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

[NYC07]

So McCain, is the kind of tranparency you bring to your administration

[stephenswain]

Let's see if we can get this straight: Cindy McCain's money belongs to her. It is hers by right. John didn't earn it. You didn't earn it. I didn't earn it. That makes it none of your business. None of my business. What she has is between her and the tax-man. The issue isn't whether you want to know what she has, or how much, or how she got it. It's a fundamental issue of privacy.

Is that so hard to understand?

You don't get to know. You have no right to know. On the other hand, if you would like to parade your net worth around for all to see, feel free. There is no law forbidding you to do so. Get it? She is not the candidate. She doesn't have to show you squat. Nada. Zilch.

[NatteringNabob]

Why wasn't the same true for Teresa Heinz Kerry in 2004?

[Rockwell]

The point is that John spends her money. I don't care if they file their returns separately. He directly benefits from access to her fabulous wealth. And where that money comes from and where it goes to is absolutely relevent to this election because that could have very strong impact on a President McCain's pollicy decisions.

[AdamNauseam]

I'm sure in your simple brain that makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, if she is funding his campaign - which she is by letting him use her jet for free and save hundreds of thousands of dollars - then the source of that money matters. What if she has a business deal with an Iranian company? Do you think we should elect a president who takes money from entities that have interests in conflict with the US - perhaps funnelled through his wife?

Any money that is used to support a presidential campaign or the president himself should be disclosed. We're talking about making her husband the most powerful leader in the world.

[McLaren]

Sorry stephen. According to these fine folks, unless Cindy is killing her unborn child, she has no right to privacy. It's right there in the Constitution.

[gbht12]

We still have a constitution?? Really , you would never know it after the long eight years of Bush raping it. What a joke!

Cindy will have to release them sooner or later, I say later since it makes it so much more fun. I think we should think more like the TENN. GOP, they like to pick on patriotic women. Patriotism and Taxes , what could go together more??? I say it is Fair game. Cindy has so many things in her closet.

[skibum49]

Stephenswain writes: "She doesn't have to show you squat. Nada. Zilch"

You are absolutely right. No law compels her to do so. So if she doesn't want to then so be it. Let the electorate decide if its really important.

Personally what has been released speaks volumes to me. If you look at McCains 2006 tax return you will note that his schedule A has no home mortgage deductions or real estate tax deductions so we can assume that the tax deductions for the 8 houses are on Cindy's return. Over 85 percent of his schedule A deduction was for charity. Thats noble until you look at the tax returns for the McCain Foundation which is where that charity contribution went. When you do that you discover that in the last 6 years of tax returns for the McCain foundation over $500,000 was gifts to three private schools in Phoenix. What do they have in common? All schools their children attend or attended. Nothing illegal about it but it speaks volumes about the McCains concept of using tax write offs for charitable giving.

[Rockwell]

As long as John McCain in no way benefits from one red cent of Cindy's money then I'm ok with her keeping her return private. But I'm guessing ol' Johnny's mansion, private jet, lavish entertainment, etc probably owes something to Cindy's money. So she needs to come clean as to where her $$ come from and where they go. McCain is running for Commander in Chief, not dog catcher.

As someone else pointed out, Repbublican's howled for John Kerry's wife Teresa to reveal all financials. Now all of the sudden it's an invasion of privacy. The foul stench of GOP hypocrisy.

[maryy1947]

The McCains own something like 8 houses. And there's no way John McCain could pay for them.
McCain is also up to his eyeballs in lobbyist dirt. Read about it here: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/23/03912/3990/390/462347
Start part way down at: "John McCain is an ambitious man. It drives him."
McCain has covered up dirt on Charlie Black, Norquist, Rove by refusing to release the 750,000 pages of documents from the Jack Abramoff investigation. If thoes papers were ever released, it would be over for McCain...obstruction of justice.

[wellinformed08]

Aside from all that, am I the only one who wants to see Michelle Obama debate Cindy McCain in the Fall also? Now that would be great television. I would have to record that!

[gbht12]

That is a great idea! Then we will see who is the most patriotic person. Michelle has more brains in her pinkie than Cindy will ever have in her barbie brain head. The TN GOP does not know what can of worms they have opened up. I agree that would make a great debate on the issues, constitution etc. Michelle could blow barbie Cindy away with the first sentence.

