We'll 'never' see the McCains' tax returns?
By Steve Benen Wednesday May 07, 2008 6:40pmThe Obamas released tax returns for both Barack and Michelle. The Clintons released returns for both Bill and Hillary. But when John McCain released his tax returns a few weeks ago, Cindy McCain’s tax documents will remain private.
It’s not too hard to understand why. The McCains are extraordinarily wealthy — one might even be tempted to call them “elites” — and Cindy McCain’s assets are estimated to be about $100 million, including a private jet, which her husband has been borrowing at a reduced rate.
Given the other candidates’ disclosures, and McCain’s own alleged commitment to transparency, will we ever see Cindy McCain’s returns? She was asked on the “Today” show this morning, and said, politely, “Never.”
I’ll tell you a little secret: at first blush, I’m not inclined to care. The McCains have more money than some countries, they haven’t been accused of any financial improprieties, and while it’s interesting when a guy like McCain opposes minimum-wage increases while flying around on his wife’s private jet, I’m not exactly itching to go through Cindy McCain’s tax returns. In fact, I’m not surprised that someone of her wealth would want to keep her returns free of scrutiny.
But this is absolutely relevant in this presidential campaign for a few reasons.
First, John McCain, for all of his talk about the importance of transparency and disclosure, has gone out of his way to ensure that all of his assets are in his wife’s name. And as Kevin recently noted, “There’s only one reason for a politician to make sure that all his assets are in his wife’s name: it’s to make sure that no one knows anything about his assets. It’s not as if McCain is the first pol to try this, after all. Is the press really going to let him get away with this?”
Which leads us to the second reason this matters: McCain has always relied on his wife’s wealth, and has always “mixed business and politics.” If the point of releasing tax returns is to offer voters a chance to get a better sense of the candidate, then it’s incumbent on the McCains to stop acting like they have something to hide.
And third, there’s just the shameless hypocrisy of it all. In 2004, the Republican National Committee spent quite a bit of time and energy demanding that the Kerry campaign release Teresa Heinz Kerry’s tax returns. The candidate’s wife resisted, but after pressure from the GOP and the media, she eventually gave in and made the materials publicly available.
The situation is exactly the same. John Kerry made less money than his wife, who inherited most of her fortune. McCain is practically broke, and relies on his wife’s millions, which were also inherited.
In other words, if we hold the McCains to the standards set by the Republican Party, they owe the public some additional information. The press hounded the Kerrys on this; we’ll see if the media chooses to give the McCains equal treatment. I’m not optimistic.
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I thought Teresa Heinz didn't release her records either. I'm I right? Quite frankly, I can't stand Cindy, wasn't she the other woman?
McPimple is stupid. He gives control of all his assets to his wife and then calls her the "C" word? That's a free trip to Paupersville in my books.
Not smart there, dipshit.
BTW, where did her money come from?
From what i understand they signed a pre-nup. Wouldn't any woman who cheated with a married man?
I hate to say it, but I don't freakin care.... I don't want them in the white house running things so why should I give a damn whether they want to devulge what they pay in taxes or if they are even paying taxes or not... I have a lot better reasons for not voting for this old fart then whether he or his missus is scamming on taxes or not...JD
She scares me.
McCain's membership in Keating Five is enough reason to demand access to information about the couple's money. What investments she has is the second. Too many in congress are making money from war and weapons-related investments. We have a right to know where their financial interests lie.
What a wonderful First Lady Cindy would be, who clud restore America' reputation in the world, the rich and secretive beer lady who make millions selling Bud to the rubes.
You're right Jack, I think most politicains are either tax evaders or find some other way to make themselves richer.
the gop and ALL those of this party
are total hypocrites and LIARS. if
this B*tch will not release her tax returns,
then mccain must not be allowed to run for
president. we have had 8 yrs of deception
and criminal acts by bush and cheney, we
don't need another single digit intelligence in
the whitehouse.
Well excuuuuuuuse me!
Oh, No!!! You're trying to start a CLASS WAR!!!
There has been a class war going on for a long time. It's just that the Democratic Party hasn't been fighting back. Abortion is a class issue. Roe v. Wade just made it available to people who couldn't afford to fly out of the country to have it done. Same-sex marriage is a class issue. The wealthy and privileged don't need to get health insurance through a partner's employer, and won't be kept out of the ICU because they're "not family."
