McCain Exploited Legal Loophole To Use Wife's Jet On The Cheap

New York Times:

Given Senator John McCain's signature stance on campaign finance reform, it was not surprising that he backed legislation last year requiring presidential candidates to pay the actual cost of flying on corporate jets. The law, which requires campaigns to pay charter rates when using such jets rather than cheaper first-class fares, was intended to reduce the influence of lobbyists and create a level financial playing field.

But over a seven-month period beginning last summer, Mr. McCain's cash-short campaign gave itself an advantage by using a corporate jet owned by a company headed by his wife, Cindy McCain, according to public records. For five of those months, the plane was used almost exclusively for campaign-related purposes, those records show.

Mr. McCain's campaign paid a total of $241,149 for the use of that plane from last August through February, records show. That amount is approximately the cost of chartering a similar jet for a month or two, according to industry estimates.

The senator was able to fly so inexpensively because the law specifically exempts aircraft owned by a candidate or his family or by a privately held company they control. The Federal Election Commission adopted rules in December to close the loophole -- rules that would have required substantial payments by candidates using family-owned planes -- but the agency soon lost the requisite number of commissioners needed to complete the rule making.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[KPinSEA]

I have to say, I don't really see the "loophole" here. He's using a family asset, all the candidates do that, whether it's Hillary loaning herself money or McCain using the family jet. Is it a "loophole" if they own a nice house and have a fundraiser there? If Cindy buys a Mercedes, can John borrow it without an appearance of impropriety?

The finance laws exist to avoid the appearance (or reality) of undue influence .... I think we can take it for granted that the candidate's spouse has plenty of influence and always will.

[ErikW65]

You don't see the loophole, huh? Maybe that's because of your perspective from inside a cavity. If you were a candidate that had to pay market rates for aircraft, while McCain used his wife's corporation's jet at way less cost, I bet you'd feel differently!

[Redrover666]

You bet I'd be pissed!

So which candidate has to pay market cost to fly in a jet?

[Alessan]

I was writting a lot here, but it got wiped out, i will not write it again, but really, if my husband had a
plane, and I had some trips to make, I'd use it. So what, that's the least of the problems the country will face if McSame takes office. STICK TO THE ISSUES, MCSAME'S WIFE'S PLANE IS NONE OF
YOUR BUSINESS, YOUR TAX DOLLARS AND DONATIONS TO THE CAMPAIGN ARE NOT PAYING
FOR THE PLANE. GET A GRIP, PEOPLE. McCain, wants to continue Bush's tax cuts for the rich and
wealthy corporations, using the taxes from the working middle class to give them their extra cash. McSame wants to conitnue the occupation of Iraq for the next 10000 years, in other words steal
their oil and colonize the middle east. GW Bush's and The republican plan, along with NAFTA AND CAFTA UNFAIR TRADE AGREEMENTS, THEREBY TAKING THE JOBS FROM THIS COUNTRY AND SENDING THEM OUT. CHEAP LABOR , FROM THE OUTSIDE SOURCES, COMING HERE ILLEGALLY, AND THEN GIVE AMMESTY TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE, LOW BALLING THE JOBS THAT ARE HERE, WITH THE HELP OF THE GREEDY CORPORATIONS THAT HIRE THEM
ILLEGALLY.­. And healthcare for everyone, no even let me get started.

[NotFooledByDistractions]

Oh yeah, nothing says America I feel your pain like traveling in your wife's plane. And he has the kohones to call Obama an elitist? What an absolute fraud this man is.

[Redrover666]

NotFooledB­yDistracti­ons... Apparently you were fooled by a distraction. McCain DIDN'T call Obama an elitist. His fellow democrats did.

[Birdman]

Maybe you want to look this up, McCain said that the comments made by Obama were elitist. here is the link.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/mccain-obama-gu.html

[SpookyTooth]

playing fair and by the rules, being above reproach, honesty - all values that are lacking in mccain and the whole republican party.

[Whinger]

Heh! Not thinking is John's strong point.

[Irons]

You couldn't pay me to tap her.

[rwe]

Yikes,,, Wright,Ayers ,Farrakhan, given grants and retainers, his wife never before being proud of her country, Chicago, Cook County , Illinois most corrupt and highest taxed ... As many People are killed in Chicago on any given weekend as Iraq AND ALL YOU GUYS GOT IS A PLANE RIDE TO NAIL MCCAIN ON? How many bottles of ketchup did Kerry get?

[SaskiaStars]

just sit tight - the wave is coming.

[skibum49]

Well for starters I suspect that his support among members of the military will dwindle once they figure out his position on the New GI bill legislation in Congress (S.22). The Bill currently has 56 Senate Cosponsors (Senator McCain not being one of them).

