HRC/Logo debate attracts leading candidates, omits Gravel

Four Democratic presidential candidates are now confirmed to participate in the first-ever televised primary debate about LGBT issues, sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign and Logo. Senators Hillary Clinton, Christopher Dodd, and Barack Obama and former senator John Edwards will attend the event, to be held August 9 in Los Angeles. But one candidate, former senator Mike Gravel, was not invited to the debate because he didn't meet the fund-raising threshold for participants.

HRC spokesman Brad Luna said HRC and Logo initially set out to sponsor two different forums, one for Republican candidates and one for Democratic candidates.

“The precondition we set before those forums could be confirmed was that two out of the three leading candidates would have to confirm their attendance,” Luna said. On the Republican side, Mitt Romney declined the invitation, and Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain never responded, so the GOP forum never got off the ground.

On the Democratic side, once the precondition was met with the top candidates, Luna said they set a standard for additional candidates requiring them to have raised a minimum of $100,000 in the first quarter of this year.

Of the eight Democratic presidential candidates, only Gravel had not reached that fund-raising bar. For the period ended March 31, Gravel had raised just under $35,000 from outside sources and thus was not considered—although his aides say he has now raised over $100,000 to date.

“For us, it was a matter of viability—how much fund-raising support are you receiving for your campaign,” said Luna.

But Gravel campaign officials were outraged by the omission. “We don’t recognize the legitimacy of this money criteria,” said David Eisenbach, a senior adviser to Gravel. “Mike has repeatedly said that money is the main source of corruption in American politics. For the HRC to kick Mike out of the debate based on money is a disservice to the gay and lesbian community.”

Eisenbach noted that Gravel has some of the most pro-gay stances of any presidential candidate: He’s in favor of same-sex marriage, supports repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and wants to issue an apology to all gay service members who have been discharged under it, and he is the only candidate to have marched in a gay pride parade this year.

“This is censorship of the worst kind,” said Gravel, adding that he was originally to be omitted from the New Hampshire debates in June but ended up participating after CNN and other debate sponsors reversed course.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, the other pro–marriage equality candidate, has not confirmed his attendance yet, and neither has New Mexico governor Bill Richardson. Sen. Joe Biden has declined the invitation based on scheduling conflicts. (Kerry Eleveld, The Advocate)