In the Washington soft money game, big business and big labor are accomplices working together to protect the mushy middle of big government, with plenty of special interest plums: Big unions get big spending and big business gets corporate welfare and special tax breaks - all at the expense of average Americans.

John McCain

We are taught to understand, correctly, that courage is not the absence of fear, but the capacity for action despite our fears.

John McCain

taught courage fear

Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that encompasses you but is not defined by your existence alone.

John McCain

causes fighting life-is

We are Americans first, Americans last, and Americans always.

John McCain

lasts firsts

Courage is the enforcing virtue, the one that makes possible all the other virtues common

John McCain

honesty leadership integrity

The political tactics of division and slander are not our values. They are corrupting influences on religion and politics, and those who practice them in the name of religion or in the name of the Republican Party or in the name of America shame our faith, our party and our country.

John McCain

party practice country

Glory belongs to the act of being constant to something greater than yourself, to a cause, to your principles, to the people on whom you rely and who rely on you in return.

John McCain

return causes people

Keep moving if you love life, and keep your troubles well behind you.

John McCain

inspirational life moving

In prison, I fell in love with my country. I had loved her before then, but like most young people, my affection was little more than a simple appreciation for the comforts and privileges most Americans enjoyed and took for granted. It wasn't until I had lost America for a time that I realized how much I loved her.

John McCain

simple appreciation country

I've been an imperfect servant of my country for many years. But I have been her servant first, last and always. And I've never lived a day, in good times or bad, that I didn't thank God for the privilege.

John McCain

thank-god country years

Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country.

John McCain

gas-stations russia country

Fear is the opportunity for courage, not proof of cowardice.

John McCain

motivation leadership positive

War is awful. Nothing, not the valor with which it is fought nor the nobility of the cause it serves, can glorify war. War is wretched beyond description and only a fool or a fraud could sentimentalize its cruel reality. Whatever is won in war, it is loss the veteran remembers.

John McCain

loss war reality

Suppose that climate change is not real and all we do is adopt green technologies, which our economy and our technology is perfectly capable of. Then all we've done is given our kids a cleaner world.

John McCain

technology real kids

On my honor, I swear to you, that from my first day in office to the last breath I draw, I will do everything in my power to make you proud of your government.

John McCain

government office honor

Washington is a Hollywood for ugly people. Hollywood is a Washington for the simpleminded.

John McCain

ugly hollywood people

There's two ways of working in Washington, ... One is to go along and get along. The other is to stand up for what you believe in.

John McCain

two believe way

Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because her father is Janet Reno.

John McCain

ugly clinton father

I disagree with what the majority of the American people want.

John McCain

majority want people

Many good people mistake their reputation for their character. It is a mistake I have made many, many times.

John McCain

mistake character people

We know for a fact the Russians tried to change the outcome of our election, attacking the very fundamental of democracy. We know they did that. We need to know how, we need to know why, and most of all we need to know what to do to prevent this kind of activity, which they continue to carry on in free nations around the world.

John McCain

democracy fundamentals needs