NYT Op-Ed: Cindy McCain Should Release Tax Returns

Senator John McCain's wife, Cindy McCain, has decided not to release her tax returns -- not now and not in the future. In the interest of transparency and to support her husband's frequent calls for clean and open government, she should rethink that decision.

Since their marriage in 1980, Mrs. McCain, the daughter of a multimillionaire Anheuser-Busch distributor, and her husband have filed separate tax returns. In April, Mr. McCain released his own returns, but just for the last two years -- a paltry nod to openness. Mrs. McCain, it was explained, would not release her tax returns in "the interest of protecting the privacy of her children."

Comments

[HowietheScreamer]

Yes she SHOULD release her tax returns. It's so that the voters can be sure there aren't any hidden conflicts of interests. Right now she's a black hole of information, which means we MUST assume there are LOADS of conflicts of interest there.

That said... I hope she does NOT release, to keep this issue alive and burning.

[CrazyDemocrat]

it's up to Cindy if she wants to release her returns...­She is not a candidate and is under no obligation to do so !!

[NatteringNabob]

Like Teresa Heinz Kerry in 2004?

[CrazyDemocrat]

Yep

[skibum49]

The issue is this simple. When Mrs Kerry released the 1040 summary of her 2003 return it provided information about what her personal income was and in general terms how that income was derived. This information allowed people to analyze how she may or may not have benefited from recently passed tax changes (which her husband Senator Kerry voted against). An example is the NY Times analysis from the time.
http://tinyurl.com/5pyz9e

Were Mrs McCain to do the same thing it would allow people to analyze what her personal income is. in general how it is derived and how she might possibly benefit from making the Bush tax cuts permanant which is what her husband wants to do should he become President.

Mrs Kerry did not disclose information about what income was derived by the irrevocable Heinz family trust set up by her late husbands estate which benefited both her and her children. Should Mrs McCain and her children be the beneficiaries of any irrevocable trusts then that information should indeed be kept private.

[DesertLight]

Not that anyone here would want to hear it or accept this as an answer, but I suspect that the main reason is she is protecting not HER business or HER assets, but her families business.

Also, they filed separately since day one for that reason. So, there would not be conflict. And she did it when McMaverick was a nobody.

Ok let the maniacal personal attacks begin.

[uvymopkq]

We need to look at what Sen. McCain has to say about this:
"The GOP, should I be the nominee, can say whatever they want to say about me, my track record," Obama said. "If they think that they're going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful because that I find unacceptable, the notion that you start attacking my wife or my family." He called the strategy "low class."

Opps.....w­rong Sen.

[gbht12]

Problem with that analogy, see it was the TN GOP that didn't have sh*t to dig up on Obama.

They have little pieces of wood and it makes them feel BIG to suggest to stupid people(because anyone that actually believes that is either 1. stupid or 2. not going to vote for Obama regardless) that Michelle is not a true American. They are just a bunch of good ole boys with soft wood!!

[JavaCityGal]

McSame is running on a platform of clean campaigning, transparency and no special interests. If Cindy McCain refuses to release her income taxes, that's a pretty clear indication of something to hide, which goes completely against the so called "Straight Talk Express". Cindy McCain must release her incomes taxes.

[9liberal]

If I can think back far enough, wasn't there a big uproar about John Kerry's wife, of the Hienz fortune about showing tax returns...­there was something to do with money about her...can'­t remember exactly, but if it is good for the goose it is good for the gander. I don't care about there money...th­ey are rich they have more than me...don't care. But in order for McCain to come across as honest, and not as a typical Republican hypocrite.­..Cindy must come forward and be honest!

[Independent007]

I think that the Straight Talk Express has fire coming out of the rear portion of the bus, and its swerving on the highway with people(lobbyists) jumping off the bus every chance they get. It lost a wheel, and is now on a rim, and the driver is Cindy McCain.
OMG! Sounds like a movie, with Keanu Reeve and Sandra Bullock.

[tea in the harbor]

This could get very interesting. Who would the republicans fall back on if sugar momma tells little Johnny he can't play anymore? He has no chance if the people think his wife is rejecting them, so what will he choose, his power lust or his meal ticket? Better stick with the money little Johnny, you ain't got the votes!

[ruscle]

Forget the tax returns. You aren't going to get them.

I want to see Cindy without makeup. THAT would be a deciding factor. :)

[tea in the harbor]

I DON"T, That's just crazy talk right there!

[NotGuilty]

I've seen her. She looks like a rattlesnake.

[gbht12]

Barbie would not be pretty!

