Mike Gravel 2008

Mike Gravel's Views on Climate Change

2007-03-08T23:20:00.000-08:00

Climate Change and Global Warming promises to play a major role in the Presidential election next year. Although Al Gore is yet to announce if he will run for the nomination, his campaign to reduce global warming is gaining significant publicity. In addition, most of the major candidates have had something to say on energy, and trying to reduce the reliance on foreign oil.

This is Mike Gravel's announced position on Climate Change:

Global climate change must be made an issue of national security. We must act swiftly to reduce America's carbon footprint in the world by passing legislation that caps emissions. However, any legislation will have little impact on the global environment if we do not work together with other global polluters. Fighting global warming can only be effective if it is a collective global effort.

As President, Senator Gravel will see that the U.S. launches and leads a massive global scientific effort to end energy dependence on oil and integrate the world's scientific community to this task. A national public works program to rewire the country towards new energy technologies would create tens of thousands of new American jobs.

Mike Gravel on Veterans' Affairs

2007-03-06T08:38:00.000-08:00

These are Mike Gravel's views of Veterans' Affairs, as listed on his website. This is an extremely topical issue, and one that has not yet gained much recognition in the national media. Given that over 20,000 troops have been injured in Iraq, this issue will play a major role in the lead up to the 2008 election.

Mike Gravel has a genuine commitment to the welfare on Veterans, so expect more from him on this topic as the campaign continues.

Senator Mike Gravel enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951 and served for three years as an adjutant in the Communications Services and as a Special Agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps. Our war veterans are not, as some would have it, a “special interest” but are our primary interest.

As President, Sen. Gravel would ensure that veterans receive full and unambiguous funding for their most important needs, including health care that is indexed to the increasing cost of care and medicine. He would also make permanent the 100 percent disability ratings of those diagnosed as suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

He would also make sure that the VA system is fully financed and has sufficient well-trained personnel to provide the finest care that is available. As the senator says, “We can do no less and will do much more.”

Gravel Calls for an End to Torture

2007-03-02T07:35:00.000-08:00

Mike Gravel's latest press statement calling on Congress to demand an end to torture. Gravel says that Congress must use it's Constitutional Authority to stop the torture of enemy combatants.

ARLINGTON, VA – Evoking Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution, former U.S. Senator and current Democratic Presidential candidate Mike Gravel today called on Congress to use its Constitutional authority to immediately demand an end to the Bush administration’s practice of torture on enemy combatants.

“Under the U.S. Constitution, all enemy combatants fall under the jurisdiction of the Congress. It is abhorrent that the United States government today continues to torture human beings in Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay and other secret C.I.A. prisons.”

Gravel made reference to, Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution which reads, 'The Congress shall have power to..declare war..and make rules concerning captures on land and water.'

Gravel said, “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.”

Article 3, Section 1 (a) of the Geneva Convention prohibits, 'Violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and 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.”

Senator Gravel also called upon the Bush administration to provide a full accounting of the names and locations of detainees who have been transferred from secret C.I.A. prisons whose whereabouts are unknown.

“The C.I.A. continues to hold an unknown number of prisoners in secret detention centers abroad and has refused to register those detainees with the International Red Cross or to allow visits by its inspectors. This is a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions and contrary to international law.”

The senator also referenced former state department official and retired U.S. Army Col. Larry Wilkerson, who in November 2005 told CNN that Vice President Cheney provided ‘philosophical guidance’ that led to the use of torture. “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?”

Senator Gravel reaffirmed his pledge that if elected President, he will immediately move to vanquish the Military Commissions Act of 2006, signed into law by George Bush, which has made it legal for the C.I.A. to continue operating torture facilities in undisclosed, foreign countries, and for the writ of habeas corpus to be suspended for individuals who are designated "enemy combatants."

Gravel an Anti War Candidate

2007-02-27T08:43:00.000-08:00

A good article published yesterday in the American Chronicle, which is a good background piece, but also discusses in detail Mike Gravel's stance on the Iraq War.

Kevin Zeese
February 26, 2007

Senator Mike Gravel is running a populist anti-war campaign for the presidential nomination of the Democratic Party. Gravel, who is no novice to Washington, DC politics, is direct and clear in his views on the war. And, he has a long history of fighting unjust wars and seeking to return power to the people.

Gravel was in the U.S. Senate during the Vietnam War where he represented Alaska and aggressively opposed the war. He was well-known for his efforts to stop the draft when in 1971 he waged a successful, five-month, one-man filibuster that forced the Nixon administration to cut a deal that effectively ended the military draft.

