Voting Record

• Supports repealing Roe v. Wade. (May 2007)
• Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
• Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
• Voted NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
• Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
• Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
• Voted YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
• Voted YES on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
• Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
• Expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004)

* McCain has a 0% NARAL rating, indicated one of the strongest pro-life records in the Senate. But back in 1999, McCain was also quoted in the Washington Post, "I'd love to see a point where it is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary.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 June 26, 1984, McCain voted for H.AMDT.942 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. The purpose of the bill is to "implement equal protection ... for the right to life of each born and pre-born human person." 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 Constitutional ban on flag desecration, and voting yes on memorial prayers and religious symbols at school. McCain is also against birth control and sex education which includes a vote of no on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education and contraceptives. On February 18, 2007 McCain stated "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."

* Budget

McCain has emphasized deficit reduction over tax cutting. 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. McCain is a strong supporter of private Social Security accounts and is against socialized health care.
McCain is also one of the Senate's most outspoken critics of pork barrel spending.

* 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. McCain was one of two Republicans who voted against Bush's tax cuts in 2001. He opposed accelerating the cuts in 2003, but voted in 2006 to extend the tax cuts. He has now said that Bush's tax cuts should be made permanent.

Housing Crisis (Campaign Press Release Tuesday, March 25, 2008)

"Any assistance for borrowers should be focused solely on homeowners, not people who bought houses for speculative purposes, to rent or as second homes. Any assistance must be temporary . . . it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers.
Policies should move toward ensuring that homeowners provide a responsible down payment of equity at the initial purchase of a home. I therefore oppose reducing the down payment requirement for FHA mortgages and believe that, as conditions allow, the down payment requirement should be raised."

Voting Record

• Ban on same-sex marriage is unRepublican; leave it to states. (Nov 2006)
• Voted YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. (Jun 2002)
• Voted YES on loosening restrictions on cell phone wiretapping. (Oct 2001)
• Voted NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women. (Mar 1998)
• Voted NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business. (Oct 1997)
• Voted YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage. (Sep 1996)
• Voted YES on Amendment to prohibit flag burning. (Dec 1995)
• Voted YES on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. (Jul 1995)
• Supports anti-flag desecration amendment. (Mar 2001)
• Require 90 day delay for compliance before ADA lawsuits. (May 2002)
• Limit interstate class-action lawsuits to federal courts . (May 2002)
• Rated 0% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)

* LGBT 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 doesn't believe the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy should be repealed. He is a supporter of domestic partnerships.

* 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.

* McCain is rated 29% by CURE, indicating a record of anti-rehabilitation crime votes. He voted yes on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms. McCain also voted yes on more penalties for gun and drug violations. McCain has a Senate voting trend of being pro-gun control, pro-death penalty, and pro-mandatory sentencing.

* McCain is one of the most "hawkish" candidates in his views on the War on Drugs. McCain supports increasing penalties and mandatory jail sentences for selling drugs, the death penalty for drug traffickers, and restriction of methadone for heroin addicts. 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."

School Choice

• Local charters are the best Arizona schools. (Mar 2000)
• Let states decide if they link vouchers to student testing. (Feb 2000)
• Use sugar, oil, and ethanol subsidies to finance vouchers. (Jan 2000)
• Tax breaks for charters - not from public school funds. (Dec 1999)
• Vouchers & charters will improve our school system. (Oct 1999)
• Nationwide test of school vouchers. (Sep 1999)
• $5B program for 3-year test of school vouchers. (Jul 1999)
• Tax-funded vouchers for private schools or charter schools. (Jun 1999)
• Shift policy-making from bureaucrats to parents. (May 1999)
• Vouchers needed where teachers fail. (May 1999)
• Vouchers for any schools; more charter schools. (Jul 1998)

Voting Record

• Unrestricted block grants--let states decide spending. (Feb 2000)
• Voted NO on $52M for "21st century community learning centers". (Oct 2005)
• Voted NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies. (Oct 2005)
• Voted NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education. (Mar 2005)
• Voted NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
• Voted NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors. (May 2001)
• Voted NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction. (Apr 2001)
• Voted YES on declaring that memorial prayers and religious symbols at sch. (May 1999)
• Voted YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules. (Mar 1999)
• Voted YES on education savings accounts. (Jun 1998)
• Voted YES on school vouchers in DC. (Sep 1997)
• Voted YES on $75M for abstinence education. (Jul 1996)
• Voted YES on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer. (Jul 1994)
• Voted NO on national education standards. (Feb 1994)
• Focus educational resources to help those with greatest need. (Jul 2001)
• Require state standards, regular assessments, and sanctions. (Jul 2001)
• Support Ed-Flex: more flexibility if more accountable. (Jul 2001)
• Rated 45% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education. (Dec 2003)

* McCain received a 45% rating by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on teacher unions. 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 $5B 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.

