Mike Gravel defects from Democratic Party to join Libertarian Party

A nice coincidence that I went to a local county clerk office to change my party affiliation from Republican (just to vote for Ron Paul in the closed primary) to Libertarian Party on Monday. And then I read the following...

Third Party Watch reports Mike Gravel, "long-shot" candidate of the Democratic Party, recently joined the Libertarian Party.

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Official web site of Libertarian Party 3/25/2008 press release:

Former U.S. Senator Mike Gravel joins Libertarian Party ranks

Believes Democrats are out of touch with American citizens

Washington, D.C. - Mike Gravel, a former Alaskan Senator and Democratic candidate for president, has joined the Libertarian Party.

"I'm joining the Libertarian Party because 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," says Gravel. "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; elites that reject the empowerment of American citizens I offered to the Democratic Party at the beginning of this presidential campaign with the National Initiative for Democracy."

Gravel served in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1981. Most recently, Gravel was a Democratic presidential candidate, though forced out of national debates by Democratic Party leadership and the media. Gravel officially became a member of the Libertarian Party today.

Gravel is the most recent former member of Congress to switch to the Libertarian Party. In 2006, former Republican Congressman Bob Barr joined the Libertarian Party.

"It is a distinct honor to have another former member of Congress within the Libertarian Party," says Barr. "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, and that the only way we have of effecting that change is by supporting and working in the Libertarian Party, which is the only political party in America that consistently works in word and deed to maximize individual liberty and minimize government power."

"We're honored to have a former member of the United States Senate join our ranks," says Libertarian Party Executive Director Shane Cory. “Senator Gravel has a sincere dedication to empowering the American people and eliminating the corrupting influence of the two major parties. His switch from the Democratic Party, as well as former Congressman Barr’s abandonment of the GOP, shows that the Libertarian Party is truly a big tent organization moving firmly in the direction of Liberty.”

The Libertarian Party is America's third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.lp.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

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Almost a year ago, I signed up at Unity08 web site (since defunct due to lack of interest). I picked two names on the dream ticket:

Ron Paul & Mike Gravel

How nice of Mike's offer to place Dr Paul a position as...Secretary of Defense.

If Mike Gravel is on the Libertarian Party ballot, then I will probably cast a ballot for him instead of Nader/Gonzalez provided Ron Paul's candidacy vanish from the ballot (write-in barely count).

I wish Obama would consider Gravel for Vice President (despite their disagreement on foreign policy issue), but reality says non because the majority of the Democratic Party consider Mr Gravel the equivalent of a "crazy uncle" (as unwelcome and mocking reception at Daily Kos show).

I wish Mike good luck in his quest to improve the chance to win presidency. There isn't the race this intense since 1912 with Republican Party candidate for re-election Howard Taft, Bull Moose (Progressive) Party Theodore Roosevelt, Socialist Party Eugene V. Debs and Democratic Party Dr. Woodrow Wilson.