Carl Levin

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Carl Levin

Carl Milton Levin (born in Detroit, Wayne County, MI on June 28, 1934) is a former Democratic member of the United States Senate, representing Michigan.

Early Life & Career

Carl Levin is the brother of Sander Levin. He attended Detroit public schools; graduated, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pa., 1956; graduated, Harvard Law School 1959; admitted to the Michigan bar in 1959 and commenced practice in Detroit.[1]

Public Service

Levin worked as assistant attorney general and general counsel for the Michigan civil rights commission 1964-1967; special assistant attorney general for the State of Michigan and chief appellate defender for the city of Detroit 1968-1969. He was a member, Detroit City Council 1969-1973; president, Detroit City Council 1974-1977; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1978 for the term commencing January 3, 1979; reelected in 1984, 1990, 1996, 2002, and again in 2008 for the term ending January 3, 2015; chair, Committee on Armed Services (One Hundred Seventh Congress [January 3-20, 2001; June 6, 2001-January 3, 2003]; One Hundred Tenth and One Hundred Eleventh Congresses).[1]

Council on Foreign Relations

On February 17, 2000, Carl Levin traveled to New York for a debate on national missile defense with another member of the Senate. The trip was paid for by the Council on Foreign Relations.[2]

Planned Parenthood

Levin received $1000 in lobbying funds from Planned Parenthood in 2008.

Greeted World Peace Council delegation

Carl Levin, front center, Erma Henderson center, Maryann Mahaffey, fourth from right, Clyde Cleveland, third from right

From September 29, to October 12, 1975 the Soviet front World Peace Council sent a delegation on a ten-day tour of the United States of America, where it was "warmly and enthusiastically received". In six of the ten cities visited, the delegation was officially welcomed by the mayors' offices and presented with "keys to the city", medals and proclamations.

The delegation was composed of Romesh Chandra, Secretary General of the World Peace Council; Josef Cyrankiewicz, former Premier of Poland, for many years a prisoner at the infamous Auschwitz prison camp, "outstanding anti-fascist fighter", and Chairman of the Polish Peace Committee; Ambassador Harald Edelstam, Swedish Ambassador to Algeria, formerly Ambassador to Chile during the Allende Presidency,"renowned for his rescue of hundreds of Chileans from the fascist junta"; Purabhi Mukherji, General Secretary of the Congress Party of India, member of Parliament and formerly a minister of the Indian government ~ for 15 years; James Lamond, Labour member of British Parliament, former Mayor of Aberdeen, Scotland, and active member of the Engineering Workers Union; Yacov Lomko, Editor-in-Chief of the Moscow News, leading member of the Soviet Peace Committee, and Communist Party USA member Karen Talbot, US member of the WPC Secretariat.

At Detroit's airport, the group was met by representatives of local peace organisations and trade unions. A sheriff's escort accompanied the delegates into Detroit where the "keys to the city" were presented to the delegation by Deputy Mayor Malcolm Dade, representing Mayor Coleman Young, and by Councilwoman Erma Henderson, member of the Detroit Common (City) Council. Carl Levin was part of the greeting delegation.[3]

Philippines connection

According to Information Digest[4] an article published by the League for Revolutionary Struggle in September 1980 on the anniversary of imposition of martial law praises Fr. Edicio de la Torre, head of Christians for National Liberation and former chairman of the Preparatory Committee for a National Democratic Front as "exemplifying" the moves by former opposition political leaders, Catholic and Protestant religious leaders in "increasingly uniting wi th other revolutionary forces to call for the overthrow of the Marcos regime."

On April 31 1980 Edicio de la Torre was guest of honor after his release from prison in the Philippines at a reception in the U S Capitol co-hosted by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI}, Rep. Edward Bonker (D-WA}, and the United Church of Christ Board of Homeland Ministries. Guests at the reception included Senator Jacob Javits (R-NY}, Rep. Robert Drinan (D-MA}, and leaders of the anti-Philippines lobby in Washington.

Supported by Council for a Livable World

The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their policies. The Council supported Carl Levin in his successful Senate run as candidate for Michigan.[5]

Council for a Livable World, 50th Anniversary

On June 6, 2012, Council for a Livable World, along with its sister organizations Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and Council for a Livable World’s PeacePAC, celebrated the 50th Anniversary of their founding by Leo Szilard in 1962.