* McCain supports the increased use of nuclear energy in the US to move away from dependence on foreign oil.

Environmental issues *

McCain was Rated 53% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment. 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.

EPA *

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

China

• Support the One-China policy, don’t weaken it. (Mar 2000)
• $1M political donations by Chinese Army should not be legal. (Jan 2000)
• China: Advocate for political reforms, and guard Taiwan. (Jun 1999)
• Inaction on spying led to Chinese nuclear improvement. (May 1999)
• Engage with China as they become a great power. (Apr 1999)

Voting Record

• Cuba: No diplomatic and trade relations. (Jul 1998)
• Voted NO on killing a bill for trade sanctions if China sells weapons. (Sep 2000)
• Voted YES on cap foreign aid at only $12.7 billion. (Oct 1999)
• Voted YES on limiting the President's power to impose economic sanctions. (Jul 1998)
• Voted NO on limiting NATO expansion to only Poland, Hungary & Czech. (Apr 1998)
• Voted YES on $17.9 billion to IMF. (Mar 1998)
• Voted YES on Strengthening of the trade embargo against Cuba. (Mar 1996)
• Voted YES on ending Vietnam embargo. (Jan 1994)
• Libyan disarmament was a CIA success story. (Mar 2005)

Voting Record

• Pro-NAFTA, pro-GATT, pro-MFN, pro-Fast Track. (Jul 1998)
• Voted YES on free trade agreement with Oman. (Jun 2006)
• Voted YES on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade. (Jul 2005)
• Voted YES on establishing free trade between US & Singapore. (Jul 2003)
• Voted YES on establishing free trade between the US and Chile. (Jul 2003)
• Voted YES on extending free trade to Andean nations. (May 2002)
• Voted YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam. (Oct 2001)
• Voted NO on removing common goods from national security export rules. (Sep 2001)
• Voted YES on permanent normal trade relations with China. (Sep 2000)
• Voted YES on expanding trade to the third world. (May 2000)
• Voted YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority. (Nov 1997)
• Voted NO on imposing trade sanctions on Japan for closed market. (May 1995)
• Promote the Andean Free Trade Agreement. (May 2002)
• Rated 100% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record. (Dec 2002)

* McCain has received middling 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." Further, McCain was a key sponsor of what GOA calls the "odious McCain-Feingold Incumbent Protection Act. This legislation, characterized by its proponents as campaign finance reform, severely limits the abilities of groups like GOA to inform the public about the gun rights voting records of politicians already in office. In many cases, it becomes illegal to even mention a politician's name in on-air advertising the month before an election." Since 2004, McCain has gained the unique distinction of receiving an F- rating from Gun Owners of America; and further unlike any other 2008 Republican Presidential Candidate has a dedicated section/compendium within the GOA web site which contains numerous pages criticizing McCain's positions.

ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GUN BAN CASE BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT (From Campaign Press Release Tuesday, March 18, 2008)

"Today, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on District of Columbia v. Heller, a landmark case for all Americans who believe as I do that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms. I am proud to have joined in an amicus brief to the Court calling for a ruling in keeping with the clear intent of our Founding Fathers, which ensures the Second Amendment rights of the residents of District of Columbia are reaffirmed."

Voting Record

• Allow appealing HMO decisions externally & in court. (Jul 1999)
• Voted NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D. (Feb 2006)
• Voted YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics. (Nov 2005)
• Voted YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug. (Mar 2005)
• Voted NO on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Jun 2003)
• Voted YES on allowing reimportation of Rx drugs from Canada. (Jul 2002)
• Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages. (Jun 2001)
• Voted YES on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit. (Apr 2001)
• Voted NO on including prescription drugs under Medicare. (Jun 2000)
• Voted YES on limiting self-employment health deduction. (Jul 1999)
• Voted YES on increasing tobacco restrictions. (Jun 1998
• Voted NO on Medicare means-testing. (Jun 1997)
• Voted NO on medical savings acounts. (Apr 1996)
• Tax credits for those without employee health insurance. (May 2002)
• Tax deduction for long-term care insurance. (May 2002)
• Support telemedicine for underserved areas. (May 2002)
• $350 billion for prescriptions for poor seniors. (May 2002)
• Rated 25% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)

* John McCain has generally supported loose immigration policies, earning him a D grade from Americans for Better Immigration, an immigration reduction and reform group. McCain has promoted legislation to legalize and grant eventual citizenship to the estimated 12–20 million illegal aliens in the United States and to create 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 and is widely cited as a major reason for his presidential campaign's difficulty.

