First Democrat announces bid for presidency

[cynatnite]

Former Senator Mike Gravel is to be the first Democrat to announce his candidacy for president, RAW STORY has learned.

A release issued by the Alaskan former lawmaker claims he intends to announce his bid for the Democratic nomination at a press conference on April 17.

Gravel represented the State of Alaska from 1969-1980 in the United States Senate.

http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/First_Democrat_announces_bid_for_presidency_0413.html

[Beaverhausen]

1. Didn't Biden announce?

[cynatnite]

2. Not officially, I believe n/t

[babylonsister]

5. I thought he did; perhaps not officially, but he's said as much

numerous times, most recently on Maher's show.

[patricia92243]

6. I don't know for sure, but I do know that if he says on one of the talk sh

shows that he is going to run is not the same thing as "announcing" it. Announcing it is a formal declaration of what he intends to do. I assume it means he has to file official papers saying he is in the running.

[LSparkle]

3. Is this the Howard Dean of 2008?

[derby378]

4. I wish Feingold would

But I'll check out Mike Gravel, too.

[aden_nak]

7. I know the urge to get his name out there is strong. . .

but announcing this early when you're an unknown just gives your opponents more and more time to start digging up whatever dirt there is to be found about you. Plus, it detracts from the 2006 mid-terms, which anyone who is really serious about undoing the damage of this administration should be focused on. That being said, I don't know anything of substance about Mike Gravel. But his initial approach has already turned me, as a voter, off. So he may want to check that. :P

[NYCGirl]

9. Here's his organization's website:

http://ni4d.us/

This may be a problem:

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Alexis_de_Tocqueville_Institution

Gravel is Chairman (scroll down)

[kurth]

12. "Industry-funded, advocates lower taxes and less regulation". NEXT!

[SharonRB]

18. Conservative think tank?

Some Democrat. He may as well quit before he gets started.

[derby378]

8. Does anyone know if Gravel is a Holocaust-denier?

Check this out:

Holocaust denial activity decreased in the United States during 2003, but continued full force in government-sponsored media in Arab countries and the Palestinian Authority.

The decrease in the United States was due to the ongoing legal conflicts between the two major U.S. promoters of Holocaust denial, the Institute for Historical Review and Liberty Lobby founder Willis Carto. At the same time, British Holocaust-denier David Irving maintained an active presence on the U.S. lecture circuit throughout the year, speaking in at least twenty-five cities.

Other notable developments in 2003:

* For the first time ever, a Holocaust denier was invited to the White House. Palestinian Authority prime minister Mahmoud Abbas, author of a book denying the Holocaust, visited the White House in July 2003.
* A prominent former United States Senator, Mike Gravel (D-Alaska), appeared as a speaker at the June 2003 conference of a Holocaust-deniers' publication, The Barnes Review.
* The leader of a major Muslim country, Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohammed, publicly affirmed that the Holocaust occurred. However, he did so in a speech alleging Jewish control of the world, and it was that theme, not his acknowledgment of the Holocaust, which attracted attention.

http://www.wymaninstitute.org/articles/2003-denialreport.php

[Dogmudgeon]

13. Possible; why not ask Gravel?

There is very little information, even at Wyman's site. Gravel's attendance could have been a one-time aberration, or he could be a strong holocaust-denier. Or something in between. Or, possibly, Wyman was given bad information (although I consider Wyman to be reputable).

It might be worthwhile to ask Gravel directly, and to disabuse him of his folly if he really is a denier. A lot of holocaust deniers are merely ignorant smart-asses, not hate-mongers. A little education often results in a period of enlightening embarrassment followed by a renewed commitment to historical truth and human dignity. I am surprised that so little effort is put into this; I've always found it easy and "productive" to show the deniers the errors of their ways. In my view, it's one less potential Willis Carto or David Irving in the world, and tends to have a ripple effect.

--p!

[roguevalley]

10. I voted for Mike back when. This is interesting.

[Blue_In_AK]

11. Good heavens, where has he been?

I haven't heard anything about Mike Gravel in years and years. Didn't he give the keynote address at the Democratic convention in 1972?

[mcscajun]

15. He didn't give the keynote. He did, though, nominate himself for VP

that year. :)

The keynote in 1972 was given by Former Florida Gov. Reubin Askew.

[Blue_In_AK]

16. Thanks. I just remembered he did something that year...

I was still living in California at the time with a little baby, but my folks lived up here, so I was interested that someone from Alaska was doing "something" at the convention. I see Mike is already stirring a bit of controversy here in this thread - I seem to recall that he was doing it back then, too. :) My guess is he isn't really serious about a run for president - after all, he'll be 78 in 2008 which is getting on up there. Maybe he's just trying to stir the pot a little.

[saracat]

14. Why is this guy a Democrat? This is really bad news!

[Nicholas]

17. its about time

Now we just have to wait for the first one to start abandoning core democratic values. My bet is on next week.