McCain responds to Yahoo! readers' comments

Nearly two thousand comments and questions for Sen. John McCain were posted over the course of several days. Our thanks to the many people who participated, and to the many more who took time to  read what others had to say.

Thanks also to Sen. McCain, who was filmed in his office in Washington. Judy Woodruff presented the questions from Yahoo! users.

With so many individual thoughts expressed, it would be impossible to respond specifically to every one.  In fact, so many different topics were raised that it would not even be possible to address them broadly.  Sen. McCain spoke to the main issues raised by Yahoo! users — the war in Iraq; energy needs; and immigration — and responded to some additional posts that seemed particularly interesting. Sen. McCain will be responding to more questions on Thursday, so if you have an additional thought or comment, please use the comments section below to raise your voice. [Update: The follow-up session with Sen. McCain had to be postponed again, this time due to technical  issues. Follow-up questions are welcome until Monday. Thanks for your patience.]

The first two questions regarded the war in Iraq and the role and responsibilities of the U.S. military. A member of the military wrote: "It frustrates me that my unit... has been extended in Iraq for a minimum of 120 days. ...   There has been a failure here in Iraq. How can you effect change in US policy here?"

"If we left without the Iraqi military and government in control, then I think you would see chaos not only in Iraq but in the region," Sen. McCain said. Click here to watch the senator's response, or read the transcript below.

The second question followed up on the first, focusing on deployment of troops: "Would you allow units to be extended past one year?"

To this, Sen. McCain said he considered the armed forces "overstressed" and said that, as President, he would "expand the size of the Marine Corps and the Army so that we have sufficient numbers of troops on active duty."  Click here to see Sen. McCain's full response to the question.

The third question also focused on the war in Iraq. But in this case, the issue raised by the Yahoo! user was funding for the war: "Why is the Iraq war still being funded through stopgap emergency funding?" wrote the reader. "It is not fair to ask us as taxpayers to have no say in how much money this war is costing us."

The fault, said Sen. McCain, lies with Congress, which has not taken the lead in demanding that the funding go through the regular budget process.  Click here for the full response.

The conversation then turned to oil and energy. "Hello Senator McCain," wrote one person, "What is your plan to reduce our nation's dependence on foreign oil?" In posing the question, correspondent Judy Woodruff also noted a variety of related questions on the boards, including comments focusing on nuclear energy, alternative fuels, renewable energy sources, and global warming. 

One reader wrote: "Mr. McCain, after your recent trip to Greenland do you have a more clear picture of what Americans, among others, are doing to our planet's environment with our wasteful use of available energy?"

Sen. McCain responded first by dismissing the idea that global warming isn't real. "I just came back from Greenland where I saw the dramatic effects of climate change," he said. Click here for the full response.

Next came the topic of immigration. A huge number of readers posted comments expressing deep concern with the flow of illegal immigrants into the U.S. One in particular wrote: "Our national security, economy and national identity are being threatened by the massive influx of illegal aliens. What do you intend to do to stop this non-military invasion of our country?"

Sen. McCain said he agreed that "our borders are broken" and that fixing them has to be a priority.  But he disagreed that borders can simply be sealed.  See his full response.  In a second, follow-up answer, he spoke to the question of whether he was comfortable with what appears to be a Republican leadership decision not to push for a compromise on immigration this year.

That led to the broader question of partisan politics and the apparent lack of cooperation between Republicans and Democrats across the country.  A reader wrote: "Dear Senator McCain: I am a University of Texas undergraduate student who has a vested interest in the future of this country, specifically for my generation and those that will follow. ... What do you think the young people of today can do to help to diminish the hostility between the two parties, liberals and conservatives?"  See the senator's response.

Finally, one reader raised the question of the senator's age, should he run for president. The reader asked: "Why at your age (you do not look it at all) would you want to apply for what has to be the world's worst job — that of President of the United States?!" You can see the senator's response here.

Sen. McCain will be responding again to follow-ups later this week — please use the comments area below if you have a new question or would seek additional comments on some of the issues raised in the first question-and-answer session.

Below is a transcript of the Senator's responses.

 

IRAQ: RESPONSE 1

First of all thank you for your service to our country. We are very grateful and this has been one of the most difficult conflicts in the history of the United States of America. A lot of mistakes have been made, serious mistakes, which have caused us to ask a very small number of Americans to make very great sacrifices.

I believe that we could have an interesting academic discussion about weapons of mass destruction, intelligence failures and others. But I really believe the fact is that we have to face up to is that we are there now, and if we left without the Iraqi military and government in control, then I think you would see chaos not only in Iraq but in the region.

I believe that the exit strategy is the classic way you defeat any insurgency in history.

Many books have been written about how you combat insurgencies and the three basic ingredients are a government that people support; which by the way was never the case in the case of the Vietnam War, no one - the people of South Vietnam never supported the government in Saigon; a military and police that are effective and can bring an environment and atmosphere of security and peace where people can live free and educate their children and have better lives; and finally, an improving economy.

The good news is the Iraqi military training is going better.  The good news is that finally, after too much delay, we have an Iraqi government that's elected.  The bad news is sectarian violence is on the rise, particularly in Baghdad, the police in Iraq are not well-trained at all and are ineffective to say the least, and this is a very long, tough, hard slog.

So, I guess my point is that if we set a date for withdrawal, then I believe the insurgents would just lay back and wait until we left, and then I think it's clear that the Iraqi military and government could not succeed.

