Political positions of John McCain

Template:JohnMcCainSegmentsU.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), a candidate and the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, has taken positions on many political issues through his public comments and his senatorial voting record.

Foreign policy

McCain delivers keynote address at the Pentagon on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, Sept. 19, 1997

McCain has been perceived to be relatively hawkish on foreign policy, despite his advocacy of the withdrawal of US troops from Lebanon in 1982 (prior to the attack on the Marine barracks), Somalia in 1993 and Haiti in 1994. His 2006 rating, compiled by the Almanac of American Politics (2008) on Foreign Policy is 58% conservative, 40% liberal. (2005: 54% conservative, 45% liberal.) McCain has called for cooperation with other democratic nations by forming a "League of Democracies" and credited the cooperation of the entire NATO alliance with winning the Cold War instead of just the United States.

Arab-Israeli conflict

McCain firmly supports the State of Israel. He demonstrated his strong support when he made a speech addressing AIPAC on April 23, 2002. During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, McCain said Israel's role in the conflict with Lebanon and Hezbollah was appropriate. "What would we do if somebody came across our borders and killed our soldiers and captured our soldiers?" said McCain. "Do you think we would be exercising total restraint? Such restraint should come from Hezbollah and the nations sponsoring it, notably Iran", McCain said.

Headline text

John McCain is GAY

Detention and torture of extrajudicial prisoners

For further details on this topic, see McCain Detainee Amendment and Military Commissions Act of 2006

McCain, as a former POW, has been recognized for his sensitivity to the issue of the detention and interrogation of detainees from the War on Terror. On October 3, 2005, McCain introduced the McCain Detainee Amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill for 2005. On October 5, 2005, the United States Senate voted 90-9 to support the amendment. The McCain Detainee Amendment was commonly referred to as the Amendment on (1) the Army Field Manual and (2) Cruel, Inhumane, Degrading Treatment, amendment #1977 and also known as the McCain Amendment 1977. It became the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 as Title X of the Department of Defense Authorization bill. The amendment prohibits inhumane treatment of prisoners, including prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, by confining interrogations to the techniques in FM 34-52 Intelligence Interrogation.

McCain has also said in an interview that he would "immediately close Guantanamo Bay, move all the prisoners to Fort Leavenworth and truly expedite the judicial proceedings in their cases".

On December 15, 2005, President Bush announced that he accepted McCain's terms and will "make it clear to the world that this government does not torture and that we adhere to the international convention of torture, whether it be here at home or abroad." President Bush made clear his interpretation of this legislation on December 30, 2005, in a signing statement, reserving what he interpreted to be his Presidential constitutional authority in order to avoid further terrorist attacks.

McCain argues that American military and intelligence personnel in future wars will suffer for abuses committed in 2006 by the US in the name of fighting terrorism. He fears the administration's policy will put American prisoners at risk of torture, summary executions and other atrocities by chipping away at Geneva Conventions. He argues that his rival bill to Bush’s plan gives defendants access to classified evidence being used to convict them and will set tight limits on use of testimony obtained by coercion. Furthermore it offers CIA interrogators some legal protections from charges of abuse, but rejects the administration’s plan to more narrowly define the Geneva Conventions’ standards for humane treatment of prisoners. McCain insists this issue overrides politics.

McCain, whose six years of captivity and torture in Vietnam made him a national celebrity, negotiated (in September 2006) a compromise in the Senate for the Military Commissions Act of 2006, suspending habeas corpus provisions for anyone deemed by the Executive Branch an "unlawful enemy combatant" and barring them from challenging their detentions in court. Coming on the heels of a Supreme Court decision adverse to the White House, McCain's compromise gave a retroactive, nine-year immunity to U.S. officials who authorized, ordered, or committed acts of torture and abuse, and permitted the use of statements obtained through torture to be used in military tribunals so long as the abuse took place by December 30, 2005. McCain's compromise permitted the President to establish permissible interrogation techniques and to "interpret the meaning and application" of international Geneva Convention standards, so long as the coercion fell short of "serious" bodily or psychological injury. Widely dubbed McCain's "torture compromise", the bill was signed into law by George W. Bush on October 17, 2006, shortly before the 2006 midterm elections.

