CD-1 Complete Peace Voter Guide

PEACE ACTION MAINE’S
2008
PEACE
VOTER
GUIDE
This voter guide has been prepared by Peace Action Maine to

educate the public on candidates’ positions on peace, militarism and
foreign policy issues. It is based primarily on questionnaire responses.
This voter guide is not to be construed as an endorsement of any
candidate or political party.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Michael Brennan’s Responses 4
Mark Lawrence’s Responses 6
Chellie Pingree’s Reponses 8
Ethan Strimling’s Responses 13
NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND NUCLEAR POWER

ARMS SALES AND MILITARY AID

MILITARISM AND THE WAR ECONOMY

THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AND THE WAR ON TERROR

2
HUMAN RIGHTS
AND
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
3
1. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

that would reverse the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and restore
the writ of habeas corpus? Yes.
2. Do you believe that the US should operate prisons outside of its

borders? No.

that would abolish the death penalty? Yes.

that would initiate hearings that might lead to the criminal
prosecution of elected officials and contractors involved in war
crimes and constitutional violations? Yes.
5. When, if ever, do you consider the use of military force to be

appropriate? I might consider the use of military force appropriate
in one of two circumstances – to prevent or counteract genocide,
or in response to military action against the United States by another
state actor.
6. Do you believe that economic sanctions or embargoes are an

effective tool of foreign policy? No.

that would enable undocumented immigrants currently working in
the United States to attain legal resident status and, eventually, full
citizenship? Yes.
8. Do you believe that the US should become party to the Kyoto

Protocol? Yes.
4
9. What will you do to eliminate poverty?

I will propose and work for:
* A national campaign to cut poverty by half over the next five
years by increasing the earned income tax credit, “making work
pay” and increasing high school graduation rates. This campaign
would be the first step in a larger campaign to end poverty in
America.
* Workers’ rights to organize and oppose “free trade” deals that
allow good paying American jobs to leave the country.
* Letting the Bush tax cuts expire in 2010 and passing new tax reform
focused on reducing the share of taxes paid by middle and working
class people.
* Establishing a National Housing Trust Fund to finance the
development of affordable housing.
* The creation of a Financial Products Safety Commission to protect
consumers from deceptive credit practices and products.
5

the writ of habeas corpus? What this administration has done to the
Constitution is appalling. I strongly support reversing the Military
Commissions Act of 2006 and restoring the writ of habeas corpus.

borders? No. I believe America should abide by the Geneva
Conventions and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

that would abolish the death penalty? I support the abolition of the
death penalty.

crimes and constitutional violations? I believe that Congress must
aggressively hold hearings into the rationale used for the U.S. to
enter into the war in Iraq and the conduct of the war, including
allegations of corruption by private contractors. I also believe
Congress should be conducting impeachment hearings against
Vice President Cheney and President Bush. Any information that
comes to light about potential criminal activity should be given to
the appropriate prosecutorial agency.

appropriate? It depends on each individual situation, but I consider
force to be appropriate when our national security is threatened,
and when the shared security of the world is threatened. I support
multilateralism in our foreign policy because our world is more
interdependent than ever before. However, military force should
always be the last resort.
6

effective tool of foreign policy? Economic sanctions or embargoes
should be considered as part of a multinational effort, only when
the humanitarian effects of such efforts have been properly
weighed.

citizenship? I support creating a path to citizenship for
undocumented immigrants. Concurrently I believe we should crack
down on employers who exploit the labor of undocumented
immigrants.

Protocol? Absolutely yes.
9. What will you do to eliminate poverty? First, we need to withdraw

from Iraq and repeal the Bush tax cuts. We need to take the savings
to pay down our debt and invest in domestic needs, such as
infrastructure and social programs. Creating a universal single-payer
health care system will reduce people’s burdens, and such a system
should include strong mental health services. Beyond that we need
to invest in communities and encourage a shift in our focus away
from individualism and toward helping one another.
7

the writ of habeas corpus? Yes. As part of the Responsible Plan to
End the War in Iraq, I have endorsed H. R. 1416, the Habeas Corpus
Restoration Act.
The Military Commission Act of 2006 fundamentally undermines the

constitution and the rule of law. It is just one astonishing example of
the damage we all have to work to undo in the wake of the Bush
Presidency. The ACLU, among other organizations has done
amazing work fighting this Act and educating the public about
habeas corpus. As they say, in passing the Military Commissions Act,
“they cast aside the Constitution and the principle of habeas
corpus, which protects against unlawful and indefinite
imprisonment. They also gave the president absolute power to
designate enemy combatants, and to set his own definitions for
torture.” The Act is a huge shift of power to the President and flies in
the face of core American values protecting us against unlawful or
indefinite imprisonment.

borders? No.

that would abolish the death penalty? Yes.

