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McCain's Solutions for America
Q: Do you think the Republican Party has strayed too far from its conservationist roots and should be more involved in environmental protection issues?A: Yes. I feel that strongly. We're the party of Theodore Roosevelt. Especially on the issue of climate change, a segment of our party has failed to recognize the effect of greenhouse gases on our planet. I think we can be economically viable and at the same time be true conservationists.
Q: Would you bring in Democrats or people who are considered liberal on this issue to help you create an environmental policy, and could you also talk to us a little bit about other people you might bring into a McCain administration?
A: People who have, one, been successful. John Chambers, the CEO of Cisco; Fred Smith, the chairman and CEO of FedEx; Meg Whitman, former CEO of eBay; Carly Fiorina, formerly of Hewlett-Packard. I would ask them to come and serve for a dollar a year and give back to their country, and I am sure they would respond. I also would include Democrats in my cabinet in key positions.
Q: Sixty percent of people in this country think the Iraq invasion was a mistake. Are you on the wrong side of an issue that the American people feel strongly about?
A: I hope not. We are succeeding in Iraq, and Americans want us out, but they want us out with honor and victory, not in defeat. So when I dig into those polling numbers, of course they want us out, but when we show them a path to success, as we are succeeding and winning, then I think their patience is extended -- although they are certainly exhausted by four years of mishandling.
Q: It sounds sometimes as if the Democrats are running against George W. McCain. How would a McCain administration differ from the Bush administration?
A: First of all, I oppose the spending spree that we are on and the largest expansion in size of government since the Great Society with no plan to pay for it. On the issue of climate change, we obviously have a very different outlook. On the war in Iraq, the way it was mishandled for nearly four years. I have said that as president I would declare that we will never mistreat another prisoner, torture another prisoner who is in American custody ever again. I will close Guantanamo Bay. Obviously, I would work more closely with our allies on a broad variety of issues. I would also try to address the genocide in Darfur in a more effective fashion. Those are just a few of the areas where we would have a presidency that has significant differences from the present administration.
Q: In your first 100 days in office, what steps would you take on immigration?
A: I have been trying to work on the immigration issue. We failed. On a bipartisan basis, we failed. We failed because Americans didn't believe that we must secure the borders. I remind you, in 1986 we gave amnesty to a couple of million people and said we should secure the borders, and we didn't. So I will explain again to the American people that this is a federal responsibility. We have to act. We have to secure the borders. We have to have a temporary-worker program that works, and address the issue of the 12 million people here illegally in a humane and compassionate fashion.
Q: Hillary Clinton swamped Barack Obama among Hispanic voters. Now that she's out of the equation, Senator Obama is making steady gains with this population. What are you going to do to appeal to Latinos?
A: I come from a Western state with a significant Hispanic population. I received 70 percent of the Hispanic vote in my last reelection. I understand their issues and their concerns and their ambitions and their dreams. I don't like to categorize any group of Americans, but [Latinos are] pro-life, pro small business and lower taxes, and patriotic, and a larger segment serve in the military than are represented by their population -- the list goes on and on. I think I can do well with the Hispanic voting population.
Q: Let's talk about another demographic group: You did well with 18- to 29-year-olds in 2000, but our poll showed Obama leading you by 22 points with Millennials in 2008. Can you reconnect with young voters?
A: I admire Senator Obama's ability to galvanize so many Americans both young and in other age groups, but first of all, I listen to my children -- four of my seven are between the ages of 16 and 23 -- and I continue to address [their] issues, such as education and the economy. I recognize the importance of the Internet in communicating with young Americans as well. We have upgraded our website, and we've tried to be more active in blogging and all the means of communication that young Americans rely on to form their opinions and decide their vote.
Q: Do you use e-mail yourself?
A: No.
Q: Speaking of family life, after the 2000 campaign, there were a lot of concerns that your wife had and there were rumors that maybe she wasn't so excited about the idea of this campaign. How's that going?
A: We had a family meeting, and she and our children had concerns. We tried to talk about them. At the end of the day, it all came down to, Wouldn't it be good for America if I am president? It basically came down to that question, and once their minds were made up, they were enthusiastic, and I'm glad of that.
Q: What is the best thing about Barack Obama's candidacy?
A: He's an inspiration. I think that is very clear.
Q: Anything we forgot to ask you?
A: This campaign is about reform, prosperity, and peace, but it is also about putting our country first. I have a record of that; Senator Obama does not. He has the most extreme record in the U.S. Senate, but the point is Americans want us to work together. They are tired of us fighting with one another. They believe the challenges are too great for us to deteriorate into the old bickering and gridlock that characterize this government today. So I promise people in my party, people in the other party, and everybody who will listen, that I will always put my country first.
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