* McCain has often supported increasing immigration to the US, including expansion of the H-1B visa program (though H-1B is technically a non-immigrant visa, about 50% of all recipients eventually do immigrate). 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 opposed and campaigned against Proposition 200, a 2004 Arizona state initiative intended to prevent non-citizens from voting or applying for public benefits, arguing that it 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 important service roles that native-born Americans refuse. In one widely remarked-upon incident, he insisted to a union group he was appearing before that none of them would be willing to pick lettuce for fifty dollars an hour. The audience interrupted with offers to do the job and several weeks later demonstrators showed up at his Phoenix office to apply for lettuce picking work.

*However, despite his pro-immigrant reputation, McCain has stated that he is in favor of an immigration quota:
O’Reilly: "Do you understand what the New York Times wants and the far left want? They want to break down the white, Christian male power structure--of which you [John McCain] are a part, and so am I--and they want to bring in millions of foreign nationals to basically break down the structure that we have. In that regard, Pat Buchanan is right. So, I say that you’ve got to cap it…with a number.
McCain: "In America today, we have a very strong economy and low unemployment, so we need additional farm workers--including, by the way, agriculture--but there may come a time when we have an economic downturn and we don’t need so many, so I think it has to..."
O'Reilly: "Okay, but in this…in this bill you guys gotta cap it... [we’re] estimating there’s twelve million…there may be twenty..."
McCain: "Yeah."
O’Reilly: "...you don’t know...I don’t know. You gotta cap it."
McCain: "We do. We do. I agree with you."(The video of this interview (http://youtube.com/index?&session=ZMewGVwU18fXeq2jRPCshJGRzyNklhbcaP2weSzBXX5iMethLoc-JdNEFi03YtFP_WsS5-MT8FeeOaijKW_zgmqNxug8XSs-S4K9CWIbnI_VVW4Yl3xebhGR6zK-3djUtWnQBGyNYo9CjuD-HYUwKzE_zEk1fVZLJao0D5r7OlJeIXklT_-NsJfHEA0-MI93CThqm9qZJ3ydohwushBVc-QABs5n9KlR1afc0kcMrTdj_MeYKd6zLUGdJVthAinPwBcviDVFJTuTGv-YVUqd7-0BUeUZp0L0N1jk28QbXShZxjet1AQUH9xuHVVYm1P7) has been removed from youtube "due to terms of use violation.")

Past Campaigns

• GOP lost 2006 due to corrupt spending, spending, spending. (Jun 2007)
• Straight Talk America PAC endorses 60 House candidates. (Dec 2006)
• McCain's PAC endorses 19 Senate & 17 governor candidates. (Dec 2006)
• Denounces "Swift Boat Vets" ads as dishonest. (Aug 2004)
• Time for closure on a bizarre situation. (Nov 2000)
• Suspends campaign, citing Republican preference for Bush. (Mar 2000)
• Will take reform crusade back to the Senate. (Mar 2000)
• Leaves race, urging service to country. (Mar 2000)
• Reagan Republican: simplify taxes, stop waste, pay down debt. (Mar 2000)
• Support conservative issues, not far-right leaders. (Mar 2000)

Personal History

• Survived as POW by faith to a higher cause. (Nov 1999)
• Refused release to hurt Vietnamese & remain loyal to POWs. (Nov 1999)
• Graduated 5th from bottom of Naval Academy class. (Nov 1999)
• "Profligate rake" during Academy and Junior Officer years. (Nov 1999)

Voting Record

• Vote based on character, not issues. (Jan 2000)
• Voted YES on confirming Samuel Alito as Supreme Court Justice. (Jan 2006)
• Voted YES on confirming John Roberts for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (Sep 2005)
• Religious affiliation: Episcopalian. (Nov 2000)
• Member of the Republican Main Street Partnership . (Jan 2001)

