The Exchange; Interview with John McCain

From New Hampshire Public Radio I'm Laura Conaway and this is the exchange. In the past two weeks two New England newspapers with editorial pages that tend to lean in politically opposite directions both endorsed Republican John McCain as the best GOP presidential candidate in the running. First the conservative New Hampshire Union Leader and then the liberal Boston Globe both recommended Granite State Republicans vote for McCain in the January 8th primary in their endorsements the papers take pains to point out their policy differences with the senator but from opposite political perspectives they both come to the same conclusion. McCain is a man of character integrity and a guy you can trust. Senator McCain also won the coveted Des Moines Register endorsement this week on the same grounds an impressive feat given that he's barely campaigned in Iowa and in the very latest news a prominent Democrat has chosen to support McCain. Just yesterday Connecticut U.S. senator and former vice

presidential candidate Joe Lieberman says the Arizona senator is his man. Still endorsements are not votes. McCain's poll numbers at this point anyway often find him in third place. Some Republicans say they just can't get past the senator's position on two issues immigration and campaign finance reform. Add to that religious conservatives who've never been comfortable with McCain and libertarians who are furious about the Iraq war a war McCain has long supported an exchange. Arizona Senator and Republican presidential candidate John McCain returns to our studios. We'll take your calls and e-mails to the exchange number 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7 1 800 8 9 2 and HPR and Senator McCain you last spoke in July. Welcome back. Thank you Laura it's nice to be back. The weather's changed a little bit here in July. Could I mention the Portsmouth Herald also indoors. You can imagine that the weather has gotten colder but the endorsements have gotten warmer for some of us.

I am very pleased and of course it was an incredible day yesterday with my friend Joe Lieberman. He's a man of courage. The easiest thing for Joe to have done was just stand on the sidelines in this race and it really is about national security that caused him to take a position that I'm sure will not earn him a lot of praise in some quarters. But he's one of the finest men I've ever known and I'm very grateful that he would he would support me. And these are very interesting times. Well I want to ask you about some interesting endorsements and as I noted the Boston Globe The Des Moines Register. Both papers whose editorial pages support more liberal positions than you in general like abortion rights. And Senator Lieberman a former Democrat and yet Senator McCain you're running in a Republican primary. What are core conservative Republican voters to make of the fact that liberal newspapers and Democrats like you. Well I think they should also take in consideration a well-known liberal newspaper The Manchester Union Leader also endorsing me.

And so what I think the endorsements are about is ability to lead and experience and judgment. And so I'm I'm pleased to have the editorial support of all of these periodicals. But let me also point out the Boston Globe and I say this very respectfully pointing out they think I should be the nominee of my party. They didn't say that I should be president of the United States because we do have some differences. But I've been to the editorial board of The Boston Globe and we have honest differences. But those are respectful differences. These endorsements do raise a long issue though a concern by conservatives that you're not conservative enough to be a Republican. The American Conservative Union gives you the lowest ranking of all the Republican presidential candidates. And that was because of campaign finance reform. I have a solid conservative record by the pro-life organizations by the National Taxpayers Union by Citizens for Against Government Waste. I'll name you a long

list. And the American Conservative Union felt that their litmus issue was campaign finance reform. Why was that and why is that such a bugaboo. I think some of them are very honestly held views about freedom of speech the belief that money is is free speech. I believe money is property but sometimes it's hard to understand when we have so much corruption in Washington associated with special interest money. We've got people going to jail we've had people in jail who got caught up in one of those to the Keating Five back years back 91. Yeah it and and so it's it's a system now frankly of corruption earmarks in return for campaign contributions. And you'd think that most people would want to clean up this system more. More transparency. We need to do that for example but look those things happen I'm looked at by the end of the day. I am proud of my long

conservative record and consistent record. Mine hasn't changed throughout the years I haven't changed with what office I'm running for. I have not changed my positions and I am proud of my conservative record and I will stand on that. Now if it's an unpopular stand then I understand that too. But I have to do what's right and very frankly the issue that has probably hurt me more than any other is immigration. I want to ask you about it too. And so look I saw a problem. I come from a state that's very badly damaged by illegal immigration and our state has huge challenges. And Senator Jon Kyl my fellow senator and I thought we have to do something about this. And we said we'd secure the borders and that we would have a temporary worker program and address the issue of 12 million people are here in this country illegally. The American people because they have no trust in government because of Katrina and out-of-control spending. Iraq

