GRAVEL. Thinking about Sam‘s post yesterday, why is Mike Gravel included in the debates? Dennis Kucinich, at least, is a sitting congressman, and a leading member of an important caucus in the House of Representatives. Mike Gravel was a Senator from Alaska. In the 70s.. And unlike the threat Sharpton posed — or was assumed to pose — in 2004, Gravel’s exclusion will not lead aging white men to believe the Democratic Party is hostile towards their involvement. So why not take this guy out? He’s running a single issue candidacy on a platform that may well be unconstitutional and he takes time that could be used for more serious candidates to disseminate their message. What merits his inclusion?

—Ezra Klein

Ezra Klein is a former Prospect writer and current editor-in-chief at Vox. His work has appeared in the LA Times, The Guardian, The Washington Monthly, The New Republic, Slate, and The Columbia Journalism Review. He’s been a commentator on MSNBC, CNN, NPR, and more.