Interview With Former Senator Mike Gravel, Presidential Candidate

Of all the presidential forerunners, Mike Gravel might be the one most likely, or the one who most needs, to read The Consumerist. He's done battle with the credit card industry, and creditors, both in public office and in private life.

Off the radar since his 1981 senatorial re-election defeat, the former Senator Gravel (D-Alaska) is a clear long-shot. Still, history will remember Gravel for running a five-month filibuster that lead to the draft expiring during the Vietnam War, and for inserting the Pentagon Papers into the public record.

On Tuesday night we chatted with Mike over drinks at Manhattan's Commodore Grill.

CONSUMERIST: One issue that comes up in the Consumerist a lot is credit card industry reform. Do you think they're predators?

GRAVEL: The credit card industry. Look, they are predators... I just had an overdraft protection-- they were charging us 19 percent-- and I went there and paid it all off. They wouldn't close my account that day. Before I finally could, they charged me another 34%... even though I'd already paid off the credit card. Now, how are you gonna deal with corporations that screw you like that? You can't, it'd be too expensive. So you pay it, even though you feel violated.

continue reading »