The privileged class needs to get a taste of their own medicine. Don't let go of this. I'm contacting the MSM to demand they press the McSame's.
Forgetting about the Keating Five, are we?
The Obama campaign went ultra-negative early and often suggesting that the Clintons were hiding something evil by not releasing their tax returns the moment the ultra-negative Obama campaign demanded they release them.
When can we expect to hear the ultra-negative Obama campaign make the same case against the McCains?
When will that be?
Why do we even ask to see tax records
Or medical reports
Unless we suspect corruption
Or impending death
In which case corruption will come soon enough.
Tereza Heinz Kerry did release "a portion" of her 2003 return.
http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2004/10/teresa_heinz_ke.html
However, if the only thing that can be used against McCain is his wife's tax returns, we may as well hum Hail to the Chief and kiss the country goodbye.
ysbaddaden, by the looks of McPimples face, the corruption has already started.
Death! Where is thy sting!?
He is a walking corpse.
I am starting to see a consistent but disturbing rationalization on this site. The "republicans did it too" line is a really sad attempt to justify suggested actions for Democrats. The goal is not to "do to them what they did to us". The goal is to fix a horribly toxic and divisive environment and return to some sort of functional government. It is always tempting to get some payback but (at the risk of being accused of elitism) I would rather not stoop to the level of what's been done.
Cindy McCain is rich. So what? So was Ms. Kerry. I see no reason why either should be coerced to share private information.
Today, John McCain's wife Cindy declared she would never release her tax returns. Unfortunately, the McCains are bucking the tide of public opinion regarding her income and $100 million fortune. The American people by lopsided margins overwhelmingly believe presidential candidates should disclose their tax returns. And as they showed four years ago in the imbroglio over Theresa Heinz Kerry, the leading lights of the Republican Party and the conservative movement used to agree.
For the details, see:
"Polls, 2004 GOP Say Cindy McCain Wrong Not to Disclose Taxes."
I mean I could give two hoots in hell how much money she made. But what I love is it's just another rich-ass Repug hiding the ball. Keep it up knuckle-draggers.
JoGoBamma(formerly Jo) @ 2:
A beer company.
I could not help but notice the age difference between her and Sen. McCain. He was 39 y/o and she was 21 y/o when they married. She said they have been married 28 years. Assuming they dated a couple of years before they married that means he was dating a teenager when he was 37 y/o. I'm glad for their successful marriage. But............. my daughter is 18 and if some 36 y/o man came stiffing around her I would pay him a little visit and remind to pick on someone his "... own size or I going to whup your ass like your Daddy should have done years ago." What kind of man dates a teen-ager when he's that age? Cindy may not have to release her tax returns but I think it's a fair question to ask candidate McCain what he thinks about a middle-aged man dating a teen-ager girl. Lets' face it. That 's exactly what it is.
Funniest part about Obama's demanding the Clintons release their tax returns was his tax returns showing such a lack of charity until he started his run for the Presidency. According to his returns, he couldn't even be troubled enough to donate to Katrina relief!
Hey, might as well start showing us how secretive his admin will be now, right?
Who needs open government, anyway?
ysbaddaden @ 14:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So we'll know who's a** they're kissing and to whom they are beholden. It does matter how they make their money; and if there is nothing shady to hide, why not disclose? Cindy, Dear, you may not be the candidate, but you signed up for this ride right along with Johnny Boy. You knew what you were getting into.
I donot blame her!
tc at #16.
You see no reason why they should release info? What if he made money chewing the heads off rats at a rock fest. Wouldn't you want to know what kind of a president that would make him?
I'm not saying he does chew the heads off rats, even though he looks like he does, I'm just saying the voter needs to know what the hell is going to be sitting in the white house. And where he got his money to get there.
POdVet @ 22:
This ought to be interesting
http://tinyurl.com/3qhcc2
General_Rennenkampf @ 20
A beer
companydistributorship.FIFY :D
Can't see why she doesn't dump him and take all his hidden assets with her. Would serve him right.
