John McCain on VoteMatch

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VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Opposes topic 1: Abortion is a woman's right (-3 points on Social scale)	Pro-life and an advocate for the Rights of Man everywhere: Strongly Opposes topic 1 GovWatch: 1999: Don't force women to have illegal operations: Favors topic 1 Concerned if women undergo illegal dangerous operations: Favors topic 1 Prosecute abortion doctors, not women who get them: Opposes topic 1 Overturn Roe v. Wade, but keep incest & rape exceptions: Opposes topic 1 Wants Roe vs. Wade made irrelevant, but would not repeal it: Favors topic 1 Opposes partial-birth abortions & public financing: Opposes topic 1 Supports repealing Roe v. Wade: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 1 Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1 Rated 75% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion: Neutral on topic 1 YES on banning partial birth abortions: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions: Opposes topic 1 YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life: Strongly Opposes topic 1 YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Opposes topic 1 NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Opposes topic 1 YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Opposes topic 1 YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1 YES on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions: Opposes topic 1
Favors topic 2: Require hiring more women & minorities (-3 points on Economic scale)	Inter-racial dating ban is idiotic and cruel: Favors topic 2 Affirmative action OK for specific programs, but no quotas: Favors topic 2 Rated 7% by the NAACP, indicating an anti-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Opposes topic 2 YES on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds: Strongly Opposes topic 2 NO on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business: Strongly Favors topic 2 NO on prohibiting same-sex basic training: Favors topic 2 YES on setting aside 10% of highway funds for minorities & women: Favors topic 2
Favors topic 3: Same-sex domestic partnership benefits (+2 points on Social scale)	Leave gay marriage to the states: Favors topic 3 1994: No Senate hiring discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Favors topic 3 Accepts gays in military under current policy: Favors topic 3 Would be “comfortable” with a gay president: Favors topic 3 1st Amend. not a shield for hate groups: Neutral on topic 3 Ban on same-sex marriage is unRepublican; leave it to states: Strongly Favors topic 3 Keep “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy - it works: Favors topic 3 Rated 33% by the HRC, indicating a mixed record on gay rights: Neutral on topic 3 YES on prohibiting same-sex marriage: Strongly Opposes topic 3 NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation: Strongly Opposes topic 3 NO on expanding hate crimes to include sexual orientation: Opposes topic 3 NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Opposes topic 3 NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3
Favors topic 4: Teacher-led prayer in public schools (-3 points on Social scale)	Support evangelism but don’t pander to evangelical leaders: Opposes topic 4 Faith bridges unbridgeable gaps in humanity: Neutral on topic 4 Ten Commandments would bring virtue to our schools: Strongly Favors topic 4 Allow, but not mandate, school prayer: Favors topic 4 Supports anti-flag desecration amendment: Favors topic 4 Rated 83% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-family voting record: Strongly Favors topic 4 Rated 33% by the AU, a mixed record on church-state separation: Neutral on topic 4 YES on requiring schools to allow voluntary prayer: Favors topic 4 YES on $75M for abstinence education: Strongly Favors topic 4 YES on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors: Opposes topic 4 YES on declaring memorial prayers and religious symbols OK at schools: Favors topic 4 YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Favors topic 4
Strongly Favors topic 8: Death Penalty (-5 points on Social scale)	Pro-death penalty; more prisons; increased penalties: Strongly Favors topic 8 YES on rejecting racial statistics in death penalty appeals: Favors topic 8 YES on limiting death penalty appeals: Favors topic 8
Strongly Favors topic 9: Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws (-5 points on Social scale)	More death penalty; stricter sentencing: Favors topic 9 Rated 29% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes: Strongly Favors topic 9 Rated 85% by the NCJA, indicating a "tough-on-crime" stance: Strongly Favors topic 9 YES on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms: Strongly Favors topic 9 YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Favors topic 9