Voting Record

• Voted against Bush tax cuts for not reining in spending. (May 2007)
• Voted YES on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax. (Mar 2007)
• Voted YES on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million. (Mar 2007)
• Voted YES on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts. (Aug 2006)
• Voted YES on permanently repealing the `death tax`. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut. (Feb 2006)
• Voted YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends. (Feb 2006)
• Voted YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends. (Nov 2005)
• Voted NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years. (May 2003)
• Voted YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates. (May 2001)
• Voted NO on increasing tax deductions for college tuition. (May 2001)
• Voted YES on eliminating the 'marriage penalty'. (Jul 2000)
• Voted YES on phasing out the estate tax ("death tax"). (Jul 2000)
• Voted NO on across-the-board spending cut. (Oct 1999)
• Voted YES on requiring super-majority for raising taxes. (Apr 1998)
• Rated 72% by NTU, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)
• Implement socially fair, broad-based tax cuts. (Sep 1998)

Iraq War

• The government should continue to fund the Iraq war because the United States is making progress in Iraq. (Dec 2007)
• Believes we should maintain current US troop levels, with future levels determined as events warrant. (Dec 2007)
• Believes going into Iraq was the right thing to do and the United States needs to finish the job. (Dec 2007)
• Did not read NIE before war vote, but was fully briefed. (Jun 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)
• Consequences of failure: regional chaos & we must come back. (May 2007)
• In hindsight, Iraq invasion was still justified. (May 2007)
• Timetable would be catastrophe, even if Iraq wants it. (May 2007)
• Advocated leaving Somalia, but no comparison to Iraq. (May 2007)
• War has been mismanaged, but we are now on the right track. (May 2007)
• Al Qaeda may take over Iraqi oilwells. (Mar 2007)
• Prefers more troops for surge, but 20,000 is sufficient. (Jan 2007)
• Bush now has the right strategy, and it's our last chance. (Jan 2007)
• Generals advising "no more troops" was a failed policy. (Jan 2007)
• If we leave Iraq, terrorists will follow us home. (Jan 2007)
• Send in a heavy wave of troops to Iraq to establish order. (Nov 2006)
• Looting, terrorism in Iraq a result of US mistakes. (Sep 2004)
• The Iraqi war was necessary after years of failed diplomacy. (Aug 2004)
• Saddam would have acquired terrible weapons again. (Aug 2004)
• The Iraqi war was necessary, achievable and noble. (Aug 2004)
• The cause of the Iraqi war was just. (Apr 2004)

Voting Record

• Congress has no authority to cut off funds for Iraqi use. (Jan 2007)
• Voted NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007. (Jun 2006)
• Voted NO on investigating contract awards in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Nov 2005)
• Voted YES on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding. (Apr 2005)
• Voted YES on $86 billion for military operations in Iraq & Afghanistan. (Oct 2003)
• Voted YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq. (Oct 2002)
• Voted NO on allowing all necessary force in Kosovo. (May 1999)
• Voted YES on authorizing air strikes in Kosovo. (Mar 1999
• Voted YES on ending the Bosnian arms embargo. (Jul 1995)
• Supports $48 billion in new spending for anti-terrorism. (Jan 2002)
• CIA assessments ib Iraqi WMDs were all wrong. (Mar 2005)
• Belief in Iraqi nukes was poor analysis of aluminum tubes. (Mar 2005)
• Belief in Iraqi BWs was based on one unreliable person. (Mar 2005)
• Iraq never had delivery systems to attack US mainland. (Mar 2005)
• CIA never questioned assumption that Saddam had WMDs. (Mar 2005)
• Conclusions on Iran and North Korea are all classified. (Mar 2005)
• Move the US Embassy to Jerusalem. (Nov 1995)

Iraq War *

McCain has consistently shown himself to be a prominent hawk on foreign policy with exceptions of his advocacy of withdrawal of US troops from Somalia in 1993 and Haiti in 1994. 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 Bush's foreign policies. His speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention centered on that theme.

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 act on his words 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 4 February 2007, McCain criticised a bipartisan non-binding resolution opposing a troop buildup in Iraq by claiming it was a "vote of no confidence" in the US military. One day later, 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".

Middle East

Iran *

McCain has said that "the military option cannot be taken off the table" in dealing with Iran.
McCain tried to persuade FIFA to ban Iran from the 2006 World Cup given Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Holocaust denial (such denials are illegal in Germany, where the competition was held).

Israel *

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 response to the assault by Islamic guerrillas is 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 in remarks that became a freewheeling, far-reaching speech on foreign policy, including his views on matters involving North Korea, Iraq and the U.S. war on terrorism.

Detention and Torture of Extrajudicial Prisoners *

The McCain Detainee Amendment was an amendment to the United States Senate Department of Defense Authorization bill, commonly referred to as the Amendment on the Army Field Manual and 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, as a former POW, was previously 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.
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 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. However George W. Bush appended a signing statement in which he went back on his word and rejected the compromise.