In October 2007, John McCain stated of waterboarding that, "They [other presidential candidates] should know what it is. It is not a complicated procedure. It is torture." However, he voted against HR 2082, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which included provisions that would have prevented the CIA from waterboarding prisoners.

Iran

McCain has said that "We continue to be concerned about Iranian influence and assistance to Hezbollah as well as Iranian pursuit of nuclear weapons." . McCain has also said "the military option cannot be taken off the table" in dealing with Iran, although he sees it as a "last option".

McCain tried to persuade FIFA to ban Iran from the 2006 World Cup, referring to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Holocaust denials as the reason since such denials in Germany, where the competition was held, are illegal.

Iraq War

McCain supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq; the U.S. decision to overthrow the Saddam Hussein regime; a continued and increased military presence in Iraq; and most of President George W. Bush's foreign policies. Despite offering support for war, McCain has urged the Bush administration to make "significant policy changes" in the Iraq War. He criticized The Pentagon several times, most notably concerning low troop strength in Iraq, and has called for a diversification of Iraqi national forces to better represent the multiple ethnic groups contained within the country. He stated that the United States government must do more to keep public support high for the war, stressing that "America, Iraq and the world are better off with Saddam Hussein in prison rather than in power…and we must honor their sacrifice by seeing this mission through to victory." McCain has stated that he had "no confidence" in former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, but refused to call for his resignation, explaining that "the president picks his team, and the president has the right to stay with that team if he wants to."

On January 10, 2007, President Bush announced the commitment of more than 20,000 additional troops as apart of a surge. McCain was a leading advocate for the move, leading some Democrats to call the policy the "McCain Doctrine". Days after the announcement, McCain appeared on CBS' Face the Nation and said, "This is a chance under the new leadership of General Petraeus and Admiral Fallon to have a chance to succeed. Do I believe it can succeed? Yes, I do." On February 4, he criticised a bipartisan non-binding resolution opposing the troop buildup, calling it a "vote of no confidence" in the US military. The next day, McCain said, "I don't think it's appropriate to say that you disapprove of a mission and you don't want to fund it and you don't want it to go, but yet you don't take the action necessary to prevent it".

On January 3, 2008 at a campaign stop in Derry, New Hampshire, a questioner said, "President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years." McCain responded,

"Make it a hundred. We've been in Japan for 60 years, we've been in South Korea for 50 years or so. That'd be fine with me as long as Americans are not being injured or harmed or wounded or killed. That's fine with me. I hope it will be fine with you if we maintain a presence in a very volatile part of the world where Al Qaeda is training, recruiting, equipping, and motivating people every single day."

McCain has called Iraq the central battleground against terrorists. "Gen. Petraeus is correct when he says that the central battleground in the struggle against al Qaeda is Iraq and Osama bin Laden just confirmed that again with his comments last week." He went on to say, "There are tough decisions ahead and America deserves leaders that are up to the challenge. As president, I will ensure that our troops come home victorious in this war that is part of the larger struggle against radical Islamic extremism and will continue to make keeping our nation secure my highest priority."

North Korea

McCain stated the he believed the Former President Bill Clinton and his administration were to blame for the North Korea and weapons of mass destruction. In a article he wrote for Foreign Affairs he reffered to North Korea as a "totalitarian regime," and that is was neccessary for North Korea be committed to "verifiable denuclearization" and "full accounting of all its nuclear materials and facilities" before any "lasting diplomatic agreement can be reached."

Nuclear Weapons

McCain has stated he feels the United States should reduce its nuclear arsenal to encourage other nations to reduce their arsenals:

"Forty years ago, the five declared nuclear powers came together in support of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and pledged to end the arms race and move toward nuclear disarmament. The time has come to renew that commitment. We do not need all the weapons currently in our arsenal. The United States should lead a global effort at nuclear disarmament consistent with our vital interests and the cause of peace."

Pakistan

McCain maintains a relatively moderate stance concerning Pakistan, although he has recognized the South Asian nation as an important part of US Foreign Policy. In the aftermath of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's assassination (in December 2007) McCain appeared to rule out the option of US forces entering Pakistan, saying that it was not an appropriate time to "threaten" Pakistan.

