I know there is a lot of information out there about the life of John McCain. I intend to provide background and biography for the other candidates, as well, so it is only fair that I do the same for John McCain.

John McCain was born on August 29, 1936, at Coco Solo Naval Air Station, in the Panama Canal Zone. He was the second of three children born to John S. McCain Jr., and wife, Roberta. He spent much of his childhood traveling around to different naval bases around the United States and around the world. Both his father and his grandfather were four-star Admirals.

He followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, graduating from the Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1958. He graduated from flight school two years later. He volunteered for combat duty after the outbreak of war in Vietnam. He escaped serious injury in July of 1967, when his plane was shot down accidentally. Later that year, during his 23rd combat mission, his plane was again shot down, and he was captured by the North Vietnamese, and held prisoner. He was a "visitor" of the Hanoi Hilton for five and a half years, enduring torture, isolation, starvation and disease. He was beaten and broken. The only thing they could not break was his honor.

He recieved many medals during his time in the military, including Purple Hearts, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and a Distinguished Flying Cross.

His start in politics came in 1976, when he became the Navy's liaison to the United States Senate. McCain retired from the Navy, and moved to Phoenix in 1981, and ran for a seat in the House of Representatives a year later. He won, and was re-elected in 1984. Two years later, he ran for the Senate seat and won that, as well.

From 1987 to 1989, McCain was under investigation as a member of the "Keating Five". He was cleared of any wrong doing in that matter. He went on to win re-election three times with a good majority of the votes. During his time in the Senate, John McCain has worked for tobacco legislation and campaign finance reform.

In 1999, he published, Faith of My Fathers, which was a story of his family's military history and his own time as a POW.

In 2001, he helped get a law passed for a broad overhaul of the campaign finance system. It was the culmination of six years of effort on the part of John McCain.

Currently, he is running on the Republican ticket, for the office of President of the United States, with Sarah Palin as his running mate. The Republican convention has just ended, and they are campaigning all over the country.

John McCain's running mate is Alaska's Governor, Sarah Palin.

Where does John McCain stand on the issues? What issues matter to you? I have done a lot of research on each candidate and where they stand on the issues. If I have failed to include an issue that is important to you, let me know, and I will try to find information on it, and include it.

