Obama and McCain: Key Senate Votes from 2005 through 2008
Wiretapping
July 9, 2008 -- The U.S. Senate passes -- by a vote of 69-28 -- the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008. The bill includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies.
McCain: Did not vote
Obama: Yea
Confirmation of Michael Mukasey as Attorney General
November 8, 2007 -- The U.S. Senate confirms -- by a vote of 53-40 -- Michael Mukasey as U.S. attorney general.
McCain: Did not vote
Obama: Did not vote
Habeas Corpus for Detainees
September 19, 2007 -- The U.S. Senate refuses -- by a vote of 56-43 -- to limit debate on an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 that would restore habeas corpus for those detained by the United States. The Writ of Habeas Corpus allows people to challenge the grounds of their imprisonment in a court of law.
McCain: Nay
Obama: Yea
Foreign Surveillance Policy
August 3, 2007 -- The U.S. Senate passes -- by a vote of 60-28 -- a bill to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to provide additional procedures for obtaining foreign intelligence information. It also allows for the surveillance of communications of suspected terrorists without a court warrant.
McCain: Did not vote
Obama: Nay
Military Tribunals
September 28, 2006 -- The U.S. Senate passes -- by a vote of 65-34 -- the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which establishes rules for the treatment and trial of accused terrorists.
McCain: Yea
Obama: Nay
U.S. Patriot Act
March 2, 2006 -- The U.S. Senate votes 89-10 to reauthorize expiring provisions of the USA Patriot Act. The controversial act, passed in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, enhanced the power of law enforcement agencies to fight terrorism at home and abroad.
McCain: Yea
Obama: Yea
Reauthorization of Expiring provisions of U.S. Patriot Act
December 16, 2005 -- The U.S. Senate rejects -- by a vote of 52-47 -- a motion to limit debate on a bill to extend and modify 16 expiring provisions of the 2001 anti-terrorism law known as the Patriot Act.
McCain: Yea
Obama: Nay
(Sources: CQ Weekly; U.S. Senate Legislation Database)