I was liking Obama alot till I saw this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AaL1Se38gg I don't mind so much what he said (though I don't agree), but hte fact his campaign disabled comments on this SPECIFIC video is telling.
She didn't say 'never' , silly..
... she's a Republican ..
She said .."f*** you and kiss my rich white a**."
Does anyone think his marriage to " a much younger woman" undermine his character? what hasn't the tabloid press, corporate media or blogosphere talked about that?
Even Keating Five was what, 20--25 years ago?
Than we should be asking for medical records and regular tinkle tests from Obama because of his admitted drug use as a young man.
env @ 32:
It's part of his straight-talk maverick persona. He didn't just date her when he was young, he went over to her house and said to her parents, "My friends, let's have some staight-talk. I want to fuck your daughter."
McCain 2008.
We shouldn't be asking for tax records, especially of spouses.
We should be asking for open elections where all contributors are reported.
Or publically funded elections with no campaign contributions at all.
too bad you have to be a millionaire to run for politics.
the chances that everyday americans are going to get someone to represent their interests for a change are about those of a snowballs chances in hades
we'd be better off picking names out of a hat, get a true representative sample of the american people in congress and the country will get back on track
right now, its just crooked rich guys in there to screw over average americans
how about a third house of congress appointed by a lottery system, say 100 people per state, picked at random, who would have final approval of legislation drafted by the other two houses full of "elected" crooks
env @ 32:
Ehh, I would rather leave the personal sex lives of the candidate out of the picture entirely.
Did John Kerry's wife disclose? Just askin.
JeffS @ 34:
Ok, that actually made me laugh. :)
It's Me @ 13:
and here we have another gop get-the-facts-wrong "moron". the obama
campaign and obama himself did not go negative early on or even first.
try telling the truth or at least listen before you speak again.
JeffS @ 34-
It’s part of his straight-talk maverick persona. He didn’t just date her when he was young, he went over to her house and said to her parents, “My friends, let’s have some staight-talk. If you are worth millions of dollars, I want to fuck your daughter.”
FIFY :D
hazmaq @ 31:
Who gives a shit?
I venture even you would like to have a "rich (fill in the color) ass" for everyone to kiss. I know I would.
She has something she's hiding.
Thats the bottom line.
Andy K Jong Il @ 28:
Thankee. :)
POdVet @ 22:
He gave 10% of his income -before the books made him wealthy -to his own church- 10%, to a church, not the Pastor.
Barack also gave a lot of his own campaign money to help elect other Dems, including Hillary.
While Bill and Hillary gave less money, percentage wise, to charity -after becoming 25 TIMES as wealthy as the Obamas. And, Hillary refused to use her campaign coffers to help other Dems get elected.
There's charity, then there's bullsh**.
When checking facts, I found your words almost verbatim -from FOX
General_Rennenkampf @ 44
Whew! Glad you appreciated it! Sometimes people don't. Just thought yours needed more specificity.
BTW, didn't you say lately that you're collecting a diploma soon?
jdrabe @ 36:
Waaaah?
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Speaker."
Next well thought out idea?
hazmaq @ 45:
That's such crap. Dropping the "Fox" sliming would have been a better finish.
L.A. Confidential @ 43:
She probably put all her money in Euros like Bush and Cheney did a few years back when they knew they were going to tank the dollar.
With a capital C.
It's Me @ 13:
It's Me, do you have any idea how tiresome Clinton-as-victim has become? The vast majority of sane people realize that Clinton is the one who has been more negative, more often. It's no surprise that her own negatives have risen much more than Obama's even as she has been trying to tear him down.
Although Clinton is often accused of being willing to "do anything" to get the nomination, I don't believe that is literally true. For example, I don't believe she would subject herself to real sniper fire just to have a shot at the White House.
The aggrieved Clinton fan is as boring as the aggrieved Obama supporter. Anyone who has paid attention to the campaign knows who's guilty of what. I realize that victimhood is always a key element of any Clinton strategy (both Clintons), but it really is time to stop whining and start thinking seriously about a John McCain presidency. Are you like the half of the Clinton supporters in Indiana who said they would vote for McCain over Obama? If so, then you ought to be posting on RedState, LGF, or some other wingnut site.
well, we still have not seen Bill Clinton's $$$ on the Library and the Foundation....so the Beer Baroness probally think she does not have to put forth her records either...
