Cindy McCain releases her tax returns
posted at 6:14 pm on May 23, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Earlier, Cindy McCain had pledged not to release her tax returns as a principled stand for privacy. Apparently she changed her mind, releasing through her husband’s campaign offices her 2006 returns. She also pledged to release 2007 when she completes them, having requested and received an extension.
So what do they show? Not much, other than an income level everyone already knew:
Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) campaign released some of wife Cindy McCain’s tax returns late Friday, after previously stating the information would stay private.
Only the two summary pages of her 2006 form were released. She had a total income of more than $6 million. She paid more than $1.7 million in taxes.
According to Reuters, she listed $570,000 in itemized deductions, but that’s less than 10% of her overall income. Her effective tax rate appears to be around 30%.
So now we know that Cindy McCain makes lots of money … which we knew before. We also now know that they keep separate finances .. which we knew before. She owns a business that’s lucrative and makes a good profit … which we knew before.
It’s too bad Mrs. McCain had to capitulate on such a silly issue, but at least it deprives Democrats of another whining point.
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Good timing, too.
RushBaby on May 23, 2008 at 6:15 PM
Friday before Memorial Day nice touch.
mred on May 23, 2008 at 6:19 PM
I’m disappointed that she didn’t remain steadfast in her decision to not release them. She’s not running for president – her husband is. Their finances are separate. She should have maintained her wall of privacy.
pullingmyhairout on May 23, 2008 at 6:22 PM
Those eyes……..Maybe have her run for President and just stare down our enemies.
ThePrez on May 23, 2008 at 6:24 PM
Democrats never run out of whining points.
Maxx on May 23, 2008 at 6:26 PM
Looks like the McCain campaign is dumping as much information as possible. Shrewd political move, but there is a ton of information that he obviously doesn’t want to have analyzed, in depth.
sandman on May 23, 2008 at 6:27 PM
She could stare me down anytime!
lorien1973 on May 23, 2008 at 6:29 PM
That meme….is teh hotness!
ronsfi on May 23, 2008 at 6:39 PM
Let’s see: $1.7 MILLION in taxes, which means Cindy:
Provides the equivalent of 6,000 American children their $300 WIC?
Geez, was that Federal only?
Great work Cindy, in paying for so many Americans who do not pay income taxes.
originalpechanga on May 23, 2008 at 6:40 PM
She is a classy lady and has some if her husband’s grit.
RobCon on May 23, 2008 at 6:41 PM
You know what we need now……………………………………. Windfall-profit tax on beer companies!!
omnipotent on May 23, 2008 at 6:42 PM
None of my damn business….well…almost none. Any candidate for an office as powerful as Senator or President should have to release his financials. As for Cindy, none of my damn business, but the sunshine is welcome.
Limerick on May 23, 2008 at 6:50 PM
only the summary pages? how dare she refuse to disclose the schedules. what is she hiding…yada yada and as Maxx said the dems never run out of whining points
billypaintbrush on May 23, 2008 at 6:55 PM
Short memories here.
pot .. kettle …
corona on May 23, 2008 at 7:01 PM
goose … gander …
corona on May 23, 2008 at 7:04 PM
To hell with her tax returns, show me more of this instead.
Yowza!
Saltysam on May 23, 2008 at 7:12 PM
We all know that being wealthy is evil. She’s part of the RICH WHITE PEOPLE scourge that upsets Trinity and Rev. Wright.
nyrofan on May 23, 2008 at 7:13 PM
Funny, I was thinking “bedroom eyes.”
misterpeasea on May 23, 2008 at 7:13 PM
This is stupid. She should have stuck with her first response. Why does anyone need to see Cindy’s tax returns? She is not running for president and they file separate returns. I think this was a “cop out” that she shouldn’t have been pushed into.
duff65 on May 23, 2008 at 7:21 PM
Let’s see -
Ms. Clinton’s money comes from her husband pandering to sheikhs to the tune (which they call) of $100 million over four years.
