Changes

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 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.

5. 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.

6.  Criticism of the religious right.  In his unsuccessful campaign in 2000, McCain criticized elements of 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.

7.  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.

8.  John McCain, like Gary Hart and John Tower before him, is at the complete mercy of the media.  The media could destroy McCain's public reputation based on his role in the Keating Five scandal, and the media can be expected to do so in a general election.

9. John McCain, like Gary Hart and John Tower before him, is at the complete mercy of the media.  The media could destroy McCain's public reputation based on his role in the Keating Five scandal, and the media can be expected to do so in a general election.

9. 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.

10. 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.

 

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.

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