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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.
It was rumored that the [[George W. Bush]] camp spread a rumor that McCain was the father of an illegimate black baby in 2000, which may have dramatically cut into his support in South Carolina. Despite this incident, McCain and Bush remain on good terms.
It was rumored that the [[George W. Bush]] camp spread a rumor that McCain was the father of an illegitimate black baby in 2000, which may have dramatically cut into his support in South Carolina. Despite this incident, McCain and Bush remain on good terms.
==Political Record==
==Political Record==
McCain's political record has been generally conservative, but he has alienated some conservatives on several important issues:
McCain's political record has been generally conservative, but he has alienated some conservatives on several important issues:
4. Campaign finance. McCain advocated campaign finance reform, something opposed by many conservative on [[Libertarian]] grounds that it interferes with the right to free speech. In 2002, McCain joined with liberal Democrat Russell Feingold to prohibit independent groups from advertising about a candidate within many weeks of an election. This law prohibits ads that do not even recommend for whom to vote, but merely urge people to contact their representatives concerning a vote that the representatives will make in Congress. A court recently declared this unconstitutional. Further, 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.
4. Campaign finance. McCain advocated campaign finance reform, something opposed by many conservative on [[Libertarian]] grounds that it interferes with the right to free speech. In 2002, McCain joined with liberal Democrat Russell Feingold to prohibit independent groups from advertising about a candidate within many weeks of an election. This law prohibits ads that do not even recommend for whom to vote, but merely urge people to contact their representatives concerning a vote that the representatives will make in Congress. A court recently declared this unconstitutional. Further, 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. Torture. McCain opposed renewal of the [[Patriot act]] on the grounds that it endorses use of torture, something which he opposes based on his experience as a POW in Vietnam. While he eventually removed his opposition to the renewal of the act, he added language to the renewal act prohibiting torture, despite threat of a presidential veto if such language was added.This is consistant with over two hundred years of civilisation since the Enlightenment. This position alienates many conservatives, who believe that torture is a tool that can and should be used against terrorists.
5. Torture. McCain opposed renewal of the [[Patriot act]] on the grounds that it endorses use of torture, something which he opposes based on his experience as a POW in Vietnam. While he eventually removed his opposition to the renewal of the act, he added language to the renewal act prohibiting torture, despite threat of a presidential veto if such language was added.This is consistent with over two hundred years of civilization since the Enlightenment. This position alienates many conservatives, who believe that torture is a tool that can and should be used against terrorists.
6. Tax cuts. McCain opposed President 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.
6. Tax cuts. McCain opposed President 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.
10. An intangible, but a very important one, is the issue of trust. Many people, particularly evangelicals, do not trust McCain. That can be an insurmountable problem for a presidential candidate. However, recently, McCain has attempted to reach out to evangelical leaders to regain their trust. An example was his recent speech at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University.
10. An intangible, but a very important one, is the issue of trust. Many people, particularly evangelicals, do not trust McCain. That can be an insurmountable problem for a presidential candidate. However, recently, McCain has attempted to reach out to evangelical leaders to regain their trust. An example was his recent speech at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University.
11. In a general election, the media and the Democrats will likely make an issue about John McCain's health. He has suffered from recurring cancer (melanoma) and will be 72 years old on Election Day. Democrats may view as McCain as the easiest Republican to defeat in a general election for this reason. Other Republicans have countered that McCain would be the same age as [[Ronald Reagan]] was when first elected.
11. In a general election, the media and the Democrats will likely make an issue about John McCain's health. He has suffered from recurring cancer (melanoma) and will be 72 years old on Election Day. Critics may view McCain as an easy Republican to defeat in a general election for this reason. Other Republicans have countered that McCain would be the same age as [[Ronald Reagan]] was when first elected.
[[Category:Biographies]]
[[Category:Biographies]]