thoughtmechanics

I just came across this video of Mike Gravel crashing a taxi cab while being interviewed by the today show. Anyway, I downloaded it and uploaded it to youtube for you to see.

The following is the full transcript of the segment as it occurred on the August 1, “Today” show:

Matt Lauer: “This morning we are starting a new series called Candidate Cribs. A chance to get to know the human side of the presidential candidates. Take them back to the places that were important to them in the past. NBC’s Jonathan Alter took a ride with Democratic contender, former Senator Mike Gravel. And let’s just say the Senator did a bang-up job.”

[On screen headline: "Candidate Cribs, Cruising With Mike Gravel"]

Jonathan Alter: “Mike Gravel.”

Mike Gravel, behind the wheel of a cab: “American people are fed up with the partisanship. They’re fed up with the phoniness and if I’m hitting it right, I’ll become President.”

Alter: “Former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel, now 77, drove a Checker Cab in New York in the 1950s, while attending Columbia University. So we decided to rent him a Checker and ride with him up to his alma mater. Did you ever get jumped or in any accidents?”

Gravel: “Twice, no, never had an accident. I was lucky, knock on something.”

Alter: “Gravel is best remembered for helping end the Vietnam era draft with a filibuster and for reading the Pentagon Papers in the Senate. Now, after a quarter-century out of politics, he’s an angry Rip Van Winkle.”

Gravel: “I know how to get out of Iraq. I know how to affect the solution, it’s a diplomatic solution.”

Alter: “Careful! Ohh!”

Gravel: “Hang on!”

Off-camera voice: “Okay, we’re okay.”

Gravel: “Where’s the-[bleeps]”

Off-camera voice: “The brakes went out.”

Alter: “It turns out the Checker we rented didn’t exactly have the best brakes.”

Gravel: “Wait a second, let me press it to see if the fluid goes out. Okay?”

Alter: “Gravel the cabbie, may be a little rusty but not Gravel the politician.”

Gravel: “If we set the tone we’re gonna see a better result in the world than the tone of imperialism, violence and war that we have been setting. Can I say it more emphatically?”

Alter: “When we arrive at Columbia, a warm welcome.”

[Footage of students with signs cheering for Gravel]

Gravel: “Let’s go find a place to talk.”

Alter: “His message? Accountability with real teeth.”

[Camera close-up on sign reading: "Columbia Democrats Say...End The War!"]

Gravel: “The sooner we put some of our leaders in jail for what we do to the people, the sooner we’re gonna stop people doing that!”

Alter: “A ride on the wild side with Mike Gravel. For ‘Today,’ Jonathan Alter, NBC News, New York.”