http://www.gravel2008.us/?q=node/332http://www.gravel2008.us/bioAMERICA’S LOST VISION
By Senator Mike Gravel
February 3, 2007
Winter Meeting, Democratic National Committee
Governor Dean. As a lifelong Democrat––proud when my party did great things and occasionally ashamed when it did the wrong things––I honor and commend your leadership in rebuilding the party in every corner of this nation. Even more, you have my respect for your earlier and outspoken opposition to the Iraq war in your own presidential candidacy.
I plan to speak truth to power today. You, the delegates, have the power to decide who will be the Democratic nominee. I also plan to speak truth to the American people, who have the power to choose the next President of the United State.
But first, I have one small favor to ask of all of you. Whenever anyone raises the question of my age in this campaign, please point out that Washington is in great need of adult supervision.
Permit me to introduce my wife Whitney, the love of my life, and my sister Marie. Between them with the iconic hat, is Granny “D,” Doris Haddock, my strongest supporter in New Hampshire. Other candidates may have large campaign bank accounts; I’ll take Granny “D” on my side.
Fairness. Freedom. Justice. Morality. Opportunity. Peace. All goals of our Founding Fathers and concepts central to the character of most Americans.
Our Founders envisioned the People and their political leaders working together to nurture these goals and to shape these concepts from generation to generation. Unfortunately, early on, in a compromise to perpetuate the evil institution of slavery in the Constitution, the People lost their power to amend the Constitution and make laws. The compromisers knew the People would not ratify a Constitution that legalized slavery and would outlaw it if they had lawmaking powers. The results of this moral compromise brought about the primacy of representative government and its monopoly on lawmaking power.
History teaches us that nations fail when leaders fail their people. The decision to invade Iraq without provocation and fraudulently sold to the American people, by a President consumed with messianic purpose, sadly confirms this lesson of history.
The Democrats controlled the Senate on October 11, 2002 and provided political cover for George Bush to invade Iraq. The Senate leadership could have refused to even take up the resolution, or a few Senators who opposed it could have mounted a filibuster.
But the fear of opposing a popular warrior President on the eve of a mid-term election prevailed. Political calculations trumped morality, and the Middle East was set ablaze. The Democrats lost in the election anyway, but the American people lost even more. It was Politics as Usual.
Given the extreme importance of any decision to go to war, and I am anguished to say this,
it’s my opinion that anyone who voted for the war on October 11––
based on what President Bush represented––is not qualified to hold the office of President.
Political leaders must bring two qualities to any public office: political integrity and moral judgment.
If political calculations trump morality and occasion substantial loss of human life, it reveals the sense of moral responsibility these candidates are likely to bring to the office of President.
Saying “I would not have voted for the resolution if I had known the mess it would create”––or worse, saying “the decision was right but Bush botched the job”––is inadequate rationale for a person who may hold the most powerful political position in the world. Presidents have moral responsibility for the life and death of millions of people.
Politics as Usual is not acceptable for the presidency.
I feel I am entitled to raise this issue because when I served in the Senate, during the Vietnam War, I spoke truth to power.
I officially released the Pentagon Papers, and as a result, Richard Nixon sued me all the way to the Supreme Court.
I successfully filibustered to force an end to the military draft.
I filibustered alone and with others to end the appropriations for the Vietnam War. Those are my credentials.
I’ve been there and know how hard it is to oppose the majority of your peers.
I ask that you hold other presidential candidates to the same standard.
Political leaders who had the opportunity and the power to stop the Iraq war before
it could get started and did nothing–– allowed it to happen...
more at link....
http://www.gravel2008.us/
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