crimes and constitutional violations? Yes. For the last seven years,
we have been burdened by an administration that has
disrespected the rule of law, engaged in warrant-less wiretaps,
abandoned habeas corpus, and chipped away at our civil rights.
It's no wonder that we have lost so much respect around the world.
8
Our system of government, with three distinct branches, was built to

provide for accountability. This Congress should hold hearings to
examine the actions of the Bush Administration and those who have
worked under their watch.

appropriate? We should use our military force defensively and, in
some cases, preemptively for self-defense. I do not believe in
preventive war—that is, a war waged to prevent a hypothetical
attack

effective tool of foreign policy? Yes. It’s true that the effectiveness of
sanctions and embargoes are a hotly debated topic, but they
worked in South Africa and together with our allies, the United
States should employ the full array of non-military means to
influence developing or otherwise transitional governments.
However, like so many policy issues, I would expect to continue to
analyze the impact of these tools.

citizenship? Yes. We all know that our immigration system in broken,
and Washington hasn't done anything to fix it – this will be an
important topic for our federal government to address in the
coming years. I support reforming our immigration laws by focusing
first on securing our borders, cracking down on employers who hire
undocumented workers, and allowing undocumented people here
now to get right with the law by paying back taxes and a fine, and
getting to the back of the line.
9

Protocol? Yes. The United States should absolutely become party to
the Kyoto Protocol. The international partnership is essential to truly
address climate change and our country should be a leader, using
its leverage to encourage international solutions, not a lone actor
on a global issue. That said, the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012 and
we should be a full and willing partner in crafting a post Kyoto
climate change agreement.
9. What will you do to eliminate poverty? Maine has a shrinking

middle class and an increasing gap between the rich and
everyone else. Overall, we are 38th in the nation in per-capita
income, which presents serious challenges for us. In recent years,
the incomes of the richest families have climbed substantially, while
the incomes of the lower-income families have seen only small
increases.
There are a number of policies that I support that can reduce

poverty, but one of the most important on this list is universal health
care. Health care costs among the insured and the uninsured are a
leading cause of poverty, particularly among the working poor.
Second, increasing the number of good paying jobs is essential.

Union jobs increase the standard of living for those who have them,
and they raise the floor of pay and benefits for others in the
community–particularly so for women. I am staunchly pro-union and
believe we should strengthen unions’ ability to organize. We can
also increase the number of good-paying jobs through responsible
economic development by truly tying incentives to the creation of
jobs. As a State Senator, I worked to create “corporate
accountability” and to set higher standards for taxpayer
investments in business.
10
Third, being able to access an education – particularly for single

parents – is possibly the most critical component of lifting a family
out of poverty. As Senate Majority Leader, I sponsored Maine’s
“Parents As Scholars” program that allows Maine’s working poor to
attend college, get better jobs and change their lives. “Parents of
Scholars” participants are among our best success stories of
government empowering women and families and making them a
vital part of the economy.
Fourth, I agree with John Edwards: "Our tax code is the perfect
example of the Two Americas -- one for the wealthiest Americans
and Washington insiders, and the other for everyone else." Tax
policy is a place to support broader policy objectives, level the
playing field, and tie requirements for concrete results to
government support of business and community ventures that
strengthen our society.
There is a lot that needs to be done -- including a repeal of the Bush

tax cuts for the highest income Americans, higher capital gains
taxes on investment income, and closing tax loopholes for private
equity and hedge funds. We should restrict government contracts
to American-based corporations and clarify rules
At the same time, our tax cuts should be focused on areas that will
help working families -- with credits that support access to higher
education, child care costs, and tax policies that do not punish
wage earners.
Beyond these top examples, there are a number of important

policy initiatives that can help lift families out of poverty, including
making secondary education more affordable for everyone--
increasing the minimum wage, reducing the cost of energy and
making us energy independent. A major component of all of this is
the federal government meeting its obligations when it comes to
Medicare, Medicaid and education, in particular. Our state and
11
federal budgets are a reflection of our shared priorities and

unfortunately, the last seven years of the Bush Administration have
set a series of priorities that harm the poor, homeless and
disadvantaged. We need to roll back the Bush tax cuts for the
wealthy, end the war in Iraq and get our federal priorities straight. A
state like Maine is in no position to provide a safely net and
opportunities for the poor without a true state-federal partnership.
12

the writ of habeas corpus? Yes. The Military Commissions Act was
passed in the final hours of the 109th Congress. This disastrous act
stripped jurisdiction from U.S. courts to hear habeas corpus (the
principle that protects against unlawful and indefinite
imprisonment) claims from Guantánamo detainees. It also gave
the president absolute power to designate enemy combatants and
allows for the admission of evidence obtained by torture. This tears
at the heart of our Constitution. The writ of habeas corpus must be
restored. In Congress I will not only work on legislation to restore
habeas rights and prohibit evidence gathered in coercive
interrogations, but will also work on a broader initiative to close
Guantánamo and transfer detainees to military prisons in the United
States.

