‘Meet the Press’ transcript for May 13, 2007

MR. RUSSERT:  Can someone who is pro-choice, pro-abortion rights be nominated by the Republican Party?

SEN. McCAIN:  I don't know the answer to that, but I know that the base of our party--and I have been pro-life unchanging and unwavering for all of my political career, and I think that an important part of the base of our party is a pro-life position.  But I, I--we'll, as Chris Berman says, that's why they play the game.

MR. RUSSERT:  Could you support a nominee who was pro-abortion rights?

SEN. McCAIN:  I can support a nominee if it's a nominee of the party, if--no matter what their position are.  But I would not agree with that position.

MR. RUSSERT:  Back in 1999, you gave an interview to the San Francisco Chronicle, and you said this...

SEN. McCAIN:  Mm-hmm.

MR. RUSSERT:  ..."Certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe vs.  Wade, which would then force X number of women in American to undergo illegal and dangerous operations."

SEN. McCAIN:  Well, it was in the context of conversation about having to change the culture of, of America as regards to this issue.  That is a conversation that I had in that context.  I have stated time after time after time that Roe v. Wade was a bad decision, that I support a woman--the, the rights of the unborn.  I have fought for human rights and human dignity throughout my entire political career.  To me it is an issue of human rights and human dignity.  That conversation was in the context of we have to help young women who are experiencing a crisis pregnancy.  We have to help them with compassion, and we hope--have to help those young women with courage. And we also have to do whatever we can to let them know that if they don't want the child, if they'll bring them into life, that we'll do everything we can to help with adoption.  Just like there's three--I have three adopted children.  It's a wonderful thing.  But my position has been consistently in my voting record, pro-life, and I continue to maintain that position and voting record.  Is it a tough issue in America?  Yes.  But I believe the states should be making those decisions.

MR. RUSSERT:  But if Roe vs. Wade was overturned in a--during a McCain presidency...

SEN. McCAIN:  Yes.

MR. RUSSERT:  ...and individual states chose to ban abortion...

SEN. McCAIN:  Yes.

MR. RUSSERT:  ...would you be concerned that, as you said, X number of women in America would undergo illegal and dangerous operations?

SEN. McCAIN:  No, I would hope that X women in America would bring those, those children into birth and into life in this world, and that I could do whatever I could to assist them.  Again, that conversation that you--that--from 1999, which is so often quoted, was in the context of my, my concerns about the issue, and the need to change the culture in America to understand the importance of the rights of the unborn.  And I will continue to hold that view and position.

MR. RUSSERT:  In 2000 you chose not to enter the Iowa caucuses.

SEN. McCAIN:  Yep.

MR. RUSSERT:  But this year you're going to enter the Iowa caucuses.  And ethanol is a big issue in, in Iowa.

SEN. McCAIN:  Mm-hmm.

MR. RUSSERT:  This is what you said about ethanol--not about subsidies, but about ethanol.

SEN. McCAIN:  Mm-hmm.

MR. RUSSERT:  "Ethanol does nothing to reduce fuel consumption, nothing to increase our energy independence, nothing to improve air quality."

SEN. McCAIN:  Mm-hmm.

MR. RUSSERT:  And after you said that, you acknowledged you might pay a political price for that view, and this is what you said.

(Videotape, June 19, 2005)

SEN. McCAIN:  My opposition to ethanol has--obviously would hurt me.  But you know what I found out?  That every time I've done something from what may have been influenced by political reasons, I've regretted it.  Every time that I've done something that I think is right, it's turned out OK in the end.  I've got to do what I think is right.  And if it offends a certain political constituency, I, I regret it, but there's really nothing I can do about it.

(End videotape)

MR. RUSSERT:  Now you go to Iowa and say this:  "I support ethanol.  I think it's a vital alternative energy source, not only because of our dependence on foreign oil but because of its greenhouse gas reduction effects." You had said it had nothing to do with reducing fuel consumption, nothing to do with improving air quality.

