McCain and the Issues

Abortion
o Pro-Life
o I've never imposed a litmus test on Supreme Court nominees. (Oct 2008)
o Obama voted no on partial-birth ban & born-alive treatment. (Oct 2008)
o Pro-life and an advocate for the Rights of Man everywhere. (Feb 2008)
o Abortion issue shows what kind of country we are. (Aug 2007)
o Supports federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. (May 2007)
o http://www.ontheissues.org/john_mccain.htm
Budget/Economy
o We've laid a $10 trillion debt on our young people. (Oct 2008)
o Energy independence & tax cuts for all. (Oct 2008)
o Stabilize mortgage industry so people stay in their homes. (Oct 2008)
o Cut down on earmarks & establish priorities. (Oct 2008)
o Can't pass trillions of dollars of debt to our children. (Jul 2008)
o Recession is partly psychological and not inevitable. (Jan 2008)
o Will be able to reduce war costs & have a stable Middle East. (Jan 2008)
o Reform insurance to cover violent weather patterns. (Jan 2008)
o To avoid recession, stop out-of-control spending. (Jan 2008)
o Loss of economic strength leads to losing military strength. (Dec 2007)
o Republicans have forgotten how to control spending. (Nov 2007)
o FactCheck: Obama's new programs cost $286B; McCain's $211B. (Oct 2008)
o http://www.ontheissues.org/john_mccain.htm
Civil Rights
o Equal pay for equal work case was a trial lawyer's dream. (Oct 2008)
o FactCheck: Pay discrimination still subject to time limits. (Oct 2008)
o Voted against MLK holiday in 1983; now calls that a mistake. (Apr 2008)
o Don't ask, don't tell is working; don't tamper with it. (Jun 2007)
o Confederate flag on top of capitol was wrong; in front is ok. (May 2007)
o http://www.ontheissues.org/john_mccain.htm
Defense/Homeland Security
o John McCain strongly supports the development and deployment of theater and national missile defenses. Effective missile defenses are critical to protect America from rogue regimes like North Korea that possess the capability to target America with intercontinental ballistic missiles, from outlaw states like Iran that threaten American forces and American allies with ballistic missiles, and to hedge against potential threats from possible strategic competitors like Russia and China. Effective missile defenses are also necessary to allow American military forces to operate overseas without being deterred by the threat of missile attack from a regional adversary.
o http://www.nationalplatforms.com
Education
o Achieved equality in schools; but failing schools don't help. (Oct 2008)
o I want schools to answer to parents and students. (Sep 2008)
o Pay bonuses to teachers in the most troubled schools. (Jul 2008)
o Target funding to recruit top graduates as teachers. (Jul 2008)
o Direct $750 million to build virtual schools. (Jul 2008)
o Give parents easier access to obtain help for their children. (Jul 2008)
o Teaching creationism should be decided by school districts. (Jun 2007)
o http://www.ontheissues.org/john_mccain.htm
Energy and Oil
o Supports alternative energies
o Wants to look at more nuclear possibilities
o Recently supported off shore drilling as a way to address the rising prices of oil and gas. This is a contradiction to his earlier opposition to the drilling
o http://www.obama-mccain.info
o GovWatch: Build 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030. (Jun 2008)
o GovWatch: Gas tax cut goes to oil companies, not consumers. (Jun 2008)
o Public pressure on oil industry to invest in alternatives. (Oct 2007)
o Reinvest oil profits in nuclear power. (Jun 2007)
o Energy Independence
Energy independence will create millions of jobs. (Oct 2008)
All of the above: nuclear, wind, tide, solar, gas, coal. (Oct 2008)
Offshore drilling & nuke power instead of $700B to enemies. (Sep 2008)
Attack the energy problem on every front. (Sep 2008)
Job creation program with alternate energy & nuclear power. (Aug 2008)
Address both the supply and demand sides of imported oil. (Jun 2008)
Lexington Project: invest to achieve energy security. (Jun 2008)
End moratorium on offshore oil drilling. (Jun 2008)
FactCheck: Oil independence will take 25 years, not 5 years. (Dec 2007)
o http://www.ontheissues.org/John_McCain.htm
Enviroment
o John McCain has a proud record of common sense stewardship. Along with his commitment to clean air and water, and to conserving open space, he has been a leader on the issue of global warming with the courage to call the nation to action on an issue we can no longer afford to ignore.John McCain believes that America's economic and environmental interests are not mutually exclusive, but rather inextricably linked. Our economic prospects depend greatly upon the sustainable use of ample and unspoiled natural resources. A clean and healthy environment is well served by a strong economy. History shows that poverty is a poor steward.By addressing this problem responsibly, John McCain believes we can meet our obligation to be proper caretakers of creation, in a manner of which we can be proud - by protecting our country, strengthening our economy, and addressing the challenges of our time, rather than leaving a much worse problem for our children.
