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John McCain

John McCain Quotes

United States Senator

John McCain was an American politician, statesman, and retired naval officer who served as a United States Senator from Arizona from 1987 to 2017. He was the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the 2008 election. McCain was a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War, and his career was marked by his strong advocacy for civil liberties, campaign finance reform, and military service.

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Famous John McCain Quotes

“I think that decisions should rest in the hands of the states. I'm a federalist.”

Thinking Should States Hands Decision Federalist

Author:John McCain

“I believe strongly that we should have nominees to the United States Supreme Court based on their qualifications rather than any litmus test.”

Should Believe States I Believe United United States Should Have Tests Court Supreme Supreme Court Qualifications

Author: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.”

Way Should Justice Judging Standards Consequence Election Senators Ideological

Author:John McCain

“What is good for my country is good for my party, Should my party abandon this principle, the American people will abandon us.”

People Should Country Party Principles Abandon Abandonment

Author:John McCain

“Neither party should be defined by pandering to the outer reaches of American politics and the agents of intolerance, whether they be Louis Farrakhan and Al Sharpton on the left, or Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell on the right.”

Should Left Party Defined Agents Als Intolerance American Politics Jerry

Author:John McCain

“We should be I hope finally realizing what Vladimir Putin is. He's an old colonel, KGB, apparatchik, and he dreams of the restoration of the Russian empire.”

Should Dream Realizing Empires Putin Restoration Colonels Kgb Finally Realizing

Author:John McCain

“We should exhibit no self doubt to our friends, ... Credibility is a strategic asset.”

Should Self Doubt Assets Credibility Strategic Exhibits Self-doubt

Author:John McCain

“In the view of everyone, I am a viable candidate and I should be on the ballot.”

Should Views Candidates Ballots

Author: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.”

People Thinking Knows Should Strong Influence Commitment Troops Deployment American Troops

Author: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.”

“I think where [Donald Trump] loses most hawkish republicans is when he talking about how much he likes [Vladimir] Putin. That should make any person who believe in the American exceptionalism, incredibly uncomfortable.”

Thinking Should Believe Persons Loses Talking Trump Republican Likes Uncomfortable Putin Exceptionalism American Exceptionalism

Author:John McCain

“I think we need to address greenhouse gas emissions. But I try to get involved in issues where I see a legislative result... So I just leave the issue alone because I don't see a way through it, and there are certain fundamentals, for example nuke power, that people on the left will never agree with me on. So why should I waste my time when I know the people on the left are going to reject nuclear power?”

“You can disagree with someone on issues, but you should never get personal. Joe Biden has never gotten personal, to my knowledge, with a fellow senator.”

Should Issues Fellows Disagree Senators Biden

Author:John McCain

“When you have airplanes with precision weapons, striking hospitals in Aleppo and slaughtering innocent men, women and children, you're committing a war crime. So we need more sanctions against Russia. We should not relax them.”

Men Needs Should Children War Crime Weapons Russia Innocent Relax Hospitals Airplane Men Women Sanctions Precision War Crimes Innocent Man

Author:John McCain

“Our country doesn't depend on the heroism of every citizen. But all of us should be worthy of the sacrifices made on our behalf.”

Should Made Country Sacrifice Depends Citizens Worthy Our Country Patriotic Heroism Behalf

Author:John McCain

“The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should. I've got Greenspan's book.”

Should Wells Book Issues Understood Economics Should I

Author:John McCain

“I don't doubt the sincerity of my Democratic friends. And they should not doubt ours.”

Should Doubt Democratic Sincerity

Author:John McCain

“We should be able to deliver bottled hot water to dehydrated babies.”

Should Able Water Baby Hot Hot Water

Author:John McCain

“An act of heroism, of extraordinary courage, the grandeur of it, won't easily inspire us to act in imitation, but it can inspire us to emulate its author. For that, we should learn what we can of the whole experience of the subject, the hero's life, as it was before and after, and believe that trying to emulate the character it reveals is one tried way to prepare for the tests that might await us and gain hope that our courage will not be wanting in the moment.”

About the Author

Born: August 29, 1936
Known for: United States Senator
Quotes: 408

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Books & Sources

Character Is Destiny: Inspiring Stories Every Young Person Should Know and Every Adult Should RememberRelated source material

Faith of My Fathers: A Family MemoirRelated source material

Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver LifeRelated source material

Worth the Fighting ForRelated source material

Worth the Fighting For: A MemoirRelated source material

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