they didn't believe us when we said we would secure the borders and maybe with good reason because in 86 we said we'd secure the borders gave amnesty a couple of million people and now we have the situation we're in today. So I got the message the message is the American people want the border secured first and then they are willing to move on to other aspects of the illegal immigration issue. As president I would have the border state governors certify that the borders are secure. So we must secure the borders. I still think we need a temporary worker program that works with biometric tamper proof he says and other things including an electronic employment verification system. We have to address the issue of the 12 million people without. With an election to send back what do you do. You look at each one of these. First of all the principle is you can't reward anybody for illegal behavior so they have to get in line behind everybody else. And some of it depends on how long they've been in this country and what they've been doing

whether they have children. Yeah all of those factors have to be taken into consideration. But that's the subject of negotiation. Based on the principle that no one will be rewarded for illegal behavior. In other words put ahead of someone who legally waited outside this country or is here legally. But we can work that out. What I also finding one and there's also a humanitarian side to this. These are God's children and we need to address this issue with humanity and compassion. And it would be very helpful if we lowered the level of rhetoric and sat down and discuss this in as calm a fashion as possible. But from townhall meetings here and all over America this is a very emotional issue with many people. They're deeply concerned and they want the borders secured first and that's the lesson I got. That's why we failed. So I'll do that as president why that immigration bill failed. You know Senator McCain I want to

ask you just one more question on this because I have seen time and time again Republicans say I just can't join him because of this. You said that the lesson you learned is secure the borders. You said that you can't reward people for illegal behavior. They need to get in line behind everyone else. You know that sounds to me like you take the 12 million and you ship them back. No it doesn't necessarily mean that it means that maybe a lot of people say would be a very difficult thing to do. Well I don't know exactly how you would do it but the point is that some people who have been here a short time I think go back. Others may have to go back to the country that they came from for a period of time and then come back. Someone here who is 80 years old and has a son or grandson or daughter fighting in Iraq than we ought to say take the naturalization test learn English pay a fine etc. etc.. But first they've all got to come forward so we can we can make sure we understand where they are and what the categories are. It's a subject of

negotiation. But again our nation is characterized by Judeo-Christian values and we have to exercise those values when we talk about children when we talk about people who are elderly when we talk about all aspects of this issue and invite our audience to join us Senator McCain the exchange number 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7 1 800 8 9 2 and HPR today in the exchange Arizona Republican Senator John McCain returns to our studios to talk about his campaign for president. Let's hear from you. 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7. E-mails are welcome to if you keep them short exchange at HPR. Senator McCain let's go to our callers and go to Monique. She is calling from Lee. Hi Monica. You're on the exchange. Go ahead. Good morning Senator McCain. I congratulate you because my husband just wrote a letter to the editor that he hasn't sent off yet he will send after day to support you and he is a

liberal republican if I can say so very much against the war very much. But he appreciates your integrity what you stand for and that is very important. So he opposes the war Monico but he's going to vote for McCain anyway even though Senator McCain is supportive of the war on terror. Well what do you think about that. I am a Democrat and I am very I to go for integrity and I am very impressed by Senator Joe Biden. And your Yesterday my husband. I also liked him but he voted in support of you Senator McCain. And so I am I appreciate his opinion. OK. I'm going to let you go because we're running into a break Senator McCain. Quickly do you respond quickly. Yes thank you. Monica and thank your husband. And look we are succeeding in Iraq and there's no doubt about it. And I want to make that

clear. And because of the new strategy and the new and the General Petraeus and I'm the only one in the running for president that criticized harshly the Rumsfeld strategy advocated the strategy that is succeeding. And more boots on the ground and other many other things I mean the fundamental strategy of going out and search and destroy as opposed to what we're doing now and that's clear and hold. I won't go into all the details with you but also Monica I think and I believe your husband represents what was the reason why I'm going to win. Even though they may have disagreements with me whether it be liberal or conservative they believe I have the experience and the judgment and I thank you very much Monica and thank your husband for me and thanks for that call. We'll take more of them after a short break and Senator McCain. Got a couple of follow ups for you on the surge. Not everyone thinks that it's going so well we'll talk about that after a short break. It is 9:19 Good morning. Support for New Hampshire Public Radio comes from our

members and from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon New Hampshire offering support and opportunity to employees information and life for your dog. Oh Argenti and Coghill construction providing professional construction services for residential and commercial projects throughout New Hampshire. For over 20 years. Coghill Cong. More with Arizona Senator and Republican presidential candidate John McCain on the exchange on New Hampshire Public Radio. Then at 10:00 on the Diane Rehm Show the latest on the race for the White House with less than three weeks to go before the voting kicks off in Iowa. For this afternoon partly to mostly sunny across the state high temperature teens in northern New Hampshire upper 20s in the south it'll be clouding up tonight low single numbers in the north and around 12 degrees in the south. This is New Hampshire Public Radio. This is the exchange I'm Laura Conaway. Today we're talking with U.S. Senator John McCain Republican from Arizona about his second run for the White House. You can join our conversation

