Mike Gravel (Lib) - 2008 Election

Last updated on: 6/3/2009 9:46:00 AM PST

Mike Gravel (Lib)

[Editor's Note: Mike Gravel lost the Libertarian Party presidential nomination on May 25, 2008. On May 27, 2008 his website indicated that his career in active politics is now over. ProCon.org called Gravel's campaign on May 28, 2008 and confirmed this information by phone. ProCon.org stopped updating his profile as of that date.]

Mike Gravel

Libertarian Presidential Candidate
Former US Senator (D-AK)

Statements on the Issues

Biography

All Candidate Summary Chart
(PDF version also available.)

Mike Gravel's Statements on the Issues Positions are categorized as Pro, Con, Not Clearly Pro or Con, or None Found.

Abortion:	"Should abortion remain a legal option in America?"	Top
Pro: "Yes. Senator Gravel supports a woman's right to choose." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Nov. 9, 2007
Abortion:	"Should parental consent be required for pregnant minors to have abortions?"	Top
None Found: ProCon.org emailed the Gravel campaign on Feb. 22, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Feb. 29, 2008.
Character:	"Is competence more important than honesty in a President?"	Top
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Fairness. Freedom. Justice. Morality. Opportunity. Peace. All goals of our Founding Fathers and concepts central to the character of most Americans... Political leaders must bring two qualities to any public office: political integrity and moral judgment." "America's Lost Vision," speech at the Democratic National Committee Winter Conference 2007, Feb. 3, 2007
China:	"Is China a threat to the US?"	Top
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "[Michele] Norris: And that's where we'd like to start, and I'd like to pose a question to many of you. Given China's size, its muscular manufacturing capabilities, its military buildup, at this point - and also including its large trade deficit - at this point, who has more leverage, China or the US?... [Mike Gravel: ] The tremendous increase in their defense. They're only 10 percent of American defense. They haven't had a tremendous increase. Ten percent of our defense. And I want to take all of them to task. Clearly, none of them are running for China - president of China - because this amount of demagoguery is shameful. Here, the Chinese people have a problem. And when we continue this rhetoric of beggar thy neighbor, where our interests always come first, there should be the interests of human beings, the interests of human beings." Democratic Presidential Debate, hosted by NPR, Des Moines, IA, Dec. 4, 2007
China:	"Should the US impose economic sanctions on China as an incentive to improve its human rights policies?"	Top
None Found: ProCon.org emailed the Gravel campaign on Jan. 21, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Jan. 30, 2008.
Cuba:	"Should the US continue to support an embargo against Cuba?"	Top
Con: "No. Senator Gravel does not support the Cuban embargo." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Nov. 9, 2007
Darfur:	"Should the US send any American forces, with or without the UN, to the Darfur region of Sudan to stop the genocide?"	Top
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Question: I'm Gabriel. And I'm Connie, from a refugee camp near Darfur. Before you answer this question, imagine yourself the parent of one of these children. What action do you commit to that will get these children back home to a safe Darfur and not letting it be yet another empty promise? [Anderson] Cooper: Governor Richardson, what are you going to do? Would you commit American troops?...Senator Gravel? [Mike] Gravel: The problem goes a little bit deeper than that. It's because we haven't owned up to our responsibilities to a sense of global governance. And so now, you've got a situation with the United States of America, as Joe says, wants to go in, but the African nations don't want us there. What's the message? They're afraid of us. They're flat afraid of us." CNN/YouTube Democratic Presidential Debate, Charleston, SC, July 23, 2007
Death Penalty:	"Should the death penalty remain a legal option in America?"	Top
Con: "No, Senator Gravel is opposed to capital punishment." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Nov. 9, 2007
Economy:	"Is outsourcing jobs to other countries good for America?"	Top
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "...[O]utsourcing is not the problem. What is the problem is our trade agreements that we have that benefit the management and, of course, the shareholders, and have neglected on either side of the issue, whether it's in Mexico or in other countries or the United States. That's the problem that must be addressed. So, no, it's not outsourcing. But I would add to it, it's the way all of these people want to finance health care, on the backs of businesses, that make them uncompetitive in the world. That's part of the problem. And our system of taxation is also part of the problem because it makes us uncompetitive in the world.." All-American Presidential Forum, hosted by PBS, Howard University, Washington, D.C., June 28, 2007
Economy:	"Should the US include mandatory regulations for labor rights in free trade agreements?"	Top
None Found: ProCon.org emailed the Gravel campaign on Dec. 13, 2007 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Jan. 10, 2008.
Economy:	"Has the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had an overall benefit for the US?"	Top
Con: "The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been a disaster for the working class of both the US and Mexico and a boon to the international corporate interests. A study by the Economic Policy Institute found that over 1 million US jobs were lost as a result of NAFTA, a third of them manufacturing jobs." "How Mike Stands on the Issues," Mike Gravel's official candidate website (accessed Mar. 17, 2008)
Education:	"Has the No Child Left Behind Act been effective at improving public education?"	Top
Con: "No Child Left Behind is a failure. Our whole system of education is in trouble. All of the stakeholders are all at fault -- a third of our children don't graduate from high school. That is appalling." "Election '08: Talk with the Candidates" washingtonpost.com, Oct. 16, 2007
