2008 SelectSmart.com Presidential Candidate Selector Candidate Positions Sen. John McCain - Republican (Born August 29, 1936) Navy pilot, captain, beer distributor.

War authorization: Supports Bush's surge, in fact, calls for more additional troops than Bush recommends.

Security/liberties: Has voted for the PATRIOT act and it's revisions. He generally opposes the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Social Security: Would allow workers to invest a portion of their payroll tax in private accounts which they manage themselves. Source

Stem cell research: Supports stem cell research on existing lines of stem cells, but not new lines. Source

Same sex issues: Usually opposes gay marriage, but in an MSNBC "Hardball" interview he seemingly both supported and opposed gay marriage. “I think that gay marriage should be allowed, if there‘s a ceremony kind of thing, if you want to call it that. I don‘t have any problem with that, but I do believe in preserving the sanctity of a union between man and woman.” "On the issue of the gay marriage, I believe that people want to have private ceremonies, that‘s fine. I do not believe that gay marriages should be legal." Source
His views on same sex civil unions are more ambiguous. McCain responded "yes" to VoteSmart's "Political Courage Test" question, "Should same-sex couples be allowed to form civil unions?" Source.
On ABC’s “This Week,” host George Stephanopoulos asked [John] McCain why he supported [Arizona Proposition 107], saying it “actually denied any government benefits to civil unions or domestic partnerships. Are you against civil unions for gay couples?”
First McCain said: “No, I’m not.”
“I think that initiative did allow for people to join in legal agreements such as power of attorney and others,” he said. “I think that there was a difference of opinion on the interpretation of that constitutional amendment in Arizona.”
“So you’re for civil unions?” Stephanopoulos asked.
“No,” he said. “I do not believe gay marriage should be legal. I do not believe gay marriage should be legal,” he repeated. “But I do believe that people ought to be able to enter into contracts, exchange powers of attorney, other ways that people have relationships can enter into.” Source

Trade issues: Free trader. Source

Budget issues: For 2001-2002, the Concord Coalition gave Senator McCain a rating of 95 percent. Source

Business & labor issues: Senator McCain supported the interests of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 72 percent in 2005. Source McCain supported the interests of the United Auto Workers 14 percent in 2005. McCain supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 14 percent in 2005. Source

Abortion issues: McCain supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 0% in 2006. He supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 75% in 2005-2006. He supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 0% in 2005.

Capital punishment: Supports the use of the death penalty for federal crimes. Source

Marijuana: Opposes legalization. Supports expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare. Source

Gun control: Based on lifetime voting records the National Rifle Association assigned Senator McCain a grade of C+. He supported the interests of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence 14 percent from 1988-2003. Source

Minimum wage: Has voted both for and against minimum wage bills about an equal number of times. Source

Health care: Opposes universal health care. Source

Prescription drugs: Supports expanding prescription drug coverage under Medicare. Source

Environmental issues: Groups like the American Wilderness Coalition, Wildlife Action Fund and the League of Conservation Voters give McCain scores at or near 50%. Source

Immigration issues: Increase the number of visas issued for agricultural workers. Relax restrictions barring legal immigrants from using social programs (e.g. public housing, food stamps). Source
Supports amnesty/permanent legalization for illegal aliens and temporary legalization for illegal aiens as guestworkers Source

Education: Supports vouchers. Source Senator McCain supported the interests of the National Education Association 0 percent in 2005.

Net Neutrality: No Source

Link to voting records and special interest group ratings. (If available).

Campaign website