the exchange number 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7. The e-mail exchange at HPR org. Senator McCain just before the break we heard from a caller who's liberal republican husband supports you. Even though he's very frustrated over the war with Iraq you responded in saying that the surge is working. But as you know not everybody thinks the surge is working. A recent L.A. Times article the Baghdad reporter from the paper said if anything the country appears more balkanized into ethnic and sectarian enclaves Iraq has disintegrated into areas dominated by militias tribes and parties so it doesn't sound like a great situation. Sounds like a situation ripe for violence when the U.S. leaves. Well I mean you can say that pigs fly. You know black is white up is down. And the fact is that in fact on ABC Evening News a couple of nights ago it showed that for the first time in years there was 24 hour hours without any incidents of violence in Baghdad.

Picture on the front page in New York Times have a wedding. There's a long way to go in Iraq. But to think that the surge isn't working is in defiance of facts on the ground and all of this statistics such as casualties et cetera. And there's a news report today that there's a little progress in the Maliki government side which is what I anticipated although it's very very difficult and very frustrating because once you establish an environment of security then the political social and economic process moves forward by any indicator. The surge is working again. L.A. Times reporter there's other liberal media that will say these things and that's fine with me but they are in defiance of facts on the ground. And I would rather trust frankly General Petraeus who is one of the greatest Americans I know. Then a reporter from The L.A. Times and all in all due respect. So it's working them. Theirs is their problems. Of course the military police has ridden with Shia militia and that's a big problem. The Maliki government is still sputtering to

say the least but there's enormous progress on the ground politically and in Ramadi where they used to be a free fire zone. They're now giving out soccer balls and candy so I'm very satisfied with the success of the surge. Now we need the other part of the classic counterinsurgency equation to work. And it is working. Here's an email from Dianne Intervale she says you've been a supporter of the Bush Petraeus surge strategy. What happens in Baghdad after American troops inevitably leave. I would add to Diane's question Senator McCain under a McCain administration when would they leave you first. First of all I would point out Diane then I was the harshest critic of the Rumsfeld strategy and said it wouldn't work. And I said the new strategy is what we need it. No other person running for president on either side advocated that. And I was criticized by Republicans for being disloyal. I'll tell you what happens. The same thing that happens when in any other successful counterinsurgency the Iraqi

military and police take over the responsibilities Americans who withdraw from the frontlines and whether they will stay there or not is is a question of the relationship with the Iraqi government. It's not a question of American presence. We've had troops we've got troops in Bosnia we have troops in South Korea we have troops in in Japan we have troops all over the world. The question is American casualties American casualties are way down. Thank God. But I want to emphasize al Qaeda is on the run. They are not defeated. They are not defeated. And it's going to be a while before you can stop suicide bombers because they're the hardest thing in warfare to counter. Ask the Israelis so what's going to happen is what happens in every counterinsurgency and that is that American troops turn over those responsibilities as by the way they just did in another province in the last couple of days and they will assume those responsibilities. And that's what counterinsurgency is all about. That's why the Rumsfeld strategy of search and destroy

failed and that's why this clear and hold and establish an environment of security has succeeded. Can you give us an idea of when U.S. troops would come home or not really. I think because the Democrats all have timetables. Yeah. Date for surrender. That's what they have. If we had done what the Democrats wanted to do six months ago al Qaeda would be telling the world that they defeated the United States of America. Harry Reid on the floor of the Senate said the war is lost. No one believes that now. Well I mean there's the overwhelming opinion is the war is certainly not lost militarily. Senator Clinton said to General Petraeus when he appeared before Congress before the Senate Armed Services Committee said you would have to quote suspend disbelief in order to believe that the surge is working. Well I'm waiting for Senator Clinton to say that the surge is working because it is working. You'd have to suspend disbelief that it's not. So the military equation on the ground has changed dramatically and we are

