Why Mike Gravel Hinders the Presidential Race...And Why We're Focusing On This Now-A Campaign 2008 Spotlight Exclusive

If you've seen the presidential debates, you may have seen a man staring at other candidates with vengeance, and, when he got one of few chances to answer a question, was yelling at the moderator. This man is former Alaska senator Mike Gravel. Gravel has no chance in this election-according to the Washington Post, he has raised just over a measly $11,000 in the first quarter of this year, which is probably less than he raised for his Senatorial campaigns in Alaska-and he is not even providing nor influencing actual debate. He is providing propoganda to bring down other praty members within the election.

Not that he can't provide actual debate. He was a one-man force against the draft in 1971, filibustering for five months; he was a proponent for the release of the Pentagon Papers, and has written a book, Citizen Power, discussing many influential Populist ideas.

However, in his futile quest for the White House, he has consistently spewed propoganda upon Messrs. Edwards and Obama that they have hired 'bundlers' to raise money from lobbyists and PACs, even though both candidates have said they have not taken money from PACs or lobbyists. (However, both are lying, one more than the other-the FEC reports say that Edwards recieved $20 from a PAC, while Obama has received over three thousand dollars from PACs) He has not brought up any of his ideas he has shown in writing and in his two media appearances(on Air America Radio and on The Colbert Report)in any of the debates. He is not providing debate, he is not strengthening his party, he is slowly destroying it.

But why are we focusing on the 2008 presidential election so much? Why are we going to possibly going to have a primary or caucus just after, if not before, New Year's Eve? The premise is that we are not happy with what we have now. We want this President out, and we want to have change. This is why we're having debates in August. That is why we are raising money at a rapid rate. And this is why we're coming out in rapid numbers to support whoever we're supporting.