On August 27, the Associated Press, in an article headlined “GOP takes hard line on abortion for its platform,” reported that "[Sen. John] McCain opposes gay marriage but also is against a constitutional amendment against it. He has expressed limited support for the rights accorded couples in same-sex civil unions." The article also stated, “Apart from opposing a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, [McCain] is against most abortion rights and says he would favor overturning the Supreme Court decision affirming those rights.” In fact, McCain has expressed support for a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions and for a federal constitutional amendment banning abortion in most cases.

In contrast with the AP's claims that McCain “is against a constitutional amendment against” same-sex marriage and that "[h]e has expressed limited support for the rights accorded couples in same-sex civil unions," McCain supported Arizona's Proposition 107, a constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage and civil unions. Further, as Media Matters for America has documented, McCain has said he would support a constitutional amendment if the Supreme Court required states to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. McCain said on the March 13 edition of Hannity & Colmes: “I believe that states like mine and other states ... should amend our state constitutions. And I will stick to that position until such time, if ever, a higher court says that my state or another state has to recognize the other stat -- another status of marriage.” He added, “I'm committed to maintaining the unique status of marriage between man and woman. I think it can best be accomplished, and in keeping with my federalist philosophy that states should do as much as possible to have that done at the state level. ... But if it is overturned by a superior court, I will then obviously support the other path.” The AP has previously misrepresented McCain's position on same-sex marriage, as Media Matters has documented.

Additionally, contrary to the AP's claim that "[a]part from opposing a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, [McCain] is against most abortion rights and says he would favor overturning the Supreme Court decision affirming those rights," McCain has previously asserted that he supports a constitutional amendment banning abortion. As Media Matters documented, on the November 19, 2006, edition of ABC's This Week, host George Stephanopoulos said to McCain: “You're for a constitutional amendment banning abortion with some exceptions for life and rape and incest.” McCain replied: “Rape, incest, and the life of the mother, yes.” Stephanopoulos then asked: “So is President Bush, yet that hasn't advanced in the six years he's been in office. What are you going to do to advance a constitutional amendment that President Bush hasn't done?” McCain said: “I don't think a constitutional amendment is probably going to take place, but I do believe that it's very likely or possible that a Supreme Court should -- could overturn Roe v. Wade, which would then return these decisions to the states, which I support. ... I'm a federalist. Just as I believe that the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the states, so do I believe that we would be better off by having Roe v. Wade returned to the states.”

From the August 27 Associated Press article:

Sharp disagreements still exist in the party on social issues, but there appeared to be little taste for complicating McCain's chances by mounting a symbolic platform fight as the document is hashed out in Minneapolis.

The platform will be adopted at the Republican National Convention next week in St. Paul, Minn., after the committee finishes with it Wednesday at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

McCain opposes gay marriage but also is against a constitutional amendment against it. He has expressed limited support for the rights accorded couples in same-sex civil unions. Apart from opposing a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, he is against most abortion rights and says he would favor overturning the Supreme Court decision affirming those rights.