Devil? Meet details. John McCain on foreign policy

GOP presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain will visit Denver later this morning to deliver a speech on foreign policy.

As a service to our readers, we’ve compiled Sen. McCain’s record and remarks on foreign aid, diplomacy and international relations. Look for an analysis of his speech later today.

Project Vote Smart

Senator John Sidney McCain III repeatedly refused to provide any responses to citizens on the issues through the 2008 Political Courage Test when asked to do so by national leaders of the political parties, prominent members of the media, Project Vote Smart President Richard Kimball, and Project Vote Smart staff.

2007 – In 2007 Citizens for Global Solutions gave Senator McCain a grade of B-.

2007 – Senator McCain supported the interests of the Council for a Livable World 0 percent in 2007.

2007 – In 2007, The Genocide Intervention Network–Darfur Scores assigned Senator McCain a grade of C based on voting records, bill sponsorship and other activities related to ending the genocide in Darfur.

2006 – In 2006 Armenian National Committee of America gave Senator McCain a grade of C.

2006 – In 2006 Citizens for Global Solutions gave Senator McCain a grade of B+.

2006 – Senator McCain supported the interests of the Latin America Working Group 33 percent in 2006.

2006 – Senator McCain supported the interests of the Peace Action 50 percent in 2006.

2006 – In 2006, The Genocide Intervention Network–Darfur Scores assigned Senator McCain a grade of C based on voting records, bill sponsorship and other activities related to ending the genocide in Darfur.

2006 Senator McCain supported the interests of the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA) 50 percent in 2006.

2005-2006 – Senator McCain supported the interests of the Council for a Livable World 25 percent in 2005-2006.

2005-2006 – Senator McCain supported the interests of the Friends Committee on National Legislation 30 percent in 2005-2006.

2005-2006 – Senator McCain supported the interests of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation 25 percent in 2005-2006.

2005-2006 – Based on a point system, with points assigned for actions in support of or in opposition to U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation’s position, Senator McCain received a rating of -3.

More ratings here.

On the Issues

Q: Under what circumstances, if any, is the president, when operating overseas as commander-in-chief, free to disregard international human rights treaties that the US Senate has ratified?

A: I know of no circumstance. Again, it goes back to what the law says–if there is a treaty that the Congress has ratified, we have chosen to make it the law of the land, and it must be obeyed under the terms that it was ratified.

Source: Boston Globe questionnaire on Executive Power Dec 20, 2007

Naive to exclude nukes; naive to exclude attacking Pakistan It’s naive to say that we will never use nuclear weapons. It’s naive to say we’re going to attack Pakistan without thinking it through. What if Musharraf were removed from power? What if a radical Islamic government were to take place because we triggered it with an attack?

I believe the reason why we won the Cold War is because of our advocacy and our dedication to the principles that all of us are created equal and endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights.

Source: 2007 GOP Iowa Straw Poll debate Aug 5, 2007

– No circumstances where president can disregard treaties. (Dec 2007)

– Maintain Cuban embargo; indict Castro. (Dec 2007)

– Situation in Pakistan very serious, but not nuclear threat. (Oct 2007)

– Naive to exclude nukes; naive to exclude attacking Pakistan. (Aug 2007)

More policy statements here.

Sourcewatch

John McCain in an ardent supporter of Israel and its government’s policies. On his website he poses in front of an American and Israeli flags. Ron Kampeas described McCain’s efforts to reach out to the Jewish community in a January 2007 piece in JTA, a Jewish news service:

[Presidential candidates] are lining up Jewish support… This month, U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) plucked Jay Zeidman, President Bush’s popular Jewish outreach official, to lead his Jewish campaign… McCain’s Jewish strategy mirrors his broader realignment in recent years with Republicans who are loyal to President Bush, leaving behind the bloodletting of the tough 2000 primaries campaign.

In addition to Jay Zeidman, he is counting on an endorsement from the former White House liaison’s father, Fred Zeidman, chairman of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and a major fund-raiser for Bush. Another likely endorser is Ned Siegel, who was the named plaintiff in the successful effort to stop the Florida recount, a decision that placed Bush in the White House.

McCain has a solid pro-Israel record, and he has been outspoken about isolating Iran as long as it poses a nuclear threat. He made that call most recently in a satellite address at this week’s Herzliya Conference and in October at an American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference.

McCain has toughened his opposition to abortion and gay marriage, positions that place him at odds with most American Jews. Yet he also has forged alliances with domestic Jewish groups on issues such as campaign-finance reform and against torture.[12]

Source: Ron Kampeas, "As candidates enter 2008 race, they begin courting Jewish support," JTA , Jan. 15, 2007.

More policy background here.