Re-Assessing Nader: A Selfish and Unreasonable ManPaul Hogarthbyline‚ Mar. 13‚ 2007Don’t be fooled by reviews that say “An Unreasonable Man,” the new film about Ralph Nader, criticizes his 2000 presidential campaign. While the two-hour documentary gives face-time to Eric Alterman and Todd Gitlin who blame Nader for electing George Bush, the filmmakers just use them to create an illusion of credibility. Meanwhile, the film gives very short shrift to Nader’s long consumer legacy – where he is portrayed in glowing terms as a saint, while papering over a disturbing trait from those years that explains why he later ran for President. Rather than “unreasonable,” Nader is a selfish egotist. Accountable to nobody. He burns through his disciples. He believes that any disagreement with him amounts to a betrayal. The film is propaganda at its worst – it pretends to see both sides of the issue, but really props up Nader for his 2008 presidential campaign. |