Hey McCain. It's the transparency, stupid.
So Cindy McCain is admitting, and John eagerly allows, that it that she who wears the pants in the family, after all his tough guy talk of being a war prisoner and the best foreign policy expert since who, Eisenhower?
All Obama has to do is show that McCain grovels for money at his wife's feet, and the general election is his. And this seems to be the case with McCain.
It's sad that McCain has presented himself as a maverick, a tough guy who endured pain. A guy you would want in your Faux hole as bullets were flying.
In truth, McCain is very much like Walter Mitty. The difference is that Walter Mitty kept his self-agrandisement to himself. He didn't run for president based on his woeful fantasies, and his pure inventions about his real accomplishments.
And Walter Mitty never succumbed to relying on his wife's money.
Andy K Jong Il @ 46:
Yeah, high school. I'm almost into College.
oh really @ 51:
IMHO, most of those "Clinton" supporters were probably GOP dudes as part of Operation Chaos....
what has she done to be worth a 100 million. just another parasite stealing from the poor.
You don't need Cindy McCain's tax return to reasonably conclude that John McCain is a very very rich man despite any interpretation of his salary being meagre. How wealthy would you be if the vast majority of your paycheck was disposable income? 20 years of that and I'd have an investment portfolio strong enough to pay the bills.
L.A. Confidential @ 43:
Perhaps that her husband (not his first choice either) is OK sidling up to the real agents of intolerance...
..just sayin'
porkchop @ 59:
Don't pussy around calling the Religious Right what they are: a fascist parasite sucking off of the American democracy and may one day consume it.
General_Rennenkampf @ 60:
Go ahead and call names. It will do you well to ignore the words our opponent used himself before he found the jeebus.
Guess the jeebus wasn't looking for him first.
Well the Republicans DEMANDED that the Dems release their tax info so whats good for the goose is good for the OLD geisher....I mean gander.
His return showed he gave away most of this earnings SO that means he is living off his wife so she needs to release them. She stated her husband is the candidate WELL in the event he wins (God help us all) she will be the First Lady and she needs to show everything she is hiding. Heinze was backed into a corner and everyone in the Rep. party was screaming for her to release them so its only fair that Cindy do the same.
Seems to me there is a double standard and that has to stop. Time to get McCain on the hot seat and start getting some REAL answers from him and not his jolly Santa chuckle and blank stare. McCain has been "teflon John" for way to long. Just because he has an "R" behind his name doesnt mean media and others shouldnt question him on many many issues.
Fair is fair. She needs to release those taxex just like Kerry's wife did. If she doesn't McLame should let Huckabbee run in his place.
I'm more pissed off that he collects Social Security. Sucks every dime he can out of a broke country. His cheating druggie wife I don't care about.
nick @ 64:
And gets around 60,000 in full disability payments from the military each year.
I'm sure she has a coat made out of 101 dalmations puppies!
The DNC needs to jump on this, don't you think?
She'd be required by law to disclose her personal income as First Lady, right? I mean, I don't know the law, but that's correct, isn't it? It's certainly a time-honored custom, if it isn't a law.
So why refuse to disclose her income now?
Or is she going to refuse to disclose her finances if her husband is elected? Someone ought to ask her.
I suspect she's worth a hell of a lot more than anyone suspects.
And a full Senate paycheck. Social Security is to help supplement your retirement. How did he have the balls to show up to sign up for his SS. Did he ever have a job other than a government job? Republican's are something else.
nick @ 69:
That's why he and Cindy keep their finances separate.
He wants to collect that SS check. No means testing for him.
She gives me the creeps.
[deleted--over the top]
Sorry
There is only one reason this over the hill Trophy Wife wants to get her senile husband into the White House. She saw the good drugs they gave Pickles and figured she'd get all the painkillers she could gobble down if she could get Bush III elected.
