Changes

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.

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 [[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."

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 a [[Libertarian]] position, "On the issue of the gay marriage, I believe that people want to have private ceremonies, that's fine."

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.   

4.  Campaign finance.  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.

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. 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. 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 position alienates many conservatives, who believe that torture is a tool that can and should be used against terrorists.

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.   

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.   

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