He also weighed in heavily on the release of the Pentagon Papers. After The New York Times published portions of the leaked study, the Nixon administration moved to block any further publication of information and to punish any newspaper publisher who revealed the contents.

Gravel insisted that his constituents had a right to know the truth behind the war and proceeded to read 4,100 pages of the 7,000 page document into the Congressional Record from the Floor of the U.S. Senate. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that Senator Gravel did not have the right and responsibility to share official documents with his constituents. He then published The Senator Gravel Edition, The Pentagon Papers, Beacon Press (1971) with commentaries by Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky. This publication resulted in a landmark Supreme Court decision, Gravel v. U.S, based on the Speech and Debate Clause (Article 1, Section 6) of the United States Constitution.

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Mike Gravel at Nevada Candidates Forum

2007-02-22T23:34:00.000-08:00

The Mike Gravel campaign for President have released the following press statement after his appearance yesterday at the Candidates forum in Carson City, Nevada. The forum was organized by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and was moderated by ABC's George Stephanopoulos.

All of the major candidates except Barack Obama attended. Obama had already organized a campaign visit to Iowa.

MIKE GRAVEL FOR PRESIDENT

Carson City, NV – In the first Democratic Presidential Forum held yesterday in Carson City, former senator Mike Gravel laid out his plan to end the Iraq War which calls for Congress to pass a law declaring the Iraq War over.

Speaking to a packed room of jubilant AFSCME union members, Gravel laid out his objections to the war. “I objected to this war from the beginning. In the spring of 2002 I went on TV and told the American people, ‘(George Bush’s) lips are moving but he’s lying to you the way Lyndon Johnson lied to us 30 years ago. Iraq's oil is not worth the life on one more American.”

“We’ll never make it with politics as usual. The democratic leaders are giving cover to the Republicans. The Congress has the right to declare war and the right to end it.”

He went on explain his plan to end the war.

“We need a constitutional confrontation between the Congress, the President, and the American people. Once the Congress passes the law to end the war it will be vetoed. Leader Reid can bring it up every day and let the Republicans whither on the vine. They will cave. We can get out of Iraq under 6 months with this scenario.” He said.

“We’re too busy carrying the burden of the military industrial complex. We Americans have been drugged with fear for the last 50 years.”

Gravel also discussed his plan to abolish the IRS and the Income Tax.

“Our current form of taxation is unfair to the working people of this country. It’s the most regressive, unfair tax system in the world. It created the rust belt. We need to do away with it.” When pressed by questioner George Stephanopoulos, the senator responded, “I’m wearing a $250 suit. Yours cost $2,000. You would therefore pay a higher tax on your suit than I would mine.”

When the senator was questioned on whether or not he supported campaign finance reform, he responded, “Is the Pope Catholic? All these candidates opting out of matching funds, I’m trying to opt in. All I need is $10,000 and I can win with that. Believe me.”

Senator Gravel wrapped up the appearance by promoting his plan for direct democracy; the National Initiative.

“People who acquire power are not want to share it with the people from whom they acquire it. You are the authority on your life. For the first time in US history we can at last have a government that is not just for the people and of the people, but truly by the people.”

Mike Gravel and Universal Health Care

2007-02-19T22:54:00.000-08:00

Most of the major Democratic candidates for the Presidential nomination are considering, or have a plan for health coverage for Americans. John Edwards released his plan last week, and is engaging in a national tour promoting it.

These are Mike Gravel's views on health care for Americans:

"Medicine and medical technology in the United States is the finest in the world. However, it is also one of the leading causes of bankruptcies. With the rising cost of healthcare, it is time to rethink our approach. The solution to the healthcare crisis is a national, universal single-payer not-for-profit U.S. healthcare system."

Gravel Article in The Republican

2007-02-19T22:42:00.000-08:00

A good feature piece this morning on Mike Gravel appeared in Massachusetts Newspaper, The Republican.

Springfield native has sights set on top job
By JO-ANN MORIARTY (2/19/07)
WASHINGTON - By his own admission, Springfield, Mass., native Mike Gravel has a snowball's chance in Haiti of getting the Democratic nomination for the presidency.

"Oh, I know I'm a longshot," said the now 76-year-old Gravel, born Maurice Robert Gravel to French-Canadian immigrants in the City of Homes, where he attended local schools, was raised Catholic and first got involved in political campaigns as a youngster.

But it is not that is he without qualifications.

He left his hometown after a year in college to join the Army and served overseas in the Counter Intelligence Corps from 1951 to 1954. Returning home, he put himself through Columbia University as a cab driver in New York City before getting into the real estate development business and settling in Alaska.

