Spin Alley
Jun 28th, 2007 at 11:02 pm by Susie
Man, what a crazy scene. It looks like a convention - signs marking the area for each campaign staff, TV lights, camera flashes going off.
Only a few of the actual candidates are back here - Kucinich, Richardson, Dodd and Gravel. I listen in as someone asks Kuchinich about the black vote.
“I think we have great potential in the black community,” he says, smiling.
“So what did you mean by that last comment?” I ask Gravel (who, until he answers, I think of as the Crazy Guy).
“You mean when I said they don’t have the moral standing? They don’t,” he said. “Not one of them did anything to stop this war.”
Dennis Kucinich did, I remind him. He waves a hand.
“Okay, Dennis. But Dennis doesn’t have the clout they have. In four years, the best they can come up with is a symbolic vote? Not one of them is actually trying to stop this war. This is hypocrisy to the highest degree.”
And suddenly, he doesn’t sound quite so crazy, after all. I found this quote from him:
The inability to admit a mistake and assume responsibility is not just a morally bankrupt way to walk through life; it is a dangerous and deadly way to lead a nation. When I am president, I will open up all secret files relating to the Iraq war and expose all officials who lied to the public in promoting it. (That’s right, Dick, your files too.) My Justice Department will prosecute everyone who lied under oath or ripped off the American taxpayer by exploiting the Iraq reconstruction effort. And I will pardon to no one.
I know that, for most, Gravel is still the odd man out. He’s the only candidate that makes sense to me. But, it is an uphill climb for him to get his message out.
As noted elsewhere: Gravel is right. A little thought to his recent TV spot, from a Northwestern tradition - have you ever been so pissed off you couldn’t speak? Just stand there in contempt and disgust, look, shake your head, at a complete loss. W.T.F.!?
If this is the best the dems have to offer, we are well and truly screwed.