John McCain
Candidate for President (Republican)
Residence: Phoenix
Marital Status: Married (Cindy Lou)
Prev. Occupation: Naval Officer
Prev. Political Exp.: US House, 1982-86; US Senate, 1986-present
Education: BS United State Naval Academy, 1958
Birthdate: 08/29/1936
Birthplace: Panama Canal Zone
Religion: Episcopal
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Contact Raymond Rahbar, Director of Iranian American Outreach for John McCain.
Civil Liberties
Senator McCain voted for the USA Patriot Act when it was originally passed in 2001, and voted to renew it in 2006. He has pledged to periodically review the Patriot Act in order to safeguard civil liberties.
McCain has been a consistent critic of the Bush administration’s torture policies, feeling that the U.S. government should never practice or condone torture of any kind. In September 2006, McCain drew attention when he joined with fellow Republicans John Warner (R-VA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to oppose legislation backed by the Bush Administration that would have given the government broad leeway in the treatment, interrogation, and prosecution of terror detainees. “We could never gain as much from that torture as we lose in world opinion. We do not torture people. When I was in Vietnam, one of the things that sustained us as we underwent torture, is the knowledge that if we had our positions reversed, we would not impose that kind of treatment on them. It's not about the terrorists, it's about us. It's about what kind of country we are,” said McCain during a Republican debate in South Carolina.
McCain has called for the closure of the detention center at Guantanamo. He believes that its existence is damaging U.S. credibility abroad and would like to speed up the tribunal process for remaining prisoners. McCain has expressed concern over the Supreme Court ruling granting foreign terrorism suspects at Guantánamo Bay the right to challenge their detention in civilian courts. McCain was one of the chief Senate architects of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which denied detainees a right to challenge their status in civilian courts.
McCain’s campaign has sent conflicting signals on whether he believes the Bush Administration acted within the law in conducting its warrentless surveillance program. “It’s ambiguous as to whether the President acted within his authority or not,’’ McCain said at campaign rally in Florida. He went on to explain how courts have ruled differently on this matter and that it is important that we move forward in addressing the challenges we face today.
McCain on the Issues
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Obama, McCain Respond to Guantanamo Bay Ruling, Washington Post, June 12, 2008
McCain Says It's Unclear Whether Bush Wiretapping Was Legal, New York Times, June 6, 2008
Immigration
McCain has been recognized as one of the Senate's leading Republican advocates for humane immigration reform. He has led two failed bipartisan efforts to offer a path to citizenship to the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the U.S. as well as to strengthen border security and expedite the unification of families currently awaiting visas.
“I'm proud of the bipartisan effort that I've made on many issues with Democrats & Republicans, ranging from Joe Lieberman on 9/11 to working on the other side of the aisle on immigration reform and others. And that's why I think I'm prepared to be President of the U.S. The American people want us to work together on issues that are important to them. That's my record,” said McCain on Meet the Press on May 13, 2007.
McCain is now committed to a two-step process to reform the immigration system. He believes that our first priority must be to secure our borders in an expedited manner by providing the resources, training, support staff, and technologies so that the Governors of Border States can certify that their borders are secure.
Once the borders are secure, McCain will: (a) implement a secure, accurate, and reliable electronic employment verification system to ensure that individuals are screened for work eligibility; (b) institute a temporary worker program that will reflect the labor needs in the U.S. in both the high-tech and low skilled sectors; (c) ensure all undocumented aliens either leave or follow the path to legal residence; and (d) expedite the unification of families currently awaiting visas.
McCain is a cosponsor of the "DREAM" Act, which would make unlawful aliens eligible for higher education benefits. The act also authorizes the cancellation of removal for aliens who entered the country before they turned 16 and are of good character, not eligible for deportation, and have been admitted to institutions of higher education. McCain has also opposed "English-only" laws that would have made it illegal for the government to print instructions and other material in languages other than English.
Immigration Bill Stalls in Senate, IAPAC, June 8, 2007
John McCain on the Issues
John McCain's Campaign Website
Iran
McCain has referred to Iran as the world's chief state sponsor of international terrorism. He believes that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons and supports tougher economic sanctions against the country. McCain has stated that while the U.S. cannot take the military option off the table it has to be clear that it is the option of last resort.
"The next President must confront this threat directly, and that effort must begin with tougher political and economic sanctions. If the United Nations is unwilling to act, the United States must lead a group of like-minded countries to impose effective multilateral sanctions, such as restrictions on exports of refined gasoline, outside the UN framework. America and its partners should also privatize the sanctions effort by supporting a divestment campaign to isolate and de-legitimize the regime in Tehran, whose policies are already opposed by many Iranian citizens. And military action, although not the preferred option, must remain on the table: Tehran must understand that it cannot win a showdown with the world," says McCain.
McCain differs with Obama on the issue of whether the U.S. should engage in direct talks with Tehran. “The most over-rated aspect of our dialogue about international relations is direct face-to-face talks. The question is are you going to have direct talks, and does that enhance the prestige of the president of Iran,” says McCain. In his speech to the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee group's annual policy conference in June of 2008, McCain called direct talks with Iran fruitless. “Rather than sitting down unconditionally with the Iranian president or supreme leader in the hope we can talk sense into them, we must create the real-world pressures that will peacefully but decisively change the path they are on.”
McCain believes that the Bush administration’s approach has been the right one, which he intends to continue and improve upon. He seeks support of those in the region who are concerned about Iran, and of our European partners. “They can help by imposing targeted sanctions that will impose a heavy cost on the regime’s leaders, including the denial of visas and freezing assets.”
Essay, "An Enduring Peace Built on Freedom", Foreign Affairs, November/December 2007
Candidates Diverge On How To Handle Iran, NPR, September 22, 2008
John McCain on the Issues
Click here for McCain's position statements on other issues.