McCain indicated he would offer some sort of alternative to the legislation to address Bush administration concerns that expanding the GI Bill could lead more members of the military to get out of the service.
So what is Senator (I support the troops) McCain saying. I support the troops but I certainly wouldn't want to give them decent enough educational benefits to allow them to actually get out of the service and afford to get an education. Hell why should he care. His education such as it was (finishing fifth from last in his 889 member Naval Academy class doesn't suggest he took his educational opportunity all that seriously does it) was paid for by the tax payers. His admission to the Academy to begin with seemed to primarily be due to the fact that his Daddy and Grandpa were both four star admirals.
Anolther guy born with a silver spoon who got the legacy admission treatment at a top grade school. Sound like any other President we know?

[Redrover666]

First of all, it normally requires the recommendation of a general grade officer or congressman to gain entrance to a military academy. Douglas MacArthur got into West Point through his dad's influence. Children of servicemen have preference.

Military personnel have a multitude of opportunities to get a college education at little or no cost and most take advantage of the opportunity even in combat zones.

Military personnel dread a democratic president because historically the promises are forgotten and pay and benefits go into the toilet and languish for years. Over half of service people are married with kids. They don't give a damn about the GI bill. Just like you, they are worried about their next raise and promotion.

I served through two democratic administrations over a thirty year period, raised a family and retired. I've been there, done it, got the freakin t-shirt, wore it out and threw it in the trash.

Now, odds are pretty good that you and/or others who are real concerned and honor your service men and women will respond to this comment with ad hominem and personal insults. So knock yourselves out.

But when you get started...­. don't kid yourself, the military knows perfectly well, that you love and respect us so long as we shut the hell up and let you use us as a political pawns.

That's why you can't get our votes. Period.

PS During Vietnam, some of the finest soldiers and leaders I have ever known, were illiterate.

[Stillhere29]

McCain is dead on arrival. His still born candidacy will be rembered til the end of time

[Birdman]

Comparing apples and oranges are we? What you FAILED to see was that McCain was saying he would never use his wifes wealth and the very next month is using her Jet. Seems to me this is a MAJOR credibility problem. But then most republicans have credibility problems. Only prolem is people that support republcians believe in the ole do whatever it takes to win, even if that means to lie, cheat, and steal, which are other well sought after republican traits. Just remember that each of us will ultimatly pay for our decisions in the end.

[going2ireland]

Don't repugs have their own blog site? No one cares what you think, so just move along.

[Mike O.]

"No one cares what you think..."

And Republicans are supposed to be closed minded?

Your hypocrisy is surpassed only by your stupidity!

[Mike O.]

Typical loon. Refute all statements of fact if they don't serve your purpose.

"You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts."

– Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D)

[going2ireland]

I have a question. McCain ask to be able to use public funds for the GE. In order for McCain to be able to get public fund, his opponent would need to also agree to only talk public funding in the GE, to which Obama and Clinton agreed upfront.

Why on earh does McCain need public funding? His wife is worth . . . . . gee, . . . . . how many millions?

And Obama won't have any problem getting all the donations he needs to fund his campaign.

Am I missing something here???

[JohnKemp]

A mere coincidence I'm sure.

Sort of like Proud Mary Michelle being named to the TreeHouse Foods Board of Directors AND as a $375,000 "community consultant" to the Chicago Public Hospital immediately after obama was elected to the US Senate.

I wonder if Proud Mary's "remunerations" were counted as campaign contributions?

[Stillhere29]

will you ba attacking McCain at any point, or are you full of sh!* ?

[richardgordon]

That's it? This is the extent of McCain's hypocrisy? This type of nitpicking does nobody any good.

[SpookyTooth]

just the latest example of mccain's hypocrisy - more to come.

[ErikW65]

McCain got legislation passed that effectively tilted the playing field towards himself. That is a big issue, whether you think it's nitpicking or not. The amounts of money we're talking about are quite substantial.

[UnbiasView]

KEEEEEEEEEEEP REEEEACHING FOLKS.

[Stillhere29]

KEEEEEEEP SQEEEEEALIN' REPIGLET!

[Redrover666]

Thank you god for creating an opposition party populated with this sort of nitwit.

[DannyEastVillage]

it's ridiculous that this bit''o'baloney is featured so prominently on HuffPo. I'm a little tired of your news editing--almost as tired as I am of the tabloid format of the "entertainment news" section. Can we please get back down to business?

[screwedrus]

Her wealth is the only thing I would "tap" of hers. She's scary.

[notyouraveragebear]

But working within the spirit of the laws/rules of the game is too much to expect from a repiglican.

Good thing she doesn't let him actually fly the plane with his record.

[GeorgeGlass]

Did he use her plane before or after he called her the c-word in front of a group of reporters? Because if its after, she sure is forgiving.

[spooks51]

Elitist???

[Agentlady007]

Worse Case Scenario. -