The third presidential candidate to visit Milwaukee in as many weeks distinguished himself from the race's frontrunners with a new outlook on changing America.

Independent candidate Ralph Nader appeared twice in Milwaukee Wednesday, first at a press conference at the Milwaukee Press Club and later at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's student union. At both places he emphasized his campaign's main positions, including withdrawal from Iraq, improving wages and the tax system and downsizing the influence of corporations in government.

During Nader's 20-minute press conference he said the presidential race has "devolved into charges and countercharges on what happened many years ago" while ignoring issues important to Americans. One issue is "the Iraq quagmire," which has not only cost America over 1,000 lives but also millions of dollars, Nader said.

"The military budget is now 50 percent of the federal government's operating expense," he said. "We're the only candidacy that has a responsible six-month withdrawal exit strategy from Iraq."

Nader also was critical of the leaders in the presidential race. He said Democrats have spent millions of dollars trying to keep him off state ballots while at the same time not allocating enough money to garner critical votes from the mostly Democratic black community. On the other hand, President Bush's administration is "marinated in oil, a giant corporation masquerading as the government" which is opposed to raising minimum wage and making health care more available, he said.

Rick Kissell, a self-employed Spanish interpreter, backs Nader because of his campaign's focus on ending the war in Iraq.

"He's the only anti-war candidate who registers in the polls," said Kissell, 48. Nader "represents the best opportunity to show opposition to the fraudulent two-party system," which is "a major obstacle to social progress in this country."

At UWM, Nader addressed the current wage and tax problems as well as the power of corporations in government and offered his campaign's solutions for the country.

"One out of every three workers makes Wal-Mart wages," or wages insufficient for sustaining a family, Nader said. "These people deserve, for their full-time work, enough money to raise their families," which Nader would provide by requiring a living wage for all full-time workers.

Taxes are another problem in America, Nader said. In 2002, 60 percent of corporations paid no federal income tax, nor did 11 of Wisconsin's 15 largest banks, he said. Taxpayer money is also being allocated too often to making weapons for war, he said.

"This shows what happens when too much power and wealth is in too few hands," Nader said.

Large corporations not only benefit from the government through taxes, Nader said, but also through outsourcing jobs to foreign countries. When in trouble, the corporations can also rely on the government to bail them out.

President Bush is "a corporation disguised as a human being," Nader said, and "a perfect candidate" for impeachment.

Nader also encouraged the mostly college-aged crowd to vote, but to be responsible when doing so.

"People who are voters but don't do their homework are most vulnerable" to confusion and persuasion, Nader said, and are voters who base their voting on only one issue.

"It's time for us to recognize we have the power" to produce change, he said.