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John McCain Quotes
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John Sidney McCain III is an American politician who currently serves as the senior United States Senator from Arizona, in that office since 1987. He was the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 election, which he lost to Barack Obama.

McCain followed his father and grandfather, both four-star admirals, into the United States Navy and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958. He became a naval aviator and flew ground-attack aircraft from aircraft carriers. During the Vietnam War, he was almost killed in the 1967 USS Forrestal fire. While McCain was on a bombing mission over Hanoi in October 1967, he was shot down, seriously injured, and captured by the North Vietnamese. He was a prisoner of war until 1973. McCain experienced episodes of torture and refused an out-of-sequence early repatriation offer. The wounds that he sustained during war have left him with lifelong physical disabilities.

He retired from the Navy as a captain in 1981 and moved to Arizona, where he entered politics. In 1982, McCain was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served two terms. He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 and easily won re-election five times, most recently in 2016.

While generally adhering to conservative principles, McCain at times has had a media reputation as a "maverick" for his willingness to disagree with his party on certain issues. After being investigated and largely exonerated in a political influence scandal of the 1980s as a member of the Keating Five, he made campaign finance reform one of his signature concerns, which eventually resulted in passage of the McCain–Feingold Act in 2002. He is also known for his work in the 1990s to restore diplomatic relations with Vietnam, and for his belief that the Iraq War should have been fought to a successful conclusion. McCain has chaired the Senate Commerce Committee, and he opposed pork barrel spending. He was a member of the bi-partisan group known as the Gang of 14 who played a key role in alleviating a crisis over judicial nominations.

McCain entered the race for the Republican nomination for President in 2000, but he lost a heated primary season contest to George W. Bush of Texas. He secured the nomination in 2008 after coming back from early reversals, but was defeated by Democratic nominee Barack Obama in the general election, losing by a 365–173 electoral college margin. He subsequently adopted more orthodox conservative stances and attitudes and largely opposed actions of the Obama administration, especially in regard to foreign policy matters. By 2013, however, he had become a key figure in the Senate for negotiating deals on certain issues in an otherwise partisan environment. In 2015, McCain became chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

✵ 29. August 1936 – 25. August 2018
John McCain photo
John McCain: 169   quotes 4   likes

John McCain Quotes

“Maybe that’s a way of killing them.”

John McCain

Making a wisecrack http://www.miamiherald.com/692/story/598054.html about the health impact of cigarette smoking on Iran's citizens, 8 July 2008
2000s, 2008

Way

“Contracting a fatal disease.”

John McCain

In response to a reporter's question, "Are there any circumstances under which you could imagine yourself not still being a candidate when the presidential primaries are held?" (July 2007)
2000s, 2007

Disease

“The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should. I’ve got Greenspan’s book…. I've never been involved in Wall Street, I've never been involved in the financial stuff, the financial workings of the country, so I'd like to have somebody intimately familiar with it.”

John McCain

Referring to a potential Vice President, 18 December 2007 http://www.newsweek.com/id/103730/page/3 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/14/opinion/14krugman.html?_r=3&hp&oref=slogin&oref=login&oref=slogin
2000s, 2007

Books , Country

“Some may choose a better public school. Some may choose a private one. Many will choose a charter school. But they will have the choice, and their children will have that opportunity. Sen. Obama wants our schools to answer to unions and entrenched bureaucrats. I want schools to answer to parents and students.”

John McCain

2000s, 2008, (2008)

Children , School , Parent

“Our recommitment to Afghanistan must include increasing NATO forces, suspending the debilitating restrictions on when and how those forces can fight, expanding the training and equipping of the Afghan National Army through a long-term partnership with NATO to make it more professional and multiethnic, and deploying significantly more foreign police trainers.”

John McCain

In Foreign Affairs Magazine http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20071101faessay86602/john-mccain/an-enduring-peace-built-on-freedom.html?mode=print on the idea of sending NATO troops to Afghanistan instead of US forces, November 2007
2000s, 2007

Fight , Training , Partnership

“Q: My wife and I are expecting our first child, in April 2nd, next year. And frankly, we're scared. We're scared of an Obama presidency…
John McCain: First of all, I want to be President of the United States and obviously, I don't want Senator Obama to be. But, I have to tell you, he is a decent person, and a person that you do not have to be scared as President of the United States. Now, I just— [crowd boos] Now look, if I didn't think I would be one heck of a lot better president I wouldn't be runnin', okay, and that's the point.”