borders? No.

that would abolish the death penalty? Yes. The death penalty does
not deter crime and is a monumental flawed public policy. The
majority of developed nations have abandoned capital
punishment. The United States stands alongside China, Iran and
Saudi Arabia when it comes to implementing this ultimate human
rights abuse.
Since the Supreme Court ruled to reinstate the death penalty, over
one hundred men and women have been released from Death
Row after new evidence has come to light. There is evidence that
such information has come too late for several individuals and that
innocent people have been put to death. This is a wrong that can
never be righted. Studies show that the death penalty is applied
randomly, that race is a determining factor in who gets sentenced
to death, and that executions cost the taxpayers millions and
13
millions of dollars. We should abolish the death penalty and rely

instead on a sentence of life without parole.

crimes and constitutional violations? Yes. In May of 2007, I delivered
the 11,200 signatures collected by Maine Campaign to Impeach to
the Maine Legislature demanding that our Legislators use their
authority to start Congressional impeachment proceedings against
President Bush and Vice President Cheney. The Bush administration
has sanctioned warrant less domestic surveillance, illegal wiretaps,
torture of war criminals, leaking of classified information for partisan
political purposes and other things we thought could never happen
in America. We need to affirm the U.S. Constitution and remind
future administrations that no one is above the law.

appropriate? Military force can be an appropriate response to an
attack on the United States.

effective tool of foreign policy? Yes. Economic sanctions are best
used when the goals are limited and clearly defined and when they
are imposed quickly and decisively to maximize their impact. They
are also most effective when applied multilaterally, against
otherwise friendly nations and is also helped by international
publicity of the threat of further sanctions. Economic sanctions can
achieve realistic goals and should be an integral part of U.S. foreign
policy.
14

citizenship? Yes. We are a nation of immigrants and have always
welcomed the innovation and hard work that immigrants bring to
this country.

Protocol? Yes.
9. What will you do to eliminate poverty? We need to provide

education and opportunity to all Americans. The United States is a
country of boundless opportunity where everyone has the
opportunity to better themselves through education and hard work.
Our government needs to champion the common good, not just
the narrow self-interest of big corporations. All Americans must
have access to high-quality education and health care and must
be given the opportunity to participate in our nation’s economic
prosperity.
15
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
AND
NUCLEAR POWER
16
1. Do you support the research and/or development of new U.S.

nuclear weapons? No. I have been involved in the anti-nuclear
movement in the US for three decades.
2. Do you support the elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide? Yes.
3. Would you vote to enforce the agreements of the Nuclear Non-

Proliferation Treaty, specifically in light of the U.S.-India Nuclear
Deal? Yes.
4. Would you vote to renew the funding for the Reliable Replacement
Warhead (RRW) program? No.
5. Would you vote to enable the implementation of the Bush

Administration’s Complex Transformation plan? No.
6. Do you support the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Depository? No.
7. Do you believe that nuclear power is a safe and viable energy

alternative to fossil fuels? No.
17

nuclear weapons? No.

Deal? I support enforcing agreements in the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty.
Warhead (RRW) program? I support strengthening non-proliferation
efforts, so at this point I do not see the need to renew the program’s
funding.

Administration’s Complex Transformation plan? I would vote against
enabling the implementation of the Complex Transformation plan.

alternative to fossil fuels? I do not. We need to develop safer and
more viable alternatives, such as solar and wind power. Beyond
that, we need to learn to live within our means and conserve our
resources.
18

nuclear weapons? No.

Deal? Yes.
Warhead (RRW) program? No. The United States must be a model
for disarmament if we expect the rest of the world to move in that
direction. Research and development of new nuclear weapons will
incentivize the distribution of old and new nuclear technology
around the world and continue our path in the wrong direction.

Administration’s Complex Transformation plan? Given that Complex
Transformation is a sort of precursor of the RRW program, I feel
similarly and would not enable the implementation of it.
(http://www.fcnl.org/issues/item.php?item_id=2158&issue_id=51)

alternative to fossil fuels? No.
19

nuclear weapons? No. See answer to next questions.