succeeding and we have a long way to go. And I want to emphasize again al Qaeda is on the run. They are not defeated. They're still explosive devices coming across from Iran into Iraq killing young Americans are still suicide bombers landing at the airport in Damascus and coming across. And there are still a lot of factionalism that is is going to be have to be kept under control Sorry for the long answer Laura. And by the way one small item Monica mentioned she liked Joe Biden. I liked Joe Biden too. He's a fine man and very well-versed on national security issues. Well senator we can go on about Iraq maybe we'll come back to that later. I want to go to our callers now again the number 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7 1 800 8 9 2 and HPR. Let's go to Portsmouth next. Sam is on the air. Welcome. Sam go ahead. Thank you. Senator McCain I should like to ask you about climate change and specifically you've talked in the past about pure research and

development money for going into pure research and development for renewable fuels. And I'd like to hear you got a little bit more specific about that and not just in that in the sense of listening technologies Well more a description of the program because I think that the market will decide technologies so it's really the R&D program that's important. Okay. And thanks for the call. Go ahead Senator Sam first of all as you know I have been a strong believer that climate change is real and poses a threat to our planet. And I've done that for a long period of time. Joe Lieberman and I have proposed this cap and trade which is now working in Europe but not very well but working and did work in the case of acid rain. Look I'm for for R&D and I'll let the scientists set the priorities clean coal technology is certainly one of the priorities that I would say because we are sitting on mountains of coal and if we could develop clean coal technology it will

have a dramatic effect on greenhouse gas emissions. Sam I'm for finding ways to reprocess and to store nuclear waste. That hybrid cars hydrogen I'm listen I let a thousand flowers bloom my friend and let our scientific community and our smart people set those priorities and I will go along with theirs. But I I really believe nuclear power and that technology is a vital part of any meaningful effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Did you want to follow up Sam. I want to actually ask you something. Two questions. Clean Coal First of all. A couple Democrats and other Republicans support that. The word that I hear from many environmental groups that McCain is look don't bother with this. Let's move on to purely clean technologies like wind and solar. Why bother with something that really isn't proven. And you know it's pretty dirty. Well that's silly. That's why that's why we call it clean coal. I heard that you really can't

do that. Well Laura I think I've heard that we couldn't put a guy on the moon too. I mean so look I believe immediate the first immediate step is nuclear find a way to stort find a way to reprocess it. The way the Europeans do. But in all due respect I love wind solar and tide we all love it. Find me an a living American that doesn't want those. But when you look at the actual contribution given the state of technology that they can make in in eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and fulfilling our energy requirements they are not that significant. So my first priority frankly would be nuclear because we already have the technology there and we would move forward with it. But I'm I really believe that if the French can generate 80 percent of their electricity by nuclear power we have had Navy ships sailing around the world for 60 years with nuclear power plants. Then I say to my friends in the environmental community let's embrace

nuclear power as one of our first priority. We did a program a couple of weeks ago Senator McCain on nuclear power because you're right it is getting a second look as people are more concerned about climate change and the calls and emails were pretty firm in that people are incredibly nervous about this energy. Huge concerns about the waste and huge concerns about nuclear energy being vulnerable to terrorist attack. And again the question was look why bother with this. So it's a power that could be a huge risk when you've got other renewable energies that won't post has it's if you don't have enough of the renewable energies you don't have enough solar or you don't. That technology there is not sufficient. Look if the French could do it if Europeans can do it if the Japanese can do it and the French by the way are coming closest to meeting their Kyoto treaty obligations why because of nuclear power we have the worst of all worlds now because we have nuclear waste and sites all over America. That's the worst national security issue. And so because we have

not yet. Yeah well we've built it. But obviously it's being blocked by court suits et cetera. It can be reprocessed. It was a decision made by former President Carter back in the 70s but it's not the only component. There are many other components. We have to look at. When finally could I just mention or without a long diatribe when oil hits $100 a barrel the United States of America will be sending 400 billion dollars a year to the oil producing companies. Some of that money will end up in the hands of terrorist organizations. So we not we must not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but we've got to reduce and eventually eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. Now nuclear power a huge debate. Difficult to reach any consensus. Your trip to France my friends and see what they do. All right. Let's go love to imitate the French. I was going to say it's unusual for the president today to get a president that vacations in New Hampshire a great great person pro-American.