Seriously though, doesn't she play the nice demure little woman. Sorry Cindy, let's talk about the special treatment you got during your drug escapades as well as the lives you ruined in the effort to try and keep it a secret. This is the type of person McCain marries and also the type of person he surrounds himself with in his campaign staff. Let's make sure the public doesn't forget that McCain is all about special treatment for the few and that he has absolutely no concern or compassion for the have-nots.
Where's her flag pin????
Johnny2Bad @ 38:
You really should bother to read the whole actual post before asking questions that are answered right in the original text.
Or, to quote another, far more famous person than I,
"Why can't Johnny read?"
motorfingaz @ 75:
Her scary white preacher forgot to give it to her.
The only people that vote republican are the super stupid, the super greedy, and the insane, they are what makes up the republican party.
Small minded biggots.
Uptight. Cold. Chilly.
She's like the witch from Narnia.
A Republican poster wife for sure.
hazmaq @ 45:
"He gave 10% of his income -before the books made him wealthy -to his own church- 10%, to a church, not the Pastor.
There’s charity, then there’s bullsh**."
2006 made $983,826 donated $60,307 6.1%
2005 made $1,655,106 donated $77,315 4.7%
2004 made $207,647 donated $2,500 1.2%
2003 made $238,327 donated $3,400 1.4%
2002 made $259,394 donated $1,050 0.4%
2001 made $272,759 donated $1,470 0.5%
2000 made $240,505 donated $2,350 1.0%
Those figures are from Obama's tax returns...show me where he donates 10%!
Snobby elitist bitch.
If he can't be transparent about his financial life, he should not be running for President. Release of financial entanglements go with the territory. If he can't come clean, he should withdraw.
Aside from the double-standard compared with Democrats, there's also the probability that the wealthy, right-wing McCains are like my wealthy, right-wing relatives who employ accountants to ensure that they pay little or no taxes ever. I always love how my right-wing relatives crow about their support for the military, the prisons, the police, but then they work their hardest to make sure none of their money goes to fund them.
I know that this is not really relevant, or fair, but once I thought of the name "Cruella DeVille" while watching Ms. McCain, I could not stop.
Try it: just watch and try not to think of Cruella DeVille.
"they haven’t been accused of any financial improprieties"
Ummmm, Hello!!! Have you ever heard of the Keating Five?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Then the McCain's should only see the White House as a visitor. !
that's funny... mcBush and his transparency.
like classifying his military record (pow-era) confidential/secret.
and now, the guy with more lobbyists than any other candidate, won't disclose tax information.
throw in the keating crap and the $7 million banquet dinners and foreign nationals investing money in this candidate (because, when a foreigner is contributing to a candidate, he is investing i assure you)
United States of America
R.I.P.
1776-2012
(kinda makes you think about that Mayan calendar stopping at 2012 when mountains of bullshit like this happen.)
I think that's kind of funny. Maybe we should just make sure we never see Cindy McCain as First Lady.
Then, it won't be a problem.
Suggested talking point variations:
* Does America want a president who's money comes from an allowance from his wife?
* He wants to be president, but his only assets are an allowance he gets from his wife?
and so on...
Who were those creepy white haired people in Star Trek: Enterprise?
I think I detect the faint signs of blue antennae on Cindy's head.
Could it be that Cindy is earning money from lobbyists or others courting favor for special legislation that McCain has supported? Or is she earning her money in part from something less respectable than beer?
ysbaddaden @ 33:
Nice equivalence. The Keating Five scandal cost taxpayers BILLIONS of dollars. Obama's admitted drug use cost, how much?
Good for her. Her finances are her own damn bussiness. I'm no McCain fan but she's right.
YS@35;
Ya nailed it bro................JD
Someone needs to check the veracity of her statement that "for 28" years they've always filed separately.
mudkitty @ 96:
Hello mudkitty. How have you been? Long Time no see. Nice to see my fellow mudcritter again.
Well, you'd be surprised to learn that conservative - and even moderate voices - have taken the wife of John Sidney McCain III - Cindy Lou (Hensley) McCain - to task for not making her returns public. Let's take a listen.
The National Review's Andrew Stuttaford writes:
http://www.nationalreview.com/stuttaford/stuttaford200410190840.asp
Matthew Continetti in The Weekly Standard thinks she should share her returns:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Utilities/printer_preview.asp?idArticle=40...
