Posted on 03/26/2008 7:23:58 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative
Former Sen. Mike Gravel is leaving the Democratic Party – and his quixotic bid for its presidential nomination – for the Libertarian Party.
“It is a party that combines a commitment to freedom and peace that can't be found in the two major parties that control the government and politics of America," Gravel said in a statement released late Tuesday by America’s largest third party. "My libertarian views, as well as my strong stance against war, the military industrial complex and American imperialism, seem not to be tolerated by Democratic Party elites who are out of touch with the average American.”
Gravel will now pursue the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination. He plans to announce the move today.
Despite two terms in the Senate and a head start in the race – he announced his candidacy in April 2006 – Gravel won no delegates in the campaign for the Democratic nomination. Through Dec. 31, he had raised $428,692 – a little more than Ralph Nader, a little less than Keith Russell Judd, an engineer and musician who is listed on the Project Vote Smart web site as having once been a member of the Federation of Superheroes.*
Ready to welcome Gravel was former Republican Rep. Bob Barr, who made the move in 2006.
"It is a distinct honor to have another former member of Congress within the Libertarian Party," Barr said. "Just as Senator Gravel believes Democrats have lost touch with the American public, I too concluded Republicans had lost their core principles, and could no longer associate myself with the GOP. While coming from opposite sides of the aisle, Senator Gravel and I definitely agree on the fundamental need for systemic change in our political system.”
(Excerpt) Read more at weblogs.baltimoresun.com ...
Sweet, now Gravel can be rejected by a whole new party.
Bwahahahahaha! As you sow, so shall you reap. The Libertarian Party deserves him.
More proof that the Libertarians are moving left. I’m only surprised that Ron Paul isn’t challenging this guy.
Very discouraging to hear Barr welcome Gravel with open arms. I was going to vote for Barr if he ran on a 3rd party. Oh well, might as well make that move to Costa Rica.
Bob Barr, drug warrior, in the LP?
How pathetic for the LP!
Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.
during one of the Dem debates, I watched Gravel brag about how he ‘screwed the insurance companies’ by going bankrupt, it was pretty pathetic, IMO.
Ugh.
Gravel is about as Libertarian as Joseph Stalin. The Libertarians should tell him to piss off....
“Very discouraging to hear Barr welcome Gravel with open arms. I was going to vote for Barr if he ran on a 3rd party. Oh well, might as well make that move to Costa Rica.”
Sucker. 8)
I will probably be voting for either the Constitution or Libertarian Party nominee. Seeing Barr or Gravel as the LP nominee will make my selection easy.
Wayne Allyn Root all the way!
www.rootforamerica.com
Root rocks. And Gravel can go to hell. We don’t want him.
My wife is pushing for that as well.
MR. RUSSERT: I want to ask Senator Gravel. You talk about running for president of the United States. In 1980 your condo business went bankrupt.
MR. GRAVEL: Correct.
MR. RUSSERT: In 2004 you filed for personal bankruptcy —
MR. GRAVEL: Correct.
MR. RUSSERT: — leaving $85,000 in credit bills unpaid. How can someone who did not take care of his business, could not manage his own personal finances, say that he's capable of managing the country?
MR. GRAVEL: Well, first off, if you want to make a judgment of who can be the greediest people in the world when they get to public office, you could just look up at the people up here. Money — many of them done very, very well in public office.
I left the Senate no better than when I went in.
Now, you say the condo business. I'll tell you, Donald Trump has been bankrupt a hundred times. So I went bankrupt once in business.
And the other — who did I bankrupt? I stuck the credit card companies with $90,000 worth of bills. And they deserved it, because I used the money. (Laughter.) They deserved it, and I used the money to finance the empowerment of the American people with the National Initiative, so you can make the laws.
I am voting for Root, there is no doubt about it.
No mention of Alaska. Good.
That argument could be justification to any theft.
As long as the thief actually uses what he stole, you deserved it.
ah! Nice, yea i hope the LP tells him to buzz off, he’s more ‘green party’ material.
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