So, I believed, if I could just say a summary, I believed all along that we didn't have enough troops on the ground and the reason why — nor did I believe we had a large enough Army and Marine Corps. And that's why the 172nd is having to be extended.  So I believe we must win, I believe we can win, and I believe we will win, but the American people should never have been told that this was going to be an easy task.

IRAQ: RESPONSE 2

One of the things I would do as President is expand the size of the Marine Corps and the Army so that we have sufficient numbers of troops on active duty that there would not be a involuntary extension such as there is today.  And by the way, our guard is also, as we all know, very, very overstressed because of the commitment we've made of National Guard in Iraq.

IRAQ: RESPONSE 3

Frankly, the answer to that question is that Congress has not stood up and demanded that it go through the regular budgetary process.  In previous wars in the 20th century, we always had an expanded budget request from the administration to account for this.  It's easier to ask for these supplementals because then there's no real scrutiny of the money and how it's spent.  In this year's authorization bill, we have a requirement that within two years that they come forward, actually within one year, that they include whatever expenses that are included in Iraq in the normal budgetary request.  We'll see if it survives the conference between House and Senate because the administration doesn't want to do it that way.

ENERGY

First of all, I just came back from Greenland where I saw the dramatic effects of climate change.  Anyone who doesn't believe that climate change is real — now if you can't visit Greenland, look at Tom Brokaw's latest piece that I think is on the Discovery Channel, which is a really comprehensive look at climate change. 

I believe, among other things, that nuclear power has to be a very — play a very big role in our finding ways to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.  Our dependence on foreign oil is fraught with danger.  Look around the world: Venezuela, Iran, Iraq, other places in the world where we get our oil supplies. Ethanol doesn't make a lot of sense to me when oil is $10 a barrel.  When it gets over $40 a barrel, then ethanol is very important, and I'm glad to see us proceeding rapidly with adopting ethanol as an alternative fuel.  By the way, Brazil had managed to now become foreign oil independent because now they are fueling their automobiles with ethanol. 

I'm for wind, I'm for solar, I'm for all of these technologies that help us, but when you look at the total effect of much of the cleanest, in other words, wind, solar, etc., they don't contribute a lot.  That's why ethanol and nuclear are important.

Finally, we have to do a lot more on conservation.  I believe that the new hybrid cars — we should encourage use of them.  And also, we should probably see an increase in CAFE standards.  And finally, I really believe that if you ask the American people to conserve and point out to them that a lot of small things can make a pretty big difference, I think they'll respond and that would be a first step in the right direction.

IMMIGRATION: RESPONSE 1

I agree that our borders are broken and as our first national security priority and that has to be first and foremost is to fix our borders.  The debate that's taking place, in my view, is not whether we have to fix our borders or not, which is a result of 40 or 50 years of failed government policy, but the question is do you want comprehensive approach or think that it's sufficient just to seal our borders.  I think the Israelis have found out that you can't seal your borders completely. 

So the President, I, and others strongly support a guest worker program and a way of allowing the 11 million or 12 million people who are already here illegally achieving a path to citizenship, a tough, long, hard path or citizenship, which is not amnesty.  We tried amnesty in the 80's.  It didn't work.  It was an abysmal failure.  Our proposal means a $3000 fine, learn English, take a criminal background check, work for six years, get in line behind everybody else, and then five years or more to achieve citizenship, and we'll negotiate any of those points. 

We want to sit down and negotiate and come up with a solution because to do nothing, which is the present state where we're in gridlock, I think is an abrogation of our responsibilities to the American people to fix this problem, and I want to end up where I began.  We all agree that border security is our first and foremost responsibility, and I strongly — and if there's any way you want to strengthen it, I'm for it.

IMMIGRATION: RESPONSE 2

I'm an eternal optimist.  I'm going to be sitting down with my colleagues on the House side, I know the President strongly supports comprehensive approach.  We're willing to negotiate anything with our House colleagues and we- I really believe that we Republicans controlling the House and the Senate and the Presidency should be able to perform for the American people and come up with a resolution to this issue. 

I'm an optimist, but most experts say it is unlikely that we'll do something in the brief three to four weeks that we are in session.  I hope they're wrong.

PARTISAN DIVIDE

First of all, I wish Texas every good wish in their game against Ohio State this weekend.  It's going to be one of the great games of the year.

I believe that Americans want us to work together.  I've done that, I will continue to do it even if that generates some criticism from far right or far left.  The approval rating of Congress is at an all time low, and the primary reason for that is people say they don't share my priorities and therefore they don't approve of what we do and that's understandable. 

I think elections have consequences.  We need people to be voted into office who are committed to ideological debate and struggle, but when it comes to the national interest, will join together and serve and come up with a resolution of issues that are to the benefit of the nation which transcend partisanship.

And second of all, I hope that you and others, and young people watching this program will consider seeking public office yourself.  We certainly need new and fresh blood in the political process.  Those of us that have been in it a long time have an obligation to encourage you to be involved and there are many ways to be involved including running but including being active in issues such as climate change.  So I urge your political participation.

AGE

Some members, close member of my family, attribute this ambition to having received a sharp blow to the head while in prison some years ago. 

Seriously, I believe these are very difficult and trying times for our nation and in the world, both domestically and foreign — national security-wise.  Some would argue that this is one of the most dangerous times in our history. 

I believe that my experience, my knowledge, my background, and my record would qualify me to lead, but I could not do it alone.  If I were to seek the presidency, and I'll decide that early next year, I will ask all the American people to help me in this process and for us to put aside our differences and reach across the aisle to one another and ensure the future of this great nation, which I have every belief that our best days are still yet to come.