John McCain Quotes

In 1985 five Senators had received contributions from Lincoln Savings and Loan, and had interceded on the bank's behalf with federal regulators. The same request was made of the governor who refused. You don't intervene in the regulatory process. It's law enforcement. It's like a parent ... calling the police chief to say, "Don't touch my kid." It's wrong. [The Senators' efforts delayed the closure of the bank, costing the taxpayers billions of dollars.

Most members of Congress were simply on the take from the savings and loan industry.

I know a lot about what government does do, can do, should do.

I got into politics because businessmen should be spending your money.

My job is not to represent Washington to you, but to represent you to Washington.

So I went into government with a clear mind about what the problems were, and what needed to be done.

My appetite for public policy and changing it, and not only being a part of the conversation, but affecting it in a positive way, never diminished after 10 years in Congress.

There are good people in the lobbying industry. Lobbyists can serve a very useful purpose.

There is $2.6 trillion spent in Washington, with the authority to regulate everything in your life…. People will spend unheard-of amounts of money to influence that.

A legislator has thousands of issues he must decide. Five minutes of access to present your case is very valuable.

Regulators are wined and dined by the people they regulate.

[Describing a congressman's role:] ... a sort of super lobbyist for his constituents.

We do not engage in lobbying as such. However, I do make contact with members of Congress when requested to do so.

Lobbying is declared to be a crime.

You name me a profession and I’ll name you a lobbyist that represents them.

Unfortunately, public officials are largely controlled by the very corporations against which they should proceed.

In Washington, they do take money—I know it’s open, though it’s hard to identify—they take money from the same people they regulate. Now, in New York City, you would never get away with that …

Try spending a good chunk of your life as a reformer in the New York State Senate. See how you like it.

I taught policy and politics for seven years at a university. I told my students lobbyists are not a bad thing; they're absolutely vital.

I am working for Alaska's best interests.

I think, in Washington, getting things for the great people of Texas done is an important job.

I have a track record of going out and talking to my constituents and then standing up and representing them. That's what people want.

Residents expect their state leaders to deliver solutions for the people of their state.

Representing the people is not something 'our' representatives do. They are too busy representing a handful of private interest groups such as the financial sector, the military/security complex, and agribusiness.

I will fight hard for my constituents in Congress as I have done in the state Senate.