Sam thanks a lot for that call. Again 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7 1 889 2 and HPR. Let's go back to the phones to remind us where Richard's calling from Demarest. Hi Richard go ahead. Good morning Richard. Hi Senator McCain my question for you is a while ago several months ago your campaign was having terrible problems you were having to let staff go while you were having financial difficulties. And I remember that you took the heat for it and said it was your responsibility and my concern is that if you if you had trouble just managing the budget of your campaign. How can we really trust you to handle the budget of the nation. Well thank you Richard. The fact is that I am not mistake free and never have been. I obviously fixed our problems and

that's why we are doing well in our campaign today. I fixed them. I know how to fix problems when they arise and I'm not saying that it would never be a problem or a mistake. I will match my record of fiscal conservatives being a fiscal conservative with anybody. I saved the taxpayers two billion dollars on Air Force tanker deal. They tried to pull off and ended up with a couple of people in jail. I have eliminated and fought against hundreds and hundreds of millions and millions of dollars of pork barrel spending and I'll be glad to match my record of eliminating waste and abuse and unnecessary spending with anyone and it's far better. So I will not say that I will not make a mistake but I say that I know how to fix them when they are made and I have a clear record of knowing how Washington works and eliminating wasteful pork barrel spending. Let us go back. Thanks Richard for that call let's go to Gilman TN. David's on the air Welcome David. Go ahead.

Hi Laura. Hi. I would like to start by making a statement that I never been a one issue voter but I fully expect to be in this particular election and that issue is going to be healthcare. I would love to know where the senator stands by. By way of background I'm tired so deeply in that health care mess. It's ridiculous. My 13 year old daughter is a type 1 diabetic. I have a old spinal fusion and between our two problems my wife and I spent better than 25 percent of our gross income on health care and by all accounts we are very well insured. I sit in doctors offices and I certainly see problems that I don't think anybody's addressing things like meaningful tort reform. Pharmaceutical companies that spend more money on advertising than they do on research and development. The graft that goes on between pharmaceutical reps and the doctors offices things of that nature.

Well David good to get your perspective. And I didn't want talk to you about health care Senator McCain. Go ahead just give us the bare bones your health care plan and then I have a couple of questions very quickly. First of all David I believe I agree with you about the undue influence of pharmaceutical companies. The reason one of the reasons I voted against the Medicare prescription drug bill was because I thought it was written by the pharmaceutical companies and I could give you the same themes are you happy with that. You seem pretty happy with the Medicare and if I may be happy with it but we've laid a one trillion dollar unfunded liability on the next generation of Americans to add to the unfunded some 30 trillion associated with Medicare and Medicaid. But you say that by keeping seniors healthier with drugs that they're staying out of hospitals and so maybe there's a net gain even though you don't see it that the drugs don't have to be the expense that they are. They said that they couldn't compete with one another for a contract to provide these pharmaceuticals. They said that we couldn't go to Canada and re-import pharmaceuticals. It's not that they're in all due respect it's not that we're trying to deprive them of

some pharmaceuticals we're trying to give them pharmaceuticals that are least expensive to the taxpayer and to their children and their grandchildren including expediting generic drugs to market. I mean so the cost lack of competitiveness is the problem that Democrats made that point too didn't they during this and during this debate. Well it wouldn't many votes against it. I don't know what the point was but they certainly didn't vote against it. So. So go ahead Senator McCain. Your health care real quick. DAVID The problem I think in health care in America is the cost and the inflation not the quality the quality of health care in America is the best in the world. That's why when somebody gets sick who lives overseas that they can afford it they come here. We need to take the inflation out of it and we've got to have a more responsibility in the hands of the person who who is responsible for his or her health care we have to have wellness and fitness we have to have tort reform we have to medical malpractice reform we have to have a result based health care. One of the five

chronic diseases that consume 75 percent of the health care costs in America. Those people should be given a certain amount of money by the provider for a year of treatment rather than for every test every procedure that's that's performed. We need walk in clinics we need community health centers. We need to give every American family a $5000 refundable tax credit so they can go across state lines which they can't now and get the health care policy that they want. Wellness and fitness. We have to emphasize wellness and fitness in America. Look Laura I'm I'm truncating this dramatically. I've had a 90 minute forum where they are just on health care alone. But the key to it is get inflation down Medicaid inflation last year was 10 percent over 10 percent. No system can sustain itself with that kind of inflation. The Democrats want a big government single payer. Raise your taxes and we're going to have a great debate on that in the 2008 general election because vastly different views of the role of government.

Well in a different want to talk about that some of the Democrats have single payer most of them provide an ability for people to buy into the president excuse me into the congressional health care system that you and others enjoy on a sliding scale so it's still based on the private system. But they would say much more comprehensive Senator McCain than what you and the Republicans are offering at a time when businesses say look this is a crisis and we really need help piecemeal 5000 here whatever. It's not broad enough it's not comprehensive enough it's not big enough to deal with this problem. Well if you think that you need a big as you said government's solution to it fine. That's not saying that you're entitled to a penny and I respect it. Look one of the fundamental differences they're going to mandate health insurance for every American. I'm I'm going to make it affordable and available. I want every American to have an education. I want every American to have a home. I'm not going to mandate that they have an education or home. What I'm going to make it affordable and available. So that's one of the fundamental differences.

