McCain: Don't go to Baghdad to criticize U.S.

Sen. John McCain, right, on the subway with CNN's Jonathan Karl

Story Tools

Biography: Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona • Born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936. • Graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1958 and began a 22-year career as a naval aviator. • Shot down and captured in North Vietnam and held as prisoner of war from 1967 to 1973. • First elected U.S. House of Representatives in 1982. • Served two terms in the House before being elected to the Senate in 1985. • Re-elected to a third Senate term in November 1998. • Is a ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In CNN's "Subway Series," Jonathan Karl rode the Capitol subway with Senator John McCain, R-Arizona, and talked about issues driving the 2002 election campaign.

KARL: I wanted to get right to something that happened over the weekend. We saw members of Congress, Jim McDermott and (David) Bonior over there, in Baghdad, questioning the credibility of their president. Did they go too far?

McCAIN: Oh, absolutely, absolutely. Look, if Congressman McDermott and Congressman Bonior wanted to go to the floor of the House and question president's credibility, go right ahead and do it. Don't go to Baghdad and do it. You are helping the Iraqi government sell to the Iraqi people their hatred of the United States of America, and it's wrong, and -- I -- I honestly do not understand it.

KARL: You know, George Will actually suggested that this was worse than when Jane Fonda went over to Hanoi back during the Vietnam War.

McCAIN: Well, it's not as bad as what Jane Fonda did, because she got into a gun emplacement, said she'd like to shoot down American air power. But it's worse in the respect -- she was a young, troubled actress. I mean, let's face what she was.

These are members of Congress. These are supposed to be grown, mature individuals. I do not understand it.

Look, I travel all over the world at taxpayers' expense, and during the Clinton administration many times I disagreed, but I never disagreed publicly overseas. We disagreed domestically. We don't go to a foreign country, particularly an enemy of the United States of America.

KARL: We went back and looked at all the speeches that the president and the vice president have made of the last several months at fund-raisers, political fund-raisers, and in every one that we could find, there is talk about Iraq. Is it inappropriate for the president to be talking about war at a political fund-raiser?

McCAIN: I think at a political fund-raiser, it's perfectly appropriate to talk about all issues. I wouldn't at a political fund- raiser, obviously, attack any opponents of my policies.

The president and Tom Daschle are both frustrated not so much over Iraq, but over the failure of us to move on the homeland security bill. That's what the president was criticizing the Democrats about; the Democrats have been critical of the president. But I think it's a fine line, and you have to be very careful.

KARL: All right. Now, you don't mind if I mention your book?

McCAIN: No.

KARL: A lot of attention was paid to the last passage in this book, where you mention the possibility of making an exit from the political stage, leaving politics, retiring from your seat in the Senate. Look, you know what, the line that I saw was the line that you seem to be opening the door toward another run for the presidency.

McCAIN: No.

KARL: Yes. You see, you doubt you will ever have -- what is it -- the reason or the opportunity to run for president. Well, you doubt, but, I mean, you may well have the reason. We talked about some reasons right here, and the opportunity may present itself.

McCAIN: I envision no scenario that I will run for president.

KARL: I can envision a couple of scenarios.

McCAIN: I can't. I can't. But on the issue also of retrospection, 44 years I have been in public service, and I think when you are at a point as I am, then you ought -- you ought to look back and see what you have done, and look forward and see what you can do, and then make a judgment. I would most likely run for re-election in the Senate, but for me to just blindly say I'm going to continue until, you know, I die or leave feet first or something like that, I don't think that's the way I should serve my constituents.

KARL: On the Strom Thurmond model, you should have another five, 10 decades.

McCAIN: There is only one, there is only one Strom Thurmond. There is only one. Barry Goldwater left, as you know, and went home to Arizona, and didn't come back to Washington. That's one of the many things I admired him for.

KARL: But you are leaning toward a run for re-election?

McCAIN: Yes.

KARL: All right, well, Senator McCain, thanks for taking a ride on the subway of straight talk express.

McCAIN: Thank you, Jon. Appreciate it.

Panel: Spy agencies in dark about threats • White House calls pope inspiration for millions • Lott delays vote on base closing nominee • Former Clinton adviser Berger to plead guilty

CNN/Money: Security alert issued for 40 million credit cards • Bin Laden deputy sends message • U.S. House votes to keep U.N. dues • Iran poll to go to run-off