From 1962 through 1966 - when Springfield Mayor Charles V. Ryan was serving his first term as mayor, Gravel served in the Alaska House of Representatives and was elected House speaker after one term. In a longshot campaign, Gravel unseated a popular incumbent Democrat in the primary. He went on to be elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968, representing Alaska for two terms (12 years) before he was defeated for re-election to a third term.

He's a classy dresser, sophisticated, pleasant and bright.

In his own words, he is also a maverick.

"He is a major candidate in no one's eyes," said Larry J. Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. "Mike Gravel had a populist career in the Senate but that was a long time ago."

Gravel's U.S. Senate career was brief but memorable.

Gravel, who grew up in a working class family in Springfield's North End in the Round Hill neighborhood which no longer exists, was a tenacious and harsh critic of the Vietnam War.

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Mike Gravel Opposes Iran Confrontation

2007-02-15T20:43:00.000-08:00

Below is Mike Gravel's position on the issue of a military strike against Iran. Speculation has been mounting in recent days that the Bush Administration is investigating the option of taking action against Iran.

Hillary Clinton joined other leaders in Congress like Nancy Pelosi in saying that any confrontation with Iran must have the approval of Congress.

Gravel is firmly against any confrontation with Iran, and remains firmly against the war in Iraq, saying that troops must be brought home now.

"Senator Gravel firmly opposes a military confrontation with Iran. Several signs indicate that the Bush administration is moving towards a military confrontation with Iran and Syria; the deployment of a "major strike group" of ships to the Persian Gulf, the detaining of six Iranian officials of a consular office flying the Iranian flag, pointed accusations that both nations are fueling the insurgency in Iraq and the President’s remarks that the U.S. would disrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria to those insurgents.

The notion of war against another sovereign Arab nation while wars continue to rage in Iraq, the Palestinian Authority and Afghanistan, only serves to further threaten global stability."

Nevada Candidates Forum Sold Out

2007-02-15T10:16:00.000-08:00

The candidates forum to be held in Carson City, Nevada next Wednesday has been sold out. The event will be held at the Carson Community Centre, but a second satellite site that will watch the forum by feed, has also been sold out.

Mike Gravel will join other candidates such as Hillary Clinton and John Edwards to speak and answer questions. Barack Obama has decided not to attend the forum, choosing instead to campaign in Iowa. The forum is sponsored by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will be moderated by ABC's George Stephanopoulos.

This will again be a good chance for Gravel to put his case for his run for the Democratic nomination. It's never easy getting coverage when you are not considered a front runner, so as the year progresses, these type of events can only be good news for Gravel.

Bring Troops Home Now - Gravel

2007-02-14T07:37:00.000-08:00

Candidate for the Democratic Nomination, Mike Gravel of Alaska, has called again for the troops in Iraq to be brought home now, not in 6 or 12 months.

Gravel was speaking Sunday night at the Jefferson County Democratic President's Day Dinner in Wisconsin. Over 100 people were there to hear Gravel and other local Democratic leaders speak.

Gravel also again repeated his claim that anyone who has supported the war in Iraq, is not fit to hold the office of President.

He also spoke about the fact that America is ranked 49th in the world in literacy rates. Gravel asked how America can compete with the world when it doesn't pay any real attention to education.

Gravel said that America needs to change - it needs to stop leading the world in such things as environmental pollution, energy consumption and consumer spending.

Gravel in Wisconsin Tonight

2007-02-11T22:29:00.001-08:00

Mike Gravel will be in Wisconsin tonight, at the Jefferson County Democrats 14th President's Day Dinner.

The event will be held at Plattdeutscher Hall this evening.

Gravel Speaks to NBC After DNC

2007-02-08T06:11:00.000-08:00

Mike Gravel appeared on NBC last Saturday after his speech to the Democratic National Committee Winter Meeting.

Gravel speaks here about the U.S involvement in the Iraq War. He is straight shooting as usual, very refreshing, so its worth a view. (3.42sec)

Gravel Nevada Forum Feb 21

2007-02-08T05:52:00.000-08:00

Mike Gravel will travel to Carson City, Nevada on February 21 to take part in a forum for Democratic candidates for the Presidential nomination.

Other candidates also heading to Nevada are Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, Bill Richardson and Tom Vilsack. Wes Clark, who is expected to announce his bid for the nomination in the coming weeks will also be there.

Barack Obama has not confirmed if he will attend the forum which grants candidates the right to speak, and answer a series of questions from a moderator.