John McCain

2000s, 2008

Thinking , Personality

“I am reminded of the words of Chairman Mao: It's always darkest before it goes completely black.”

John McCain

As quoted in "McCain Wraps It Up" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mccain-wraps-it-up/ (5 March 2008), by Andante Higgins, CBS News
2000s

“Let me just say again, We have drawn down. Three of the five brigades are home. The Marines, the additional Marines are home. By the end of July, they will have been back.”

John McCain

Restating his position that U.S. troops in Iraq have been drawn down to pre-surge levels; 30 May 2008; see above for misquote he was defending http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3719710/
2000s, 2008

Home

“The U. S. does not involve itself in what is happening in the world's largest democracy, nor does it intend to do so.”

John McCain

Describing India's democracy as "strong and successful", and brushed off the allegation of Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi, who objected if the U.S. is involved in India's protests.
2010s

World , Democracy

“Anybody who believes the surge has not succeeded, militarily, politically and in most other ways, frankly, does not know the facts on the ground.”

John McCain

February 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/17/world/middleeast/17mccain.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin
2000s, 2008

Way

“And we want a fight, and I will fight, but we will be respectful. I admire Senator Obama and his accomplishments, I will respect him and I want— [crowd boos] No, no, I want everyone to be respectful, and let's make sure we are, because that's the way politics should be conducted in America.”

John McCain

2000s, 2008

Way , Fight

“[I]n the words of Chairman Mao, 'It's darkest before it's totally black.”

John McCain

In response to a reporter's question, "Which is more likely: making progress in Iraq or you winning the nomination?" (July 2007)
2000s, 2007
Source: Liasson, Mara. McCain Nearly Broke But Stays Course http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12000037. National Public Radio. July 7, 2007.

“We have drawn down to pre-surge levels.”

John McCain

29 May 2008 (a time when troops were not yet at pre-surge levels); YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42ke9Q-qXg4; see below for attempted recovery the following day
2000s, 2008

“Let me say that no one has supported President Bush on Iraq more than I have.”

John McCain

In an interview on Mike Gallagher's conservative radio talk show, 2 April 2008 http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TheNote/Story?id=4760180&page=2
2000s, 2008

Support

“Osama bin Laden’s welcome death has ignited debate over whether the so-called enhanced interrogation techniques used on enemy prisoners were instrumental in locating bin Laden, and whether they are a justifiable means for gathering intelligence.
Much of this debate is a definitional one: whether any or all of these methods constitute torture. I believe some of them do, especially waterboarding, which is a mock execution and thus an exquisite form of torture. As such, they are prohibited by American laws and values, and I oppose them. … Mistreatment of enemy prisoners endangers our own troops, who might someday be held captive. While some enemies, and al-Qaeda surely, will never be bound by the principle of reciprocity, we should have concern for those Americans captured by more conventional enemies, if not in this war then in the next.”

John McCain

"Bin Laden’s death and the debate over torture" in The Washington Post (11 May 2011) http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bin-ladens-death-and-the-debate-over-torture/2011/05/11/AFd1mdsG_story.html
2010s, 2011

Death , War , Law , Intelligence

“It's a tough war we're in. It's not going to be over right away. There's going to be other wars. I'm sorry to tell you, there's going to be other wars. We will never surrender but there will be other wars. And right now - we're gonna have a lot of PTSD to treat, my friends. We're gonna have a lot of combat wounds that have to do with these terrible explosive IEDs that inflict such severe wounds. And my friends, it's gonna be tough, we're gonna have a lot to do.”

John McCain

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/27/mccain-warns-there-will_n_83459.html
2000s, 2008

War

“As we've been a good friend to other countries in moments of shared perils, so we have good reason to expect their solidarity with us in this struggle. That is what the President believes.
And, thanks to his efforts we have received valuable assistance from many good friends around the globe, even if we have, at times, been disappointed with the reactions of some. I don't doubt the sincerity of my Democratic friends. And they should not doubt ours.”

John McCain

2000s, 2004, Speech at the Republican National Convention (2004)

Disappointment , Effort , Time , Sincerity

“Tomorrow morning, I will suspend my campaign and return to Washington. I have spoken to Senator Obama and informed him of my decision and have asked him to join me. We must meet as Americans, not as Democrats or Republicans, and we must meet until this crisis is resolved. I am directing my campaign to work with the Obama campaign and the Commission on Presidential Debates to delay Friday night's debate until we have taken action to address this crisis.”

