John McCain in Bradley & McCain discussion

On Civil Rights: Limit campaign contributions, not free speech

A: That is a very clever misrepresentation of my position... what we are trying to do is to make sure that the so-called uncontrolled money, the soft money, does not have the influence over... this (political) process. I want you to be involved in every campaign, but I want you to adhere to the $1,000 limits on contributions

On Government Reform: Call the problem special interests, and Americans care

A: We know what the influence of this big money is on the legislative process and how it’s taken the government away from the American people and given it to the special interests... if you ask that question in a different way, ‘Are you concerned about the influence of special interests in big money in Washington,’ you would find that priority goes way up amongst the American people.

On Government Reform: Special interests try to buy influence

A: In 1907, Theodore Roosevelt, the great reformer, was able to get corporate contributions to American political campaigns outlawed, because the robber barons had taken over American politics. A Republican Congress in 1947 outlawed union contributions to political campaigns. Those laws are still on the books. They’ve been avoided, emasculated, & gone around... and the fact is that now, causes have turned into businesses.

On Government Reform: Money corrupts politics, and soft money corrupts absolutely

A: I don’t believe in public financing because I don’t think my tax dollars should be used to fund a person’s campaign that I philosophically disagree with... I think soft money is the primary evil. I believe that there’s going to come a time when people will say ‘this system is broken.’... It’s now legal in America for a Chinese Army-owned corporation with a subsidiary in the U.S. to give unlimited amounts of money to an American campaign.

On Government Reform: McCain justices would uphold the law on soft money

A: I do not believe in a litmus test for a nominee on any issues because I don’t think it’s proper... However, Buckley vs. Vallejo upheld the $1,000 contribution limit. The Supreme Court also said in that decision that money in politics creates the appearance of corruption.

On Government Reform: Fight for years to get campaign reform through Congress

A: You’re looking at two people who have had this commitment for many, many years. And obviously it doesn’t inspire a broad-based support in some areas, in some places, but I will remain committed until my last breath.

On Technology: Free TV & radio to candidates as a public interest

A: The TV and radio stations use the public’s assets, the spectrum, in order to function. When they get a license to use that, they sign a piece of paper that says they will act in the “public interest.” It seems to me that the public interest is clearly that they should help with the political process. These folks are good at enticing people to watch their stations. I think they could do a good job helping candidates attract viewers.