John McCain Quotes & Sayings

Our nation has both an obligation and self-interest in facing head-on the serious environmental, economic and national security threat posed by global warming. — John McCain

What evidence do we have that states are incapable of further exercising an authority they have exercised successfully for over 200 years? — John McCain

I am all in favor of pay equity for women, but this kind of legislation, as is typical of what's being proposed by my friends on the other side of the aisle, opens us up to lawsuits for all kinds of problems ... This is government playing a much, much greater role in the business of a private enterprise system. — John McCain

When a major airline goes on a route that a new entrant has gone into, reduces fares, increases capacity, and then when the new entrant goes off, they leave the route, that's not competition. — John McCain

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. — John McCain

Just stop at one of these construction sites and look and see who those workers are. They're all Hispanic, ... And I bet you they're illegal. — John McCain

I 'Don't See How It Matters' That I Don't Know The Price Of Gas. — John McCain

It seems to me that President Carter has earned his place as if not the worst president in history, the worst president of the 20th Century. — John McCain

This is the free enterprise system. The only place in the world that I can recall where companies never failed was the old Soviet Union. This is what investors do in the free enterprise and capitalism system. And, yes, the free enterprise system can be cruel. But the problem with this administration is that small businesses have been the ones that have suffered the most, the kind that need investors, the kind that don't need the hundreds of pages, the thousands of pages of regulations that continue to plague them and have them continue to hold back on hiring and investment. — John McCain

Sooner or later, people are going to figure out if all you run is negative attack ads you don't have much of a vision for the future or you're not ready to articulate it. — John McCain

I guess he believes if a lie is big enough and repeated often enough, it will be believed. — John McCain

Despite occasional policy differences between us, I have long respected Jim Jeffords' integrity, and his conscientious service to his constituents and to the nation. — John McCain

Washington is a Hollywood for ugly people. Hollywood is a Washington for the simpleminded. — John McCain

As a governor and senator, John Chafee set the standard for honesty and decency that the rest of us on our best days could only dream to emulate. — John McCain

Suppose that climate change is not real and all we do is adopt green technologies, which our economy and our technology is perfectly capable of. Then all we've done is given our kids a cleaner world. — John McCain

The day that the leadership of the military comes to me and says, 'Senator, we ought to change the policy,' then I think we ought to consider seriously changing it. — John McCain

I have no rancor. I look forward, not backwards. — John McCain

I cannot in good conscience vote in favor of tax cuts, irrespective of their size, or to which segment of the population they are targeted, ... Nor can I support any spending increases that are not related to improving our nation's defense from the obvious and serious threats facing us today. — John McCain

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

I'm not running for president because I think I'm blessed with such personal greatness that history has anointed me to save our country in its hour of need. My country saved me. My country saved me, and I cannot forget it. And I will fight for her for as long as I draw breath, so help me God. — John McCain

The political tactics of division and slander are not our values. They are corrupting influences on religion and politics, and those who practice them in the name of religion or in the name of the Republican Party or in the name of America shame our faith, our party and our country. — John McCain

Our political differences, now matter how sharply they are debated, are really quite narrow in comparison to the remarkably durable national consensus on our founding convictions. — John McCain

I am a Republican. I'm loyal to the party of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. And I believe that my party, in some ways, has strayed from those principles, particularly on the issue of fiscal discipline. — John McCain

In the view of everyone, I am a viable candidate and I should be on the ballot. — John McCain

I appreciate our government's determination to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the Bytyqi brothers, which Serbia's Interior Minister has rightly called 'an exceptionally serious crime,' and hope the Serbian government's pledge of full cooperation ... is matched by a final accounting of their murder. — John McCain

The smartest person in the United States Senate, and he knows it, is John Sununu. Thank God he had his mother's temperament. — John McCain

There's a certain romanticism associated with exploration of space, which is one of the major factors why we'll continue. — John McCain

Americans have got to understand that we are paying present-day retirees with the taxes paid by young workers in America today. And that's a disgrace. It's an absolute disgrace and it's got to be fixed. — John McCain

In the Washington soft money game, big business and big labor are accomplices working together to protect the mushy middle of big government, with plenty of special interest plums: Big unions get big spending and big business gets corporate welfare and special tax breaks - all at the expense of average Americans. — John McCain

