John McCain

=== Remainder of fourth Senate term ===

[[US Senate career of John McCain (2001–2014)#Activities after Obama election to presidency|Following his defeat, McCain returned to the Senate]] amid varying views about what role he might play there.<ref>Mooney, Alexander. [http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/18/mccain.future/index.html "McCain may face bumpy shift from White House run"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118214847/http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/18/mccain.future/index.html |date=November 18, 2008 }}, [[CNN]] (November 18, 2008). Retrieved November 21, 2008.</ref> In mid-November 2008 he met with President-elect Obama, and the two discussed issues they had commonality on.<ref>[[Jake Tapper|Tapper, Jake]]. [https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=6274538&page=1 "Obama, McCain Meet While Bill Speaks About Hillary"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212221434/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=6274538&page=1 |date=December 12, 2020 }}, ABC News (November 17, 2008). Retrieved November 21, 2008.</ref> Around the same time, McCain indicated that he intended to run for [[2010 United States Senate election in Arizona|re-election to his Senate seat in 2010]].<ref>Cillizza, Chris. [http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/11/mccains_next_step.html "McCain's Next Step: Re-Election in 2010"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708233419/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/11/mccains_next_step.html |date=July 8, 2009 }}, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (November 19, 2008). Retrieved November 21, 2008.</ref> As the inauguration neared, Obama consulted with McCain on a variety of matters, to an extent rarely seen between a president-elect and his defeated rival,<ref>Kirkpatrick, David D. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/19/us/politics/19mccain.html "Obama Reaches Out for McCain's Counsel"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415202642/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/19/us/politics/19mccain.html |date=April 15, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'' (January 19, 2009). Retrieved January 20, 2009.</ref> and President Obama's inauguration speech contained an allusion to McCain's theme of finding a purpose greater than oneself.<ref>Brune, Tom. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090712220416/http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/wednesday/nation/ny-usanal2112376956jan21%2C0%2C3845582.story "Obama speech strong but anti-climatic" (sic)], ''[[Newsday]]'' (January 20, 2009). Retrieved January 20, 2009.</ref>

[[File:President Barack Obama and Senator John McCain press conference.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Barack Obama speaking in foreground at an indoor event with an American flag in background; John McCain behind him, somewhat of focus| President [[Barack Obama]] and McCain at a press conference in March 2009]]

Nevertheless, McCain emerged as a leader of the Republican opposition to the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009|Obama economic stimulus package of 2009]], saying it incorporated federal policy changes that had nothing to do with near-term job creation and would expand the growing federal budget deficit.<ref>Hulse, Carl and Herszenhorn, David M. [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/us/politics/07stimulus.html "Senators Reach Deal on Stimulus Plan as Jobs Vanish"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427173556/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/us/politics/07stimulus.html |date=April 27, 2017 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'' (February 6, 2009). Retrieved February 7, 2009.</ref> McCain also voted against Obama's Supreme Court nomination of [[Sonia Sotomayor]]—saying that while undeniably qualified, "I do not believe that she shares my belief in judicial restraint"<ref>[[Kelly O'Donnell|O'Donnell, Kelly]] and Montanaro, Domenico. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090805042848/http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/08/03/2018373.aspx "McCain to vote against Sotomayor"], [[NBC News]] (August 3, 2009). Retrieved August 22, 2009.</ref>—and by August 2009 was siding more often with his Republican Party on closely divided votes than ever before in his senatorial career.<ref>Giroux, Greg. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090822120228/http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003192795 "McCain: Maverick No More?"], [[CQ Politics]] (August 19, 2009). Retrieved August 22, 2009.</ref> McCain reasserted that the War in Afghanistan was winnable<ref>McCain, John and others. [https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203440104574404753110979442 "Only Decisive Force Can Prevail in Afghanistan"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824012052/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203440104574404753110979442 |date=August 24, 2017 }}, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' (September 13, 2009). Retrieved November 17, 2009.</ref> and criticized Obama for a slow process in deciding whether to send additional U.S. troops there.<ref name="time-voice">Newton-Small, Jay. [https://web.archive.org/web/20091011095913/http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1929092,00.html "John McCain: Can He Mend Fences with the Right?"], ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' (October 8, 2009). Retrieved November 20, 2009. In print magazine as "Voice in the Wilderness", October 19, 2009.</ref>