• ABORTION:John McCain is pro-life. He feels that abortion should be legal when the pregnancy has resulted from incest or rape, or when the life of the mother is endangered. He does not feel that "partial-birth" abortions should be legal. He does not support public funding for organizations that advocate or perform abortions. He voted YES on criminal penalties for harming an unborn fetus during other crimes. Voted YES on banning of human cloning. He supports embryonic stem cell research. He scored a 75% by the NRLC (National Right to Life Council) indicating a mixed record on abortion
• BUDGET & ECONOMY:Feels we should be spending more on defense, education, homeland security, medical research and national parks. Feels we should be spending less on arts, and space exploration programs. Feels we are spending about the right amount on the environment, international aid, law enforcement, public health services, scientific research, transportation and highways, and welfare. Feels we should have fiscal discipline to revive the economy. Voted YES on $40 Billion in reduced federal overall spending. Voted NO on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts.
• TAXES:Feels that the following should be taxed much less; families with an income less than $150,000, capital gains, and inheritance taxes. Feels that the following should be taxed somewhat less; corporate taxes and gasoline taxes. Feels that the following tax deductions & credits should be increased; child tax credit, earned income tax credit, and medical expense deduction. Does not support a permanent repeal of the federal estate tax, or eliminating taxes on dividends paid to individual investors. Supported Reagan tax cuts because they were matched by spending cuts. Reagan Republican: simplify taxes, cut waste. Voted against Bush tax cuts for not reining in spending.
• SAME SEX MARRIAGES & GAY RIGHTS:Same sex couples should be allowed to form civil unions. Marriage should be restricted to a union between a man and woman only. Does not want to tamper with "Don't ask, Don't tell" in terms of the military. Feels that same sex marriage should be left to the states, but does not agree with the idea of same sex marriages. Voted NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriages. Voted NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes. Voted NO on prohibiting job discrimination by sexual orientation. Rated 33% by the HRC indicating a mixed record on gay rights.
• CRIME:Supports the death penalty for federal crimes. Supports truth in sentencing for violent criminals, so that they serve full sentences with no chance of parole. Supports programs that provide prison inmates with vocational and job-related skills and job-placement assistance. Supports programs that provide inmates with drug and alcohol treatment. Supports additional criminal penalties if a fetus is killed in the commission of a federal crime against a pregnant woman. Feels that minors (except those that are very young) accused of a violent crime, should be prosecuted as adults. Feels that the First Amendment is not a shield for hate groups. Voted YES on limiting death penalty appeals. Voted YES on mandatory prison terms for crimes involving firearms. Rated 29% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes.
• DRUGS:Supports mandatory jail sentences for selling illegal drugs. Feels that federally sponsored drug education and drug treatment programs should be expanded. Supports and increase in border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. Mexico should extradite drug dealers to the US. Wants to restrict methadone treatment programs. Wants stricter penalties and stricter enforcement. Voted YES on spending international development funds on drug control. Sponsored a bill on drug testing for major league sports.
• EDUCATION:Supports national standards for and testing of public school students. Supports the use of vouchers to send children to any public, private or religious school. Supports funding to establish charter schools. Supports an increase in funding for block grants to states to aid in the hiring of more teachers. Supports teacher testing and reward teachers with merit pay. Supports increases in funding for school capital improvements (buildings, infrastructure, technology, etc). Supports increased funding of programs such as Pell grants and Stafford loans to help students pay for college. Supports federal tax incentives to help families save for college. Feels that good teachers should earn more than bad lawyers. Supports tax-free savings accounts for educational expenses. Supports Internet access, with filters, at all schools and libraries. Supports charter schools, vouchers and homeschooling. Voted YES on $75 Million on abstinence education. Feels prayer should be OK in schools. Place parents and children at enter of education, not government. Help unqualified teachers find other lines of work.
• EMPLOYMENT: Supports increased funding for national job-training programs that re-train displaced workers. Supports a reduction of government regulation of the private sector in order to encourage investment and economic expansion. Supports tax credits and grants to businesses that offer child care services to employees. Encourages employers to offer flex-time scheduling, comp-time, and unpaid leave for family emergencies. Overhaul unemployment insurance as a retraining program. Voted YES on increasing minimum wage in 2007 to $7.25. Rated 15% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-union voting record.
• ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY:Believes we should strengthen the regulation & enforcement of the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act. States should compensate citizens when environmental regulations limit uses of privately-owned land. Strengthen emission controls and fuel efficiency standards on all gasoline and diesel-powered engines, including cars, trucks and SUV's. Supports the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel. Supports the U.S. re-entering the Kyoto treaty process to limit global warming. Supports Healthy Forests legislation encouraging thinning in areas where communities exist near forests. Wants an end to the moratorium on offshore oil drilling. Favors an 'all-of-the-above' approach when it comes to energy; oil exploration and drilling in the U.S., nuclear, solar, wind, hydro-electric, alternative fuels, natural gas, etc. End reliance and transfer of wealth to countries that hate us. The climate change is real, and must be addressed. Criticized Bush's withdrawal for Kyoto Treaty. Was the first Republican to sign onto reducing GHGS. Voted YES in 2005 on banning drilling in ANWR. Voted YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010. Voted NO on do not require ethanol in gasoline. Sponsored bill for greenhouse gas tradable allowances. Supports immediate reductions in greenhouse gasses. Scored 40% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection. In 1996, put 3.5 billion acres into wilderness protection. Preserve natural resources for the future. Voted YES on requiring EPA risk assessments. End commercial whaling and illegal trade in whale meat.
• GUN CONTROL:Believes we should maintain and strengthen the current level of enforcement of existing federal restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns. Supports the right of citizens to carry concealed guns. Supports the requirement that manufacturers provide child-safety locks on guns. Supports background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows. Supports legislation that would protect manufacturers, distributors, dealers and importers of firearms from civil lawsuits by crime victims. Does not own a gun. Prosecute criminals not citizens for gun ownership. Don't hold gun manufacturers liable for gun crimes. Opposes restrictions on assault weapons and ammunition types. Supports ban on certain assault weapons. Punish criminals who abuse Second Amendment rights. Youth Violence Prevention Act restricts guns for kids.