Education:	"Is the increasing cost of college and university tuition pricing America's middle class out of higher education?"	Top
Pro: "Yes. Major funds now appropriated for the Pentagon should be redirected to pay for higher education." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Oct. 19, 2007
Education:	"Should the federal government fund school voucher programs?"	Top
Pro: "...I have no problem with vouchers in education. I think we need competition in education." Radio interview with Mike Malloy, Nova-M Radio Network, July 11, 2007
Election Reform:	"Should voter verified paper audit trails (VVPAT) be mandatory in elections?"	Top
Pro: "Yes, to ensure that no more Presidential elections are stolen." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Oct. 19, 2007
Election Reform:	"Should there be restrictions on campaign contributions?"	Top
None Found: ProCon.org emailed the Gravel campaign on Dec. 13, 2007 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Jan. 10, 2008.
Election Reform:	"Should the election campaigns of candidates for public office be publicly financed?"	Top
Pro: "...My colleagues have all said that they want public financing...and I asked for a pledge from all of them to immediately obey the law we have on the books to use public financing." Democratic Presidential Debate, Des Moines, IA, Aug. 19, 2007
Eminent Domain:	"Should federal or state government be allowed to use eminent domain laws to take private property for non-public use?"	Top
None Found: ProCon.org emailed the Gravel campaign on Apr. 23, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of May 28, 2008.
Energy:	"Should drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) be allowed?"	Top
Con: "No. The Federal Government should be moving away from fossil fuels." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Oct. 19, 2007
Energy:	"Should the US tap into its emergency oil reserves to help bring down the price of gasoline?"	Top
Con: "There's nothing I would do as President to lower the price of gasoline right now. We Americans have to grow up. If we want to get off of the dependency on the Middle East we have to own up to the problem. These things cost money. They're controlling our society. And the sooner we stop fighting these wars -- here, stop and think: You only see $3. Just watch those wheels turn. There's another $4 -- which is what we spend to keep American troops around the world to keep the price. So you're paying more than $7 a gallon, you just don't know it." Democratic Presidential Debate, Manchester, NH, June 3, 2007
Environment:	"Should the US ratify an international environmental agreement (such as the Kyoto Protocol) that mandates reductions in carbon emissions?"	Top
Pro: "Yes, and implement a carbon tax." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Nov. 9, 2007
Environment:	"Should the federal government mandate an increase in fuel efficiency standards for automobiles?"	Top
Pro: "Now, first off, I would [raise] CAFE [Corporate Average Fuel Economy] standards immediately - say that within three to five years you're going to have the same standard as Europe. End of story" "How Green Is Your Candidate?" Outside Online (accessed Jan. 10, 2008)
Environment:	"Are humans substantially responsible for global climate change today?"	Top
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Senator Gravel believes that global climate change is a matter of national security and survivability of the planet. As President, he will act swiftly to reduce America's carbon footprint in the world by initiating legislation to tax carbon at the source and cap carbon emissions." "How Mike Stands on the Issues," Mike Gravel's official candidate website (accessed Mar. 18, 2008)
Gun Control:	"Are more federal regulations on guns and ammunition needed?"	Top
Con: "No." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Nov. 9, 2007
Health Care:	"Should all Americans have a right to government or employer subsidized basic health care?"	Top
Pro: "Health care is a right, not a privilege. My plan, called the Healthcare Security System, creates a truly universal health care program where an annual certificate is issued to each American to cover his or her basic health care costs." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Oct. 19, 2007
Health Care:	"Should Americans be allowed to purchase their prescription drugs from other countries?"	Top
None Found: ProCon.org emailed the Gravel campaign on Dec. 13, 2007 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Jan. 10, 2008.
Immigration:	"Are illegal immigrants a net gain to the US economy?"	Top
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Right now, Latino immigrants are America's new scapegoats... Do you think it?s a coincidence that our nation is in such a mess and our leaders are suddenly worried about undocumented workers?... Like all immigrants, Latinos have made our country stronger. And we need to bring them into the system ? not throw them out and bar the door... We should no longer tolerate the underground economy that allows employers to avoid social security taxes and abuse their workers." "Guest Voz: Senator Mike Gravel Declares: 'Latino Immigrants Are America's New Scapegoats,'" latinalista.net (accessed Jan. 30, 2008)
Immigration:	"Should illegal aliens receive any of the rights or benefits that lawful permanent residents enjoy?"	Top
None Found: ProCon.org emailed the Gravel campaign on Jan. 21, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Jan. 30, 2008.
Immigration:	"Should the US build a physical barrier, such as a fence, along the US-Mexico border?"	Top
Con: "Our nation's borders should not be fenced nor should they be militarized. We can beef-up the Border Patrol and the Coast Guard, if need be." "NH Insider's 10 Questions," NH [New Hampshire] Insider.com, May 21, 2006
Iran:	"Should the US use military force against Iran if Iran does not dismantle its nuclear program?"	Top
Con: "No. Iran is not in violation of international law, any airstrike on Iran would be in violation of international law." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Nov. 9, 2007
Iraq:	"Was it a mistake to attack Iraq in 2003?"	Top
Pro: "...[T]he war was wrong and was lost the moment we went in. This is a fraudulent war sold to the American people." Sunday Spotlight, CNN, May 21, 2007