An evening celebration was held at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Congressman Barney Frank acted as the Master of Ceremonies and, in the process, received a lifetime achievement award from former Rep. Tom Downey, a member of the Council’s Board of Directors. The Robert F. Drinan Peace and Human Award was presented to former Representative and PeacePAC Chairman David Bonior and the late Edith Wilkie, a longtime advocate and leader for peace and justice.

Six sitting Senators joined CLW in an afternoon national security forum in the U.S. Capitol to speak on the issues Council has been working on for 50 years. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) all spoke eloquently on these pressing issues.[6]

Council for a Livable World has a long and close relationship with each of the Senators. They have all been leading advocates in the Senate for sensible national security policies, such as reducing the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction, reigning in the bloated defense budget, and bringing an end to the War in Afghanistan.
Chairman Levin remarked that we have seen progress in Afghanistan and that we should continue to drawdown our troop presence while providing aid and support to the Afghan National Army. He said he is not clear what the Administration’s next steps are after the withdrawal of more combat troops. Senator Levin also highlighted some of the differences between the Senate and House versions of the Fiscal Year 2013 defense bill that will need to be ironed out when the two sides meet in Conference. Levin criticized provisions in the House bill (1) requiring construction of a missile defense site on the East Coast of the United States, (2) that would restrict the President’s ability to engage in talks on missile defense cooperation with the Russians and (3) restrictions on chaplains conducting marriages of two gay people...[7]

Drinan Award

The Father Robert F. Drinan National Peace and Human Rights Award was established in 2006. The award is annually presented by the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and Council for a Livable World to individuals who exemplify the late Father Drinan's commitment |to peace and human justice".

The award broadly focuses on U.S. politics, political science, physical science, biology, peace studies, and peace and human rights activism.

Opposed Iraq War

Six of the eight U.S. Senators from the four upper Midwest states voted against the resolution to authorize force against Iraq, all of them Democrats or progressive Democrats: Mark Dayton and Paul Wellstone (Minn.), Russ Feingold (Wis.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), and Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow (Mich.).

Sen. Wellstone, the only member of the Senate voting "Nay" who was facing election that fall, died in a plane crash just prior to the 2002 election; his seat was taken by Republican Norm Coleman. But Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, a Democrat, joined the war resistance a year later by voting against the $87 billion supplemental appropriation for the Iraq War.[9]

Arab American Political Action Committee

The second annual Arab American Political Action Committee dinner was held in 1999 and was attended by over 800 people. Osama Siblani welcomed the audience and introduced Samer Jaafar the Chairman of the Endorsement Committee. AAPAC's president Abed Hammoud delivered the organization's message and plans for the future. Congressman David Bonior, the House Minority Whip and U.S Senator Spencer Abraham delivered their addresses. Dr. Mohamad Khansa chaired the Dinner Committee.

Prominent Michigan public officials in attendance included US Senator Spencer Abraham and his wife Jane Abraham, US Congressman David Bonior and his wife Judy Bonior, US Congressman John Dingell and his wife Debbie Dingell, US Congressman Sander Levin and his wife Vicki Levin, US Congressman John Conyers, Jr., US Congresswoman Debbie Stabenow, US Congressman Joe Knollenberg, US Congresswoman Lynn Rivers, Wayne County Sheriff Robert Ficano and Eunice Confer representing U.S. Senator Carl Levin.[10]

CAIR

“Your efforts to enhance the understanding of Islam and build coalitions that promote justice and respect is both timely and beneficial.” - Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) (September 2014).[11]

Supporting "Supreme Challenge 2010"

In October 2007, The Justice Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party asked Senator Carl Levin to lend his voice to our "Supreme Challenge 2010" campaign to elect Justice Alton Thomas Davis and Judge Denise Langford-Morris to the Michigan Supreme Court. Levin stated that he would.[12]

Democratic Socialists of America

Mourned Passing of DSA Leader

On March 24, 2004, Carl Levin released a statement on the passing of DSA leader Millie Jeffrey. He stated,[13]

"[We] learned of the passing of [a] giant. Millie Jeffrey was the shining star in the political firmament of our state and nation. Her legendary courage and will were an inspiration to all who came within her orbit... Barbara and I will miss her deeply."

