In examining the life and recent times of Ralph Nader, often from the perspective of his admirers and colleagues but also from that of his detractors, IFC Films documentary An Unreasonable Man paints as much of a sad truth as a lasting legacy of citizen beneficence. That truth – and unswallowable bit of irony – is that a man who has championed so many causes for the public good and helped people in countless, unnoticed ways has been egregiously vilified for his role in the 2000 election.
The documentary begins with a clip of Nader’s announcement of running in 2000, but quickly delves into his storied history as fighter of corporate crime and negligence. Included are his testimonies on auto safety and subsequent book, “Unsafe at Any Speed,” battles with the Federal Trade Commission, disillusionment with the Carter Administration, work on instrumental pieces of legislation such as the Freedom of Information Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act, the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and ultimately his declination in influence following the Reagan Revolution.
His presidential campaigns are covered, from his write-in candidacy in 1992 to his disassociation with the Green Party in 2004, but as one would imagine, the 2000 election earns the most attention. Nader’s detractors present the flawed theory that his candidacy – not election fraud, the Supreme Court, or a Clinton-less campaign from Al Gore – handed George W. Bush the White House. We see some of his biggest supporters (Michael Moore, Susan Sarandon) desert him in 2004, and are told of allegations of the DNC offering Nader millions to bow out when John Kerry ran.
Perhaps the most ironic facet, however, were the words of a man who helped drive a wedge between Nader’s supporters and the American public whom they sought to help. “Democracy is a consumer fraud,” said Pat Buchanan, a former aide of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.
Though many have blamed Nader for the current state of affairs, few can legitimately argue with his decades of public service.
– Scott Morrow
An Unreasonable Man
Directors: Henriette Mantel and Steve Skrovan
122 minutes, IFC Films
http://anunreasonableman.com
Now playing in select theaters