Mr. Obama’s money allegedly comes from an Arab banker in London (Auchi) laundered by Tony Rezko and others.
Mr. McCain’s money comes from American consumers buying beer.
Cheers. I believe I’ll have another beer.
chsw
chsw on May 23, 2008 at 7:21 PM
Geez, she needs to ask who Maria Teresa Thierstein Simões-Ferreira Heinz (Kerry) uses as an accountant.
moxie_neanderthal on May 23, 2008 at 7:36 PM
Yeah more beer.
tx2654 on May 23, 2008 at 7:41 PM
i quote beavis: “hey baby”
custer on May 23, 2008 at 7:44 PM
A beautiful woman who is wealthy because she sells beer? What’s not to like?
Sekhmet on May 23, 2008 at 8:05 PM
Apparently internal polling said that this would be an issue- and it would.
I feel for public officials in the sense that there should be some boundaries between their public and private lives. The Bush girls should have been as off limits as Chelsea Clinton was (though they were not). Bill Clinton’s screwing interns was his own business up until it amounted to perjury. Cindy McCain’s tax records, which are public statements to the government about your income, doesn’t fall into that category. The real damage to McCain’s campaign comes from the fact their initial refusal.
highhopes on May 23, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Good move on Mrs.McCain’s behalf,and thats one less
story the MSM can be denied on,now lets talk about
the Clintons or Michelle Obamas financial statements
shall we!
canopfor on May 23, 2008 at 8:26 PM
Like porn, I never know what First Lady’s look like until I see one.
She looks like a first lady.
patrick neid on May 23, 2008 at 8:27 PM
Should have seen my first lady..
Saltysam on May 23, 2008 at 8:29 PM
“Bill Clinton’s screwing interns was his own business up until it amounted to perjury.”
Wow. You have some real strange ethics there not to mention anywhere in corporate America said person would be fired on the spot with probably a gaggle of lawsuits to follow. But I forgot he’s the pres, he gets to abuse his power position anyway he likes in the boardroom. Kinda like the old days! The cigar was a nice touch.
and not to be outdone there’s this nugget,
“Cindy McCain’s tax records, which are public statements to the government about your income”
Public statements? Really now. Are you suggesting that I can retrieve and review your tax returns. I missed the memo.
patrick neid on May 23, 2008 at 8:37 PM
She looks like a politician’s wife. Nothing more.
Michelle Obama seems a bit too rough around the edges for the traditional role. Hillary Clinton chaffed in the role and Bill Clinton as first lady would be an interesting case study in change.
My point is this. We don’t elect a first spouse. Candidates mates’ can hurt the candidate (Theresa Heinz Kerry) or they can help (Laura and Barbara Bush). They can be a distractor (Nancy Reagan and “china gate” Hillary Clinton and multiple issues) or they can focus the administration’s agenda (Jackie Kennedy).
highhopes on May 23, 2008 at 8:38 PM
Salty,
We all imagine our first lady’s were special but thank god most of us didn’t take pictures.
patrick neid on May 23, 2008 at 8:39 PM
I’m glad she did it… take any ammo away from the Libs…
now watch the Libs lose the feminisim, and attack her for how much she makes.
Kaptain Amerika on May 23, 2008 at 8:41 PM
John McCain married an attractive, wealthy heiress with unlimited access to free beer. In other words, he hit the guy jackpot.
How can you not vote for a guy who managed this?
albo on May 23, 2008 at 8:51 PM
albo on May 23, 2008 at 8:51 PM
BINGO! We have a winner!!!
Nahanni on May 23, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Glad she did it if for no other reason than to give the Dims one less thing to bitch about. Same goes for McCain’s medical records…of course he only released the past 10 years so I guess they can still bitch about that….where are the records from McCain’s pediatrician, how about his shot records?????