Iraq War:	"Has the war in Iraq made America safer?"	Top
Con: "The opposite is true. The world is more dangerous as a result of the War in Iraq. The US military is bogged down in a war costing the taxpayers 2 billion dollars a week. I advocate a full military withdrawal from Iraq." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Oct. 19, 2007
Iraq War:	"Should the US set a timetable for troop withdrawal in Iraq?"	Top
Pro: "A complete withdrawal should commence immediately." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Oct. 19, 2007
Israel:	"Should Israel continue to receive the current level of military and economic aid from the US?"	Top
None Found: ProCon.org emailed the Gravel campaign on Jan. 21, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Jan. 30, 2008.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict:	"Should the US allow Hamas to join future Israeli-Palestinian negotiations?"	Top
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "The linchpin to long-term stability in the Middle East is the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian impasse. The US, along with its European and Asian allies, and regional players (to include Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan under the auspices of the United Nations) must sponsor direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, including Hamas. The negotiations, with the goal of a two-state solution, must be scheduled as soon as possible. Sponsoring nations and organizations would guarantee the demilitarized borders of both parties, would guarantee Israel's right to survive and thrive, and would make a commitment to the Palestinians to raise their economic standards to that of Israel. An accomplishment of this magnitude would go a long way to defusing the radical Islamic confrontation with the West." "Stepping Back From Imperialism: Redirecting American Foreign Policy," Mike Gravel's official candidate website, Nov. 2, 2006
Israel-Palestinian Conflict:	"Should there be an independent Palestinian state?"	Top
Pro: "The linchpin to long-term stability in the Middle East is the settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian impasse. The US, along with its European and Asian allies, and regional players (to include Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan under the auspices of the United Nations) must sponsor direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, including Hamas. The negotiations, with the goal of a two-state solution, must be scheduled as soon as possible." "Stepping Back from Imperialism: Redirecting American Foreign Policy," Mike Gravel's official candidate website, Nov. 2, 2006
Kosovo:	"Should the US have supported Kosovo's independence?"	Top
None Found: ProCon.org emailed the Gravel campaign on Mar. 11, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Mar. 21, 2008.
Marriage:	"Should there be a Constitutional amendment or federal law defining marriage as only between a man and a woman?"	Top
Con: "No. I support same-sex marriage." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Oct. 19, 2007
Marriage:	"Should an affair outside of marriage disqualify a candidate for public office?"	Top
None Found: ProCon.org emailed the Gravel campaign on Dec. 13, 2007 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Dec. 27, 2007.
Medical Marijuana:	"Should marijuana be a medical option?"	Top
Pro: "Marijuana should be made legal. Addiction is a public health issue, not a criminal issue. As such, it should be treated by health care professionals, not law enforcement." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Oct. 19, 2007
Medical Marijuana:	"Should the federal government stop raids against people for using medical marijuana in states where medical marijuana use is legal?"	Top
Pro: Q: "This afternoon the DEA [Drug Enforcement Administration] began extensive raids on medical marijuana facilities in California. Would you put an end to these raids?" Mike Gravel: "Totally...I would deregulate. I mean, there's nothing wrong with marijuana. It's not nearly as addictive as alcohol, and plus it has some health properties to it. So we deregulate marijuana, let you go buy it in a package store." "Mike Gravel on Federal Raids for Medical Marijuana," YouTube.com, Sep. 26, 2007
National ID:	"Should there be a national identification card?"	Top
Pro: "I have no problem with a national ID card. I know it disturbs a lot of people but you know something? I've got one in my wallet right now. It's called a license...All they can do is design a better ID card than this. A real serious ID card... Getting a better ID can protect you as an individual - it's not bad." "Mike Gravel on the Real ID Act (National ID Card)," Q&A forum with Mike Gravel in Tampa, FL, YouTube video, Sep. 8, 2007
National Service:	"Should the US institute a military draft?"	Top
Con: "In 1971, Senator Mike Gravel (D-Alaska), by waging a lone five month filibuster, singlehandedly ended the draft in The United States thereby saving thousands of lives. As a result, aside from those who volunteered, everyone under the age of 54 has been able to stay out of harm's way in the tragic war against Vietnam, the first war against Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, and Bush's current war in Iraq. In addition, the children of everyone under the age of 54 have been able to stay out of harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan... In short, Senator Gravel's opposition to the draft is based on his desire to insure that no American man or woman is sent to a distant land to fight unnecessary and ill-advised pre-emptive wars of choice by reckless, ignorant, warmongering leaders." "Mike Gravel and the Draft," Mike Gravel's official candidate campaign website (accessed Jan. 10, 2008)
National Service:	"Should openly gay people be allowed to serve in the US military?"	Top
Pro: "...I'd be careful with the President, former President [Bill Clinton], because I know he wimped out with respect to gays in the military. I'd only wished that he had been like Harry Truman who stood up to Omar Bradley when he integrated the services, which made possible for Colin Powell to now stare down the President of the United States when the President should have demanded immediate integration." Democrats' Second 2008 Presidential Debate, hosted by CNN, WMURTV, and The New Hampshire Union Leader, Saint Anselm College, Manchester, NH, June 3, 2007
