DEARBORN — Progressive U.S. presidential candidate Mike Gravel spoke to students at the University of Michigan–Dearborn Thursday, as the only Democratic candidate willing to campaign in Michigan.
The former senator from Alaska later had lunch at the New Yasmeen Bakery with members of the Arab Student Union.
"I think it's very stupid what (Democratic National Committee Chairman) Howard Dean has done to punish Michigan and punish Florida," Gravel said about the boycott of Michigan by the rest of the Democrats, refusing to campaign in the state because it moved its primary to Jan. 15 in violation of national party rules.
Considered the longest of long shot candidates, Gravel's campaign is known primarily for its humorous, unconventional Internet ads and videos, including one YouTube hit in which he stares silently at the camera before tossing a large rock into a pond and walking away.
In his speech at the university, the anti-war liberal spoke strongly against military action against Iran, which, he said, hasn't been to war in 110 years, "except against Saddam Hussein, who invaded them at our suggestion."
He said he hopes Michigan voters will keep the absence of other candidates in mind when they go to the polls in January, and that he hopes to "end the power of the military industrial complex in this country."
Gravel offered up perspectives and ideas from the left rarely heard from candidates, including a plan to convert all fuel stations and automobiles from gasoline to liquid hydrogen within five years.
In an NPR radio debate among Democrats on Tuesday, Gravel described Hamas and Hizbullah as "two elected organizations."
"We give unlimited aid to Israel," he said. "They [Hamas and Hizbullah] are fighting for their rights."
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