Cindy McCain's Jet Used In Fundraising, DNC Cries Foul

Cindy McCain's corporate jet use on the campaign trail straddles the line on campaign finance laws, according to a report in today's Wall Street Journal. The WSJ story focuses on several trips McCain made in her company's jet that included stops at fundraising events for her husband's campaign. From the article:

The campaign didn't reimburse Cindy McCain for the March 7-9, 2007, trip, which included the event near Times Square that brought in an estimated $100,000. Should it have done so?

According to federal campaign finance rules, the answer is yes -- and no, depending on which portion of the code is applied.

Mrs. McCain's trip offers a good example of the complex and sometimes contradictory ways that post-Watergate regulations have evolved to dictate what is considered proper use of campaign funds. Sen. McCain is one of the leading champions of such rules, but critics charge his campaign has applied them liberally in a number of instances.

Quickly reacting to the report, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued a statement:

John McCain's refusal to pay for his campaign's use of a corporate jet is the latest evidence that Senator McCain thinks his campaign is above the law. Senator McCain poses as a reformer, but time and time again he has chosen to ignore the rules when they are inconvenient to his campaign. America cannot afford another four years of A Bush Republican President who thinks the law applies to everyone but him. Illegal corporate contributions are not what the American people thought Senator McCain had in mind when he promised to bring a new standard of accountability to government.

McCain's use of his wife's corporate jet on the campaign trail has been questioned before.

Comments

[Forsetti]

What is her jet called, "The Elite Express"?

[nonofyabusiness]

The Trollup

[Cedman]

Its called Cindy's Unlimited National Travel or C. U. # T. for short.

[savertime]

It is actually called the company jet.

[outnow]

Good point! He ignores the fact that his wife is a separate entity from him. Therefore, her contributions to his campaign should be reported. Also, it is misuse of the corporate jet as far as the shareholders. McCain thinks that Cindy's money is his money.

[bibb]

McCain's use of his wife's jet for campaigning justifies full disclosure of both his and her finances. If she is truly a separate financial entity, he shouldn't be using her assets. His inability to follow campaign finance rules, and his attempts to avoid full disclosure should send red alerts to the voters. It is time for a more open administration, and McCain is not demonstrating the ability to do this.

[coloradofeminist]

The corrupt DNC "cries foul!" That's funny. Clinton Democrat

[divaatty]

A real feminist would be more concerned with the fact that John McCain refers to his wife as a "c*nt", votes "no" on equal pay for women and insurance coverage of birth control, wants to take away women's reproductive rights, and continues to change his views and policy stances from one day to the next.