Presidential Power:	"Should the US President's powers be expanded to include a line item veto?"	Top
Pro: "Vaughn [Ververs]: ...Democrats have vowed to weed out corruption in the federal government. A major source of corruption for both Democrats and Republicans are bribes in spending bills, sometimes referred to as earmarks. Would you vow, if elected president, to veto all bills containing earmarks?... [Mike] Gravel: Totally, totally. It's abominable, and the only way you're going to get rid of it is to give the president the line-item veto. Of course, they're not going to give the president a line-item veto..." Democratic Presidential Debate, Manchester, NH, June 3, 2007
Presidential Power:	"Should the unitary executive theory apply to the US President?"	Top
Con: "This administration has illegally declared that it has supreme overriding authority. The Vice President and the President have accumulated and consolidated unprecedented power that has replaced the co-equal system of checks and balances mandated by the Constitution with a new Imperial Presidency. This imperialism has given the President far-reaching powers that our founding fathers would quickly recognize as tyranny. The illegitimate authority of this newly constructed imperial Presidency this Supreme Commander-in-Chief created by Cheney and Bush has replaced the Rule-of-Law based on the Constitution and Bill of Rights." "Impeachment Statement by Presidential Candidate Senator Mike Gravel," New World Order Truth website, Jan. 25, 2008
Religion:	"Should federal funds be given to faith-based (religious) organizations and initiatives?"	Top
Con: "No." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Oct. 19, 2007
Religion:	"Should a candidate's religion matter to voters?"	Top
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "That is entirely up to the voter." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Nov. 9, 2007
Social Security:	"Should Social Security be privatized?"	Top
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Congress needs to stop raiding social security." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Nov. 9, 2007
Stem Cells:	"Should the federal government fund embryonic stem cell research?"	Top
Pro: "Yes, for the ethical use for medical research." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Nov. 9, 2007
Taxes:	"Should the Bush tax cuts be made permanent?"	Top
Not Clearly Pro or Con: "Do you think it?s [an] accident that all of a sudden we wake up, that the wealthy aren?t paying a fair share? The only way they?re going to pay a fair share is wipe out the income tax -- it is corrupt, it?s corrupting our society...and begin to put in place a tax that everybody will know what everybody?s paying, and that?s a retail sales tax. And you can make it as progressive as you want. Keep in mind, a tax where everybody will know what everybody is paying." Democratic Presidential Debate, Howard University, Washington, D.C., hosted by PBS, June 28, 2007
Turkey:	"Should Turkey be able to enter Iraq or other countries unilaterally in search of its enemies?"	Top
None Found: ProCon.org emailed the Gravel campaign on Mar. 11, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of Mar. 21, 2008.
US Constitution:	"Should the US Constitution and Bill of Rights be altered or updated in any way?"	Top
Pro: "Yes, we need a Constitutional Amendment empowering Americans to vote directly on the legislation that affects their lives. The National Initiative for Democracy does just that." Email to ProCon.org from Mike Gravel's Press Secretary, Alex Colvin, Oct. 19, 2007
War on Terror:	"Should interrogation techniques that some consider torture, such as waterboarding, be a legal option?"	Top
Con: "The Constitution is very clear that prisoners of war are the responsibility of the Congress. The Bush administration has unlawfully taken that power without Constitutional justification. The Congress has been derelict in its duty to see that enemy combatants are treated humanely within the guidelines of the Geneva Conventions, and has been equally neglectful in its response to the President's unlawful use of torture... The practice of torture is immoral. It is un-American and it is ineffective. Information acquired as a result of torture techniques in unreliable. It endangers our soldiers in combat by encouraging reciprocity. It inflicts irreversible damage to our nation's image and undermines our credibility among the international community... It is unconscionable that the Vice President stood before the Congress and lobbied against a proposed ban on C.I.A. torture techniques... George Bush lied when he told the American people in November 2005, 'we do not torture.' How many times will Congress allow the President to lie to the American people?" "Gravel Calls for Congress to End Torture," Mike Gravel's official candidate website, Mar. 1, 2007
War on Terror:	"Should the military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba be closed?"	Top
Pro: "I will withdraw US troops from Iraq within 60 days and raze Abu Ghraib prison and Guantanamo. We must tell the world that the United States does not stand for torture. It is unacceptable human behavior." "Gravel Wraps Up Pittsburgh, New York City Swing," Mike Gravel's official candidate campaign website, Apr. 21, 2007
War on Terror:	"Has the USA PATRIOT Act had an overall benefit for the US?"	Top
Con: "...[I]t is illegal and unconstitutional to eliminate or weaken government checks and balances. The federal government cannot just eradicate judicial process. Once again, the Democrats are guilty of complicity with the illegalities of the Bush administration. Russ Feingold is the only Democratic Senator to have originally voted against it [the PATRIOT Act]." "10 Questions With Democratic Presidential Candidate Sen. Mike Gravel," dullardmush.blogspot.com, Feb. 5, 2007
War on Terror:	"Should telecommunication companies receive immunity for allowing the government to conduct past warrantless wiretaps?"	Top
None Found: ProCon.org emailed the Gravel campaign on Apr. 23, 2008 with this question. We had not received a reply or found a position as of May 28, 2008.