With the end of the Cold War, the threat of a large scale nuclear
war diminished. Unfortunately, today the threat of nuclear
proliferation is greater than ever. The United States cannot continue
its position of global nuclear dominance for this stance will
undoubtedly accelerate nuclear proliferation by other nations. We
must work towards elimination of our nuclear arsenals.
Unfortunately, the Bush administration has taken many dangerous,

reckless steps in the wrong direction. Bush has withdrawn from the
Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, drawn up plans for a nuclear strike
against Iran, violated the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and even
proposed the development of new nuclear weapons. The nuclear
bomb is useless for war. It is indiscriminately destructive and a threat
to all. This fact must be driven home to all who possess these mind-
bogglingly ruinous weapons. Nuclear weapons are a threat to the
existence of the world and the world must work together to
eliminate these weapons.
As Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, William Perry and Sam Nunn so

eloquently stated in their piece in the Wall Street Journal:
“Reassertion of the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons and
practical measures toward achieving that goal would be, and
would be perceived as, a bold initiative consistent with America's
moral heritage. The effort could have a profoundly positive impact
on the security of future generations.”
20

Deal? Yes. When the Bush administration announced its intention to
“enable full civil nuclear energy cooperation and trade with India”
it deliberately sidestepped the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
India has never signed the Treaty and has tested nuclear weapons.
Because it does not accept international monitoring of all nuclear
facilities it should be exempt from U.S. trade in nuclear reactors,
technology, and fuel. This agreement sets a dangerous precedent
for our future dealings with Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea.
Warhead (RRW) program? No. Most of the current U.S. nuclear
warheads were built in the 1970s and 80s. The RRW program was
instituted to maintain and replace deteriorating warheads and to
“improve the reliability, longevity, and certifiability of existing
weapons and their components.” However, while this deterioration
is a potential problem, I believe it is one that has been overstated.
The RRW program also runs the risk of disrupting our international
non-proliferation efforts and could lead to the development of new
nuclear weapons and nuclear testing and a renewed nuclear arms
race. Spending on nuclear weapons is exorbitant and wasteful and
the RRW is unnecessary.

Administration’s Complex Transformation plan? No. The Complex
Transformation plan is a plan to restructure the nation’s nuclear
weapons infrastructure. The goal is to consolidate existing nuclear
facilities and also to increase the capacity to produce more
plutonium for new nuclear weapons. This program takes the United
States in the absolute wrong direction. It undermines our security
and threatens the spread of nuclear weapons. I strongly oppose
this plan.
21

The core question of how to safely dispose of nuclear waste has
never been adequately answered. Questions remain about the
long-term viability of Yucca Mountain and the project faces a long
list of scientific, technical, public health, legal, and safety problems.
Obviously, the problem of nuclear waste disposal must be
addressed, but Yucca Mountain is not the answer.

alternative to fossil fuels? No. I would not support the building of
any additional nuclear power plants. This industry could not exist
without government subsidies and tax breaks. Insurance costs
alone would be prohibitive without the government’s intervention. I
am not convinced that this is a safe technology nor has the core
question of how to dispose of nuclear waste ever been adequately
answered.
22
ARMS SALES
AND
MILITARY AID
23
1. Do you support an international treaty to ban cluster bombs? Yes.
2. Would you vote to make the United States a signatory of the 1997
Convention and Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and
Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction better known
as the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty or Ottawa Treaty? Yes.
3. Do you support eliminating US military aid and weapons sales to

governments using child soldiers? Yes.

Israel? See explanation below.

Pakistan? See explanation below.
6. Do you support eliminating military aid and arms sales to countries

deemed undemocratic by the U.S. State Department? See
explanation below.
7. Do you support selling weapons or providing military assistance to

countries in conflict? If it depends on the country, what criteria
would you use to comply with the US Arms Export Control Act?
Depends on the country. See explanation below.
I believe that the US should be a party to an international arms trade

treaty that would state clearly that all international transfers of arms shall
be authorized by a recognized state and carried out in accordance with
national laws and procedures that reflect, as a minimum, states’
obligations under international law. Such a treaty would also clearly state
that states shall not authorize international transfers of arms that violate
their expressed obligations regarding arms under international law. I
would support making all future decisions on military aid and weapons
sales to ALL countries by first consulting the obligations and prohibitions of
such a treaty.
24
as the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty or Ottawa Treaty? I support signing the
treaty.

governments using child soldiers? Congress needs to review on a
case-by-case basis any allegations of U.S. military aid and weapons
sales to governments using child soldiers.

Israel? No.

Pakistan? No.

deemed undemocratic by the U.S. State Department? I believe
each country should be examined on a case-by-case basis. I do
not believe our foreign aid should be contingent on the
establishment of western-style democracies. We should look at the
humanitarian policies of that nation, the international and
American interests at stake, and the purpose for which such aid is to
be used.

would you use to comply with the US Arms Export Control Act? I
would use the criteria I note above.
25
as the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty or Ottawa Treaty? Yes.

governments using child soldiers? Yes.

Israel? No.

