Candidate Responses
Opposes abortion rights under the current federal system and believes the decision should rest with individual states.
John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench. Constitutional balance would be restored by the reversal of Roe v. Wade, returning the abortion question to the invididual states. The difficult issue of abortion should not be decided by judicial fiat, his campaign web site said.
MacCain believes the matter should be left up to the states. He opposes a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, although he supported an initiative in his home state of Arizona that would ban gay marriages.
Supports definition of marriage as a union between a man and woman; but also supports legal benefits for same-sex partners. However, he came out against the New Hampshire civil unions bill that was passed in 2007.
Early proponent of sending additional troops to Iraq. Supported Bush veto of war spending bill that would have withdrawn most U.S. troops by March 2008. Against scheduling a withdrawal timetable.
During a Republican presidential debate, McCain said, "One thing we would all agree on, the status quo is not acceptable. We have to secure our borders."
Voted for 2006 bill offering legal status to illegal immigrants subject to conditions, including English proficiency and payment of back taxes and fines.
Reluctant to negotiate directly with Iran and Syria. Wants to push for international pressure and would bolster U.S. forces in the region to deter Iranian intervention in Iraq.
Supports relaxing federal restrictions on financing of embryonic stem cell research.
Voted against the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, saying they favored the wealthy too much. However, later voted in favor of extending the tax cuts through 2010
Opposes any type of universal health care mandate. His plan would give $2,500 refundable tax credits to individuals and $5,000 tax credits to families if they have insurance. He also favors the idea of tax-exempt health savings accounts. Health insurance also would be “portable,” meaning it could be purchased across state lines.
He would pay for his plan in part by changing the law so employers could no longer deduct health care costs from their taxes.