o http://nationalplatforms.com
Gay Marriage
o Supports CA Prop. 8: one-man-one-woman marriage. (Jul 2008)
o Leave gay marriage to the states. (Jan 2007)
Gun Control
o John McCain believes that the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a fundamental, individual Constitutional right that we have a sacred duty to protect. We have a responsibility to ensure that criminals who violate the law are prosecuted to the fullest, rather than restricting the rights of law abiding citizens. Gun control is a proven failure in fighting crime. Law abiding citizens should not be asked to give up their rights because of criminals - criminals who ignore gun control laws anyway.
o http://nationalplatforms.com
Health Care
o Opposes universal health care
o Supports importing prescription drugs to lower costs
o Would offer a refundable $2,500 tax credit and $5,000 for families
o Would open health care markets b allowing the purchase of health care insurance across state lines
o http://www.obama-mccain.info
Immigration
o Supports amnesty/permanent legalization for illegal aliens and temporary legalization for illegal aliens as guest workers
o Advocates tightening of border by increasing patrols
o Would increase the number of visas issued for agricultural workers
o Supports relaxing the restrictions barring legal immigrants from using social programs such as food stamp, health care and housing
o http://www.obama-mccain.info
Social Security
o Future retirees cannot get what current ones get. (Oct 2008)
It's not that tough to fix Social Security, if bipartisan. (Oct 2008)
Looming challenges of entitlements need personal accounts. (Feb 2008)
We need personal savings accounts. (Oct 2007)
Willing to compromise on raising cap above $90K. (May 2007)
Save benefits by bipartisan agreement; but without new tax. (Apr 2007)
o http://www.ontheissues.org/John_McCain.htm
Taxes
o Keep tax rates the same; let's not raise anybody's taxes. (Oct 2008)
o Worst thing in bad economic climate is to raise taxes. (Sep 2008)
o Double the child tax exemption from $3,500 to $7,000. (Sep 2008)
o FactCheck: $7,000-per-child tax EXEMPTION, not tax CREDIT. (Aug 2008)
o Double the personal tax exemption for every dependent. (Jul 2008)
o Terrible mistake to raise taxes during an economic downturn. (Jun 2008)
o Veto any tax increase; worst thing now is to raise taxes. (Feb 2008)
o Require a 3/5 majority vote in Congress to raise taxes. (Feb 2008)
o Opposed to the Bush tax cuts as spending got out of control. (Jan 2008)
o Reform the tax code that nobody trusts and believes in. (Dec 2007)
o Won't sign no-tax pledge; focus on cutting spending. (Sep 2007)
o Opposed Bush tax cuts, but must extend them now. (May 2007)
o New tax cuts account for contingencies and over-spending. (May 2007)
o Bush tax cuts fiscally reckless & favored rich;but keep them. (Apr 2007)
o http://www.ontheissues.org/John_McCain.htm
War
o Global War on Terror
In Afghanistan, employ same winning strategy as in Iraq. (Sep 2008)
Don't threaten Pakistan; it's part of Afghan strategy. (Sep 2008)
Follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell. (May 2007)
Prefers not to take troops out of Afghanistan. (Jan 2007)
o Iraq War
Bring our troops home with victory and with honor. (Oct 2008)
We now have a great strategy & are winning in Iraq. (Sep 2008)
Costs will be far greater should we fail in Iraq. (Feb 2008)
Not a matter of how long in Iraq, but a matter of casualties. (Feb 2008)
Support the surge and bring troops home with honor. (Jan 2008)
Timetable for withdrawal is a white flag of surrender. (Jan 2008)
Staying for 100 years OK, if US casualties are low. (Jan 2008)
The Iraq war was worth the price in blood and treasure. (Jan 2008)
Ok with American presence in Iraq for 100 years. (Jan 2008)
I would much rather lose a campaign than lose a war. (Oct 2007)
Stategy in Iraq: defeat al-Qaeda; limit Iran's influence. (Sep 2007)
Bring troops home the right way: home with honor. (Sep 2007)
Surge is working; let it continue until it succeeds. (Sep 2007)
Tragic mistake of Iraq: no plan to deal with success. (Aug 2007)
Support the surge even if benchmarks are not met. (Aug 2007)
If new strategy not working by Sept., we still must succeed. (Jun 2007)
Willing to be last man standing for US involvement in Iraq. (May 2007)
Timetable would be catastrophe, even if Iraq wants it. (May 2007)
War has been mismanaged, but we are now on the right track. (May 2007)
War in Iraq has not gone well: dire but not hopeless. (Mar 2007)
Prefers more troops for surge, but 20,000 is sufficient. (Jan 2007)
Generals advising "no more troops" was a failed policy. (Jan 2007)
McCain Principle: Committing troops means completing mission. (Jan 2007)
If we leave Iraq, terrorists will follow us home. (Jan 2007)
o http://www.ontheissues.org/John_McCain.htm
Welfare
o Lower and middle income Americans need more help. (Jan 2008)
o http://www.ontheissues.org/John_McCain.htm