NPR:"Gravel Makes Own Seat at the Debate"

[leftchick]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15799863

The Bryant Park Project, October 31, 2007 · Former Alaska senator and Democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel wasn't invited to Tuesday's debate on NBC. The network cited his low numbers in the polls as a rationale for not included him.

Instead, Gravel offered his views last night on a Webcast.

Today Gravel tells the BPP his impressions of the forum, and makes the case for being included in future debates.




N.H. Man Offers NBC $1 Million to Let Gravel Debate

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15785047

All Things Considered, October 30, 2007 · Gregory Chase, a 27-year-old hedge fund manager from Nashua, N.H., placed an ad in a dozen newspapers offering NBC $1 million if the network lets former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel participate in Tuesday night's Democratic presidential primary debate.

NBC made a decision two weeks ago that Gravel could not participate — citing that only candidates who had raised $1 million could participate in the debate.

Chase talks with Robert Siegel.

[Justyce]

1. There is something really wrong with our system.

It's all about money. Period.

[leftchick]

2. yes and Mike makes that point in this article....

One of the first issues discussed in the Democratic Debate was the issue of Iran and what strategies the candidates have to engage in diplomacy.

"Mike Gravel was already pointing out how Hillary was wrong on a lot of issues," Eisenback said. "He pointed out issues such as Iran specifically. Gravel is needed in the Democratic debates, because without him, there's no challenge to the issue."

One of the main issues that concerns Gravel's campaign is that money still controls speech.

"The Founding Fathers didn't say that we weren't going to have a revolution because we don't have enough money," Lee Trager, a sophomore majoring in computer science, said.

The watch party, or alternative debate, gave people a place to watch the debate and engage in protests, according to Petherick.

Gravel paused the debate to make his remarks, as if he was actively in the debate. At points, he let the video run and talked over the candidates.


http://media.www.thetriangle.org/media/storage/paper689/news/2007/10/31/PoliticsPolicy/Gravel.Holds.Watch.Party.Near.Campus-3067871.shtml

[Radman8]

3. Money doesn't talk.

To quote an icon, "Money doesn't talk, it swears."

[Benhurst]

4. The corporate media has no business deciding who participates in our

Democratic Debates.

Not one vote has yet been cast. Polls, indeed! Gravel should have been included. I disappointed our other candidates did not protest his exclusion. Naturally NBC, whose parent corporation is one of the largest merchants of death on the planet, wanted Gravel silenced.

Shame on us and the party for letting this happen.