Lagging in Democratic Presidential Field, Mike Gravel Kicks Ass in Halo 3

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Lagging in Democratic Presidential Field, Mike Gravel Kicks Ass in Halo 3

November 18, 2007

Former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel's longshot bid for the Democratic presidential nomination may be in its death throes, but his first-person shooter skills are world-class.

At least, that's the premise behind a new parody video, as reported by Raw Story:

The white-haired onetime lawmaker made a cameo in a short episode of Elevator, produced by the online comedy troupe Runaway Box.

In the episode, a character complains about how he was "owned ... all night" by an Xbox Live player with the gamertag "giveemhellGravel." Gravel shows up in the elevator where the scene is set and admits his prowess in the popular first-person shooter...

Whether the cameo -- which had nearly 10,000 views on YouTube early Friday -- will help Gravel's campaign remains to be seen, but he's apparently won at least one convert.

"After watching this, I'd vote for the guy!" writes Louis Wu on a Halo fan site.

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Comments

Submitted by LightWarrrior - November 19, 2007 at 12:16 am -0500

@Mark and Jabrwock.

To have the confidence to let himself be seen as someone other than a boring, stuffed-shirt jerk who can actually cut loose and embrace jokes made as his own expense… that, in my opinion, spoke well of the man. But that’s just me.

I agree. It shows that they can handle their public image. It shows they are mature. It shows you don't have to have a "perfect" life history and background to be elected or a perfert image in general.

Most politians these days strive to show her most perfect sides and try to hide the dark sides of their life.....and that politcal ad bashing...negetive ads...always there to show that hidden dark side of their lives.

I think the public might also to be blamed for this maybe too if the usually do base part or half of their vote on a canidates "perfectiveness" in life...

Hell I bet if we have more outspoke politians who imbrace what they done in life instead of shunning it and showing th public they are humans too. We'd have less negetive ads.....and these people would certainly have my vote.

I want to vote for human's.....Being human is not being perfect. That so many politans try to show themselves as.

Submitted by SounDemon - November 18, 2007 at 3:53 pm -0500

I'd vote for him too.

Submitted by SounDemon - November 18, 2007 at 3:56 pm -0500

Sorry for double post, but
"I had the Energy Sword, what did he expect?"
=-P

P.S. Edit button would be nice.

Submitted by Phoenix, Filmmaker - November 18, 2007 at 3:57 pm -0500

Just searched for gamertag "giveemhellGravel" on Bungie.net and xbox.com, not there. Could be a lie, or they didn't want to give out his real gamertag.

Submitted by scot - November 18, 2007 at 4:18 pm -0500

you mean this is not real?!?!!

:(

Submitted by Soul - November 18, 2007 at 4:19 pm -0500

Lolz!

Funny stuff there :p .

Submitted by Dan - November 18, 2007 at 4:48 pm -0500

I don't see why this is a surprise. Lot of older folks play games. Stephen Hawking is an expert in Quake.

Submitted by Anonymous - November 18, 2007 at 5:03 pm -0500

I'd vote for the guy for trying to appeal to a youger demographic.

Submitted by Mad_Scientist - November 18, 2007 at 5:15 pm -0500

Kind of amusing, I guess the guy has a sense of humor at least.

Submitted by Lovely - November 18, 2007 at 5:38 pm -0500

Some overacting on the part of the young guys, but that was really cute overall XD . Kudos to Mr. Gravel for taking part in this though!

Submitted by Lovely - November 18, 2007 at 5:39 pm -0500

Also, it's nice to see ANYBODY in politics who doesn't follow the flock in the belief that all games = TEH EVIL.

Submitted by Salen - November 18, 2007 at 5:50 pm -0500

Hah. Thats funny. He has no chance of winning the election but I do appreciate him connecting with us gamers who play Halo 3. Guess when a game is that popular, its hard not to reach out to the players.

Submitted by Awol - November 18, 2007 at 6:33 pm -0500

the tag is "givemhellGravel" one e in the giveem part.

Submitted by RandomViewer - November 18, 2007 at 6:47 pm -0500

I'd vote for him. Can't be any worse then the morons we have now.

Submitted by chadachada - November 18, 2007 at 7:20 pm -0500

im still voting for Ron Paul, but this guy is 2nd on my list

Submitted by Garret - November 18, 2007 at 7:21 pm -0500

that's funny, but not as funny as when I found out my french teacher is an ex navy seal and plays both diablo II and dungeons and dragons..

Submitted by Garret - November 18, 2007 at 7:23 pm -0500

damnit, website ate the first half of my post, what i said was echoing that a lot of older people play video games, I read somewhere that Stephan Colbert is a big player of halo.