[philosopherkingtomas]

McCain was still married and living with his wife in 1979 while, according to The New York Times' Nicholas Kristof, "aggressively courting a 25-year-old woman who was as beautiful as she was rich." McCain divorced his wife, who had raised their three children while he was imprisoned in Vietnam, then launched his political career with his new wife's family money. In 2000, McCain managed to deflect media questioning about his first marriage with a deft admission of responsibility for its failure. It's possible that the age of the offense and McCain's charmed relationship with the press will pull him through again, but Giuliani and Gingrich may face a more difficult challenge. Both conducted well-documented affairs in the last decade--while still in public office.
Carol, his wife at the time, had once been quite a babe herself apparently, until a near-fatal car accident (while her husband was in Vietnam) left her 4 inches shorter, overweight and on crutches

How many will guess that Carol McCain is quite possibly a hero of a different kind of war? How many will read between the lines of her exalted ex-husband's legend and decide that she is simply one of the most courageous examples of a wounded mother who has loved and protected her children at all costs?

[williamina]

Well as soon as he is elected McCain can pop into the Oval Office for a BJ and all will be well.

Prepare for a R landslide.

[tea in the harbor]

Even the Republican leaders know better than that, but they'll be glad to know where to dump some of that dog food!

[NatteringNabob]

Gotta love them Republican family values!

[JavaCityGal]

I wonder what happened to Carol McCain and if we'll hear from her at all before November.

[EyeballKid]

By refusing to release her tax returns in the position she finds herself borders on the whacko. The NYT is being kind to Cindy. They should have called her a nut case for not understanding the clear implications of such an announcement.

First, when you're in politics, you NEVER say never. Second, in politics, you can't hide your money for fear that the public may suspect that, if you get close to public office, you might hide THEIRS.

And third, we already have a Marie Antoinette in our history books. Cindy isn't breaking new ground here by her arrogance and hubris.

But Cindy doesn't know what's clear and what isn't, except that she isn't emotionally prepared to face public scrutiny of her financial dealings, and probably isn't emotionally prepared for life in the public eye. She'd better change soon, or she'll become an issue in McBomb-bomb's campaign.

[pinkypeterson]

Remember Cindy you love your America as you pointed out to Michelle, your in the public eye.
We want your tax returns - the people are talking to you - Hello fork over the paper work.
Should be a no brainer -
Start massaging it because it could take you awhile to make it fly.

where is MADD - maybe they should put on some pressure.

[Poised]

Teresa Heinz Kerry, whose fortune makes Cindy McCain look like a welfare mom, never released her tax returns.

How about Michelle Obama's returns? Her salary increased by almost 2/3 after Barak added earmark pork that benefited her employer to the tune of millions.

[skibum49]

Baloney Poised. Teresa did release her 1040's

As for your other comment ...typical spin. If the University of Chicago was somehow offering Michelle a quid pro quo for an earmark REQUEST that Senator Obama put in for the University of Chicago Hospital (an institution that benefits hundreds of thousands of people who live in that part of Illinois ---that is the people he represents by the way in case you didnt know that) then they didnt get ANY return on their money. The earmark request was made but was NEVER approved by the Congress and the University didnt get a dime out of it.

Please actually research the facts before you make these kinds of insinuations. I know that the Hannity's and Limbaugh's of the world where you get this garbage from don't but you surely are smarter than they are? Aren't You?

[NatteringNabob]

Barack and Michelle Obama's tax returns were released on 25 March 2008.

Next.

[riverhouse]

Cindy also loves other women's husbands.

[WFV]

Well, I am glad to see that 'Barbie' isn't exempt from scrutiny. She has her zillions of dollars and plenty of good lawyers I am sure, so she won't be hung out to dry like another candidate's wife.

[McLaren]

In the words of Elmer Gantry, er, Sen. Obama: "Lay off my wife!"

[Rockwell]

Oh, I get it. Elmer Gantry was a fraudulent evangelist just like Obama. And all Obama supporters are snake-handling idiots being carried away by all the razzle dazzle. Very amusing. Very witty. I will now search my own heart and head and make sure that I am not blindly caught up in Obamania. Thank God for your post. I can already feel the Kool-aid wearing off!

[Pookie2112]

Cindy probably hasn't filed any tax returns - too stoned on oxycontin, valium, and budweiser to be bothered.

[Tropiholic]

As a prospective first lady you don't get to make your own rules Cindy, hard luck.

[iPolitics]

We have the right to know the full financial details that led John McBush to leave his wife for a richer women.