The McBush's have 9 HOMES, they are wrapped in lobbyist corruption and they have the nerve to call Obama an elitist. Who are they talking to ? Who believes anything that they say? Not anyone that would actually vote for Obama , so who cares. They are completely out of touch with reality and the American people.

This should be interesting.

[macbabe]

Her NOT releasing them should tell you everything you need to know!!!

[gbht12]

EXACTLY. There is a reason why she dosen't want to release her taxes. Her Kids, give me a break. You didn't care about kids when you and McCain had an affair. His wife waits for him to come home from the war and then he divorces her for a stepford wife. I have no respect for him for that but then again I would never vote for him anyways.....

[IraqVet04]

If she wants to live in the White House, she has to answer to the people.

[stephenswain]

That is not so. As Jesus said to the Pharisees: "You are quite wrong!"

She is not the candidate. Would you have expected Bess Truman to open the books? How about Mamie Eisenhower? How about Jackie Kennedy? How about ... forget about it! She is a private citizen, not the servant or slave of the curious.

As a matter of custom, the wife of the President of the United States does not, repeat: DOES NOT, have to account to the people for anything. The only requirement by custom is that she behave herself in a manner that doesn't bring harm or disrepute on this country. Bess Truman was dowdy. Mamie was a tippler. Jackie liked to redecorate. Lady Bird liked to plant flowers. Pat Nixon's only task was to stay as far away from Tricky as she could.

Get over it!

[skibum49]

Tell that to the attack dogs down in Tenn. stephenswain. Tell that to the right wing talking heads who have been after Obama's wife for months now about how much money she made at her job (with a little hint hint suggestion that her salary was somehow tied to some nefarious politcal deal that Obama cooked up). Tell that to the Hannitys and the Limbaugh crowd who continue to rag on about her patriotism.

McCains wifes tax returns are important for only one reason. The same reason that Republicans and some Democrats thought was important about the Clinton Tax returns and Teresa Heinz Kerry's tax returns. When you are worth a whole lot of money and you have that money invested to make more money it's important to know whether those investments are made with groups and organizations that might influence the public policy of the candidate should they be elected to office.
For that reason alone limited returns are fair game when your husband or wife is running for the job of President.

[Byzantium]

When is Obama going to release all of his tax returns from the years in which he was an elected official?

[KarateKid]

He already has. He's rich, but compared to the Clintons or McCains, not close. Not even in the same playing field.

[DaDawg]

He became rich after his keynote speech, which help drive book sales. The fact is he finally paid off his student loans three years ago.

[NatteringNabob]

He has.

Fox News and Rush Limbaugh probably just forgot to mention it.

[tombollocks]

In case two isn't enough, "HE HAS".

Got it?

Good.

[Byzantium]

I see your screenname shows there's still truth in advertizing.

See http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/03/the-obama-tax-a.html

"HE HASN'T"

Got it?

Good.

[NatteringNabob]

In 2004 we were told that Teresa Heinz Kerry's tax returns were of vital national importance. Now we're told by those same people that Cindy's returns are not relevant and that she has a right to her privacy, especially since she's not running for office.

What's changed?

[KarateKid]

I think she released part of her returns, but let's face it: Theresa Heinz Kerry is FAR wealthier than Cindy McCain. After 100 million, who's counting anyway? Without sounding too cynical, they all fly private jets and lead an elite lifestyle. They're senators, part of the most exclusive club on earth. Did you see any of their impromptu presss conferences on their jets? You think they are flying commercial?

[jrterrier]

obama said that wives were off-limits and attacking them was 'low class' so she doesn't have to release her tax returns.

[NatteringNabob]

This is one of the better non sequiturs I've seen in here in a while.

Thanks for the laugh!

[EyeballKid]

Who would lobby Cindy, who would then lobby Johnny? What kinds of business arrangements does Cindy have that would increase Johnny's vulnerability to influence peddling, bribery, or extortion? What segments of the corporate world would more likely lobby for corporate welfare or subsidies due to connections with Cindy?

In the world of the super-wealthy, the commoner goes unnoticed, and his/her tax contributions to the federal or state government get taken for granted. Like Bush's gutting of the treasury for the likes of Halliburton and KBR, there is nothing that the superwealthy won't do for the benefit of their elitist friends in the same superwealthy world, the common taxpayer be damned.