Well David thanks for the call and good luck to you. We will take more of your calls after a short break. This is the exchange and. This is New Hampshire Public Radio where support comes from our members and from Weimann Chevrolet Pontiac and truck center in Hillsboro selling and servicing the Chevrolet commercial truck line for over 50 years. SHARP The American Revolution at Weiman Chevy dotcom and Hinckley Allen and Snyder where partners have been giving clients practical usable legal advice for over 100 years in New Hampshire and on the web at HHS law dot com. This is New Hampshire Public Radio. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow described music as the universal language of man. MARCO WERMAN every weekday on the world we examine that language with our daily global head Manu Chao. Spanish and French but he also writes and sings in English Portuguese and Arabic. FUNICELLO makes music that is part reggae part punk rock.

Expand your vocabulary with the world. With days at three on an HP. This is the exchange I'm Laura Conaway. Wednesday in the exchange are twenty five and twenty five series continues with North Country writer reporter and raconteur John Harrigan. E-mail us your questions for John before the program and join us Wednesday live at 9:00. Then on Thursday Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is with us. And on Friday we culminate our 2005 and 2005 series with our final guest. You the Granite Stater Have you seen a state change over the past quarter century for the better and for the worse. We'd love to include your comments your observations in our program. E-mail us at exchange and HPR. Today in the exchange Republican presidential candidate and Arizona Senator John McCain is here. You can join our conversation the number 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7 1 800 8 9 to HPR. Senator McCain we've talked about energy we've talked about health care we've talked about Iraq we have not talked about trade

and that has also been a tension point in this campaign for both Republicans and Democrats. You are a stalwart free trader even like even in crowds like the Republican debate in Detroit where the auto industry feels it's gotten slammed by imports. You stood up for free trade but you don't need me to tell you this. You know globalization is a dirty word in some circles today. People blame too much open unrestricted trade on anything from a loss of jobs to tainted toothpaste and toys. What can you say to those voters Senator McCain who really feel threatened by free trade. I think one of the ways that in terms of what you would do for them as president. Well I think one of the major aspects of this issue that's so damaging to the image of quote free trade is our displaced worker problem whether it be the automotive industry in Detroit or whether if you go up north and go to Berlin and see where the manufacturing jobs have fled the area either to another state or in many cases to another country. I think that if you look back at the last 10 years America's economy has been very strong we've

created millions of jobs. We are in the midst of a revolution and it's an information technology revolution. And unfortunately although the overall benefits have been good we have left workers behind and we have to develop a displaced worker program that's meaningful effective and will allow these people who have lost their jobs because of the flight of manufacturing jobs another chance so we have those programs already they don't work they don't work. We have programs they obviously don't work well. I don't know all of the reasons but they are they are not designed right and are not implemented right. I would go to our community colleges and ask our community colleges to design and implement programs to provide the kind of training and education necessary to have people re-enter the workforce. And I'm no liberal but if someone lost a relatively high paying job and can only take a lower paying much lower paying job I would compensate that worker for the difference in what the jobs that they have to take because we want to get them back to work. But the it's the whole secret of this is

to get education training programs at work. There's a half as you mentioned the federal program there's a half a dozen of now they don't work they were designed for the 1950s. So when you look when automobiles were invented the harness industry lost jobs. We're in an information technology situation and in the industrial revolution we left people behind in this information technology revolution. We cannot leave people behind. We cannot say their lives are over at a relatively early age and we've got to prepare them to the kind of job market there is today. The Democrats some of them are saying scrap free trade agreements like NAFTA most are saying don't scrap them but make them better make sure that workers are protected make sure environmental concerns are met. Would you do something like that Senator McCain or just leave these trade agreements as this. Oh I would certainly do everything that I can to make sure that environmental standards are met that rules and regulations as far as toys are concerned I mean all these are

kind of a no brainer kind of things. But I want to tell you again free trade has been an element of America's economic success for 200 years. And every time we exercise protectionism the Smoot-Hawley Tariff acts of the 1920s. We have paid a very very heavy price for it. I am a student of history and history clearly shows that protectionism harms the economy of the country that practices it and the consequences sometimes can even be a world war. So what's the best way to improve the kind of we've got a lot of problems on our hemisphere today because of disparities between rich and poor is one of the reasons. And what's the best way to do that. Open our markets to their products and open their markets to ours. And by the way the Colombia Free Trade Agreement are probably our staunchest ally in the hemisphere is being held up by the speaker of the House and the majority leader of the Senate. I think that's terrible.