McCain also harshly criticized Obama for scrapping construction of the [[U.S. missile defense complex in Poland]], declined to enter negotiations over climate change legislation similar to what he had proposed in the past, and strongly opposed the [[Obama health care plan]].<ref name="time-voice" /><ref name="pol111909">Lerer, Lisa. [http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29747.html "John McCain slams 'horrendous' climate bill"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726195404/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29747.html |date=July 26, 2010 }}, ''[[Politico]]'' (November 19, 2009). Retrieved November 20, 2009.</ref> McCain led a successful filibuster of a measure that would allow repeal of the military's "[[Don't ask, don't tell]]" policy towards gays.<ref>Shane, Leo, III, [http://www.stripes.com/news/don-t-ask-don-t-tell-reversal-measure-falters-in-senate-1.119042 "'Don't ask, don't tell' reversal measure falters in Senate"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925074505/http://www.stripes.com/news/don-t-ask-don-t-tell-reversal-measure-falters-in-senate-1.119042 |date=September 25, 2010 }}, ''[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]'', September 21, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2010.</ref> Factors involved in McCain's new direction included Senate staffers leaving, a renewed concern over national debt levels and the scope of federal government, a possible Republican primary challenge from conservatives in 2010, and McCain's campaign edge being slow to wear off.<ref name="time-voice" /><ref name="pol111909" /> As one longtime McCain advisor said, "A lot of people, including me, thought he might be the Republican building bridges to the Obama Administration. But he's been more like the guy blowing up the bridges."<ref name="time-voice" />

[[File:Flickr - europeanpeoplesparty - EPP in the USA (18).jpg|thumb|right|alt=Man in office with old-style furnishings|McCain in his Senate office, November 2010]]

In early 2010, a primary challenge from radio talk show host and former U.S. Congressman [[J. D. Hayworth]] materialized in the Senate election in Arizona and drew support from some but not all elements of the Tea Party movement.<ref name="nyt020910" /><ref name="wapo052210" /> With Hayworth using the campaign slogan "The Consistent Conservative", McCain said—despite his own past use of the term on a number of occasions<ref name="wapo052210" /><ref>Jacobson, Louis. [http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/apr/06/john-mccain/mccains-ultimate-maverick-move-denial/ "McCain's ultimate maverick move, denial"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031071022/http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2010/apr/06/john-mccain/mccains-ultimate-maverick-move-denial/ |date=October 31, 2014 }}, [[PolitiFact]] (April 6, 2010). Retrieved October 31, 2014.</ref>—"I never considered myself a maverick. I consider myself a person who serves the people of Arizona to the best of his abilities."<ref>[[David Margolick|Margolick, David]]. [http://www.newsweek.com/id/235883 "The McCain Mutiny"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428183721/http://www.newsweek.com/id/235883 |date=April 28, 2010 }}, ''[[Newsweek]]'' (April 3, 2010). Retrieved April 6, 2010.</ref> The primary challenge coincided with McCain reversing or muting his stance on some issues such as the bank bailouts, closing of the [[Guantánamo Bay detention camp]], campaign finance restrictions, and gays in the military.<ref name="nyt020910">Steinhauer, Jennifer. [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/us/politics/09arizona.html "From Right of Radio Dial, Challenge to McCain"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010032045/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/us/politics/09arizona.html |date=October 10, 2016 }}, ''[[The New York Times]]'' (February 9, 2010). Retrieved February 13, 2010.</ref>