[stephenswain]

By whom were we told this? By a pundit? This is a totally bogus idea. As the lawyers say, "Irrelevant and immaterial." If the spouse of the candidate isn't running on the ticket, his or her wealth does not enter into the matter. Teresa should have just rocked back on her heels and said, "Hell no! It's none of your business."

[kirsch59]

Teresa Heinz Kerry's did release part of her 2003 tax return.

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2004/10/teresa_heinz_ke.html

[arkgrfx61]

Mrs. McCain looks like a very sad and lost puppy. It's depressing to look at.

[trollsbwild]

The text book battered wife? One can only imagine what ol' John says to her in private, considering what he has called her in public.
BTW, love how they make her look so good. Too bad a closer look reveals the neck, and the signs of too much plastic surgery.

[KarateKid]

The last sentence was uncalled for, no? There are women on our side too, ya know.

[JerryTheAngel]

She's 21 years younger then McCain is. Serious Daddy issues going on there. Any man who calls his wife a cu** in public must save the really abusive stuff for behind closed doors and she probably likes it.

[drkazmd65]

By not revealing her tax records - she is within her rights.

And what would be gained from 'us' citizens knowing her tax return info?

I mean, we already know that she is a filthy rich woman, who has never had to work for a day in her life for what she has, who has been married to a (probably) crooked insider politican for more than 20 years.

There is nothing the specifics of knowing exactly how much she has made, how much she has (or has not) paid in taxes, or whom she did (or did not) give money to that would change the public perception of her.

[trollsbwild]

Too bad. As a wife for a man running for public office, her tax returns should be public domain. Where was your phony outrage over Theresa Heinz Kerry? Exactly.

Meanwhile, I would like to know what kind of income she reported from her holdings in the Sudan, or other investments of similar ilk.

[KarateKid]

I think she just jettisoned her investments in the Sudan, which was indirect through holding company investments.

[drkazmd65]

I had no phony outrage about Hienz-Kerry chosing not to release her complete financial records trollsbwild.

I didn't think that she needed to do so either.

[americanwhocares]

drkazmd65:

Please tell me you are not as obtuse as your ridiculous comment suggests? The American public demands transparency after eight years of an imbecile in the WH destroying America. We want to know what corporate interests are buying our government. We are sick and tired of Big Oil, Halliburton, KBR, Blackwater etc. cheating the American public and our brave troops in the military for corporate profits. Your comment tells me you are simply a republican troll; please stick with Bill O'Rielly and non journalists of his ilk. Intelligent people are sick and tired of your drivel.

[drkazmd65]

Go and read my profile americanwhocares - I am anthing but a troll.

I am a Liberal, with a Libertarian bent. I just don't think it is 'our' business going into the financial records of Ms. McCain.

How is knowing EXACTLY how filthy rich she is going to in any way change our perception that she is a filthy rich person that has never worked a day in her life?

However, he chosing NOT to release those records (her right) speaks volumes for those that chose to listen.

[drkazmd65]

Oh,... and and I refuse to listen to or to watch O'Lieley or any of the pompus pseudo-journalists on Fox - They are unAmerican.

I get my news from Newspapers, online blogs, PBS and BBC America.

Cut back on the caffine and intolerance just a squosh,.... mmKay?

[drkazmd65]

Hmm,... you lack of an apologetic response also speaks volumes as to your character americanwhocares,....

[drkazmd65]

I hate it when respectful,... but contradictory comments get scrubbed,...

Damned hall monitors - it's not like I typed anything threatening,....

[NatteringNabob]

Those same questions were asked in 2004 about Teresa Heinz Kerry. Do you remember the answers?

[drkazmd65]

I do Nattering,... and I didn't think that Ms. Heinz-Kerry needed to release her records then either.

[skoryras]

When Senator McCain and his wife made the decision (together) for him to run for the Presidency their lives not just his became an open book. I don’t care that they filed separate returns and have a pre-nub that’s a ridiculous excuse. There should be complete transparency for both.

I don’t ever want to hear Senator McCain call Senator Obama an “ELITIST”. Who in the heck does she think she is?

A PRIVATE CITIZEN

If Cindy McCain becomes first lady, she will live in a House paid for by our tax dollars.

