the ballot? They have no interest in your political agenda. They're working to get Bush elected so he can keep the war going and keep supporting his rich friends.

Nader: Wait, wait, wait. Working to get someone on the ballot is working to give someone their free speech. I have no problem with that.

Talbot: I have no problem with that either. But I think you need to question who some of your political bedfellows are, and ask why they're helping you. The press should do that with any candidate.

Nader: No, no. The criteria [for making a campaign contribution] is that you're an American citizen and it's within the limits of the law. Period. We are not going to let Salon...

Talbot: Hold on, let me finish. We have a right to point out that if you are in bed with people and groups who are anti-gay, antiabortion, anti-immigration...

Nader: Oh Jesus, you're really degrading yourself.

Talbot: Well, that's the truth.

Nader: These are press releases by these idiot groups. Look at our gay rights position -- it's much better than Kerry's.

Talbot: Why are these conservative groups helping you then?

Nader: Because they're mischievous, that's why! They want to get their name in the paper and trick people like Salon.

Christ, he's a whack job.

Either Nader is simply unable to accept that he's a tool for these "mischievous" GOP dirty tricksters, which is sad, or he does understand, which makes him as cynical and dangerous as the Bushies themselves.

Watching his bizarre performance on the Daily Show last week, I'm not sure which is the case. He makes Ross Perot look like an elder statesman; at least we could understand Perot's motivation.

If you'd prefer not to sit through the daily Salon ad, you can get another excerpt from the interview here.