John McCain has a remarkable record of leadership and experience that embodies his unwavering lifetime commitment to service. First elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona in 1982, John has led the fight for reforming Washington, eliminating wasteful government spending, and strengthening our nation's armed forces.
John McCain's reform agenda to reduce federal spending and lower taxes quickly elevated him to statewide office and he was elected to the United States Senate in 1986, after serving two terms in the U.S. House.
In the Senate, John continued to demand that Congress put an end to loopholes for special interests and fix the broken system in Washington that too often allows lobbyists to write legislation and members of Congress to waste taxpayer money. In November 2004, Senator McCain was overwhelmingly reelected with nearly 77 percent of the vote.
As the son and grandson of distinguished Navy admirals, John McCain deeply values duty, honor and service of country. John attended college at the United States Naval Academy, and launched a 22-year career as a naval aviator upon his graduation. He continued the McCain tradition of service to country passed down to him from his father and grandfather when he asked to serve in the Vietnam War.
On July 29 1967, John narrowly survived the first of many near-death experiences during his lifetime while preparing to take off on a bombing mission over North Vietnam from his ship, the USS Forrestal. A missile accidentally fired from a nearby plane struck the fuel tanks on John's plane and created a deadly inferno aboard the ship. John barely escaped the fiery disaster that killed 134 men, injured hundreds more and destroyed 20 planes.
Instead of taking the option to return home after the Forrestal disaster, Senator McCain volunteered for more combat duty - a fateful decision that stopped the clock on his life and separated him from his family, and country, for five and a half years.
During his 23rd bombing mission on October 26, 1967, a missile struck John's plane and forced him to eject, knocking him unconscious and breaking both his arms and his leg. John was then taken as a prisoner of war into the now infamous "Hanoi Hilton," where he was denied necessary medical treatment and often beaten by the North Vietnamese.
John spent much of his time as a prisoner of war in solitary confinement, aided by his faith and the friendships of his fellow POWs. When he was finally released and able to return home years later, John continued his service by regaining his naval flight status.
Senator McCain's last Navy duty assignment was to serve as the naval liaison to the United States Senate. John retired from the Navy in 1981. His naval honors include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Senator McCain has seven children and four grandchildren, and currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Cindy.
Who I'd like to meet:
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Senator McCain as a first time voter at age 18 my vote is with you all the way but please select Huckabee as your VP so you can pull in more conservative republicans and democrats.
Senator McCain, you ROCK! Many of my St. Louis Rock and Roll friends believe in you and support you. Thanks for everything that you have done for our country. Keep it up.
Thanks for the add! Will you please come to my college campus and help me start a Republican Club? Those darn liberal democrats are taking over the campus and I want to fight back! Well even if you don't good luck and everyone I know is behind you 100%! If you're not elected, what will happen to us? We'll be subjected to more illegals and more 9/11 attacks, please fight hard for us!
Mr. McCain (and I want so bad to say Mr. President),
Please Please Please expose Obama and don't ever let him off the hook. He still hasn't explained how he is going to pull out all of the troops from Iraq without causing chaos and he will never ever be able to explain how a national healthcare system is beneficial given every other model out there (e.g., Canada) or how protectionalism can ever be a good thing - just quote the increase in exports since NAFTA was implemented. You need to concentrate on debating these 3 issues and avoid or downplay non-critical issues such as abortion. My opinion but I strongly believe this needs to be your strategy in order to win and we need you to WIN!!!
I just wanted to let you know that I support you to the fullest! I spoke with a soldier this past week and he said he supported the war and everything it stood for. He said "without a doubt America will be attacked again if anyone else than McCain is in office". That rang true to me and I hope it rings true to everyone else in this great Nation. You are the best person. You can win the swing states and you don't have to worry. God Bless!!!!
Thanks for the add !!!! You got my vote as a “Conservative Republican Environmentalist”. Yes what a concept manage our natural resources in a rational conservative way. Congratulations on all your progress.
Thanks for adding me Mr President :-) You can bet I will be hard at work here in my home town of Texarkana to help you get elected. I will be working the polls like a mad woman. lol Diane in Texarkana Ar.