John McCain

:Alternative meanings: John S. McCain, Sr., John S. McCain, Jr.

Political career

When John Jacob Rhodes, the longtime congressman from Arizona's First Congressional district, announced his retirement, McCain ran for the seat in 1982 and won it. In 1986, upon Senator Barry Goldwater's retirement, McCain was elected to succeed him. His campaign was partially financed by Charles Keating, who had also contributed to his House campaigns. McCain's involvement in the Keating Five scandal may have led to his later support of campaign finance reform.

Related Topics:
John Jacob Rhodes - Congressman - 1982 - 1986 - Barry Goldwater - Charles Keating - Keating Five - Campaign finance reform

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Race for President 2000

In 1997, TIME magazine named him as one of the "25 Most Influential People in America." His best-selling book, Faith of My Fathers (1999, ISBN 0375501916), helped propel his presidential run. McCain ran in the 2000 presidential Republican primary, winning in New Hampshire, Michigan, Massachusetts, Arizona, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Vermont. He also gave a strong showing in Washington State, where he lost by 2,730 votes statewide, as well as in South Carolina and Maine.

Related Topics:
1997 - TIME magazine - 1999 - 2000 presidential Republican primary - New Hampshire - Michigan - Massachusetts - Arizona - Rhode Island - Connecticut - Vermont - Washington - South Carolina - Maine

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The primary in South Carolina was especially important, as a McCain victory probably would have put him on the track to nomination. His loss has been attributed to a combination of Bush's saturation to mobilise the state's religious vote and the general reluctance of the American people to elect a senator to an executive position. The primary was remembered as particularly intense even relative to the political polarization of the electorate at that time, including allegations of dirty campaigning regarding McCain's adopted daughter. http://www.dadmag.com/archive/060400jmccain.php

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Race for President 2004

Despite his earlier rivalry with Bush, McCain was one of the President's most vocal supporters in the 2004 US Presidential Election. He often praised Bush's leadership and continuing zeal after the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, and in that light less important issues could be pushed aside. McCain's reputation as a moderate appealed to many voters who found Bush too hard-line conservative.

Related Topics:
2004 US Presidential Election - Terrorist - September 11th, 2001 - Conservative

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There was some speculation that McCain's longtime friend and colleague, and also the Democratic Presidential nominee, John F. Kerry of Massachusetts would ask McCain to be his running mate to help Kerry shake his "liberal from the northeast" label, but McCain rejected Kerry's initial overtures, and so Kerry never officially asked him. This prompted Bush to run an ad called "The First Choice" showing clips of McCain praising Bush. Furthermore, the GOP used this information to ridicule Kerry's eventual running mate, Senator John Edwards of North Carolina.

Related Topics:
Democratic - John F. Kerry - Massachusetts - Liberal - Ad - GOP - John Edwards - North Carolina

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At the 2004 Republican National Convention, he referred to Michael Moore as "a disingenuous filmmaker" without actually naming him. This was met with thunderous applause from the audience, after which he repeated the phrase. Unbeknownst to McCain, Moore was in the press corps, and he responded to the line and subsequent jeers of the audience by waving to the crowd.

Related Topics:
2004 Republican National Convention - Michael Moore - Press corps

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Race for President 2008

Many current polls have him as one of the leading candidates in the 2008 Republican Primary, but McCain has not given a definitive answer as to whether or not he will pursue the nomination in 2008.

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In an interview in the June 2005 edition of Men's Journal magazine, McCain said that he "absolutely" would like to be President of the United States, but has not yet decided whether or not he will run again in 2008. He indicated that he would probably not make a firm decision until 2007 about another run at the White House, citing family and Senate responsibilities. He will be 72 by the time the elections roll around in 2008, making him 2 years older than the oldest elected president Ronald Reagan but has dismissed concerns about his age and past health concerns stating that his condition was "excellent."

Related Topics:
June - 2005 - Men's Journal - 2007 - Ronald Reagan

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Though popular both within the moderate wing of the Republican Party and the nation as a whole, McCain has drawn criticism from the conservative base of the Party. Despite his strong pro-life stance, his compromise with the Democrats on judicial nominations as well as his willingness to break with Party leadership and the Bush White House have led several conservative groups to strongly oppose his candidacy for the Republican nomination.