Major league baseball players and owners should meet immediately to enact the standards that apply to the minor leagues, and if they don't, I will have to introduce legislation that says professional sports will have minimum standards for testing. I'll give them until January, and then I'll introduce legislation. — John McCain

Presidential ambition is a disease that can only be cured by embalming fluid . — John McCain

I've already heard from some military commanders who feel they've been undercut by the vice president of the United States, and there's a lot of justification for their view. — John McCain

I think that it has to be a very humane approach to this issue, and we have to come up with solutions to it. But we also have to do something about the drugs that are coming across our southern border that are killing our kids ... I think there are some people who want to leave this country and return to the country they came from, but obviously it requires a broader solution that that, and we all know that. — John McCain

Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country. — John McCain

I spent most of my time wrestling looking up at the lights. — John McCain

The tea partiers are a great addition. The tea partiers have invigorated a base that has been dormant for a long period of time. We're going to have a broad array of different views in our Republican conference, and I think it might be more interesting than any I've been in in a long time. — John McCain

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise - not our political opponents, and certainly not a disingenuous filmmaker, who would have us believe. — John McCain

I respect Sarah Palin. I appreciate her and her husband enormously. I think she will continue to play a major role in the future of the Republican Party. — John McCain

I was an addict. That's why, ... I tell you, addiction is a very cunning enemy. — John McCain

Men and women serving in the military deserve better than what they're giving - what we're giving them. They don't know what they're going to be doing tomorrow. — John McCain

The Constitution established the United States of America as a Christian nation. — John McCain

[Several candidates talked of problems with the federal Medicare system, particularly concerns about whether it would cover prescription drug costs in the future.] We're asking senior citizens to make a choice between their health and their income, ... Medicare is probably the most difficult challenge we face in the next century, because it has a lot to do with other things besides money. — John McCain

In the 2012 election, Obamacare, as it's called, and I'll be more polite - the ACA ... was a major issue in the campaign. I campaigned all over America for two months, everywhere I could. And in every single campaign rally I said, 'We have to repeal and replace Obamacare.' Well, the people spoke. They spoke, much to my dismay, but they spoke. And they reelected the President of the United States. — John McCain

All this money washing around Washington and all of these contributions taint all of us. — John McCain

Some of us are more favorably disposed than others. — John McCain

Senator Obama voted against Justice Breyer and Justice Roberts on the grounds that they didn't meet his ideological standards. That's not the way we should judge these nominees. Elections have consequences. — John McCain

I will not leave the Republican Party, ... The Republican Party is my home. — John McCain

As part of my misspent youth I spent too much time in the sun and every few months I have to go and have some basal cell removed from my own craggy features. — John McCain

It's always the wacko birds on right and left that get the media megaphone. — John McCain

It's pretty clear we have enough Guard people in the United States, but are they capable of handling our oversees commitments as well? We need to figure out how that impacts our ability in Iraq. — John McCain

We can't go on forever with 11 million people living in this country in the shadows in an illegal status. We cannot forever have children who were born here - who were brought here by their parents when they were small children to live in the shadows, as well ... What's changed, honestly, is that there is a new appreciation on both sides of the aisle, maybe more importantly on the Republican side, that we need to enact a comprehensive immigration reform bill. — John McCain

The last thing members of the committee want to do is pass legislation. — John McCain

War is wretched beyond description, and only a fool or a fraud could sentimentalize its cruel reality. — John McCain

I think the American people should know there's already strong influences toward another deployment of American troops in an open-ended commitment. — John McCain

I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated. — John McCain

Because the people of New Hampshire take their responsibilities as citizens of the Republic seriously, they keep it interesting for candidates who, believe it or not, can get a little tired of the mannered, predictable, and unimaginative qualities that typically afflict modern political campaigns. — John McCain

It is because I owe America more than she has ever owed me that I am a candidate for president to the United States. — John McCain

But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations. — John McCain

Responsibility always stops at the president's desk. — John McCain

I've seen enough killing in my life. I know how precious human life is and I don't need a lecture from you. — John McCain

At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c***! — John McCain

Teachers don't need as much as $140,000 a year, ... But, perhaps some senators don't need $140,000 a year either. — John McCain

Let's move forward to try to address the most egregious and outrageous corrupting aspect of campaigns in America today and that is the incredible inundation of soft money and its pernicious effects. — John McCain

Thank God for our form of government. The media won't let there be any cover-up. — John McCain

