Mike Gravel Political Party Democratic Party Current Position Former Senator from Alaska Age 78   (May 13th, 1930) Hometown Springfield, MA Religion Unitarian Elections Democratic Party Presidential Primary Elections, 2008 with 17.3% of the vote. Straw Poll April Straw Poll with 0% of the vote.   Compare Mike Gravel to:      Joe Biden Hillary Clinton Chris Dodd John Edwards Mike Gravel Dennis Kucinich Barack Obama Bill Richardson Sam Brownback Jim Gilmore Rudy Giuliani Mike Huckabee Duncan Hunter John McCain Ron Paul Mitt Romney Tom Tancredo Tommy Thompson Fred Thompson    Vote for Mike Gravel

PERSONAL

Spouse: Rita Jeanette Martin (1958-early 1980s, div.)
Children: Martin, Lynne

Spouse: Whitney Gravel (1984-present)


Grandchildren: 4

EDUCATION

• Columbia University, B.S. in Economics, 1956
• Studied for one year at American International College in Springfield, MA
• Enlisted in the US Army in 1951

PROFESSIONAL

• Counter Intelligence Corps Special Agent, United States Army, 1951-1954
• Brakeman, Alaska Railroad
• Cab Driver, City of New York
• Communications Intelligence Service Adjutant, United States Army
• Clerk, Wall Street

POLITICAL

• Went on a national speaking tour concerning tax reform in 1959.
• Anchorage representative in the Alaska House of Representatives (1963-1964; Chairman 1965-1966)
• Senator, United States Senate (1969-1981)

• Believes “any decision on abortion should remain between a woman and her doctor. There is no room for interference from politicians and judges.”
  
  
• Is opposed to allowing states to ban partial birth abortion.
  
  

• Fully supports same-sex marriage.
  
  
• Believes civil unions establish homosexuals as second class citizens.
  
  
• States that marriage preceded religion, and is therefore not a religious issue.
  
  
• Feels that racism is still prevalent in the 21st century.
  
  
• Says that calling critics or doubters un American is anti patriotic.
  
  

• Wants to eliminate mandatory minimum sentencing laws.
  
  
• Supports ending punishment for victimless crimes – drugs, sex & gambling.
  
  
• Opposes the death penalty.
  
  
• Believes that more jails doesn’t cut crime – says we must address poverty first.
  
  
• Supports licensing and training for all gun owners, and believes our military culture causes more gun violence.
  
  

• Supports a national ban on smoking in public places.
  
  
• Believes the drinking age should be lowered to 18 so that soldiers can drink.
  
  
• Wants to legalize the use of marijuana, and have it sold at liquor stores.
  
  
• Says hard drugs should be decriminalized so that we can treat addicts more easily.
  
  

• Calls for the elimination of the IRS and the income tax, as the system has been “gamed” by the wealthy into being regressive.
  
  
• Advocates the Fair Tax [i.e. national sales tax] as an alternative.
  
  
• Believes current tax code is corrupt and only serves the wealthy.
  
  
• Wants to eliminate the IRS, replacing it with a national sales tax.
  
  

• Has not taken a position on the separation between Church and State regarding education.
  
  
• Supports merit pay for teachers, a 25% bonus for teachers in harder areas, and making education a top priority.
  
  
• Wants to extend the school day and year.
  
  

• Believes a carbon tax can get us off gasoline in 5 years.
  
  
• Says that wind power is the solution to oil dependency.
  
  
• Wants to declare global warming a matter of national security.
  
  

• Supports universal coverage with guaranteed equal care.
  
  
• Believes that health care reforms have failed because the pharmaceutical companies control Congress.
  
  
• Wants to phase out Medicare and Medicaid over time.
  
  
• Thinks we need to do a better job treating Americans with HIV.
  
  

• Supports guest worker programs and a legal path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants.
  
  
• Calls the construction of a border fence a cosmetic solution.
  
  
• Blames NAFTA for exacerbating the problem, advocates better trade policies to reduce the problem.
  
  
• Believes that the immigration issue is national scape goating.
  
  
• Is embarrassed at the idea of building a wall on the southern border.
  
  
• Wants to suspend immigrant raids that separate families.
  
  

• Medical/Science - Opposes any limits on stem-cell research.
  
  

• Has said U.S. troops in Iraq are dying in vain, so we should get out immediately.
  
  
• Believes Iraq was lost from the beginning due to its “fraudulent basis.”
  
  
• Has said “the oil there is not worth one more American dead.”
  
  
• Believes anyone who voted in favor of the Iraq war authorization resolution should not be president.
  
  
• Believes the U.S. should take the lead in remedying nuclear proliferation as the Cold War is over.
  
  
• Wants to recognize Cuba, and open up to Hugo Chavez in Venezuela.
  
  
• Does not want US troops in Darfur – says that Africans don’t trust the US.
  
  
• Believes terrorism is not a war but a criminal act, and so fighting it with a war does not work.
  
  
• Says threatening nuclear power is immoral foreign policy.
  
  
• Supports destroying Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib.
  
  
• Thinks the war on terrorism will fail, like the war on drugs and poverty.
  
  
• Believes Bush is “cooking the books” on Iran, and resolves against any military action.
  
  
• Says American troops should be pulled out of Iraq; can be done in 120 days.
  
  

Gravel?s Tax Day message   7:50 am on Apr 15, 2008

Fragile and Reversible   9:11 pm on Apr 14, 2008

Gravel on Carter vs. AIPAC   2:17 pm on Apr 14, 2008

Barr Set High   9:02 pm on Apr 13, 2008

Bush 'Divorced From Reality'   3:31 pm on Apr 12, 2008

Mike Gravel running for two parties   11:16 pm on Apr 11, 2008

Gravel unveils new platform: porn, gambling and freedom   10:25 am on Apr 11, 2008

Third Party Candidate Campaigns at Muhlenberg   6:51 am on Apr 11, 2008

Obama Girl talks new media in politics   6:01 am on Apr 11, 2008

» OBAMA GIRL'S VISIT SPARKS TALK ON ROLE OF NEW MEDIA IN POLITICS   3:35 am on Apr 11, 2008

Despite delay, Gravel addresses crowd   11:59 pm on Apr 10, 2008

The best third party drug war article I?ve ever read?   11:28 pm on Apr 10, 2008

Drugs, Libertarians, and the 2008 Presidential Campaign   9:01 pm on Apr 10, 2008

Gravel Stumps at Swat   11:04 pm on Apr 9, 2008

Mike Gravel: ?You are smarter than your leaders?   9:52 pm on Apr 9, 2008

Easley: Staff told to improve relations with reporters   6:27 pm on Apr 9, 2008

NPR?s view of the Libertarian Party presidential contest   1:28 pm on Apr 9, 2008

Petraeus Testifies, Penn Steps Down, Barr to Run?   1:05 pm on Apr 9, 2008

Libertarians Battle for Their Nomination   10:32 am on Apr 9, 2008

Why You Should Nominate Mary Ruwart   7:58 am on Apr 9, 2008