SEN. McCAIN:  I, I, I am of the confirmed belief that when oil is 10, $15 a barrel, that ethanol does not make sense.  When oil is $60-plus a barrel, then ethanol does make sense.  I still oppose the subsidies to it.  It makes a lot of sense.  We are dependent on foreign oil too much.  We have a situation where greenhouse gases has now become--emissions has become a vital issue.  I am for sugarcane, biofuels, switch grass, and corn-based ethanol because of our need for independence on foreign oil.  And it has become far more graphic and dramatic as we watch people like Mr. Chavez in Venezuela behave the way that he has, and President Putin behaving the way that he does.  It's a fact that when oil is low amounts per barrel and--that we are not concerned about greenhouse gases or dependence upon foreign oil, it doesn't make the sense that it makes today.  It does make sense today.

MR. RUSSERT:  But you do now disagree with what you said in '03, that it has nothing to do with reducing fuel consumption...

SEN. McCAIN:  What I was...

MR. RUSSERT:  ...or nothing to improve air quality?

SEN. McCAIN:  I don't...

MR. RUSSERT:  You now believe...

SEN. McCAIN:  I don't know what--I don't know what it does to fuel consumption.  I'm sure that there is some question about that, as the...

MR. RUSSERT:  How about air quality?

SEN. McCAIN:  ...as the, as the technology has increased dramatically.  The air quality, it does reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Most effectively? Does--as much as nuclear power?  No.  But given our dependence on foreign oil, given the situation as the price of oil then--and, and the realities of climate change, we should go for many alternate fuels.  I do not support the subsidies.

MR. RUSSERT:  So you've changed your mind.

SEN. McCAIN:  No, I haven't.  I have--I have--I have adjusted to the realities of the world we live in today, and if I don't adjust to those realities, then I would be stuck in the past.  I have to adjust to the realities.  The realities today are that we have a serious problem with climate change, which I have been concerned about for many years, and we have a far more serious challenge as associated with our dependence on foreign oil.

Not too long ago, a year or so ago, there was an attempted attack on a Saudi oil refinery.  If that attack had succeeded, the price of oil would have gone to $150 a barrel overnight.

MR. RUSSERT:  And the reality of being part of the Iowa caucuses had nothing to do with it.

SEN. McCAIN:  I don't--I don't--I can't respond to a, a statement like that.

MR. RUSSERT:  But...

SEN. McCAIN:  I do what I--I do what I think is right, and I will continue to do what I think is right.  And if conditions change as far as some specific issue is concerned, then, obviously, then I will continue to re-evaluate my position on specific issues.

MR. RUSSERT:  This...

SEN. McCAIN:  My values, my principles, my goals, my ideals maintain exactly the same because they were formed long before I was running for any elected office.

MR. RUSSERT:  The Senate on a voice vote in the--said that we should--in the committee...

SEN. McCAIN:  Mm-hmm.

MR. RUSSERT:  ...increase miles per gallon for automobiles to 36 miles per gallon.  You in favor of that?

SEN. McCAIN:  I think we ought to increase the miles per gallon, but I think we ought to sit down with Detroit and see what they think is doable and come up with a consensus opinion.

MR. RUSSERT:  Thirty-six too high?

SEN. McCAIN:  Detroit--I don't--I don't--can't give a specific number, although I think we can sit down and find one that they think they can reach. The automobile industry in America is in very serious difficulties, as we know.

MR. RUSSERT:  Before you go, interview with The Hill newspaper back in 2000 after your campaign didn't quite work out in 2000, and you were asked this: "Do you think you'll ever run for president again?"

"In 2004 I expect to be campaigning for the re-election of George Bush"--which you did.

SEN. McCAIN:  Mm-hmm.

MR. RUSSERT:  "But by the year 2008 I believe my age would not equip me to run."

SEN. McCAIN:  Well, you know, my energy level is great.  My--I work 24/7. I'm pleased that I am in the excellent health, and I, I believe that I may not be the youngest candidate in this race, but I'm certainly the most prepared. And I'm prepared to lead this country.  I don't need any on-the-job training. I'm ready to do the hard things, not the easy things.  And that's what I intend to do.

MR. RUSSERT:  On the day of your inauguration--this will not surprise you--for the first term of a president, John McCain...

SEN. McCAIN:  Mm-hmm.  Mm-hmm.

MR. RUSSERT:  ...January 20, 2009 would be 72 years...

SEN. McCAIN:  Mm-hmm.

MR. RUSSERT:  ...four months, 22 days.

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