Russia

McCain has been one of the foremost critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the US Senate: "I looked into his eyes and saw three letters: a K, a G and a B". He has said that Putin is "going to cause a lot of difficulties" and that he is "trying to reassert the Russian empire." McCain has also stated his belief that Putin is using Russia's energy sources as a political weapon.

In 2005 McCain and Connecticut senator Joseph Lieberman brought a draft resolution with the requirement to suspend membership of Russia in G8. The same year he initiated Senate acceptance of a resolution charging the Russian government with "political motivations" in litigation concerning Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev. McCain stated the requirement to exclude Russia from G8 and in the further.

Today, we see in Russia diminishing political freedoms, a leadership dominated by a clique of former intelligence officers, efforts to bully democratic neighbors, such as Georgia, and attempts to manipulate Europe's dependence on Russian oil and gas. We need a new Western approach to this revanchist Russia. The G8 should again become a club of leading market democracies: it should include Brazil and India but exclude Russia.

Point of view on the processes occurring on the post-Soviet space, also is directly opposite to a position of the Kremlin. McCain actively criticizes the activity of the president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. In this connection in 2004 entrance to this country has been forbidden for him.

Economic policy

His 2006 rating by the Almanac of American Politics (2008) on Economic Policy is 64% conservative, 35% liberal (52% conservative, 47% liberal in 2005).

Budget

McCain has historically emphasized deficit reduction over tax cuts. However, McCain's tax proposals will increase the federal deficit.

The contrast with George Bush's preference for tax cuts was prominent during the 2000 presidential campaign, and after Bush became president McCain opposed his tax cut proposals. However, McCain supported the Bush tax cut extension in May 2006.

McCain is a strong supporter of private Social Security accounts.

McCain has been called one of the Senate's most outspoken critics of pork barrel spending. However, McCain has also been called a "pork enabler" by an aide to Republican Senator Pete Domenici.

Taxation

McCain has declined to sign the pledge put forth by Americans for Tax Freedom not to impose any new taxes or increase existing taxes. In 2002, Sen. McCain was one of only two Republicans to twice vote against the permanent repeal of the Estate Tax, and has recently stated opposition to a permanent repeal of the Estate Tax. McCain was one of two Republicans who voted against Bush's tax cuts in 2001. He opposed accelerating the cuts in 2003, saying that he was not in favor of cutting taxes during a time of war. However, McCain supported the Bush tax cut extension in May 2006. In 2004 McCain appeared on Meet The Press with Tim Russert where he was asked about his opposition to the Bush tax cuts. McCain explained himself by saying, "I voted against the tax cuts because of the disproportional amount that went to the wealthiest Americans. I would clearly support not extending those tax cuts in order to help address the deficit" However, in 2008, McCain told Russert that he favors making those tax cuts permanent to prevent an increase in taxes while the economy was "shaky". He also said that his tax proposal would focus more on middle-income Americans than on the wealthy.

McCain has stated that he believes in keeping marginal tax rates low, but that lower taxes work best "when accompanied by lower spending." However, McCain's tax proposals will increase the federal deficit.

Subprime mortgage crisis

Regarding the subprime mortgage crisis, McCain said its root cause was loose credit and greed. On January 31, 2008, he said, "I think there are some greedy people on Wall Street that perhaps need to be punished." He also praised the George W. Bush administration's handling of the crisis. McCain later addressed the situation in a speech:

"I will not play election year politics with the housing crisis. I will evaluate everything in terms of whether it might be harmful or helpful to our effort to deal with the crisis we face now. I have always been committed to the principle that it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers. Government assistance to the banking system should be based solely on preventing systemic risk that would endanger the entire financial system and the economy."

McCain went on to say he would entertain the thought to only give temporary assistance to homeowners for their primary homes, but not to others who owned homes to rent out nor to speculators. He also proposed that mortgage lenders do more to help the economy by helping their customers. He suggested an approach that General Motors did after the attacks of September 11, 2001 when they reduced interest rates for their customers. "We need a similar response by the mortgage lenders. They've been asking the government to help them out. I'm now calling upon them to help their customers, and their nation out. It's time to help American families. "

Health care

McCain is against publicly-funded health care, universal health care, or health coverage mandates, instead favoring tax credits of up to $5,000 for families that get health insurance. His plan focuses on enhancing competition in the health care industry as a way to lower costs. To that end, McCain would allow citizens to purchase health insurance nationwide instead of limiting them to in-state companies, and to buy insurance through any organization or association they choose as well as through their employers or buying direct from an insurance company. In an October 2007 statement, McCain said: "In health care, we believe in enhancing the freedom of individuals to receive necessary and desired care. We do not believe in coercion and the use of state power to mandate care, coverage or costs."