Pakistan? Yes. By providing F16 fighters capable of delivering
nuclear warheads to BOTH Pakistan and India, the US has only
served to increase the possibility of conflict between the two
countries.

deemed undemocratic by the U.S. State Department? Yes.

would you use to comply with the US Arms Export Control Act? No.
26

Cluster bombs are designed to scatter widely and detonate when
they hit their target. However, upwards of 30 percent of these
explosives fail to explode on contact and remain a risk to innocent
lives long after conflicts have ended. These bombs can be as
devastating as landmines to the civilian population that is left to
deal with the unexploded remnants.
as the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty or Ottawa Treaty? Yes. The Treaty stops
the production and development of anti-personnel mines and
requires the destruction of any stockpiles. The United States has
refused to sign unless the treaty includes an exception for the DMZ
between North and South Korea, stating that the million landmines
in this area help maintain peace between the two countries.
However, other mining options are available under the terms of the
Ottawa Treaty, including anti-tank mines, anti-handling devices and
other explosive devices. Landmines that remain buried long after
conflicts have ended continue to maim and injury innocent civilians
worldwide.

governments using child soldiers? Yes. The problem of child soldiers
is most critical in Africa where child soldiers, some as young as nine
years old, are being used in a number of countries. Our money
would be better spent supporting programs specifically aimed at
disarming child soldiers, giving them new skills and helping them
return to their communities.

Israel? No. We need to work with Israel and the Palestinians to bring
peace and stability to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and to
create an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. Israel is
27
our strongest alley in this volatile region of the world; it is a strong

democracy that continues to be threatened by countries that
refuse to recognize Israel as a legitimate political entity. Israel
deserves our continued aid and support.

Pakistan? Yes. The United States gives millions of dollars each month
in aid to Pakistan. When Pakistani President Musharraf suspended
constitutional rights in that country we should have suspended our
military aid.
deemed undemocratic by the U.S. State Department? Yes. See
below.

would you use to comply with the US Arms Export Control Act?
Depends on the country. U.S. arm sales are often justified as a way
to secure access to overseas military facilities or other political
support and as a way to promote stability and democracy in a
region. But all too often these sales end up fueling conflict, arming
human rights abusers or falling into the hands of our adversaries,
and serve to empower unstable, undemocratic regimes. We need
to change our policies and stop arms exports to countries that
systematically abuse human rights. We also need to explore other
possible ways of support, such as economic aid or political support
that we can give to other nations as an alternative to military aid.
28
MILITARISM
AND
THE WAR ECONOMY
29
1. Would you vote to reinstate the military draft? No.

that would amend Section 9528 of the No Child Left Behind Act to
protect the privacy of American high school students? Yes. In fact, I
have proposed completely repealing No Child Left Behind.
3. Do you believe that the US should ever employ private military

contractors? If so, how do you propose holding these contractors
and corporations accountable? No.

that would offer tax exemptions, reimbursements or credits to
weapons manufacturers doing business in Maine? No.

that would convert a minimum of 15% of current U.S. defense
spending to provide for social programs? Yes.

that would establish a Department of Peace? Yes.
30
1. Would you vote to reinstate the military draft? No. I oppose

reinstating the military draft.

protect the privacy of American high school students? I would vote
to repeal all of No Child Left Behind.

and corporations accountable? To the extent that private
contractors are employed, their activities need to be held to the
same strict standards as our military personnel. This includes
competitive bidding and auditing of their use of funds. Strict
accounting practices need to apply and it must be clear that any
incidents of abuse will be punished.
It is inevitable that any military department must contract for some

goods and services. However, the increasing trend to contract out
substantive military functions, including but not limited to security
services, is a dangerous trend and must be stopped.

weapons manufacturers doing business in Maine? I have no plans
to introduce, co-sponsor or promote any such legislation. I would
look at any proposal before Congress individually and with the
same scrutiny I would apply to all such tax exemptions,
reimbursements, or credits.
31

spending to provide for social programs? I believe we need to end
the war in Iraq now and use the money we are spending there and
put it towards our domestic needs, including paying down the
deficit and investing in families through social programs and
infrastructure investments, to name a few.

that would establish a Department of Peace? I support the
establishment of a Department of Peace that would work to
diminish the role of violence in this country and around the world.
32
1. Would you vote to reinstate the military draft? Yes.

protect the privacy of American high school students. Yes.
Information not otherwise given or publicly available to military
recruiters or other organizations should not be mandated available
through a child’s school by federal funding of education.

and corporations accountable? No. The use of contractors in Iraq
has clearly demonstrated that people engaging in combat must
either be U.S. soldiers or be held to the same standards of
accountability and conduct. I spoke out against the use of private
contractors, both because of accountability and cost, before our
invasion of Iraq was fully executed. You can see that footage on my
website: http://chelliepingree.com/issues/iraq_1.html.

