“Sacrifice for a  cause greater than yourself, and you invest your life with the eminence of that cause, your self-respect assured”

 

-John McCain

John McCain

John Sidney McCain III, republican candidate for the U.S. Presidential election 2008, was born on the 29 th of August, 1936. His father and grandfather were both admirals in the United States Navy. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1958, he launched a 22-year career as a naval aviator. He escaped death several times during the Vietnam War, and he endured five and a half years as a prisoner of war, before he was released. He retired from the Navy in 1981. His naval honors include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and the distinguished Flying Cross.

 

After moving to Arizona, he entered politics, and in 1982 he was elected to Congress, representing what was then the first congressional district of Arizona. After two terms, he was elected to the United States Senate. He was re-elected Senator in 1992, 1998 and 2004. In 2000, John McCain was a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 2000 presidential election, but was defeated by George W. Bush.

 

He is currently U.S. Senator of Arizona, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, and he also serves the Senate committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Indian Affairs.

 

He is a ‘common sense conservative’ who believes in a strong national defense, a smaller, more accountable government, economic growth and opportunity, the dignity of life and traditional values.

John McCain has seven children and four grandchildren. He lives with his wife Cindy in Phoenix, Arizona.

 

ISSUES:

 

Abortion:
Opposes abortion rights except in cases of rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother.

Immigration:
Co-sponsored Bush-backed immigration reform legislation, which would have increased funding and improved border security technology, improved enforcement of existing laws, and provided a legal path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants. Voted to authorize construction of a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border.

Iraq:
Voted for use of military force in Iraq. Supported Bush veto of war spending bill that would have withdrawn most U.S. troops by March 2008. Was an early proponent of sending additional American troops to Iraq.

 

Same-sex marriage:

Supports definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman, but opposes a constitutional amendment banning same sex-marriage. Says individual states should decide the issue. Says a federal marriage ban might be appropriate if courts overturned state marriage laws. Supports legal benefits for same-sex partners.

Social Security:
Supports Bush plan to allow workers to divert some Social Security payroll taxes to private retirement accounts.

 

Taxes:
Voted against 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cut laws, but later voted in favor of extending tax cuts through 2010.

 

 

johnmccain.com

mccain.senate.gov

http://www.wikipedia.org