Let's go back to our colleague Senator McCain again the exchange number 1 800 8 9 2 6 4 7 7 to Albany where Dorothy is on the air. Welcome Dorothy you're on the exchange with Senator McCain. Thank you very much. Sure go ahead Dorothy. My question is this. Yeah I already know the first part of my question you will not end this war. So the second part of my question has to do with your fiscal conservative. How then is fiscal conservative did you let us get into a debt national debt last week nine point one. Three trillion dollars at which a million dollars growth made much of it because of the war. How are you going to get us out of this. President what are you going to do about reducing the national debt that is on our children and grandchildren and all. So the fact that with it with our national debt much of it is held by China also is a great source also

the great cost of our dollars because of trade. Well what happens if they dump our dollar. These are two good financial questions could you address the national debt issue and tell us Senator McCain how much is the Iraq war costing the United States per month. I don't remember the exact number. It varies with how you calculate the costs. It's very expensive Dorothy. I are darling like Dorothy I will end the war on one end with honor and bring our soldiers and Marines and airmen and sailors home with honor and I won't have to send them back because of the chaos and genocide that would ensue because we would do what the Democrats want to do and that set a date for surrender. So let me be very clear. Dorothy I will end the war and I will end it honorably and I am confident with the success we are achieving that. That's very very possible. Stop the spending Dorothy. Stop the entitlement side stop the wasteful spending I'd stop enacting entitlement programs which we are laying the payment

for on future generations of Americans. I will take Senator McCain because you mention the Medicare prescription drug bill or not have it paid for. Have a way to pay for it. Laura and I might say that we have got to fix Social Security and Medicare. It will not be there for next generations of young Americans and we're going to have to sit down Republican and Democrat alike. In 1983 Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill stood in the Rose Garden and said we're going to fix Social Security. And they did for about 25 or 30 years. We're going to have to repair these entitlement programs and we're going to have to stop enacting programs that we don't pay for that we're asking the next generation of young Americans to pay for and spending got completely out of control under this administration I fought against it. I voted against it. And as a United States I can tell you I will veto them and I will make the authors of them famous. I know how to stop the wasteful spending. As I said I saved the taxpayer at least two billion dollars on one program. I've saved lots and

lots of other millions and hundreds of millions by blocking other programs an out-of-control spending obviously. Dorothy I'm sure you appreciate the fact that our Republican base became very disenchanted because of the spending because of the Bridge to Nowhere a 233 million dollar bridge to an island in Alaska with 50 people on it. It's going to stop and I will exercise the veto pen and reform our entitlement programs. And then we will have fiscal sanity. What about China that has been coming up a lot in Republican and Democratic debates just broadly Senator McCain. What's the American approach toward China. B I think it's one of caution. China will be a world power. There's no doubt about that. I worry about the trade deficit although our American exports the last six months have been way up and a major source of our economic growth. But I worry when China puts missiles across the straits from Taiwan. I worry when China shuts down a military

intelligence satellite at the same altitude as ours are. I worry when decisions are made that affect China and the world in a seaside resort in secret. I worry when they renege on their commitment for Hong Kong to basically preserve their fundamental rights which are being abridged. I worry a lot about China but the reality is that China will be a world superpower. They will be. And the question is is how they entered the stage. And it requires leadership and knowledge and background and I believe that I have that so there's a lot of things I worry about China and the trade deficit is one of those. But I know how to deal with the Chinese and I know how we can best help them enter the world stage. And one of those ways by the way Dorothy is to maintain a military presence in Asia have Alliance in Asia with countries like Japan and Indonesia and others and make sure that there is a balance in Asia militarily diplomatically economically and ideologically.

Senator McCain now you said on China just now and on other issues such as Iraq that you know how to deal with these issues. Why did you prove that. And my approach to the Iraq war. Why. Why do you know better than the other Republican candidates why are you over Giuliani and Romney who by the way are still leading you in most polls at this point. Well to start with I've been involved in every national security issue in the last 20 years I have been involved whether it be Bosnia or Kosovo or the first Gulf War or any other. They haven't. I've shown the judgment because of the knowledge and background that I have that I have the judgment to lead. These are tough situations. Look when I was bitterly opposing the Rumsfeld strategy none of these other candidates said that when I was advocating the Petraeus strategy which Senator Edwards by the way when you have him on he used to call it the McCain strategy the McCain surge he doesn't anymore. And so I have a proven record of addressing national security challenges for