weapons manufacturers doing business in Maine? No. As a State
Senator I fought against many of these types of tax breaks and
would continue to do so in Congress.
33

spending to provide for social programs? Yes. There is no question in
my mind that the war in Iraq is a drain on all of our domestic
priorities and that we need to shift a substantial portion of the
defense spending into health care, education and domestic
investments that would begin to reduce our dependence on
foreign oil.
The next President and Congress are going to be faced with critical
decisions regarding the size and distribution of resources devoted to
national defense. At $541 billion (54% of the discretionary budget),
President Bush’s FY09 Pentagon budget request (Department of
Defense plus the nuclear weapons portion of the Department of
Energy) eliminates no major weapons systems and is 5% larger in
real terms (adjusted for inflation) than the FY08 budget request. If
this budget is approved, which observers expect it to be, it will be a
44% increase since 2000. This would make the Department of
Defense budget at its highest level ever, in real terms--and that does
not include war spending. $200 billion for the war in FY09 is a
conservative estimate. We are currently spending $12 billion a
month in Iraq.

that would establish a Department of Peace? Yes. The need for such
a thing speaks to the serious failures of the Bush administration, as
our State Department should carry out this function.
34
1. Would you vote to reinstate the military draft? No. The military
should remain an all volunteer organization.

protect the privacy of American high school students? Yes. Section
9528 of the NCLB Act requires local schools to give student’s name,
address and phone numbers to any military recruiters upon request.
This private information is given without parental knowledge or
consent and it enables military recruiters to aggressively recruit
minor students at home by telephone calls, mail and personal visits.
While students and parents have an opt-out option, this information
is not always readily available. A better policy would be one that
protects a student’s privacy while giving an opt-in option to those
who want more information on military service. Schools should also
limit institutional recruiters (including military) access to a few times
a year on campus.

and corporations accountable? No. The Bush administration has
embraced the alarming practice of outsourcing the United States
military. Private military contractors have been essential to the war
in Iraq and are used to perform a variety of jobs, including security.
Private contractors have been hired to maintain sophisticated U.S.
weapons systems such as the B-2 bomber, they help operate the
Aegis missile-defense system, they offer protection for non-military
transport convoys, help train Iraqi police, and provide every-day
support services for the troops. Yet there is lack of public
information about the costs involved in using private contractors
and the standards around the hiring, performance and training of
employees. Private contractors also lack accountability and are
not held responsible under U.S. law for abuse and other
transgressions. Private contractors in Iraq have been linked to the
killing of innocent Iraq civilians, the abuse of Iraqi prisoners,
35
supplying substandard materials to the troops, and have been

suspect in widespread war profiteering. We should not be relying
on private companies whose overriding principal is making money,
but instead we need to return these jobs to our military who are
dedicated to servicing our nation.

weapons manufacturers doing business in Maine? In short, my
answer is no. I have been opposed to special interest tax breaks
that do not benefit the community since I started serving on the
Taxation Committee. I will continue this policy in Congress.

spending to provide for social programs? Yes. The United States
accounts for almost half of all world wide military spending. There
has been a renewed military build-up in this country beginning in
2001. Bush’s 2009 proposed budget includes increases in both war
spending and non-war military budgets while cutting important
programs for children, the elderly, and lower income households.
This is a travesty. While it is important to provide for a strong defense
there is certainly ample room for cuts to be made in our military
spending.
36

that would establish a Department of Peace? Yes. Last year, Ed and
Elaine Brown retreated to their fortified compound in Plainfield, New
Hampshire, declared they did not recognize the federal
government and pledged to die in a storm of bullets rather than
surrender to federal agents. News reports recalled similar standoffs
at Waco and Ruby Ridge and detailed the bloody endings.
However, months after the New Hampshire standoff began it ended
peacefully, with no shots fired, when US marshals walked on to the
property pretending to be supporters of the Browns. The US
Marshals chose to pursue a nonviolent resolution, one that was
amazingly successful. Just imagine what our nation might
accomplish were we to examine practical, diplomatic, nonviolent
solutions to domestic and international conflicts. We study war, we
should also study peace.
37
THE WARS IN IRAQ
AND AFGHANISTAN AND
THE WAR ON TERROR
38
1. What do you perceive to be the root causes of terrorism? Terrorism is

a complex phenomenon and not easily explained, but I do believe
there are a set of factors at the root of it. Poverty is clearly one of
the major causes of terrorism. There is also a significant amount of
anger and frustration that people around the world feel when they
believe that their human rights are not being respected by either
their government or the most powerful nations on earth. Religious
intolerance is another significant cause. In any particular case, it is
likely that more than one of these factors, as well as possibly others,
are in play.
2. Do you support the war in Afghanistan? No.
3. Would you vote to continue to fund the war in Iraq? No.