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See also: U.S. presidential election, 2008

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Campaign finance reform

One of McCain's main passions in his national political career has been the topic of campaign finance reform. In spite of voting against such measures initially, since 1992, McCain has repeatedly tried to pass legislation regulating campaign financing, finally achieving a major victory in 2002. That year, Congress passed a key campaign finance reform bill, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, co-sponsored by Senator Russ Feingold and hence also known as the McCain-Feingold bill. It was immediately challenged on constitutional grounds, but was narrowly upheld by the Supreme Court on December 10, 2003, in an expedited hearing and ruling.

Related Topics:
Campaign finance reform - 2002 - Congress - Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 - Russ Feingold - Constitutional - Supreme Court - December 10 - 2003

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Political views

McCain doesn't fit neatly into any one political wing. He is conservative on many military and fiscal issues, but more liberal on social issues. Some Republicans (generally social conservatives) have called him a Republican In Name Only. He once fought against funding the construction of a new aircraft carrier, saying the money should be spent on the 12,000 families of the enlisted who were on food stamps. He is strongly pro-life and equally strongly against tobacco. He was also one of the strongest supporters of the 2003 invasion of Iraq and his speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention centered around that theme. His appeal during the 2000 presidential campaign was based on honesty, style and personal image rather than any label of liberal or conservative. Because of this, some of his supporters have encouraged him to seek higher office, including the presidency, and he has been suggested as a Republican Presidential possibility in the 2008 election.

Related Topics:
Social conservatives - Republican In Name Only - Aircraft carrier - Food stamps - Pro-life - Tobacco - 2003 invasion of Iraq - 2004 Republican National Convention - Liberal - Conservative - 2008 election

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Because of his quick temper and independence in the Senate, he is sometimes called a "maverick senator." He fights against pork barrel spending and supports expanded legislation on health care and education. McCain was principally responsible for forcing a re-evaluation of the USAF KC-767 leasing contract. He criticized the Pentagon several times, also about troop strength in Iraq http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/12/05/mccain.pentagon/index.html, which remains a strong position of his--that troop numbers be increased in Iraq. He has also been noted for opposition to President Bush's tax cuts.

Related Topics:
Pork barrel - Health care - KC-767 - Tax cuts

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McCain has also generally supported moves to expand immigration to the UShttp://grades.betterimmigration.com/testgrades.php3?District=AZ&VIPID=33-including

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expansion of the H-1b visa program. In 2005, he co-sponsored a bill

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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/13/112653/285 with Ted Kennedy that would expand use of guest worker visas.

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McCain has announced that he supports the inclusion of intelligent design teaching in schools. http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/90069 In 2005, McCain told the Arizona Daily Star that he believes "all points of view" should be available to students.

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McCain hasn't been afraid to criticize the Bush Administration. After a controversial meeting in Kuwait, he demanded the resignation of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. However, he has been a very strong supporter of the Bush White House's decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power and their foreign policy in general.

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"The Gang of 14"

On May 23, 2005, McCain was one of fourteen moderate senators to forge a compromise on the Democrats' use of the judicial filibuster, thus blocking the Republican leadership's attempt to implement the so-called "nuclear option". Under the agreement, the Democrats would retain the power to filibuster a Bush judicial nominee only in an "extraordinary circumstance", the Republicans involved agreed 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. See Gang of 14.

Related Topics:
Filibuster - Nuclear option - Appellate court - Janice Rogers Brown - Priscilla Owen - William Pryor - Gang of 14

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Wedding Crashers

Recently, McCain was the center of controversy concerning his cameo appearance in 2005 summer movie "Wedding Crashers." While his cameo was short, he has been criticized for appearing in an R-rated movie with several scenes of brief nudity. Matt Drudge of Drudge Report, while commenting on McCain's appearance, referred to the film as a "boob raunch fest." McCain, during an appearance on the Jay Leno show, joked about "working with boobs all the time in Washington."

Related Topics:
Wedding Crashers - Matt Drudge - Drudge Report - Jay Leno

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Intimidation of officer who tried to contact McCain about torture by US troops

In September 2005, a Human Rights Watch report about routine torture by US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan accused US troops of inhibiting an officer, Captain Ian Fishback, from leaving his base for an appointment with staff members of Senators John McCain and John Warner. He had made persistent efforts over 17 months to raise concerns about detainee abuse with his chain of command and was consistently told to ignore abuses and to ?consider your career.? After the appointment the officer was interviewed by investigators with the Army Criminal Investigative Division and Inspector General?s office, and there were reports that the military has launched a formal investigation. http://www.hrw.org/english/docs/2005/09/25/usint11776.htm

Related Topics:
Human Rights Watch - Routine torture by US troops - Iraq - Afghanistan - John Warner

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