Name: Mike Gravel

Party: Democratic

Official Website: http://www.gravel2008.us

Bio:
Gravel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. Gravel enlisted in the U.S. Army (1951-54) and served as special adjutant in the Communication Intelligence Services and as a Special Agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps. He received a B.S. in Economics from Columbia University, and holds four honorary degrees in law and public affairs. Gravel served in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1963-66, and as Speaker from 1965-66. He then represented Alaska in the U.S. Senate from 1969-81. He served on the Finance, Interior, and Environmental and Public Works committees, chairing the Energy, Water Resources, Buildings and Grounds, and Environmental Pollution subcommittees. He is most prominently known for his release of the Pentagon Papers, the secret official study that revealed the lies and manipulations of successive U.S. administrations that misled the country into the Vietnam War. He founded and served as president of The Democracy Foundation, Philadelphia II, and Direct Democracy, nonprofit corporations dedicated to the establishment of direct democracy. He lectures and writes about governance, foreign affairs, economics, Social Security, tax reform, energy, environmental issues and democracy. Senator Gravel is married and has two children.

Where This Candidate Stands On The Issues:

What is your plan to end the war in Iraq?

Gravel would commence an immediate and orderly withdrawal of all U.S. troops that will have them home within 120 days. Gravel seeks to work with neighboring countries to lead a collective effort to bring peace to Iraq. Gravel would call for a U.S. corporate withdrawal from Iraq and hand over reconstruction contracts to Iraqi businesses to empower Iraqi nationals to reconstruct their own country.


What is your plan to help solve the credit crunch?
Gravel has stated that the problem can be found if we follow the money.


How would you improve the US’s education system?

Gravel has proposed a comprehensive approach to education. He would properly fund education while raising the overall standard of living in America and making education a vital part of a healthy, thriving community.


How would you combat the problems of climate change?

Gravel would pass legislation that caps emissions, and lead the fight against global deforestation. Gravel would 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 in this task.