that would allow for the complete and withdrawal of all U.S. troops,
U.S. military bases and military contractors hired by the U.S.
government from Iraq? Yes.
39
1. What do you perceive to be the root causes of terrorism? Terrorism is

a criminal act against domestic and international law and cannot
be tolerated in a humane society. Its root cause is the intentional
disregard of the sanctity of human life and the resorting to criminal
violence to achieve a political end. All civilized nations must unite to
reject terrorism and support the respect for human life and social
justice throughout the world.
2. Do you support the war in Afghanistan? America and other

members of the international community should support the
democratically elected government of Afghanistan and assist them
in preventing the re-establishment of a safe haven for al Qaeda
within its borders.
3. Would you vote to continue to fund the war in Iraq? No. I believe
Congress has made a crucial mistake in continuing to fund the war.
I would vote to de-fund the war because the leverage Congress
has is the power of the purse.

government from Iraq? Yes, the War in Iraq should never have been
authorized. If elected, I will support – and would be willing to co-
sponsor – legislation that would end the war in Iraq now and would
allow for a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops, bases, and military
contractors from Iraq engaged in that war.
40
1. What do you perceive to be the root causes of terrorism? This is a

much discussed question in recent years, and with good reason, as
we’ve all worked our way through a post 9-11 world and witnessed
ongoing violence in several parts of the globe. At its core, terrorism
is viable due to a lack of economic opportunity and social justice. It
may at times be generated around religious fundamentalism or in
response to questionable U.S. policies, but the reason is takes hold
has more to do with deep, long-term economic frustration.
2. Do you support the war in Afghanistan? Yes. The world erred in

allowing the Taliban to flourish, a military strike on Afghanistan
should have been our last option and we need to support Afghan
reconstruction efforts.
3. Would you vote to continue to fund the war in Iraq? No. Please see
my answer to the next question. I think that ending the funding of
the war in Iraq will prove to be the only way to begin to remove our
troops.

government from Iraq? Yes. We must end the war now. Congress
must stop funding the war and rescind its authorization if the
administration refuses to make plans for immediate withdrawal,
including leaving no permanent bases behind. We can't continue
to squander our resources on the worst foreign policy mistake in our
country's history. Leaving will be complicated, but staying only
continues the tragic loss of our soldiers, Iraqi citizens, and almost
unthinkable amounts of money.
41
I also believe that while Congress and the President debate

whether we can "win" the war instead of how best to withdraw our
forces form Iraq with the least amount of damage, they are
irresponsibly prolonging this disaster. Instead, they should be
tackling the hard debate of what needs to be done next.
America must no longer be seen as an aggressor in the world. We

need to embrace a new foreign policy to restore our reputation.
To this end, this spring I joined with Darcy Burner (a candidate for
Congress in Washington State,) and military and national security
experts like General Paul Eaton (US Army Ret.) to create a
comprehensive plan to end the war in Iraq and repair the damage
it has caused, at home and abroad. Since then more than fifty US
House and US Senate candidates and over 25,000 Americans have
endorsed it.
The Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq builds off the work of the
Iraq Study Group and existing legislation in Congress and is
intended to accomplish three objectives:
1. End the military effort in Iraq and bring our troops home;
2. Begin to repair the damage five years of war and
occupation have caused, at home and abroad;
3. Prevent a repeat of this sort of epic and costly foreign
policy blunder in the future.
42
1. What do you perceive to be the root causes of terrorism? Economic

insecurity and cultural alienation.
2. Do you support the war in Afghanistan? No. I support bringing

Osama bin Laden to justice. In 2001 we invaded Afghanistan in an
effort to disrupt the Taliban and to avenge the terrorist attacks of
September 11th. Seven years later, the Afghanistan/Pakistan
border region remains a breeding ground for Taliban, al-Qaida and
other militant groups, Osama bin Laden is still at large, and
Afghanistan leads the world in poppy production, accounting for 95
percent of the world’s crop. Afghanistan is a country that has
been in turmoil and war for the last twenty years. Ethnic, religious,
social, and geographic difficulties have kept the country from
forming into a strong state. Insurgent violence is increasing in
Afghanistan. It is time to reexamine our military presence in
Afghanistan; a successful response to the threats of al-Qaida
requires a multi-faceted approach, not one that only relies on our
military. Our continued presence in Afghanistan will produce only
limited success and will come at a great cost, in terms of lives and
for the possibility of a stable, democratic future for the country.
3. Would you vote to continue to fund the war in Iraq? No. I will not
vote for any future funding for operations in Iraq that doesn’t
include a clear withdrawal date. To date the war has cost
American taxpayers over $500 billion dollars. For-profit independent
contractors who have been allowed to operate in Iraq with little
oversight or accountability have fleeced countless millions of these
dollars. The war continues to cost well over $10 billion dollars a
month. Just think of what we could have done here at home with
that money.
43
We cannot go on sacrificing the lives of American troops and