John McCain

Speaking to reporters in New York, regarding the need to pass legislation concerning the economic crisis, 24 September 2008 http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-campaign25-2008sep25,0,766973.story
2000s, 2008

Decision , Night

“We face many dangerous threats in this dangerous world, but I'm not afraid of them. I'm prepared for them.”

John McCain

2000s, 2008, (2008)

World

“Mankind has advanced. Human progress is ceaseless. We can look at Bosnia or Zaire or Rwanda and conclude that building just societies is a fool's errand. We are always, despite our advances, only one sin away from slipping into the abyss of terror and ignorance.
But that is not so. Generations upon generations have driven the human race farther and farther from darkness. Past episodes of abominable human cruelty are kept vivid in the memories of succeeding generations. "Never again," is the admonition passed from the survivors of the Holocaust to their descendants and to us all. And although such an important reminder will not always prevent the occurrence of cruelty and violence even at levels approaching genocide, the civilized world is more inclined to organize opposition to such tragedies if not as early as we should, at least sooner than we once would have.”

John McCain

1990s, Speech at Ohio Wesleyan University (1997)

World , Fools , Memory , Past

“My father was a career naval officer, as was his father. For hundreds of years, every generation of McCains has served the United States in uniform. My sons serve today, and I'm proud of them. My youngest served in the war that claimed Captain Khan's life as well as in Afghanistan. I want them to be proud of me. I want to do the right thing by them and their comrades.”

John McCain

2010s, 2016, Statement regarding the Khan family (1 August 2016)

Life , War

“Humayun Khan did exactly that — and he did it for all the right reasons. This accomplished young man was not driven to service as a United States Army officer because he was compelled to by any material need. He was inspired as a young man by his reading of Thomas Jefferson — and he wanted to give back to the country that had taken him and his parents in as immigrants when he was only two years old.”

John McCain

2010s, 2016, Statement regarding the Khan family (1 August 2016)

Parent , Reading , Country

“I don't mind a good fight. For reasons known only to God, I've had quite a few tough ones in my life. But I learned an important lesson along the way: In the end, it matters less that you can fight. What you fight for is the real test.”

John McCain

2000s, 2008, (2008)

Life , God , Way , Learning

“At the moment of conception.”

John McCain

Question: "At what point is a baby entitled to human rights?"
Saddleback Civil Forum with Pastor Rich Warren, 18 August 2008 http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0808/16/se.02.html
2000s, 2008

“I made it very clear, at that time, before and after, that we will not negotiate with terrorist organizations, that Hamas would have to abandon their terrorism, their advocacy to the extermination of the state of Israel, and be willing to negotiate in a way that recognizes the right of the state of Israel and abandons their terrorist position and advocacy.”

John McCain

Speaking in Charleston, West Virginia http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5itzEFe8o5QDV0EFCZG6ZJDbJwdLQD90MUVJO0 (14 May 2008)
2000s, 2008

Way , Time

“I'm glad whenever they cut interest rates, I wish interest rates were zero.”

John McCain

Republican presidential debate http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21221689/ (9 October 2007)
2000s, 2007

“As part of Social Security reform, I believe that private savings accounts are a part of it -- along the lines that President Bush proposed.”

John McCain

February 2008 http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB120451614688707083.html
2000s, 2008

Parting

“To state the obvious, I thought it was wrong at the time… those statements and comments did not comport with the facts on the ground. … But do I blame [the President] for that specific banner? I can't blame him for that.”

John McCain

1 May 2008; Fox News http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/05/01/candidates-weigh-in-on-5th-anniversary-of-mission-accomplished-banner/
2000s, 2008

Time

“I wear a bracelet bearing the name of a fallen hero, Matthew Stanley, which his mother, Lynn, gave me in 2007, at a town hall meeting in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. His memory and the memory of our great leaders deserve better from me.”

John McCain

2010s, 2016, Statement regarding the Khan family (1 August 2016)

Memory

“War is wretched beyond description, and only a fool or a fraud could sentimentalize its cruel reality.”

John McCain

Speech to the American Red Cross "Promise of Humanity" conference http://mccain.senate.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=Newscenter.ViewPressRelease&Content_id=820 (6 May 1999).
1990s

War , Fools , Fraud , Reality

“Only a fool or a fraud talks tough or romantically about war.”