Transportation

McCain is opposed to federal funding of Amtrak. He considers it to be a "pork barrel project", particularly as far as longer distance trains are concerned. He has also argued for more stringent safety standards with respect to cars.

Network neutrality

McCain is against government regulation of network neutrality unless evidence of abuse exists. He is quoted as saying "let's see how this thing all turns out, rather than anticipate a problem that so far has not arisen in any significant way." Until such a time, he supports allowing network owners to control what sites consumers view, saying "When you control the pipe you should be able to get profit from your investment" during 2007 D5 All Things Digital conference. In 2002, McCain introduced the Consumer Broadband Deregulation Act of 2002, a deregulation measure aimed at preventing the government from requiring broadband providers to offer access to competing ISPs in the residential broadband market.

Structure of government

Gang of 14 and Senate filibuster

Main article: Gang of 14

On May 23, 2005, McCain was one of fourteen Senators to forge a compromise on the Democrats' use of the judicial filibuster, thus eliminating the need for the Republican leadership's attempt to implement the so-called "nuclear option" (also known as the "constitutional option"). Under the agreement, Senators would retain the power to filibuster a judicial nominee, the Democrats would agree to use this power against Bush nominees only in an "extraordinary circumstance", the Republicans involved would agree to vote against the nuclear option if implemented, and three of the most contested Bush appellate court nominees (Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen and William Pryor) would receive a vote by the full Senate. The agreement may have affected the likelihood that a Senate minority would defeat subsequent nominations to the U.S. Supreme Court (e.g. the nominations of John Roberts and Samuel Alito). Such a defeat by a filibustering Senate minority could have become less likely if the so-called "nuclear option" had been successful, but such a defeat could have become more likely if the nuclear option had been voted down.

Religion and the nation

When interviewed by Beliefnet, a website that covers religious affairs, McCain was asked if he thought a non-Christian should be president of the United States. He answered, "I just have to say in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles, personally, I prefer someone who has a grounding in my faith." McCain also stated his agreement with the belief that the U.S. is a "Christian nation." On September 30, 2007, he clarified his remarks by saying "What I do mean to say is the United States of America was founded on the values of Judeo-Christian values, which were translated by our founding fathers which is basically the rights of human dignity and human rights."

Pork barrel spending and earmarks

John McCain has vowed to not request pork barrel projects for his home state or Arizona. In 2008, he was one of twenty-nine Senators to vote on a one-year moratorium on earmarks.

Campaign finance regulation

An advocate of government restrictions on campaign spending and contributions, McCain made campaign finance reform a central issue in his 2000 presidential bid. With Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin he pushed the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 which banned unlimited donations to national political parties (soft money) and curtailed issue-advocacy ads. Because of McCain and Feingold's involvement, the law is commonly referred to as the "McCain-Feingold Act."

Social policy

His 2006 rating by the Almanac of American Politics (2008) on Social Policy is 46% conservative, 53% liberal. (2005: 64% conservative, 23% liberal.) McCain also has an 83% rating from the Christian Coalition, which indicates many socially conservative views such as voting yes on $75M for abstinence education, yes on recommending a Constitutional ban on flag desecration, and voting yes on memorial prayers and religious symbols at school.

Environmental issues

McCain has a lifetime pro-environment rating of 24 on a scale of 100 on the League of Conservation Voters's National Environmental Scorecard, which reflects the consensus of experts from about 20 leading environmental organizations.

McCain's stances on global warming and other environmental issues have put him at odds with the Bush administration and other Republicans. He has also stated opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and his voting record generally reflects this. McCain has also sided with the Bush Administration at times, including a vote in favor of confirming Gale Norton as Secretary of Interior, a vote in favor of preserving the budget for ANWR oil drilling, and a vote in favor of reducing funding of renewable and solar energy.

McCain opposes ethanol subsidies. In 2000, he skipped most of the Iowa caucuses, in large part because his opposition to ethanol was a nonstarter in a state where making corn into fuel is a big and lucrative business.

The McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act of 2003 was defeated in October 2004 by a margin of 43-55. The Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007 was introduced by Senator Joseph Lieberman, McCain and other co-sponsors in January 2007, with McCain commenting "we continue to learn more about the science of climate change and the dangerous precedence of not addressing this environmental problem. The science tells us that urgent and significant action is needed."

On Feb. 21, 2007, it was reported that McCain and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called for a nationwide roll-out of California's new low carbon fuel standard.

McCain is a member of the Honorary Board of the Republicans for Environmental Protection organization.

McCain said if he were President, he would transform the United States Environmental Protection Agency into new Cabinet Departments.

Columnist David Brooks of The New York Times cited in his column how McCain wishes to find a successor to the Kyoto Treaty.

Energy policy

McCain gave a major speech on his Energy policy on April 23, 2007 at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) at the Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington D.C. His speech connected energy independence with national security, climate change, and the environment. McCain proposed increasing ethanol imports and moving from exploration to production of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. He said that US dependence on foreign oil is "a major strategic vulnerability, a serious threat to our security, our economy and the well being of our planet." He is co-sponsor of a Senate cap-and-trade bill designed to limit greenhouse gas emissions,, and is seen as a bipartisan leader on the issue. He supports a 65% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050.

McCain generally supports increased energy efficiency, but has not announced specific targets. He has called for raising gas mileage standards to 35 m.p.g. He also supports the increased use of nuclear energy in the US to move away from dependence on foreign oil. He opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and has consistently voted against it, despite party pressure favoring expanded exploration.

McCain has also called global warming "a serious and urgent economic, environmental and national security challenge" and said that the problem "isn't a Hollywood invention."

War on Drugs

As president, he says he would push for more money and military help to drug-supplying nations such as Colombia. He supports expanding the use of federally funded drug treatment and prevention programs and forging public/private partnerships. McCain supported the Drug Free Borders Act of 1999, which provided $1 billion to increase detection of illegal drugs entering the country and also supported the authorization of $53 million in international development funds to stop illegal narcotics.

In the Republican debate at Dartmouth College in 1999, McCain opposed the legalization of marijuana. He said, "We’re losing the war on drugs. We ought to say, 'It’s not a war anymore,' or we really ought to go after it. And there was a time in our history when we weren’t always losing the war on drugs. It was when Nancy Reagan had a very simple program called 'Just Say No.' And young Americans were reducing the usage of drugs in America."

LGBT rights and issues

McCain voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, arguing that each state should be able to choose whether to recognize same-sex marriage. He supported the failed 2006 Arizona initiative to ban gay marriage.

He believes that the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy should remain in place, citing reports from military leaders that "this policy ought to be continued because it's working."

When asked if he supported civil unions of homosexuals, McCain said: "I do not."

Education

McCain supports the use of vouchers. Some of McCain's votes include voting yes on school vouchers in DC, yes on education savings accounts, yes on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules, and voting no on $5 billion for grants to local educational agencies. He supports merit pay for teachers, along with firing them if they don't meet certain standards. He sponsored the Education A-Plus bill in 1997 and again in 1999, which would have allowed parents to open tax-free savings accounts for their children's school expenses, such as tutoring, computers and books. McCain co-sponsored the Child Nutrition Act, which would provide federal funding for at-risk children. He said when running for President in 2000 that he would take $5.4 billion away from sugar, gas and ethanol subsidies and pour that money into a test voucher program for every poor school district in America. He voted against diverting $51.9 million away from the Department of Labor and putting it towards after-school community learning centers, and he voted against an amendment which would fund smaller class sizes rather than providing funds for private tutors.

McCain has announced that he supports the inclusion of intelligent design teaching in schools. In 2005, McCain told the Arizona Daily Star that he believes "all points of view" should be available to students.

Abortion

In 1999, McCain said of Roe v. Wade, "I'd love to see a point where it is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations." On February 18, 2007, however, McCain stated "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."