On May 20, 2004, Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin co-sponsored Senate Resolution 367: A resolution honoring the life of Mildred McWilliams "Millie" Jeffrey (1910-2004) and her contributions to her community and to the United States.. The resolution passed with unanimous consent.[14]

DSA sponsored rally

Over 300 people attended the Call to Action Rally at the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 876 Hall in Madison Heights on February 18th 2010. The rally was organized to press members of the Michigan Congressional delegation , particularly in the Senate, to pass key components of the progressive agenda including health care reform, cap and trade energy legislation, immigration reform, and the Employee Free Choice Act. Greater Detroit Democratic Socialists of America co-sponsored the rally along with 31 other organizations including Health Care for America Now, the UAW, the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union ), UFCW, UNITE-HERE Local 24,AFSCME Council 25, Reform Immigration for America, Repower America (the organization founded by former Vice-President Al Gore to promote investment in renewable energy), Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit, Michigan Universal Health Care Access Network, the Arabic Community Coalition for Economic and Social Security, Southeast Michigan Jobs with Justice, MoveOn, and MOSES.

Congressmen Sander Levin and John Conyers, Jr. addressed the audience. In addition, aides to Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin and Representatives Dale Kildee, Gary Peters, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, and John Dingell attended the rally.

DSA member Al Fishman spoke to the audience about how the disastrous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had undermined Obama’s domestic agenda in a manner analogous to the way in which the Vietnam War undermined President Johnson’s Great Society programs. DSA Executive Board member Dave Ivers spoke about the imperative for a national jobs program, shared a personal anecdote about how the health care crisis had affected his family, and stressed the importance of Congress passing the Employee Free Choice Act to make it easier for workers to organize unions. Other speakers included Chris Michalakis, Legislative Director of UFCW Local 876, who spoke about the importance of comprehensive immigration reform. Luke Canfora of Repower America described the huge potential benefits of investment in renewable energy (decreased reliance on foreign oil, reduced emissions of greenhouse gases, and job creation). Marcia Boehm and Altheia Henry discussed the urgent need for health care reform. John Freeman, Michigan Director of Health Care for America Now, moderated the event.[15]

Democratic Party Super Delegates

In February 2008 Michigan Democratic Party Super Delegates were;[[16]

Charles Brown Mon, 25 Feb 2008

Staff

The following have worked as staff members for Carl Levin:[17]

External links

References

Template:Reflist

  1. ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 Legistorm: Carl Levin: Bio (accessed on Jan. 17, 2011)
  2. ↑ Legistorm: Carl Levin: Trips (accessed on Jan. 17, 2011)
  3. ↑ World Peace Council Tour USA. 1975, wpc information centre, Lonnrotinkatu 25 A 5 krs 00180 Helsinki 18 Finland
  4. ↑ Information Digest Nov 21 1980 p 403
  5. ↑ CLW website: Meet Our Candidates
  6. ↑ Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation website. Council for a Livable World 50th Anniversary Celebration
  7. ↑ CLW blog, The Chain Reaction, Summary of the Council’s 50th Anniversary Senators Forum JUN 21, 2012
  8. ↑ Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation website. Council for a Livable World 50th Anniversary Celebration
  9. ↑ [ http://milwaukee.indymedia.org/en/2005/04/203117.shtml, correction, http://watchdogmilwaukee.com, 01.04.2005 14:43], indymedia]
  10. ↑ AAPAC: Second Annual Dinner (accessed on Feb. 15, 2011)
  11. ↑ [https://www.cair.com/images/pdf/What-They-Say-About-CAIR.pdf What They Say About CAIR (October 2014)
  12. ↑ The Justice Caucus website: Senator Carl Levin Takes On the Supreme Challenge, Oct. 27, 2011 (accessed on Jan. 28, 2011)
  13. ↑ Carl Levin's Senate website: 'Statement of Senator Carl Levin on the Passing of Millie Jeffrey , March 24, 2004 (accessed on Jan. 28, 2011)
  14. ↑ [Govtrack.us: S. Res. 367: A resolution honoring the life of Mildred McWilliams "Millie" Jeffrey (1910-2004) and her...] (accessed on Jan. 28, 2011)
  15. ↑ http://detroitdsa.com/March%202010%20DSA%20Newsletter.pdf GDDSA newsletter. March 2010 Volume 11, Issue 2]
  16. ↑ http://www.mail-archive.com/marxism-thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu/msg04301.html [Marxism-Thaxis] Democratic meltdown looming]
  17. ↑ Legistorm: Carl Levin (accessed on Jan. 17, 2011)
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