She will sleep in a bed, eat food, travel, buy clothes, and redecorate the White House with our tax dollars.

Anything she wants to do for the next 4-8 years will be paid for with our tax dollars.

The toilet paper she will use is paid for with our tax dollars.

She and her children will be protected by the Secret Service which is paid for with our tax dollars.

Their residence in Arizona will become the second White House and will be renovated with what ever is necessary to protect the President and her, paid for with our tax dollars.

No matter how you look at it, “That’s not a Private Citizen.”

[KarateKid]

It doesn't give me much comfort that they could be wiping their tushes with our tax dollars. LOL.

[stephenswain]

Your tax dollars do not buy her services. Your tax dollars pay for "The President's House," as it was called when it was first built. You have absolutely zero claim on the spouse of the president. NONE. She gets to live there because her husband (or wife, if she were a he) has been elected by a plurality of the electoral college.

What does this mania for control that you are expressing represent? Ask yourself: Am I that jealous or resentful that somebody else is wealthier than I? Is that it? Transparency is a good thing. But it does not apply to those who are not candidates for office.

It might be different if the First Lady drew a salary. But she remains a private citizen. Really, this nosiness has gone too far.

[rollingdivision]

All of Cindy McCain's assets and income are public record on their senate financial disclosure forms.

[NoRepresentation]

False. All of John McSame's are. Another missed talking point by our friends in the GOP.

[rollingdivision]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/congress/fin_dis/2006/m000303.pdf Cindy McCain's assets and income are all in this report starting on page 4 and throughout the report. It's all here for review, though there is some personal information about specifically how assets are owned by their children and Cindy and John and how some investments have been manipulated within Cindy's business that are not in the Senate disclosure.

[wellinformed08]

Does anyone here think it is strange that two people who have been married since 1980 still file seperate tax returns. It's been almost 30 years. Maybe the lobbyist money gets dumped in her account and McCain stays clean- hmmm.

[papla]

what's she hidding??

[billkarwin]

I think protecting the privacy of their children is a credible reason to keep tax returns private. Who knows, maybe her kids have had personal, medical, or financial issues that involved some tax-deductible expenses on Cindy's part, but the issues truly have no relevance to politics. Imagine if it was your kid. There's no need to drag family members out through the mud.

I'm an Obama supporter, but I really have no interest in Cindy McCain's taxes. Let's let her be.

[NoRepresentation]

The notion that John McSame has no chance of winning the election in Nov, so no need to dive into the tax returns of Ms. McSame is beyond stupid. We should investigate all of the lurid affairs that the McSame's bring to the table, because after all a certain first lady ran for president saying that she knew all about being president. If McSame is the sacrificed lamb, then let the sacrifice begin at the tax returns.

[KarateKid]

Why should she? She knows her husband is simply the designated sacrificial lamb of the Republican Party this November. Look at that whole sorry list of candidates they had.

It's obvious they are re-tooling for a run in 2012 or 2016, both for the presidency and for congress. They have a dearth of good candidates because the good ones know the time is not good right now, and are biding their time. Jeb Bush, anyone? Not now, not right after his older brother screwed things up, but by 2016 people will have forgotten.

After how the Republicans screwed up the country, even she knows it not going to happen. I'm amazed she even agreed to let her husband run. But, you know, sometimes a failed run for the highest office is the cap to a long career, a la Al Gore, Walter Mondale, Bob Dole, Mike Dukakis.....they've not been on the political scene since then but I'll bet they are all filthy rich. So it goes for her hubby in the twilight of his life and career.

[Hallucinocynic]

"...because the good ones know the time is not good right now, and are biding their time. Jeb Bush, anyone?"

Who are the 'good ones?' Jeb Bush? Jeb has less chance than Crash. He is a Floridian and no Floridian will win a GE...at least not for a few decades.

You're right, KK, about Cindy not releasing her returns. He has no chance so why open up their coffers to public scrutiny?

[lincheryl]

I think since the Repubs put Michelle in an AD, that Cindy is fair game also. If they want wives to be part of it, let's include the income tax returns. Michelle Obama did, as part of Barack's.

[NatteringNabob]

Releasing her returns would confirm that Cindy Lou is Grampy's sugar daddy, or in this case, sugar mommy.

Republicans don't want that.