America must reclaim moral standing, McCain says

By Greg Clary
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) - Sen. John McCain said Thursday the United States must recover from the "moral failures" of human rights abuses and called for Americans to stand on the "right side" of history as a leader of the free world.

"I believe American leadership in opposition to human rights abuses, not silence, is the truest expression of our national character," McCain said in a speech to the Junior State of America, a civics education organization for high school students. "The United States since its founding has embraced a set of moral duties, among which I believe is the obligation to respect the God-given dignity of every human being."

The senator said that while America is by no means a perfect nation, failures such as the torture uncovered at Iraq's Abu Grahib prison give the country a chance to learn from mistakes and do better in the future.

"With each failure our conscience is stung, and we resolve to do better," he said. "Each time we say, 'never again,' whatever our flaws, whatever dangers we face, however sharp our debates, we must remain a country with a conscience."