the last 20 years and before that for 20 years being involved in the active duty military and actually being around many of these crises beginning frankly with the Cuban missile crisis. So your knowledge experience and judgment given that you think you have the knowledge experience and judgment. I don't think so you know. OK I'll give you that because this is your hour. Why do you suppose Senator McCain that your campaign is not you know surging ahead of everybody else. Well I think we're doing fine. We talked about the endorsements we talked about moving up in the polls. We talked about an increase in our contributions. I'm very proud of the performance I've had in the debates. I'm very pleased with the way things are going and I am Laura I'm confident we will do very well here in New Hampshire. I'm confident that I've got a couple of e-mails I want to share with you Senator McCain. This is from Rob. He says Laura Please tell the Senator I have decided based on his comments today and on television to support his candidacy his positions on the war border control gun laws

governing reform fiscal conservative make him the best match he could make America feel good itself again much like I felt during the Reagan years. So that's Rob. Thank you Rob. Here comes the bad night. Here comes the other one this is from true in Elkins. Senator you were sounding tired to me both today and in what I heard of the NPR radio debate. Are you truly still ready. Assuming this person is talking about your age which is 70 I think to assume the way to the presidency. True. Come on out to town hall meeting. We'll get you the schedule. Call my office and you'll see we spent I think a 16 hour day yesterday. We're having fun. It's great. Great enjoyment. I am. I've never been more enthusiastic than I. Than I am now. And I tell you it's it's exciting and this is the exciting time of a political campaign and I'm I'm invigorated by it to tell you the truth true. I have another question for you. This is from Tim in Dover. You've answered half of this already Senator McCain

but the other half you haven't. Tim is an independent voter willing to support Republican candidates but he says I refuse to check my brain at the door on global warming evolution and other issues of science and faith he says. Can you state for New Hampshire voters that you believe in both global warming and evolution. Yes and I've stated that in the past. But I'd like to emphasize to you very briefly because I know we haven't got a lot of time but when I when I campaigned here in 2000 at a town hall meeting after town hall meeting young people came up and stood up and said What are you going to do about global warming. I went back to the Senate and we had hearing after hearing on my committee and I've been engaged on this issue to him for a long time and I believe we can find market based incentive based capitalist ways. In fact like G.E. is dead the world's largest corporations dedicate themselves to green technology. I'm not asking him to shiver in the dark but I am saying to him that we all are our next generation of

Americans a cleaner world and it has to be the highest priority of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. And I hope you'd look at Joe Lieberman and my proposal on cap and trade. We can do what we can do it. I think I happen to believe in evolution. But look I'm not running for president because of evolution or intelligent design. I'm running for president because I want to win the war again the struggle against radical Islamic extremism. I want to make this country safe. I want to ensure its future. I want to stop the spending. I want to give leadership that Americans can trust and confidence in their government again. I'm not running for president because of evolution. In one debate I think the Democrats were asked about their favorite bible quotes. It seems more and more in presidential debates. Candidates are asked about their religion. How appropriate do you think this discussion of faith is in a presidential election. Senator McCain it's up to the question. All I do is answer the question. I happen to be a person of faith and faith took me through some very difficult times in

my life and I've made many many mistakes in my life and I'm a great believer in redemption. But it's up to the priorities of the of the of the voters themselves. Speaking of redemption I want to talk about your political one minute that we have left Senator McCain. Why haven't you campaigned very much in Iowa and how well do you think you're going to do there in spite of that we've been out there. We were out there last week. It's very tough in Iowa. I don't support ethanol subsidies and that obviously is a big issue. I've got to give him straight talk. I think I can open every market in the world to ethanol and their products agricultural products. But I don't support subsidies for ethanol and I don't support cutting subsidies which has grown in my own state of Arizona. But look we're still working in Iowa but it's very tough. I'm very encouraged here in New Hampshire and I'm very encouraged in South Carolina. I know we've got a long way to go. And I know that the majority of voters have not made up their minds either here or South Carolina. And

that's why I'm very happy to have the chance to be with you again Laura and suffer this interrogation. Right away. But I will say thank you very much. It's great to be with you again. Our thanks again. That's Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona. Republican presidential candidate a reminder that our presidential coverage continues on Thursday with Republican Ron Paul so join us for that. E-mail us before the program if you want exchange it NAHB. The exchange is a production in New Hampshire Public Radio. The producer is Ty Fraley The engineer Dan COLGAN volunteer is Priscilla Melcombe the music composed by Bob Lord the exchanges executive producer Keith shields and I'm more. On. Line.

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