John McCain

Campaign ad, quoted in Newsweek (23 June 2008), p. 21
2000s, 2008

War , Fools , Fraud

“I am prepared. I need no on-the-job training. I wasn't a mayor for a short period of time. I wasn't a governor for a short period of time.”

John McCain

In Republican presidential debate, Orlando, Florida, 21 October 2007 http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/us/politics/21debate-transcript.html?pagewanted=3
2000s, 2007

Time , Training

“I just want to also say that Congressman Paul, I've heard him now in many debates talk about bringing our troops home, and about the war in Iraq and how it's failed. And I want to tell you that that kind of isolationism, sir, is what caused World War II. We allowed… We allowed -- we allowed Hitler to come to power with that kind of attitude of isolationism and appeasement.”

John McCain

The CNN/YouTube Republican presidential debate http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/28/debate.transcript/
2000s, 2007

War , World , Home

“We are three-hundred-and-twenty-five million opinionated, vociferous individuals. We argue and compete and sometimes even vilify each other in our raucous public debates. But we have always had so much more in common with each other than in disagreement. If only we remember that and give each other the benefit of the presumption that we all love our country we will get through these challenging times. We will come through them stronger than before. We always do.”

John McCain

2010s, 2018, Farewell statement (2018)

Love , Time , Country

“You may have noticed that Senator Obama's supporters have been saying some pretty nasty things about western Pennsylvania lately. And you know, I couldn't agree with them more.”

John McCain

Said in a speech http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/21/agreeing_to_disagree_or_someth.html near Kansas City, Missouri, 20 October 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/us/politics/22pennsylvania.html?hp
2000s, 2008

Support

“Only an asshole would put together a budget like this. I wouldn't call you an asshole unless you really were an asshole.”

John McCain

Supposedly said to Senator Pete Domenici at a GOP meeting in the fall of 1999. http://www.newsweek.com/id/82862
Disputed

“I will not take the low road to the highest office in this land. I want the presidency in the best way, not the worst way.”

John McCain

Remarks following the South Carolina Primary http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=72173 (19 February 2000).
2000s

Way

“No one of good character leaves behind a wasted life — whether they die in obscurity or renown. "Character," wrote the 19th Century evangelist, Dwight Moody, "is what you are in the dark." Your character is not tested on occasions of public scrutiny or acclaim. It is not tested in moments when the object of your actions is the regard of another. Your character is what you are to yourself, not what you pretend to be to yourself or others. Although human beings often attempt self-delusion, we cannot forever hide the truth about ourselves from ourselves. It will make itself known to us by means of our conscience despite our most strenuous effort to suppress it.”

John McCain

1990s, Speech at Ohio Wesleyan University (1997)

Life , Truth , Effort

“One aspect of the [Vietnam] conflict by the way that I will never ever countenance is that we drafted the lowest income level of America and the highest income level found a doctor that would say that they had a bone spur. That is wrong. That is wrong. If we are going to ask every American to serve, every American should serve.”

John McCain

On C-SPAN3, American History TV, quoted in The Republic https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2017/10/22/john-mccain-mocks-donald-trumps-deferment-bone-spurs-without-naming-him/789051001/ (October 2017)
2010s, 2017

Way

“While our Party has bestowed upon him the nomination, it is not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us.”

John McCain

2010s, 2016, Statement regarding the Khan family (1 August 2016)

“Mike is the most entertaining, most knowledgeable, and most insightful guy I have ever dealt with. I am constantly entertained by him.”

John McCain

As quoted in "Romney guru thrives in political 'show business'" https://web.archive.org/web/20060307070315/http://www.boston.com:80/news/politics/president/articles/2005/06/12/romney_guru_thrives_in_political_show_business/?page=full (12 June 2005), by Brian C. Mooney, The Boston Globe
2000s, 2005

Guy , Knowledge

“While I suppose this means I’ll spend this Easter in Sedona rather than Siberia, I couldn’t be more proud of being sanctioned by Vladimir Putin for standing up for freedom and human rights for the Russian people and against Putin’s deadly aggression in Ukraine. I will never stop my efforts to support democracy, free speech, and the rule of law in Russia”

John McCain

Remarks after being banned from entering Russia http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/john-mccain-russia-ban-116220.html#ixzz3bkitHxmA (3 March 2015)
2010s, 2015