innocent Iraqi civilians. Even some of our most experienced military
experts and commanders now question our strategy and goals in
Iraq, whatever they may be. It is time to begin the total withdrawal
of our troops from Iraq in a safe and orderly manner. We need to
pursue a diplomatic solution, one that will not cause the people of
Iraq to suffer even more. We need to work to regain America’s
prestige and standing in the world, to once again become the
beacon of hope, opportunity and democracy. And we need to
bring our sons and our daughters home, now

government from Iraq? Yes. The war in Iraq will go down in history
as one of this nation’s greatest military blunders. It didn’t have to
be this way. In February of 2003, six weeks before the first bombs fell
on Iraq, I introduced a resolution to the Maine Senate calling for a
halt to the impending attack and urging President Bush to pursue a
diplomatic, not a military, solution in Iraq. The Maine Senate
endorsed this resolution and became the first state legislative body
in the nation to take a stance against war in Iraq. I have been
against the war since before it began and I will work to bring our
troops home now.
44
For more information about the candidates’ stances on these issues,
contact their campaigns:
Michael Brennan for Congress Chellie Pingree for Congress

www.brennanforcongress.org www.chelliepingree.com
PO Box 285 PO Box 17613
Portland, ME 04112 Portland, ME 04112
(207) 773-1323 (207) 773-0155
votebrennan@brennanforcongress.org campaign@pingreeforcongress.com
Adam Cote for Congress Dean Scontras for Congress

www.adamcote.com www.teamdean08.com
Portland, ME 04103-6902 Portland, ME 04112
(207) 347-3103 (207) 221-3447
cote@adamcote.com info@teamdean08.com
Mark Lawrence for Congress Ethan Strimling for Congress

www.marklawrence.org www.ethan08.com
Springvale, ME 04083 Portland, ME 04112
(207) 490-6275 (207) 874-0808
mark@marklawrence.org info@ethan08.com
Steve Meister for Congress Charlie Summers for Congress

www.stevemeisterforcongress.com www.summersforcongress.org
PO Box 2208 107 Exchange Street
Augusta, ME 04338-2208 Portland, ME 04101
(207) 620-7280 (207) 883-5105
stevemeisterforcongress@gmail.com ruth@summersforcongress.org
45

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PEACE ACTION MAINE’S

This voter guide has been prepared by Peace Action Maine to

NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND NUCLEAR POWER

ARMS SALES AND MILITARY AID

MILITARISM AND THE WAR ECONOMY

THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AND THE WAR ON TERROR

1. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

2. Do you believe that the US should operate prisons outside of its

3. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

4. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

5. When, if ever, do you consider the use of military force to be

6. Do you believe that economic sanctions or embargoes are an

7. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

8. Do you believe that the US should become party to the Kyoto

9. What will you do to eliminate poverty?

1. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

2. Do you believe that the US should operate prisons outside of its

3. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

4. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

5. When, if ever, do you consider the use of military force to be

6. Do you believe that economic sanctions or embargoes are an

7. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

8. Do you believe that the US should become party to the Kyoto

9. What will you do to eliminate poverty? First, we need to withdraw

1. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

The Military Commission Act of 2006 fundamentally undermines the

2. Do you believe that the US should operate prisons outside of its

3. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

4. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

Our system of government, with three distinct branches, was built to

5. When, if ever, do you consider the use of military force to be

6. Do you believe that economic sanctions or embargoes are an

7. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

8. Do you believe that the US should become party to the Kyoto

9. What will you do to eliminate poverty? Maine has a shrinking

There are a number of policies that I support that can reduce

Second, increasing the number of good paying jobs is essential.

Third, being able to access an education – particularly for single

There is a lot that needs to be done -- including a repeal of the Bush

Beyond these top examples, there are a number of important

federal budgets are a reflection of our shared priorities and

1. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

2. Do you believe that the US should operate prisons outside of its

3. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

millions of dollars. We should abolish the death penalty and rely

4. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

5. When, if ever, do you consider the use of military force to be

6. Do you believe that economic sanctions or embargoes are an

7. Are you willing to introduce, co-sponsor and/or promote legislation

8. Do you believe that the US should become party to the Kyoto

9. What will you do to eliminate poverty? We need to provide

1. Do you support the research and/or development of new U.S.

2. Do you support the elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide? Yes.

3. Would you vote to enforce the agreements of the Nuclear Non-

5. Would you vote to enable the implementation of the Bush

6. Do you support the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Depository? No.

7. Do you believe that nuclear power is a safe and viable energy

1. Do you support the research and/or development of new U.S.

2. Do you support the elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide? Yes.

3. Would you vote to enforce the agreements of the Nuclear Non-

5. Would you vote to enable the implementation of the Bush

6. Do you support the Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Depository? No.

7. Do you believe that nuclear power is a safe and viable energy