Strongly Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+5 points on Economic scale)	Prosecute criminals, not citizens for gun ownership: Strongly Favors topic 10 Don't hold gun manufacturers liable for crimes: Favors topic 10 Opposes restrictions on assault weapons and ammunition types: Strongly Favors topic 10 Ban cheap guns; require safety locks; for gun show checks: Opposes topic 10 Voted against Brady Bill & assault weapon ban: Strongly Favors topic 10 Punish criminals who abuse 2nd Amendment rights: Favors topic 10 Repeal existing gun restrictions; penalize criminal use: Strongly Favors topic 10 Ban gun registration & trigger lock law in Washington DC: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on maintaining current law: guns sold without trigger locks: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on loosening license & background checks at gun shows: Favors topic 10 NO on background checks at gun shows: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Favors topic 10 YES on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Favors topic 10
Opposes topic 5: More federal funding for health coverage (+2 points on Economic scale)	Harness market competition for comprehensive reform: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Include a health savings account in healthcare reform: Opposes topic 5 1989: No mandatory catastrophic Medicare coverage: Opposes topic 5 1993: To socialize healthcare would be to ruin it: Strongly Opposes topic 5 Matching funds for seniors citizens’ prescription drugs: Favors topic 5 Expand health insurance to 11 million uninsured children: Strongly Favors topic 5 Allow paying extra for choice of doctors & care: Favors topic 5 More tax-deductible health costs; limits on malpractice: Favors topic 5 Tax credits for those without employee health insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5 $350 billion for prescriptions for poor seniors: Favors topic 5 Rated 25% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 5 NO on blocking medical savings acounts: Opposes topic 5 NO on Medicare means-testing: Favors topic 5 YES on limiting self-employment health deduction: Opposes topic 5 NO on including prescription drugs under Medicare: Opposes topic 5 YES on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Opposes topic 5 NO on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit: Opposes topic 5 YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Favors topic 5 YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors topic 5 NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Opposes topic 5
Strongly Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+5 points on Economic scale)	Looming challenges of entitlements need personal accounts: Strongly Favors topic 6 We need personal savings accounts: Strongly Favors topic 6 More believe in Elvis than in getting Social Security check: Favors topic 6 Option to invest 20% of payroll taxes in private accounts: Strongly Favors topic 6 Allow workers to invest privately: Strongly Favors topic 6 Rated 40% by the ARA, indicating a mixed record on senior issues: Neutral on topic 6 Supports individual savings accounts and work incentives: Favors topic 6 YES on deducting Social Security payments on income taxes: Favors topic 6 YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees: Favors topic 6 YES on allowing personal retirement accounts: Favors topic 6 YES on using the Social Security Surplus to fund tax reductions: Favors topic 6
Strongly Favors topic 7: Parents choose schools via vouchers (+5 points on Economic scale)	Place parents & children at the center of education: Strongly Favors topic 7 We need more choice and competition in education: Strongly Favors topic 7 Charters, homeschooling, & vouchers are key to success: Strongly Favors topic 7 Vouchers & charters will improve our school system: Strongly Favors topic 7 Nationwide test of school vouchers: Strongly Favors topic 7 $5B program for 3-year test of school vouchers: Strongly Favors topic 7 Vouchers for any schools; more charter schools: Strongly Favors topic 7 Support Ed-Flex: more flexibility if more accountable: Favors topic 7 Rated 45% by the NEA, indicating a mixed record on public education: Neutral on topic 7 YES on school vouchers in DC: Strongly Favors topic 7 YES on education savings accounts: Favors topic 7 YES on allowing more flexibility in federal school rules: Strongly Favors topic 7 NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors: Favors topic 7 NO on funding student testing instead of private tutors: Favors topic 7 NO on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Favors topic 7
Favors topic 18: Replace coal & oil with alternatives (-3 points on Economic scale)	Climate change is real and must be addressed: Favors topic 18 2000: Criticized Bush's withdrawal from the Kyoto Treaty: Strongly Favors topic 18 Strength Clean Air & Water Acts; but not Kyoto: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Ethanol bad for environment & bad for consumers: Opposes topic 18 Supports alternative fuels, emission controls, & CWA: Favors topic 18 Make EPA into a Cabinet department: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 53% by the LCV, indicating a mixed record on environment: Neutral on topic 18 Sponsored bill for greenhouse gas tradeable allowances: Strongly Favors topic 18 Rated 17% by the CAF, indicating opposition to energy independence: Opposes topic 18 Supports immediate reductions in greenhouse gases: Strongly Favors topic 18 NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline: Favors topic 18 NO on reducing funds for road-building in National Forests: Opposes topic 18 YES on defunding renewable and solar energy: Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on preserving budget for ANWR oil drilling: Opposes topic 18 NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill: Favors topic 18 NO on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Opposes topic 18 YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18 YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Favors topic 18