And of course Robert Novak wants to add his two cents worth:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&add...
Why even the Washington Post editors thought it's bad precedent for a spouse not to share their tax returns:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A2374-2004May4
So there you have it - a unanimous verdict that Cindy Lou (Hensley) McCain should share her tax returns.
Ummmm - wait a minute ... it seems those were ALL written by folks who thought that Theresa (Heinz) Kerry - wife of Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry - should make her returns public.
Never mind. The IOKIYAR rubric survives unblemished.
(concept pilfered from http://nitpicker.blogspot.com/2008/05/right-wing-magazines-attack-cindy.... )
Cindy is the same species as my ex mother-in-law. As her son said during the Falklands war, "Never underestimate the ferocity of a tight-assed white woman."
Are n't the Republicans found of saying the right to privacy is NOT in the Constitution?
I know Limbaugh loved to say it
Cindy your hubby is a candidate for pres and we know people do hide things in the name of a spouse ... so give it up... you need ot be just as vetted as your hubby
after all you will be representing US on diplomatic trips if your husband becomes pres
Well, they are elitists. The super rich do not share their tax information and what they usually do share if pressed, are wonderfully cooked books. Being that Cindy steals recipes and claims them as her own- I am sure that her tax recipe includes lots and lots of sugar!
Let's face the painful Truth:
Any semblance of free will or ethics or Principle John McCain ever had was
killed in Vietnam by his Vioetcong torturers.
Bu$hCo just resurrected his body, burned the Tana leaves or whatever
it took to control the ragged remains of McCains soul, and sent him out like
a zombie to bring the world Bu$hCo II.
Obama will be scraping McCain off the bottom of his shoes for months after this campaign is over.
She doesn't want us to see her tax returns because of her high pharmacy bills. You know Percocet and Oxycontin can get very expensive, even for a someone who makes money off of other people's misery of alcoholism. Although this is a non issue since Cindy will NEVER be first lady, maybe first drug addict. What would Jesus say???
Jesus Christ people - don't some of you READ!!?? "Did Kerry's wife disclose", more than one moron asks. Yes, if you read the damn post you'd know that. I swear, half the problems in the world would be solved if stupid people just took the time to figure something simple out on their own instead of going about ignorantly.
For those of you who don't "get" why McTrophy Wife needs to disclose her taxes, refer to the above sentence. Ignorance breeds republicanism...
nikto @ 102:
Sorry to disagree with you but Obama is not much better- he is currently the media darling- our knight in shining armor, but soon that will all fade into obscurity when America wakes up to another puppet master- He is like Condoleeza with a penis and sadly, nothing more.
Ron Paul was the only candidate in the race that held the values of what America wants- even the troops fighting this bullshit war were in favor- but Americans allowed the mass media octopus's tentacles to again shift the focus the seemingly lessor of all evils bullshit con-job that has been going on for decades.
Nothing has changed and nor will it. I was really hoping for that fateful wake up call- however, I am now finding myself reading biblical scripture seeing how all this was laid out long ago as to what would happen if we did not act when we had the chance.
How fucking depressing.
Don't worry about reading the data about the concentration camps- there will be plenty of time to familiarize yourself on the train. Be sure to print out the pages because they will probably confiscate your laptop.
All aboard......
"This is a privacy issue."
Love how the goopers get all principled and concerned about privacy when it's their privacy.
Moddy,
"dadams" and "oh really" owe you a big thank you for deleting my post where I provided the link to prove that no campaign went more negative or negative earlier than the Obama campaign did against the Clintons.
Are you going to remove their off topic posts in that regard from this thread too?
Xrepublican @ 103:
I just ran across that story.. I'd never heard it before and i generally pay attention. She was stealing drugs from her own charity organization to fuel her addiction and John Mccain fired the guy who discovered the whole thing, Tom Gosinski.. Mccain ended up negotiating with the US attorneys to get her punishment knocked down to a fine and prevent public disclosure....
He's quite the Maverick. I cant believe noone reports on this stuff.... People absolutely railroad Michelle Obama for flag pin nonsense... and ignore the fact that Mccain fired a guy to cover up his wifes drug theft and addiction... Its truly ridiculous.
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