NEWSWEEK: Cover: Becoming McCain

The February 11, 2008 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday, February 4), "Becoming McCain" provides an in-depth look at Sen. John McCain's military and political careers, as well as his campaign's dramatic turnaround. Plus: an exclusive report on how Taliban inmates are buying their freedom from Afghanistan's jails. A look at how emotions play a big part in how voters select candidates; the backlash against happiness; and Elizabeth Hasselbeck on her baby blog, Rosie and being mean.
John McCain's campaign has moved past an apparent meltdown early on, and has gone on to win the New Hampshire, South Carolina and the Florida primaries, and most recently, got the endorsement from California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. In an interview for Newsweek's February 11 cover, "Becoming McCain" (on newsstands Monday, February 4), McCain, the Republican frontrunner going into Super Tuesday, tells Editor-At- Large Evan Thomas and White House Correspondent Holly Bailey, that "There are always difficulties in campaigns, and the successful campaigns are the ones that fix the problems ... I would hope that one of the lessons from this campaign is that you stick to what you believe in, you tell people the truth, you outcampaign your opponents, and even when you go through some very difficult times, you are steadfast."

When asked what he plans on doing about conservatives who are against him he said, "I've just got to continue to send the message that I believe in a big-tent party, and that the major concern that conservatives have is the threat of radical Islamic extremism, and that I'm best-qualified to keep the nation safe. We all need to join together and unite as we meet the challenge of November."
McCain, who's been dubbed "Senator Hothead," also admits to having a temper. "I'm a man of many failings," he says. "I make no bones about it. That's why I'm such a believer in redemption. I've done many, many things wrong in my life. The key is to try to improve." Still, the Arizona senator says that his temper is part of who he is and that he has had "strong disagreement with appropriators from time to time." But he rattled off a list of senior Republicans who respect him, including Sen. John Warner of Virginia and former senator Trent Lott of Mississippi. "You don't get the support of these people if they don't respect you," he says. "That's really what the Senate is about, not friendship. Was I angry when I saw the abuse that [Jack] Abramoff committed and his friends and members in Congress? Of course I was."
Although McCain has reportedly learned to control his temper, there are moments when he cannot or does not. Thomas recounts the story from last spring when at a closed-door meeting of senators and staff, Sen. John Cornyn of Texas tried to amend the immigration bill to make ineligible convicted felons, known terrorists and gang members. Agitated that any attempt to amend the bill would jeopardize its slim chance of passage, McCain snapped, "This is chickens---." Cornyn shot back that McCain shouldn't come parachuting in off the presidential-campaign trail at the last minute and start making demands. "F--- you," said McCain, in front of about 30 witnesses.
As part of the cover package Thomas provides an in-depth look at McCain's military career, which includes a 5-year-long detention as a prisoner of war, and how his background, family, struggles and accomplishments have influenced who he is today. McCain, who comes from a long military tradition, shares his thoughts on one of the leading issues for most voters, the War in Iraq. He says that despite once being a strong supporter of the military surge, he and other veterans like him "hate war." He adds, "we were proud to serve, but I don't think that any of us who encountered war think that it's anything but the worst thing, or the next to worst thing."