Submitted by Mark Dage - November 18, 2007 at 7:34 pm -0500

I actually had much more respect for Al Gore after he appeared on SNL for an evening chock full of making fun of himself and his own public image. If he'd have done that before the election I'd wager he would have had a much better turnout, Florida ballots notwithstanding. To have the confidence to let himself be seen as someone other than a boring, stuffed-shirt jerk who can actually cut loose and embrace jokes made as his own expense... that, in my opinion, spoke well of the man. But that's just me.

Yes, I think it would be fun to see some leading political figures actually be seen with active gamer habits, even if it was just an hour or two every now and then.

Seriously, if your senator or representative threw a district-wide LAN party for charity (e.g., $10/player for cancer research) or something... and actually no-shit participated themselves (and did well, proving they've been practicing a while,) what would you think?

Perhaps someday soon we will see someone in power (not a spouse, child, or relative) in the White House who also can't wait for the latest games to come out. ;-)

Only time (and votes) will tell...

Submitted by Evan - November 18, 2007 at 7:45 pm -0500

It was really funny

but...

there is no way I am voting for Gravel.

Obamarama! :)

Submitted by JustChris - November 18, 2007 at 8:42 pm -0500

I don't understand why Mike Gravel doesn't get all the attention he deserves. He's the Ron Paul of the Democratic party. I guess it's easier to be popular when your best front runner you got is Guiliani instead of Clinton or Obama.

Submitted by startrekmike - November 18, 2007 at 8:43 pm -0500

This is really nice to see after pretty much knowing that every other choice on the list is either against media or unspoken about it.

I am so angry that the debates because all the questions are in reference to about three or four actual issues...we don't really know where alot of the folks stand on media censorship (except good ole hillary)...this kind of thing could be dangerous.

I will vote for gravel even if I know he will lose...I support his ideas and he has the credentials to back them up.

Mike

Submitted by JustChris - November 18, 2007 at 9:41 pm -0500

Mike will surely lose, but he's using his time to get his opinion out, not necessarily to win the nomination. I think it's just timing that led me to support Gravel more than Ron Paul. I was first exposed to Gravel in CNN, out of all places, talking about how the American economy is about to quickly spiral downward and it's the number one issue that our country should tackle. He's all for almost total military isolationism and that might sound crazy to some. But even the world's richest nation get its bottlenecks.

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight - November 18, 2007 at 10:52 pm -0500

I just watched this and it is hilarious. I like it when candidates show a little human side.

Submitted by Jabrwock - November 18, 2007 at 11:06 pm -0500

@Mark

To have the confidence to let himself be seen as someone other than a boring, stuffed-shirt jerk who can actually cut loose and embrace jokes made as his own expense… that, in my opinion, spoke well of the man. But that’s just me.

That's why CDN Prime Minister Harper refuses to go to the annual press dinner and mock himself. Because he IS a boring, stuffed-shirt jerk who can't cut loose and embrace jokes made at his own expense...

That and he thinks the media is a liberal left-wing conspiracy created by communists... /rolleyes

Submitted by Phoenix, Filmmaker - November 19, 2007 at 12:35 am -0500

@ AWOL

Still no such Halo player...there is however the gamertag, though it was created the same day the video was made and has 0 gamer score. Oh well.

http://live.xbox.com/en-US/profile/profile.aspx?pp=0&GamerTag=givemhellG...

Submitted by Robert - November 19, 2007 at 2:26 am -0500

@Jabrwock: I'm guessing you haven't seen Rick Mercer's 24 Sussex Sleepover. It's pretty far from cutting loose, but there are quite a few jokes at his own expense.

Submitted by -=}{oT~dEv1L 666=- - November 19, 2007 at 3:27 am -0500

Who's this Mike Gravel guy? Sorry, but I'm not from America.

Submitted by Pandralisk - November 19, 2007 at 9:38 am -0500

Haha, Gravel is such a zany old badass. I'd take him over Hillary or Obama any day of the week.

Submitted by The Sisko - November 21, 2007 at 12:55 pm -0500

I have to agree with JustChris here - why don't more Democratic voters understand that Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich are the Ron Paul/Libertarian choices the blue have? They are more interested in pressing matters that really affect this country instead of big money showboating and corporate bedfellows. I would love to vote for a woman or a person of ethnic background, but unfortunately neither seems willing to embrace the kind of radical change we need. Anyways, just wanted to throw those names out there for other voters looking for candidates that aren't jumping on the "games are bad" float and offer radically different viewpoints, whether they be red or blue :)