TOP

Mike Gravel's Biography

Title(s):

Former US Senator (D-AK)

Personal Information:

Full Name: Maurice Robert "Mike" Gravel		Marital Status: Married
Birthdate: May 30, 1930		Children: Two
Birthplace: Springfield, MA		Religion: Unitarian

Involvement:

US Senator (D-Alaska), 1969-1981

Speaker, US House of Representatives (D-Alaska), 1965-1966

Member, US House of Representatives (D-Alaska), 1963-1966

Former Member, Finance, Interior, and Environmental Committee

Former Member, Public Works Committee

Education:

BS, Economics, Columbia University

Affiliations and Memberships:

Founder and Former President, The Democracy Foundation

Founder and Former President, Philadelphia II

Founder and Former President, Direct Democracy

Former Cab Driver in New York City

Former Clerk on Wall Street

Former Brakeman on the Alaska Railroad

Special Adjutant, Communications Intelligence Services and Speical Agent, Counter Intelligence Corps, US Army, 1951-1954

Other:

Mike Gravel announced he was changing his party affiliation from Democratic to Libertarian on Mar. 26, 2008; he hand delivered an amended Statement of Candidacy to the FEC on Apr. 3, 2008, thus officially making him a Libertarian candidate for US President

In 1971, read 4,100 of the 7,000 pages of the Pentagon Papers into the Senate record

Also in 1971, waged a one-man, five month filibuster regarding ending the draft in the United States

Select Publications:

Citizen Power, 1972

The Senator Gravel Edition: The Pentagon Papers, 1971

Jobs and More Jobs, 1968

Contact Information:

Campaign:: Phone: 703-652-4698; Fax: 703-349-2958; E-Mail: info@gravel2008.us; Web Site: www.mikegravel.us

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