Decision '08: John Sidney McCain III

TAYLOR HAIGLER '08

Bio
John was born in Alexandria, Virginia in 1936. John followed in his father and grandfather’s footsteps, attending the United States Naval Academy. He did poorly, graduating in the bottom of his class, but he became a naval aviator and served in the Vietnam War flying attack aircrafts. In 1967, on his 23rd bombing mission in North Vietnam, his plane was shot down over Hanoi. He was held prisoner and tortured in North Vietnam for five and a half years. He does not know how he survived the brutality but knows that “this was the time he fell in love with his country.” McCain retired from the Navy in 1981, moved to Arizona and soon entered politics.

John is known for his temper and for attacking others’ integrities, but now tries to remind himself the importance of respecting one’s opponent. John was a candidate in the 2000 presidential election, but was defeated by George W. Bush for the Republican nomination. Last year, his campaign suffered a near collapse due to financial issues and his support for comprehensive immigration reform, but in late 2007 he staged a comeback and as of January 2008 he is once again a leader in the race. Currently, John is an Arizona Senator and a member of several organizations including Hispanic Youth Foundation and Council on Foreign Relations.

Primary/Caucus Results
Iowa: 13.1% (4th Place)
New Hampshire: 37.1% (1st place)
Michigan: 29.7% (2nd place)
Nevada: 13% (2nd place)
South Carolina: 33% (1st place)

Political Views
Health Care: “Americans deserve leadership for real reform that provides greater access to high-quality health care and ends spiraling costs…I believe the best way expand access and controls costs, without hurting the quality of our health care, is to harness competition to offer more affordable insurance options for as many Americans as possible, and to leverage innovation -- such as low-cost health clinics in retail stores for example -- and cost-effectiveness of our nation's firms to put an end to existing rigid, unfriendly bureaucracies.”

Iraq: “Today, Americans are fighting bravely in battles that are as dangerous, difficult and consequential as the great battles of our armed forces' storied past. In Iraq, I know the war has not gone well, and the American people have grown tired of it. I, too, have been made sick at heart by the many mistakes made by civilian and military commanders and the terrible price we have paid for them. I want our troops home too, but I want our troops to return home with honor and in victory. We cannot react to past mistakes by embracing calls to begin troop withdrawals or to revive our previous failed strategy of a partial troop pullback that will be an even greater mistake, a mistake of colossal historical proportions, which will seriously weaken American security.”

Energy: “I believe we must act now to increase our energy security, but the strategy I propose won't be another grab bag of handouts to this or that industry and a full employment act for lobbyists. Energy efficiency by using improved technology and practicing sensible habits in our homes, businesses and automobiles is a big part of the answer, and is something we can achieve right now. I want to improve and make permanent the research and development tax credit. I want to spend less money on government bureaucracies, and, where the private sector isn't moving out of regulatory fear, to form the partnerships necessary to build demonstration models of promising new technologies such as advanced nuclear power plants, coal gasification, carbon capture and storage, and renewable power so we can efficiently use our most abundant resources.”

Illegal Immigration: “As president, I will secure the border. I will restore the trust Americans should have in the basic competency of their government. A secure border is an essential element of our national security. Tight border security includes not just the entry and exit of people, but also the effective screening of cargo at our ports and other points of entry. We can further strengthen our border security if we pursue policies that recognize the importance of building strong allies in Mexico and Latin America who reject the siren call of authoritarians like Hugo Chavez, support freedom and democracy, and seek strong domestic economies with abundant economic opportunities for their citizens.”

Gay Marriage: “While, as a federalist, I recognize the right of the states to regulate the institution of marriage and to pass civil union laws, I strongly believe in the current law that declares that no other state should be legally bound to recognize same sex marriages or unions that might be legal in other places. But while the citizens of each state should decide this question, I personally oppose civil unions that for all intents and purposes confer the same status as traditional marriage. I am not against people entering into contracts or exchanging powers of attorney, a right that most states already afford to all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation.”

Sources:
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/
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