Strongly Favors topic 19: Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it (-5 points on Social scale)	Administration is AWOL on the war on drugs: Strongly Favors topic 19 We’re losing drug war - just say no: Strongly Favors topic 19 $1B for detection equipment for more border interdiction: Strongly Favors topic 19 Stricter penalties; stricter enforcement: Strongly Favors topic 19 Sponsored bill for grants to Indian tribes to fight meth: Strongly Favors topic 19 YES on spending international development funds on drug control: Strongly Favors topic 19 YES on more penalties for gun & drug violations: Favors topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Allow churches to provide welfare services (+5 points on Economic scale)	Supports block grants, welfare-to-work, state control: Favors topic 20 Anti-poverty shared by gov’t & faith-based orgs: Strongly Favors topic 20 Pro-block grants; pro-welfare-to-work: Favors topic 20 YES on welfare overhaul: Favors topic 20 YES on allowing state welfare waivers: Favors topic 20 NO on eliminating block grants for food stamps: Favors topic 20 YES on welfare block grants: Favors topic 20
Opposes topic 11: Make taxes more progressive (+2 points on Economic scale)	Require a 3/5 majority vote in Congress to raise taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Tax system is fair; wealthy pay bulk of taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Remove charitable deduction; it only benefits rich: Favors topic 11 Middle-class tax cut: expand 15% tax bracket: Favors topic 11 Tax cuts should go to middle- & lower-income people: Favors topic 11 Cut marriage tax, inheritance tax, & earnings test: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Taxes should be flatter, lower, and simpler: Strongly Opposes topic 11 GovWatch: 2001: against tax cut that went to rich: Strongly Favors topic 11 Voted against Bush tax cuts for not reining in spending: Opposes topic 11 Rated 72% by NTU, indicating "Satisfactory" on tax votes: Neutral on topic 11 Rated 50% by CTJ, indicating a mixed record on progressive taxation: Neutral on topic 11 Implement socially fair, broad-based tax cuts: Favors topic 11 YES on Internet sales tax moratorium: Opposes topic 11 YES on requiring super-majority for raising taxes: Opposes topic 11 YES on phasing out the estate tax ("death tax"): Opposes topic 11 YES on eliminating the 'marriage penalty': Opposes topic 11 NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts: Favors topic 11 YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Favors topic 11 NO on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Opposes topic 11 NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Favors topic 11 YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 NO on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Opposes topic 11 YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million: Strongly Opposes topic 11 YES on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Opposes topic 11
Favors topic 12: Illegal immigrants earn citizenship (+2 points on Social scale)	Certify border is secure; only then allow guest workers: Opposes topic 12 12 million illegals in country now is de facto amnesty: Favors topic 12 Immigration reform needed for national security: Strongly Favors topic 12 Give everyone in the world an opportunity to come to America: Favors topic 12 1988: Honored by La Raza for opposing official English: Favors topic 12 More help for legal immigrants when immigrating & once here: Strongly Favors topic 12 No more ballot initiatives against immigration: Strongly Favors topic 12 English immersion over bilingual education: Opposes topic 12 Sponsored comprehensive immigration reform, without amnesty: Strongly Favors topic 12 Rated 18% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on limit welfare for immigrants: Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on visas for skilled workers: Favors topic 12 YES on allowing more foreign workers into the US for farm work: Favors topic 12 YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12 YES on establishing a Guest Worker program: Favors topic 12 YES on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Opposes topic 12 YES on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Favors topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	Globalization is an opportunity--reduce barriers to trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 Consider subsidies a mistake, and oppose them: Strongly Favors topic 13 Every time US went protectionist, we paid heavy price: Strongly Favors topic 13 Supports ethanol, but by exporting, not by subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 13 No environmental provisions in trade agreements: Strongly Favors topic 13 Free trade with any country except security risks: Favors topic 13 Free trade is indispensable to our prosperity: Strongly Favors topic 13 NAFTA has had unambiguously positive impact on US: Strongly Favors topic 13 Pro-NAFTA, pro-GATT, pro-MFN, pro-Fast Track: Strongly Favors topic 13 Promote the Andean Free Trade Agreement: Strongly Favors topic 13 Rated 100% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record: Strongly Favors topic 13 Sponsored bill for trade with post-Orange Revolution Ukraine: Favors topic 13 YES on renewing 'fast track' presidential trade authority: Favors topic 13 YES on permanent normal trade relations with China: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on expanding trade to the third world: Favors topic 13 NO on removing common goods from national security export rules: Opposes topic 13 YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: Favors topic 13 YES on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on establishing free trade between US & Singapore: Favors topic 13 YES on establishing free trade between the US and Chile: Favors topic 13 YES on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Favors topic 13 YES on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Favors topic 13
