Nader Accuses Reagan of ‘Big Lie’ on Economy

Consumer advocate Ralph Nader charged today that President Reagan is selling “the big lie” about the state of the nation’s economy as he campaigns across the nation for Republican candidates.

Nader said that while Reagan brags about his economic recovery, his policies in fact “have put more Americans in poverty and unemployment, widened the gap between the very rich and the very poor, ground economic growth to a snail’s pace . . . and broken the $2-trillion debt barrier.”

“The big lie, the deception, the happy talk prevails day after day” as Reagan stumps the country to save the Republicans’ 53-47 Senate majority, Nader said.

Nader blasted the Democratic Party for refusing to attack Reagan because of his personal popularity, calling it a “shameful abdication to popularity polls.”

‘Fantasy and Deception’

Nader was asked by a reporter whether Reagan could pass a lie detector test on the truthfulness of his campaign statements.

“I do not agree with those who say Reagan believes what he says,” Nader responded.

“Mr. Reagan is placing a mask of fantasy and deception over the true state of the economy and its portents for the future,” Nader told a news conference.

Nader said Reagan has weakened the economy by more than doubling the national debt since taking office, and he said Democrats in Congress do not share the blame.

“He sent up a bloated deficit budget and he got it back, with modest adjustments for humanity, from a largely Reaganite, Republican, Boll-Weevilized Congress,” Nader said.