Changes

McCain is currently the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona.  He was a prisoner of war (POW) in Vietnam and acquired wealth through his second marriage.  He has curried favor with the media as an alternative to more conservative Republicans.

McCain is currently the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona.  He was a prisoner of war (POW) in Vietnam and acquired wealth through his second marriage.  He has curried favor with the media as an alternative to more conservative Republicans.

McCain's political record has alienated conservatives on several important issues:

McCain's political record has been generally conservative, but he has alienated some conservatives on several important issues:

1.  Immigration.  In 2005-2006, McCain joined with liberal Senator Ted Kennedy to support a sweeping bill that was favorable to illegal aliens.  It has not passed.

1.  Immigration.  In 2005-2006, McCain joined with liberal Senator Ted Kennedy to support a sweeping bill that reformed the tangled mass of immigration law, but in some ways was was favorable to illegal aliens.  It has not passed.

2.  Same-sex marriage.  In 2006, McCain joined Democrats and liberal Republicans in voting against the Federal Marriage Amendment to protect traditional marriage.  Later, on ''Hardball'', McCain declared, "On the issue of the gay marriage, I believe that people want to have private ceremonies, that's fine."

2.  Same-sex marriage.  In 2006, McCain joined [[Democrat]]s and liberal Republicans in voting against the Federal Marriage Amendment, a proposed constitutional amendment to forbid non-traditional marriage.  Later, on ''Hardball'', McCain took the [[Libertarian]] position, "On the issue of the gay marriage, I believe that people want to have private ceremonies, that's fine."

Also, McCain's home state of Arizona was the only state to defeat a marriage referendum (in 2006), as McCain did nothing to support it.

McCain's home state of Arizona was the only state to defeat a marriage referendum (in 2006), as McCain did nothing to support it.

3.  "Gang of 14".  On May 23, 2005, McCain was part of a group of 14 Senators who blocked the planned "nuclear option" for confirming blocked Republican nominees for the bench.  Under this compromise a few judicial nominees were allowed to be confirmed (Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen and William Pryor), but others (e.g., Henry Saad) remained blocked and had to withdraw.   

3.  "Gang of 14".  On May 23, 2005, McCain was part of a group of 14 Senators who blocked the planned "nuclear option" for confirming blocked Republican nominees for the bench.  Under this compromise a few judicial nominees were allowed to be confirmed (Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen and William Pryor), but others (e.g., Henry Saad) remained blocked and had to withdraw.   

5. On gambling, the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law allows Indian nations (which get nearly all their money from unregulated casinos) to make unlimited political donations, even though political donations by American citizens are strictly limited and political spending by corporations is prohibited.

5. On gambling, the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law allows Indian nations (which get nearly all their money from unregulated casinos) to make unlimited political donations, even though political donations by American citizens are strictly limited and political spending by corporations is prohibited.

6.  Tax cuts.  McCain was an opponent of President George W. Bush's tax cuts.

6.  Tax cuts.  McCain opposedPresident George W. Bush's tax cuts, on the argument that cutting taxes without also cutting spending was not actually a tax cut, but was a tax on future generations.

7.  Criticism of the religious right.  In his unsuccessful campaign in 2000, McCain criticized the religious right in an attempt to attract voters.

7.  Criticism of the religious right.  In his unsuccessful campaign in 2000, McCain criticized elements of the religious right in an attempt to attract voters.

8.  Embryonic stem cell research.  McCain supports embryonic stem cell research as a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership.

8.  Embryonic stem cell research.  McCain supports embryonic stem cell research as a member of the Republican Main Street Partnership.