Gravel Drops Out After Talks with Obama.

If only Hillary could be this pragmatic.

Mike Gravel has announced his intention to drop out of the presidential race after holding a meeting with Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama.

Gravel, who switched parties to run as a Libertarian on March 26th, stated that his decision was the result of a pledge from Obama to adopt the National Initiative for Democracy. The National Initiative, which would allow citizens to propose, alter, or nullify laws in conjunction with traditional legislative bodies, has been the cornerstone of Gravel's presidential run.

This is obviously a way for Obama to illustrate the new kind of politics which he has been promising and an Obama aid has pointed out how successful this has been in other countries where it has been tried.

The aide also stressed the importance of the National Initiative in setting the Obama campaign apart from that of Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. "Countries like Switzerland have shown that federal ballot initiatives can produce sound lawmaking," she said. "It's time that a major candidate for president got behind a serious proposal to entrust the people with the same power we place in the hands of our elected leaders. By adopting the National Initiative, Senator Obama is sending a clear signal that he trusts the American people to have a more direct role in their government."

Gravel, obviously considerate of the fact some of his supporters might feel aggrieved, has urged them to see the National Initiative as a prize worth working with Obama to achieve.

Before announcing his intent to bow out of the race for the presidency, Senator Gravel discussed his meeting with Barack Obama. "Stop and think," Gravel told reporters. "This is a real chance to empower the American people by giving them the ability to make laws. 24 states already have ballot initiatives that give the people the same power as their representatives without dramatically changing the way our government works.

The National Initiative is obviously important for Gravel as he is still insisting that he will not accept any offer to be in Obama’s cabinet, which doesn’t really surprise me, as he has already referred to Obama as being beholden to "corporatocracy" and "the military-industrial complex".

At least Gravel’s sticking to his principles. He’s not like that other person who offers the VP to someone who she has already described as being unfit for the job.



Hat tip for this video to The Largest Minority.

Click title for full article.

Tags: Mike Gravel, Barack Obama, US election 2008