McCain's words not always in synch with GOP
ST. PAUL, Minn. _ John McCain claimed the Republican nomination Thursday before a surprisingly united Republican convention. But McCain has often been out of sync with many in his party. His prior statements help explain why.
But on Thursday, McCain was silent on issues such as immigration, stem cell research, global warming and controversial interrogation techniques that some have labeled torture.
On the GOP religious right:
THEN
"I am a pro-life, pro-family, fiscal conservative, and advocate of a strong defense. And yet, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and a few Washington leaders of the pro-life movement call me an unacceptable presidential candidate. They distort my pro-life positions and smear the reputations of my supporters. Why? Because I don't pander to them, because I don't ascribe to their failed philosophy that money is our message."
"Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance, whether they be Louis Farrakhan or Al Sharpton on the left, or Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right." -- Feb. 28, 2000 at Virginia Beach, Va. campaign event.
NOW
"We believe in a strong defense, work, faith, service, a culture of life, personal responsibility, the rule of law, and judges who dispense justice impartially and don't legislate from the bench. We believe in the values of families, neighborhoods and communities." -- Sept. 4, 2008.
On President Bush's tax cuts.
THEN
"I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us, at the expense of middle-class Americans who most need tax relief." May 26, 2001, on the Senate floor.
"I voted against the tax cuts because of the disproportionate amount that went to the wealthy Americans. I would clearly support not extending those tax cuts to help address the deficit. But the middle-income tax credits, the families, the child tax credits, the marriage tax credits, all of those I would keep." -- April 11, 2004, on NBC News "Meet the Press
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"I will keep taxes low and cut them where I can. My opponent will raise them." -- Sept. 4, 2008.
On immigration reform that would give illegal immigrants a path to citizenship:
"The most difficult problem is what to do about the 12 million or more undocumented workers who live and work here now.... We have proposed a way to encourage them to come out from the underground economy, submit to a criminal background check, pay fines, back taxes and prove they are gainfully employed in exchange for a visa that would allow them to continue working here." -- June 4, 2007 in Coral Gables, Florida.
On embryonic stem cell research:
"For those of us in the pro-life community, this has been a terrible struggle and a terrible dilemma because we're also taught other obligations that we have as well. I've come down on the side of stem cell research." Aug. 16, 2008 in interview with Rick Warren, minister of Saddleback Church in California.
On global warming and his support for "caps" on greenhouse gas emissions:
"As president, I will have to deal with the same set of facts. I will not shirk the mantle of leadership that the United States bears. I will not permit eight long years to pass without serious action on serious challenges." -- May 12, 2008, in prepared remarks.
On controversial U.S. interrogation techniques:
"If we are viewed as a country that engages in torture and abuse of human rights, then I think that ... any possible information we might be able to gain is far counterbalanced by what effect of public opinion." -- Nov. 13, 2005 on CBS' "Face the Nation."