When the health care plan, now called the [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]], passed Congress and became law in March 2010, McCain strongly opposed the landmark legislation not only on its merits but also on the way it had been handled in Congress. As a consequence, he warned that congressional Republicans would not work with Democrats on anything else: "There will be no cooperation for the rest of the year. They have poisoned the well in what they've done and how they've done it."<ref>O'Brien, Michael. [https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/64834-mccain-dont-expect-gop-cooperation-on-legislation-for-the-rest-of-this-year/ "McCain: Don't expect GOP cooperation on legislation for the rest of this year"] , ''[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]'' (March 22, 2010). Retrieved March 28, 2010.</ref> McCain became a vocal defender of [[Arizona SB 1070]], the April 2010 tough anti-illegal immigration state law that aroused national controversy, saying that the state had been forced to take action given the federal government's inability to control the border.<ref name="wapo052210">Slevin, Peter. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052102162.html "Hard line on immigration marks GOP race in Arizona"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124149/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052102162.html |date=March 4, 2016 }}, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' (May 22, 2010). Retrieved May 22, 2010.</ref><ref>Good, Chris. [https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/04/mccain-defends-arizonas-immigration-law/39518/ "McCain Defends Arizona's Immigration Law"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415200733/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/04/mccain-defends-arizonas-immigration-law/39518/ |date=April 15, 2017 }}, ''[[The Atlantic]]'' (April 26, 2010). Retrieved May 22, 2010.</ref> In the August 24 primary, McCain beat Hayworth by a 56 to 32&nbsp;percent margin.<ref>[http://www.politico.com/2010/maps/#/Senate/2010/AZ "The 2010 Results Map – Senate – 2010 – AZ"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190613234450/https://www.politico.com/2010/maps/#/Senate/2010/AZ |date=June 13, 2019 }}, ''[[Politico]]'' (August 25, 2010). Retrieved August 25, 2010.</ref> McCain proceeded to easily defeat Democratic [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]] city councilman Rodney Glassman in the general election.<ref name=Nov2010>[http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/morning_call/2010/11/republicans-sweeping-statewide-races.html "McCain, Republicans sweep statewides"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129031923/http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/morning_call/2010/11/republicans-sweeping-statewide-races.html |date=November 29, 2010 }}, ''[[Phoenix Business Journal]]'' (November 3, 2010). Retrieved November 3, 2010.</ref>

In the lame duck session of the [[111th Congress]], McCain voted for the compromise [[Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010]],<ref>{{cite news | last=Potts |first= Tracie |url = http://www2.counton2.com/news/2010/dec/14/lawmakers-compromise-tax-deal-nobody-completely-ha-ar-1221138/ | url-status=dead| archive-date= March 11, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311143034/http://www2.counton2.com/news/2010/dec/14/lawmakers-compromise-tax-deal-nobody-completely-ha-ar-1221138/ |title= Lawmakers compromise on tax deal, nobody completely happy |publisher=[[WCBD-TV]] |date=December 14, 2010 | access-date=November 15, 2012}}</ref> but against the [[DREAM Act]] (which he had once sponsored) and the [[New START Treaty]].<ref name="db-anger">Walshe, Shushannah. [http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/12/22/john-mccains-dont-ask-dont-tell-dream-votes-and-his-lasting-anger.html "John McCain's Lasting Anger"], ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' (December 21, 2010). Retrieved November 15, 2012.</ref> Most prominently, he continued to lead the eventually losing fight against "Don't ask, don't tell" repeal.<ref name="wapo121810" /> In his opposition, he sometimes fell into anger or hostility on the Senate floor, and called its passage "a very sad day" that would compromise the battle effectiveness of the military.<ref name="db-anger" /><ref name="wapo121810">Milbank, Dana. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/18/AR2010121802738.html "John McCain at his fieriest before 'don't ask, don't tell' vote"], ''The Washington Post'' (December 18, 2010). Retrieved December 26, 2010.</ref>