• CIVIL RIGHTS:Ban on inter-racial dating is idiotic and cruel. Career-long history of supporting Indian causes. Supports allowing, but not mandating, prayer in schools. First Amendment should not be a shield for hate groups. Hollywood should voluntarily self-sensor sex and violence. Affirmative action ok for specific programs, but no quotas. Voted YES on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration. Voted NO on ending special funding for minority and women-owned businesses. Voted YES on amendment to prohibit flag burning. Voted YES on banning affirmative action hiring with federal funds. Rated 0% by the ACLU, indicating anti-civil rights voting record.
• CORPORATIONS:Cut corporate income taxes to keep jobs here. Voted NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies that moved US jobs offshore. Voted YES on reforming bankruptcy to include means-testing and restrictions. More deductible expensing of equipment investments.
• FAMILIES & CHILDREN:Supports flex-time and unpaid family leave. Unfiltered Internet robs our children of their innocence. Feels parents should be active in the media their children are exposed to. Feels we should label violent media products like we label cigarettes. Voted YES on killing restrictions on violent videos to minors. Rated 83% by the Christian Coalition, indicating a pro-family voting record.
• FOREIGN POLICY:Maintain Cuban embargo. Considers the situation in Pakistan very serious. Our conscience should influence US intervention. Wants to pay dues to the UN after the UN reforms. Voted NO on killing a bill for trade sanctions if China sells weapons. Voted YES on cap of foreign aid at $12.7 billion. Voted YES on limiting the President's power to impose economic sanctions. Voted YES on strengthening trade embargo against Cuba. Voted YES on ending Vietnam embargo. Sponsored bill suspending Russia's participation in the G-8.
• FREE TRADE: Globalization is an opportunity-reduce barriers to trade. Supports opening border to Mexican trucks. Against foreign sales corporations (offshore tax breaks). Supports free trade with any country except security risks. China: keep open trade and diplomacy, but keep eyes open. Mexico is a balancing act between free trade and stopping drugs. Voted YES on free trade agreement with Oman. Voted YES on establishing free trade between US and Singapore. Rated 100% by CATO, indicating pro-free trade voting record.
• GOVERNMENT REFORM: Supports the elimination or reform of broken government programs. Claim of "24 years with no earmarks" is mostly true. Focus on homeland safety, restoring trust, and fiscal policy. Authored the line-item veto law which was struck down by the Supreme Court. Wants to reform the election system, and get rid of electors. Close corporate loopholes, veto pork-barrel spending. Not in favor of term limits on Congress, says they throw away the good with the bad. Supports Line-Item Veto and Balanced Budget. Campaign finance reform needed to restore faith in politics. Clearer rules about campaign finance, no soft money. Campaign finance: ban both labor union and corporate donations. Voted YES on requiring photo ID to vote in federal elections. Voted YES on requiring photo ID (not just signature) for voter registration.
• HEALTH CARE:Preserve quality of health care by individual responsiblilty. Supports giving individuals $2500 refundable tax credits for health care. Control health costs so manufacturers stay competitive. Against a mandated universal system. Feels we should be able to reimport drugs from Canada. Wants to include a health savings account in health care reform. Supports tax-free medical savings accounts and tax credits. Supports greater consumer access to generic drugs. Supports higher taxes on cigarettes. Supports keeping health care promises to aging veterans. "Patient rights" should mean valuing human life over dollars. Supports full doctor-patient discussions even when it cost the HMO's. A favorite cause of McCain is cleft-palate surgery for children. Supports allowing appealing of HMO decisions externally and in court. Voted NO on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D. Voted YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics. Voted YES on reimportation of Rx drugs from Canada. Voted YES on allowing patients to sue HMOs and collect punitive damages. Voted YES on limiting self-employment health deduction. Voted YES on increasing tobacco restrictions. Supports tax credits for those without employee health insurance. Supports tax deduction for long-term care insurance. Rated 35% by APHA, indicating an anti-public health voting record.
• HOMELAND SECURITY:Feels we should improve human intelligence in order to catch Bin Laden. Feels the surveillence of overseas communications is OK. McCain ran the largest squadron in the US Navy. We should let loose smart, tough spies to catch Bin Laden. Cited 245 pork projects, or $3.5 million in waste in the defense bill. We must provide our children with a stronger, better country. Feels that those who gave their lives, deserve to be remembered. Accepts gays in the military under the current policy. Feels that military's political leaders should have military backgrounds. Feels that women have proven themselves in combat, and does not support restrictions. Supports discarding ABM treaty and developing a missle defense. Feels we should use force, with US control, only for vital interests. Wants to clean up waste in defense acquisition. Feels that politicians keep unneeded bases open for political purposes. Raise military pay to avoid military draft. Feels that military personnel on food stamps is a national discrace. Feels that hiding torture is wrong, and it harms US credibility abroad.
• IMMIGRATION: Supports the deportation of the 2 million illegals in this country who have committed crimes. We need to certify that the border is secure, then allow guest workers. Does not support making English official language, because Native Americans use their own languages. Comprehensive reform must include border security first. Voted YES on comprehensive immigration reform. Voted YES on building a fence along the Mexican border. Voted YES on establishing a guest worker program. Voted YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security. Voted YES on visas for skilled workers. Voted YES on limiting of welfare for immigrants. Rated 18% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance.
• PRINCIPLES & VALUES: Anticipates a spirited debate on differences with Democrats. He is able to work with other with their own sets of principles. Feels that the most important part of the decision making process is self-awareness. Feels we need moral courage to be honest all the time. Feels that we are indebted to those that shed blood for us. He has a straight-forward political style. Feels that a majority of public officials have failed to set an example for society. People want the truth, even if they disagree. Looks to Reagan, Teddy Roosevelt and Eisenhower as models.
• SOCIAL SECURITY: Supports personal savings accounts. Wants to save benefits with bipartisan agreement, but without a new tax. Joked that more people believe in Elvis being alive than in getting a Social Security check. Supports the option of investing 20% of payroll taxes in private accounts. Voted YES on using the Social Security Surplus to fund tax reductions. Voted YES on Social Security Lockbox and limiting national debt. Voted YES on allowing Roth IRAs for retirees. Voted YES on allowing personal retirement accounts. Rated 40% by ARA, indicating a mixed record on senior issues. Supports individual savings accounts and work incentives.
• TECHNOLOGY: Wants to ban Internet taxes and new cell phone taxes. Wants to make the Internet tax moratorium permanent. Encourages teachers to learn use of high tech equiptment. Supports Internet access, with filters, at every school and library. Voted NO on restoring $550 million in funding for Amtrak in 2007. Voted NO on disallowing FCC approval of larger media conglomerates. Voted YES on Internet sales tax moratorium. Voted NO on telecomm deregulation. Sponsored bill requiring text on TV for visually-impaired.