On June 26, 1984, McCain voted for H.AMDT.942, the Siljander amendment, to H.R.5490, "An amendment to define "person" as including unborn children from the moment of conception". This measure is similar to H.R. 552, The Right to Life Act, which was introduced on February 2, 2005 by US Representative Duncan Hunter, who also ran for President in 2008. The purpose of the bill is to "implement equal protection ... for the right to life of each born and pre-born human person." McCain is also against government funding of birth control and sex education which includes a vote of no on $100 million to reduce teen pregnancy by education and contraceptives. He has a consistent 0 percent rating from NARAL (as of 2007) and a 75% rating from the NRLC

Stem Cell Research

McCain is a member of The Republican Main Street Partnership and supports embryonic stem cell research despite his earlier opposition. He states that he believes that stem cell research, and indeed embryonic stem cell research, will continue whether or not the U.S. sanctions it, and so it would be the wisest course of action to support it to the extent that the United States will be able to regulate and monitor the usage.

Vaccination

On February 28, 2008 McCain is quoted as telling ABC News' Bret Hovell, "It's indisputable that (autism) is on the rise amongst children, the question is what's causing it. And we go back and forth and there's strong evidence that indicates that it's got to do with a preservative in vaccines." However, it is not known whether the actual prevalence of autism is increasing, and there is no scientific evidence that the vaccine preservative thimerosal helps cause autism.

Gun control

In a speech before the National Rifle Association in 2007, McCain announced that he pledges to uphold the Second Amendment should he be elected president.

McCain has received fair to poor ratings on gun issues from the National Rifle Association, garnering a C+.

Other organizations have been more sharply critical; according to a review by Gun Owners of America (GOA), "...in 2001, McCain went from being a supporter of anti-gun bills to being a lead sponsor" in toward restrictions on the free speech of pro-Second Amendment organizations. McCain's GOA rating is F-.

McCain voted against the Federal Assault Weapons Ban and the efforts to renew it, as well as the Brady Bill.

Immigration

McCain has promoted the legislation and eventually the granting of citizenship to the estimated 12–20 million illegal aliens in the United States and the creation of an additional guest worker program with an option for permanent immigration. His prominent role in promoting the Senate's 2006 immigration legislation, including an initial cosponsorhip role with Ted Kennedy, made him a focus of the debate in 2006, and his support for S.1348 did so again in 2007. The immigration issue caused intense friction within his own party, such as when The Washington Times reported that McCain and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham "first checked with Mr. Kennedy before deciding to vote with the Massachusetts Democrat on an amendment to the Senate bill." McCain's immigration stance was widely cited as a major reason for his presidential campaign's difficulty during most of 2007.

In his bid for the 2000 Presidential nomination, McCain supported expansion of the H-1B visa program, a temporary visa for skilled workers. In 2005, he co-sponsored a bill with Ted Kennedy that would expand use of guest worker visas. However, he voted for a ban on the immigration of individuals with HIV. A Vanity Fair article reported a meeting with "sympathetic businessmen" at which McCain was asked about the politics of immigration. "In the short term, it probably galvanizes our base," he said. "In the long term, if you alienate the Hispanics, you'll pay a heavy price. By the way, I think the fence is least effective. But I'll build the god damned fence if they want it." McCain voted for the Secure Fence Act of 2006.

McCain campaigned against Proposition 200, a 2004 Arizona state initiative intended to prevent illegal immigrants from voting, receiving welfare benefits, and mandated state agencies to report illegals to the federal government. McCain argued Prop 200 would be overly expensive to execute, that it would be ineffectual, and that immigration regulation falls only under the purview of the federal government.

McCain has repeatedly argued that low-skilled immigrant labor is necessary to supply service roles that native-born Americans refuse. In one widely remarked-upon incident, he insisted to a union group that none of them would be willing to pick lettuce for fifty dollars an hour. The audience interrupted with offers and several weeks later demonstrators showed up at his Phoenix office to apply for lettuce picking work.

In May 2007, McCain conceded to Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly that passage of amnesty will permanently change the ethnic makeup of the country. He supports a path to citizenship for an estimated twelve to twenty million immigrants, on the condition of a thirteen year waiting period.

McCain has subsequently stated that the nation's first priority must be to emphasize border security, and that debate over immigration is a secondary issue.