People , Law , Democracy , Support

“Putin's Russia is our adversary and moral opposite. It is committed to the destruction of the post-war, rule-based, world order built on American leadership and the primacy of our political and economic values…There is no placating Putin. There is no transforming him from a gangster to a responsible statesman. Previous administrations have tried and failed not because they didn’t try hard enough, but because Putin wants no part of it… Oppose Russian aggression against the world we have built from the ruined cities and destroyed empires of World War II. Don’t surrender the gains for our security and the progress for humanity that our Cold War victory achieved. Support the Russian people and their rights to liberty and justice, not the corrupt leaders who betray them… [A]ll who risk their lives to free Russia from tyranny and corruption are our allies. They are our moral equals. And the president of the United States, the nation that has been the greatest force for good in human history, should be the first among us to recognize that.”

John McCain

"Russia dissidents are our moral equals" http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/02/13/trump-gets-it-wrong-on-putin-russia-moral-equals-john-mccain-column/97822770/ (13 February 2017), USA Today
2010s, 2017

War , People , World , Justice

“The president, comparing him to a kid in the back of a classroom, I think, is very indicative of the president’s lack of appreciation of who Vladimir Putin is. He’s an old KGB colonel that has no illusions about our relationship, does not care about a relationship with the United States, continues to oppress his people, continues to act in an autocratic fashion.”

John McCain

As quoted in "McCain: Obama's 'slouch' comment dismissive of Putin" http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/08/11/mccain-obamas-slouch-comment-dismissive-of-putin/, (11 August 2013), The Washington Post
2010s, 2013

People , Fashion , Thinking

“The -- the constant partisan rancor that stops us from solving these problems isn't a cause. It's a symptom. It's what happens when people go to Washington to work for themselves and not for you.”

John McCain

2000s, 2008, (2008)

People , Problem

“What our enemies have sought to destroy is beyond their reach. It cannot be taken from us. It can only be surrendered.
My friends, we are again met on the field of political competition with our fellow countrymen. It is more than appropriate, it is necessary that even in times of crisis we have these contests, and engage in spirited disagreement over the shape and course of our government.
We have nothing to fear from each other. We are arguing over the means to better secure our freedom, and promote the general welfare. But it should remain an argument among friends who share an unshaken belief in our great cause, and in the goodness of each other.
We are Americans first, Americans last, Americans always. Let us argue our differences. But remember we are not enemies, but comrades in a war against a real enemy, and take courage from the knowledge that our military superiority is matched only by the superiority of our ideals, and our unconquerable love for them.
Our adversaries are weaker than us in arms and men, but weaker still in causes. They fight to express a hatred for all that is good in humanity.
We fight for love of freedom and justice, a love that is invincible. Keep that faith. Keep your courage. Stick together. Stay strong.
Do not yield. Do not flinch. Stand up. Stand up with our President and fight.
We're Americans.
We're Americans, and we'll never surrender.
They will.”

John McCain

2000s, 2004, Speech at the Republican National Convention (2004)

Love , Men , War , Fear

“I have not been keeping up with it as much as I should have maybe, because it’s certainly—This and Paris Hilton are the kind of issues that seem to get a lot more attention than maybe some of us think they deserve.”

John McCain

On being asked whether O. J. Simpson could get a fair trial in the robbery case, in a televised interview http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20838374/ on Hardball with Chris Matthews, 17 September 2007
2000s, 2007

Thinking

“Russia's leaders, rich with oil wealth and corrupt with power, have rejected democratic ideals and the obligations of a responsible power. They invaded a small, democratic neighbor to gain more control over the world's oil supply, intimidate other neighbors, and further their ambitions of re-assembling the Russian empire.”

John McCain

2000s, 2008, (2008)

World , Wealth

“We lost -- we lost the trust of the American people when some Republicans gave in to the temptations of corruption. We lost their trust when rather than reform government, both parties made it bigger. We lost their trust when instead of freeing ourselves from a dangerous dependence on foreign oil, both parties -- and Sen. Obama -- passed another corporate welfare bill for oil companies. We lost their trust when we valued our power over our principles. We're going to change that.”

John McCain

2000s, 2008, (2008)

People , Change , Dependency

“In America, we change things that need to be changed. Each generation makes its contribution to our greatness. The work that is ours to do is plainly before us; we don't need to search for it.”

John McCain

2000s, 2008, (2008)

Search , Change