Mike has affected the thinking of a number of front runner candidates. He reflects the 1% of us Americans who wish to live in peace and allow other people and nations to do what they wish. This country is a militaristic state with Bush leading the way. If you squelch him you squelch us. So far your way hasn't worked. It has lead to war and our children lost for economic gains! Come on Tim Russert(NBC Guru!) get Senator Gravel on your show(
It is important to get a good cross-section of candidates in a debate, so Mr. Gravel should not be excluded, even if he has raised less money than some of the other Democratic candidates.
Let this man speak. Gravel was in every single Democratic debate, and if he filed for and was approved by the FEC, than let this man speak! It's freedom of speech!
It doesn't matter if you support Mike Gravel or not (even though I do). It's ridiculous that you need to make a certain amount of money just to be heard. Are we trying to encourage candidates to take giant amounts of money from lobbyists that they then have to pay back once they're in office? This is why our political system becomes more and more corrupt every year...
Mike Gravel is the best candidate out there, he like all other candidates should be given an even equal chance. Debates should not consist of candidates who can
I may not agree with all of Mike Gravels view, but I really appreciate hearing his opinions. This is what democracy is all about, leting alternative views be heard. Let Mike Participate!!!
Shame on the Democratic National Committee. Money should not be the determining factor as to whether a legitimate candidate can speak. How can they rise in the polls if they can't get their message and issues out via the mainstream media.
He's the best candidate. He's needed at the debate to make the major candidates sweat and to make the minor ones wish they were more interesting and controversial!
Mike Gravel is a very strong candidate and deserves a chance to show Americans what he stands for. To me, His strongest attribute is the fact that he doesn't have $40 million!
Let Mike debate. He is the people's candidate. No other candidate is capable of his straight talk. Unlike the other candidates,based on his legislative accomplishments alon, he is a True Patriotic Hero. Compare his record to theirs.
msnbc probably does not like gravel very much because he called out hillary publically, and they are one of her biggest supporters. regardless gravel is a representative of the democratic party and deserves the right to be present and heard on oct. 30th.
To exclude any serious presidential candidate from a debate because he hadn't raised enough money would be a travesty and an insult to the tenets upon which our forefathers founded this democracy.
The only way for the United States to avoid becoming a failed state is for the people to pick up the pieces that the government has left behind and empower themselves as lawmakers to fix that which government cannot due to beauracracy and business interests.
Money should NOT be a criterion for determining who gets airtime in a presidential debate. MSNBC, please show you value democratic ideals, freedom of speech, and an open political process by allowing Mike Gravel to participate in your October 30th debate.
I request that Mike Gravel be invited to the DNC debate taking place Oct. 30, 2007. EVERY candidate has the right to be heard whether they have met fundraising and poll requirements or not. It is a shame that Mike Gravel is not being allowed to participate in the debate.
Gravel's honesty is a needed counter to most of the other mealymouthed, milquetoast Democratic candidates, and he should be included in the debate both by virtue of the merit of his ideas and by virtue of the fact that he will make the other candidates play up to the level of their competition. Let the gentleman from Alaska have his say. We will all be better off for it.
I read the A.P. article. Mr. Todd's reason for excluding Mr. Gravel was vague and appeared arbitrary. This isn't helpful. Also, having millions of dollars to spend should not be a requirement for being invited. The people of this country should be allowed to hear him, especially since many of the policies of the other Democratic candidates that he has criticized are policies which are opposed by a majority of the American people and a large majority of the people in the Democratic Party. I'm writing to Chuck Todd and to Howard Dean.
