Political positions of John McCain

McCain in 2001

U.S. Senator John McCain, a Republican Party politician from Arizona who was a member of the U.S. Congress from 1983 until his death in office in 2018, a two-time U.S. presidential candidate, and the nominee of the Republican Party in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, took positions on many political issues through his public comments, his presidential campaign statements, and his senatorial voting record.

Online, McCain used his Senate web site[1] and his 2008 campaign web site[2] to describe his political positions.

Regarding the general notion of consistency of political positions over time, McCain said in June 2008: "My principles and my practice and my voting record are very clear. Not only from 2000 but 1998 and 1992 and 1986. And you know, it's kind of a favorite tactical ploy now that opponents use, of saying the person has changed. Look, none of my principles or values have changed. Have I changed position on some specific issues because of changed circumstances? I would hope so! I would hope so!"[3] McCain was considered a moderate or centrist at different times in his career such as when he opposed the planned implementation of the Bush tax cuts in 2004.[4][5] It was often reported that McCain had grown more conservative throughout his tenure in the Senate, according to various studies.[6] During Barack Obama's presidency, McCain was one of five Republicans most likely to vote in line with President Obama's position on legislation; he voted with Obama's position more than half the time in 2013.[7]

The non-partisan National Journal published an analysis of members of Congress in which it gave McCain a composite ideological rating of 60% conservative and 40% liberal in 2013.[8] On The Issues, a non-partisan and non-profit organization, identifies McCain as a "Libertarian Conservative".[9] In 2017, the American Conservative Union gave McCain a 57% grade based on their positions and the ACU gives him an 81% lifetime conservative score; the American Civil Liberties Union, which focuses on civil rights and liberties, gave McCain a 53% rating in 2014.[8] In 2013, Americans for Democratic Action, a progressive political action committee, gave him a rating of 20% in line with their positions.[10]

He was a member of Republican Main Street Partnership, a Republican group which presents what it describes as centrist Republican solutions in politics.[11]

This article is part of a series about
John McCain
  • U.S. Senator from Arizona
  • Presidential campaigns

  1. ^ "Issues". John McCain official U.S. Senate website. Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2008.
  2. ^ "Issues". JohnMcCain.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2008. Retrieved June 14, 2008.
  3. ^ David Whitford (June 23, 2008). "The evolution of John McCain". Fortune. Retrieved June 23, 2008.
  4. ^ Andrews, Edmund L. (May 21, 2004). "Mutiny by 4 Republicans Over Bush's Tax Cutting Forces Delay on the Budget Vote". The New York Times. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  5. ^ "GOP Moderates Defy Bush On Taxes". Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  6. ^ "NationalJournal.com - McCain's Shift Makes Him Senate's Most Conservative - Thursday, February 24, 2011". Archived from the original on April 27, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
  7. ^ Lesniewski, Niels; Lesniewski, Niels (February 4, 2014). "Collins, Murkowski Most Likely Republicans to Back Obama". Roll Call. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved August 8, 2018.
  9. ^ "John McCain on the Issues". www.ontheissues.org. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  10. ^ "2013 Congressional Voting Record" (PDF). adaction.org.
  11. ^ "Republican Main Street Partnership to Showcase Centrist Republican Solutions for 2008, January 21st, 2008 - Republican Main Street Partnership". Republican Main Street Partnership. September 1, 2011. Archived from the original on July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.