The vote in Nevada is scheduled to take place directly after the vote in Iowa next January and is therefore considered a key state for Presidential hopefuls.

Mike Gravel after DNC Meeting

2007-02-03T07:22:00.001-08:00

Mike Gravel was interviewed in bloggers alley after his speech at the DNC Winter Meeting.

Check it out here:

Mike Gravel at DNC Winter Meeting

2007-02-03T07:22:00.000-08:00

"Power to the People"

Presidential hopeful, Mike Gravel this morning gave his speech at the Democratic National Committee's Winter Meeting. This DNC meeting is considered crucial for any candidate seeking the Democratic nomination.

While he is a long shot for the nomination, Gravel gave an impassioned and eloquent speech to the meeting about his claim for the job.

The audience had a good proportion of Gravel supporters, waving their placards for their man from Alaska. Gravel also brought Granny D from New Hampshire "his greatest supporter" to the meeting, and he admitted that she provided him with some tips for his speech today.

Gravel made his case early on the question of his age - he said that Washington needs adult supervision. And the way he spoke, he didn't sound like a man who had been out of the Senate for nearly 3 decades.

He spoke about the failures of President Bush in Iraq, saying that nations fail when leaders fail their people and Bush had failed America.

But further on Iraq, Gravel made the point that it was the Democrats who held the Congress when they voted for America to go to war in October 2002.

In a stinging rebuke to those who voted for the war at the time, Gravel said that anyone who did so is not qualified to hold the office of President. Using the defense of not being told the truth, or an argument that the war has been botched is not good enough.

Politics as usual is not acceptable for the Presidency. Gravel said that the next President must have political integrity and moral judgement.

Gravel related his role in ending the draft during the Vietnam war. Again, in contrast to other leading contenders like Hillary Clinton, Gravel said that the troops should be brought home now from Iraq. Not in 6 months, now.

He said that the "mealy mouth" non binding resolutions were not good enough, there needed to be a constitutional confrontation with the President. Congress had the power to send the troops to war, they should now have the power to end the war.

Gravel also tackled the issues of health care, energy and immigration, but also said that most of the problems that America faces are not domestic, but global in nature.

He also said that America is a nation that is being ruled by fear; of immigrants, races and religion, gays and lesbians, communism, terrorism - and these issues are being used to manipulate us all.

Who in the world are we afraid of, he asked.

Gravel finished off by arguing for his national initiative, for real people to become lawmakers through voter participation.

Watch the speech here.

Big Support For Gravel Website

2007-01-24T06:42:00.000-08:00

According to Mike Gravel, over 600,000 people have visited his website in the last 6 weeks.

That's quite an achievement, 12 months out from the first vote.

Gravel Critical of Bush Iraq Plan

2007-01-16T17:04:00.000-08:00

Mike Gravel has been in New Hampshire this last week, campaigning in the crucial early primary state. he spoke at Dartmouth College to an audience of about 60.

Gravel also issued a statement critical of the President Bush plan on on an escalation of the war in Iraq.

"The president is either pursuing an illusory and impossible military victory or buying enough time to push the blame for the Iraqi failure onto the next administration while he contemplates military action against Iran", Gravel said.

But Gravel was also critical of fellow Democrats, who he suggested while posturing, would ultimately support the new plan through the allocation of funds in Congress.

Mike Gravel - Campaign for President

2007-01-10T13:35:00.000-08:00

Former Senator from Alaska, Mike Gravel was the first Democrat to announce that he is seeking the nomination to be President of the United States.

Gravel made his mark as a Member of Alaska's House of Representatives in the 1960's, rising to the position as Speaker, followed by a 12 year stint in the United States Senate. He was instrumental in putting on the public record 4000 pages of documents known as the Pentagon Papers, detailing historical US involvement in Vietnam. Gravel also successfully utilized the filibuster to advocate for the end of The Draft.

Mike Gravel is running his campaign for President on renewal. He is and has been a vocal opponent to the war in Iraq, and has called for an urgent withdrawal of US troops. Gravel is an advocate for a Universal Single Health Care Plan and has proposed a "National Initiative for Democracy", which would put some forms of lawmaking in the hands of all voters.

Gravel has been campaigning heavily in New Hampshire since announcing his Presidential bid in April 2006. He considers that state “The most important…in this campaign…” Gravel has won the support of New Hampshire’s Doris “Granny D” Haddock, a well known and respected campaign reform activist.

If Gravel was to win the Presidency, he would be 78 at the time of Inauguration in January, 2009.

Gravel Speaks in New Hampshire on the Iraq War

2007-01-10T13:33:00.000-08:00