Public Citizen #1, Ralph Nader, came to Charleston on May 5. I found it to be an exciting experience to be in the presence of one who has done so much for the common citizens of this nation. My first impression of him was that he was quite tall, I expected him to be shorter. He also seemed somewhat gaunt and tired from the grueling schedule he has arranged for himself to serve his campaign for the presidency. He gave a press conference in the People’s Room of the Capitol and pressed old themes – loss of democracy to corporate power, environmental destruction in the name of profits because of the laws of the land not being properly enforced, corporate crime and welfare, and corruption in the highest places in our government. He pressed the old West Virginia themes – being colonized by out-of-state and even out-of-country exploiting interests in search of profits.

He then moved on to the Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship on Kanawha Boulevard to give a major address. C-Span reporters were very much in attendance with their video cameras. His regional organizer, Jana Cutlip, welcomed the standing room only attendees, and introduced former state senator David Grubb who was one of the original Nader’s Raiders. In turn, David introduced Mr. Nader.

Mr Nader started his speech slowly building up in a gradual crescendo as he warmed up to his audience and to the vision of his purpose. It was apparent that he is a passionate and dedicated servant to the people of this country. In the course of his speech he got several stranding ovations.

Some quotes from his press conference:

"King Coal and its colonies in Appalachia have for a long time coexisted at the expenses of the people of this area."

(In a tribute to Ken Hechler) "There are very few members of Congress who could today tie Ken Hechler’s shoes. In terms of the way he stood up to a major industry in his own state. That is a real profile of courage."

Highlights of his speech:

"Our political government has been highjacked by the global corporate powers that are swaying over Washington, DC"

"We are not taking any PAC money – in fact, we want to abolish PAC." (Interrupted with applause).

"More coal miners have died in [coal-related deaths] in the last one-hundred years than all the Americans killed in World War II."

"Mountain top removal in Appalachia is a staggering declaration of coal-industry war against the people of Appalachia, of their communities."

"[these are] the most productive and diverse temperate forests in the world, and this mountain top dynamiting destroys tens of square miles by logging holes in the forest canopy leaving forests, streams and local communities destroyed forever."

"I challenge Albert Gore to come to West Virginia and take a stand as I have taken, not only for labor intensive reclamation and prudent mining, but to end once and for all the mountain top removals that are destroying forever the communities, heritage, environment and streams of this once so beautiful state." (He got lots of applause on this one.).

(On unenforced corporate crime) "If law and order is appropriate for the streets, why isn’t law and order appropriate for the corporate suites" (followed by applause).

"It’s time to open up the debates to third party candidates – it is time for the debate commission that’s controlled by the Republican and Democratic parties [to liven up] Albert Gore and George W. Bush and not put the American people to sleep" (much applause).

The full text of Mr. Nader’s Charleston speech can be found on the World Wide Web at <www.votenader.com>