Public Service

McCain believes that more Americans should get involved in public service. "If you find fault with our country, make it a better one...When healthy skepticism sours into corrosive cynicism, our expectations of our government become reduced to the delivery of services. For too many Americans, the idea of good citizenship does not extend beyond walking into a voting booth every two or four years and pulling a lever — and too few Americans demand of themselves even that first obligation of self-government."

Crime

McCain voted Yes on a 2004 crime bill which mandated prison terms for crimes involving firearms and stricter penalties for other gun and drug law violations.

McCain has indicated that he supports the use of the death penalty, mandatory prison terms for selling illegal drugs, and stronger restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns.

Mr. McCain also voted in support of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Affirmative Action

In 1998 McCain opposed ballot proposals that end affirmative action. He stated, "Rather than engage in divisive ballot initiatives, we must have a dialogue and cooperation and mutual efforts together to provide for every child in America to fulfill their expectations." In 1998 McCain voted to keep a program which directed ten percent of federal surface transportation funds to firms owned by women and racial minorities. In 1999 McCain pushed legislation which would give companies tax breaks for selling media properties to minorities. In 2003 McCain reintroduced the legislation.

Alcohol

McCain's family has close ties to Anheuser-Busch through its Hensley & Co. distributor. McCain has recused himself from voting on bills before Congress dealing with alcohol-related matters

Organizational ratings

Several organizations have attempted to scientifically measure McCain's place on the political spectrum:

• National Journal's studies of roll-call votes through 2006 assigned McCain a lifetime rating of 72 in the political spectrum, relative to the then-current Senate, with a rating of 1 being most liberal and 100 being most conservative. (McCain did not receive a National Journal ranking in 2007 due to missing too many votes because of campaigning.)

• A 2004 analysis by political scientists Joshua D. Clinton of Princeton University, Doug Rivers of Stanford University, and Simon Jackman found McCain to be likely the 51st-most liberal Senator.

• The Almanac of American Politics, edited by Michael Barone and Richard E. Cohen, rates votes as liberal or conservative, with 100 as the highest rating, in three policy areas: Economic, Social, and Foreign. For 2006, McCain's ratings are: Economic = 64 percent conservative, 35 percent liberal (2005: 52 percent conservative, 47 percent liberal); Social = 46 percent conservative, 53 percent liberal (2005: 64 percent conservative, 23 percent liberal); Foreign = 58 percent conservative, 40 percent liberal (2005: 54 percent conservative, 45 percent liberal)

Assessments by political interest groups

John McCain's congressional voting scores, 1983–2006, from the American Conservative Union (pink line; 100 is most conservative) and from Americans for Democratic Action (dark blue line; 100 is most liberal).

Various interest groups have given Senator McCain scores or grades as to how well his votes align with the positions of the group:

• McCain has received a lifetime American Conservative Union rating of 82 percent through 2006 (see chart for progression over time).
• Through 2007, McCain has received a lifetime 13 percent "Liberal Quotient" from Americans for Democratic Action (see chart for progression over time).
• The National Right to Life Committee gives McCain a lifetime 72 percent rating from 1997 through 2007, while NARAL Pro-Choice America gives him a lifetime 1 percent rating from 1987 through 2007.
• Americans for Better Immigration has given him a lifetime grade of 'D' (near failing) for 1989 through early 2008 on their Immigration-Reduction Report Card.
• The National Rifle Association gave McCain a 'C' grade (fair) as of 2004, and the Gun Owners of America gives a lifetime 'D-' (very near failing) grade for 2000 through 2006.
• The American Civil Liberties Union has given McCain a lifetime 22 percent score through early 2008.
• The League of Conservation Voters has given McCain a lifetime pro-environment action rating of 24 on a scale of 100 through 2007.

Ratings of McCain's votes from a number of other interest groups are tracked by Project Vote Smart.

External links

• JohnMcCain.com - Issues
• On the Issues issue positions
• PoliticalJab.com issue positions
• Project Vote Smart candidate information including issue positions
• An Enduring Peace Built on Freedom an article by John McCain in Foreign Affairs
• John McCain's positions on top foreign policy issues by Council on Foreign Relations
• McCain & environmental issues: Comprehensive review from the League of Conservation Voters.
• 2008 Presidential Candidate Health Plan Report Card issued by the National Physicians Alliance
• Envisioning the Future: The 2008 Presidential Candidates' Health Reform Proposals from The Commonwealth Fund