We need not risk our national honor to prevail in this or any war. — John McCain

We must win in Iraq. If we withdraw, there will be chaos; there will be genocide; and they will follow us home. — John McCain

I take a backseat to no one in my affection, respect and devotion to veterans. And I will not accept from Senator Obama, who did not feel it was his responsibility to serve our country in uniform, any lectures on my regard for those who did. — John McCain

I don't e-mail. I've never felt the particular need to e-mail. — John McCain

America has the strongest, best-trained, best-led military force in the world, and we have failed them. Our military today is struggling in virtually every category that measures preparedness. — John McCain

We have to love our freedom, not just for the private opportunities it provides, but for the goodness it makes possible. — John McCain

I just think that we ought to protect the Social Security fund. — John McCain

Excessive administration secrecy ... feeds conspiracy theories and reduces the public's confidence in government. — John McCain

I am fully prepared to be commander in chief ... I don't need on-the-job training. — John McCain

I believe that Congress will and must act before then to renew its objections to multiple and discriminatory taxes on the Internet, as well as to taxes that inhibit Internet access. — John McCain

Giving peace a chance only gives Saddam Hussein more time to prepare for war on his terms, at a time of his choosing, in pursuit of ambitions that will only grow as his power to achieve them grows. — John McCain

We should exhibit no self doubt to our friends, ... Credibility is a strategic asset. — John McCain

I owe America more than she has ever owed me. — John McCain

The benefit of an open town hall meeting is one that you get to hear a lot of different views, and two it has credibility. — John McCain

I am the son and grandson of Navy admirals, and I was born into America's service, ... It wasn't until I was deprived of her company that I fell in love with America. — John McCain

The day that I can land at the airport in Baghdad and ride in an unarmed car down the highway to the Green Zone is the day that I'll start considering withdrawals from Iraq. — John McCain

I'm not sure, if I were President Clinton, I wouldn't want to be pardoned for something that I believed that I didn't do. — John McCain

I campaigned in 2012 all over this country for months: 'Repeal and replace Obamacare.' That was not the mandate of the voters. If they wanted to repeal Obamacare, the 2012 election would have been probably significantly different. — John McCain

I've been an imperfect servant of my country for many years. But I have been her servant first, last and always. And I've never lived a day, in good times or bad, that I didn't thank God for the privilege. — John McCain

I think that Donald Rumsfeld will go down in history as one of the worst secretaries of defense in history. We are paying a very heavy price for the mismanagement - that's the kindest word I can give you - of Donald Rumsfeld, of this war. — John McCain

We should be able to deliver bottled hot water to dehydrated babies. — John McCain

Under my plan, 85 percent of America will pay no tax or have a flat tax at our lowest rate of 15 percent. — John McCain

Only a fool or a fraud talks tough or romantically about war. — John McCain

My patriotism and my conscience required me to support it and to engage in the debate over whether and how to fight it. — John McCain

How much damage will have been done before we act? — John McCain

Sen. Obama is a decent person and a person you don't have to be scared of as president of the United States. — John McCain

I appreciate the decision made by Gov. Brewer to veto this legislation. I hope that we can now move on from this controversy and assure the American people that everyone is welcome to live, work and enjoy our beautiful State of Arizona. — John McCain

Reducing military presence has never in history won a war. — John McCain

Sarah Palin knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America. — John McCain

Parents are not the all-knowing, ideal people we would like you to think we are. We've made wrong choices before, and will again, like everyone else, .. But our mistakes are not the measure of our love for you. You are that measure, and how well you are prepared to make better choices than we have made. — John McCain

Our economy, I think, is still
the fundamentals of our economy are strong. — John McCain

I have said many times in the past I don't choose to be vice president, either Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or vegetarian. — John McCain

I wrestled and played football in high school and in my last year, I started as a wrestler and actually had a fairly good record. But I hated to lose. I always gave it everything I had which, unfortunately, was not as much as I'd hoped for. But keep in mind, I feel like I got the most out of my ability. One moment that was special above all the rest was winning my last bout at the Naval Academy to finish the entire summer undefeated. That was thrilling, but what's more, it helped me in prison because the first time I got knocked around by the Vietnamese, it did not come as a total shock. — John McCain

If we leave Iraq, terrorists will follow us home. — John McCain

Bin Laden's death and the debate over torture — John McCain

The role of the vice president is to break ties in the Senate and inquire daily into the health of the president. — John McCain