Favors topic 15: Expand the armed forces (-3 points on Social scale)	Clean up waste in defense acquisition: Opposes topic 15 Eliminate defense pork, but increase most other defense: Strongly Favors topic 15 Terminate C-130, B-2, and Seawolf; use funds to modernize: Opposes topic 15 Politicians keep unneeded bases open for political purposes: Opposes topic 15 Raise military pay to avoid military draft: Favors topic 15 Supports $48 billion in new spending for anti-terrorism: Favors topic 15 Rated 0% by SANE, indicating a pro-military voting record: Strongly Favors topic 15 Sponsored bill for Iraq budget to be part of defense budget: Opposes topic 15 Reduce federal government size & scope, including military: Opposes topic 15 NO on 1996 Defense Appropriations: Opposes topic 15 YES on considering deploying NMD, and amending ABM Treaty: Favors topic 15 NO on favoring 36 vetoed military projects: Strongly Opposes topic 15 YES on allowing another round of military base closures: Opposes topic 15 YES on military pay raise of 4.8%: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on deploying National Missile Defense ASAP: Strongly Favors topic 15 YES on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding: Opposes topic 15 NO on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Stricter limits on political campaign funds (-5 points on Economic scale)	Big money interests fear closing loopholes: Favors topic 16 Limit campaign contributions, not free speech: Favors topic 16 OpEd: McCain-Feingold chilled grassroots political speech: Strongly Favors topic 16 527s are clearly illegal; reform intended for small donors: Strongly Favors topic 16 Campaign finance reform needed to restore faith in politics: Strongly Favors topic 16 Finance reform will prevail if we have the votes & the guts: Strongly Favors topic 16 CFR passes Senate; focus on House, not court challenges: Favors topic 16 Clearer rules about campaign finance; no soft money: Favors topic 16 Soft money makes gov’t work for special interests: Favors topic 16 Campaign Finance: ban both labor union & corporate donations: Favors topic 16 Supports multiple restrictions on campaign finance: Strongly Favors topic 16 Cozying up to big donors makes big problems: Favors topic 16 Supports Shays-Meehan Campaign Finance Reform: Favors topic 16 Sponsored bill subjecting 527s to political committee rules: Strongly Favors topic 16 YES on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance: Favors topic 16 YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations: Favors topic 16 YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads: Favors topic 16 YES on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Favors topic 16 YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Opposes topic 16
Strongly Opposes topic 14: The Patriot Act harms civil liberties (-5 points on Social scale)	Surveillance of overseas communications is ok: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Ok to hold even US citizens as enemy combatants: Strongly Opposes topic 14 His Military Commissions Act ended up denying habeas corpus: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Sponsored bill banning torture of terrorists in US custody: Favors topic 14 YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision: Strongly Opposes topic 14 YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act: Opposes topic 14 NO on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Opposes topic 14 NO on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Strongly Opposes topic 17: US out of Iraq (-5 points on Social scale)	I support the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive war: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Russia: Sanctions until Putin exits Chechnya: Opposes topic 17 IMF’s Russia policies bad, but agency is OK: Favors topic 17 Costs will be far greater should we fail in Iraq: Opposes topic 17 Timetable for withdrawal is a white flag of surrender: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Staying for 100 years OK, if US casualties are low: Strongly Opposes topic 17 The Iraq war was worth the price in blood and treasure: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Support the surge even if benchmarks are not met: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Willing to be last man standing for US involvement in Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Send in a heavy wave of troops to Iraq to establish order: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Opposes topic 17 NO on redeploying non-essential US troops out of Iraq in 9 months: Opposes topic 17