HawaiiLwyr on May 23, 2008 at 8:56 PM
highhopes on May 23, 2008 at 8:38 PM
Or, in Cindy’s case, they can be HOT!
Saltysam on May 23, 2008 at 9:04 PM
What were the libs hoping they’d show? Are they really that jaded from the Clintons stay in the White House?
4shoes on May 23, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Is Obama’s wife good-looking?
Is she a beer heiress?
Is she a lawyer?
Case closed.
profitsbeard on May 23, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Haveta admit, McCain has done a great job of addressing all of the jabs made at him throughout the campaign lately.
Typhonsentra on May 23, 2008 at 9:17 PM
And Profits, I’d say Michelle definitely falls into the “MILF” category. Am I crazy?
Typhonsentra on May 23, 2008 at 9:18 PM
They took almost 2 million in taxes on a 6 million income.
I’d say shes being over taxed. Like me.
Kini on May 23, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Any resemblance to this family?
Kini on May 23, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Am I crazy?
Typhonsentra on May 23, 2008 at 9:18 PM
No…vulgar would be the word.
Saltysam on May 23, 2008 at 9:37 PM
Well, as a beer distributor she is probably taking home about 15%….so 1.05 a six pack(about). At 6m buckaroonies that is….that is….
damn…
34+ MILLION bottles of beer.
John could buy every swing vote east of the Mississippi with that!
John……..Call me!
Limerick on May 23, 2008 at 9:43 PM
And John Kerry will release his Military Records any minute now.
EJDolbow on May 23, 2008 at 9:49 PM
Theresa Heinz Kerry had to release her returns in 2004, and pressure would have cause the McCain campaign do to it eventually. Better sooner than later before it became an issue.
seanhackbarth on May 23, 2008 at 9:50 PM
First thing to come to mind when I saw the Thumbnail.
- The Cat
MirCat on May 23, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Cindy McCain is made from some technology I still do not completely understand.
Chuck Schick on May 23, 2008 at 10:29 PM
It doesn’t matter what McCain discloses voluntarily, the MSM meme will still be, ‘but what ISN’T he telling us?’ Did McCain run up a series of previously undisclosed unpaid IOUs with his North Vietnames captors? 60 Minutes caught up with former prison guard Ngyuen van Barack, who told us that presidential candidate John McCain still owes him for 2500 CIGARETTES he acquired during the Tet Offensive in 1968, where he promised that his wealthy father would pay him 100 CIGARETTES for any 1 CIGARETTE he was loaned. Of course, John McCain never made good on that promise and although he probably inadvertently saved the man’s life by not furnishing him with this evil poison, the fact remains that Mr. Fiscal Responsibitly stiffed the poor prison guard, who remains destitute and heartbroken to this day.
pistolero on May 23, 2008 at 10:38 PM
Ha! I had the same thought!
Texas Gal on May 23, 2008 at 11:16 PM
YES
NO
Texas Gal on May 23, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Spoofy the way Cindy’s picture is now exactly next to Hillary’s – talk about classy versus frumpy.
Entelechy on May 23, 2008 at 11:51 PM
Lets see what we have here
On the Dem side
A lawyer who is married to a lawyer running against a lawyer who is married to a lawyer
On the Rep side
A military hero married to a rich attractive woman with a beer company
Tell me what is there to decide?
CommentGuy on May 24, 2008 at 12:55 AM
I imagine she can deliver a steely glare when she wants to but otherwise I think she has lovely eyes.
Yakko77 on May 24, 2008 at 1:16 AM
This is chicken feed compared to what Al Gore & Family hauled in on the carbon credit gravy train. And Mrs. McCain at least came by her money honestly.
argos on May 24, 2008 at 1:19 AM
Those eyes…
The Children of the Damned are now middle-aged zombies.
infidel4life on May 24, 2008 at 2:17 AM
Anyone notice that Michelle Obama is built around the shoulders like she can break Barry’s arms and legs as easy as snapping her fingers?
You know, a discussion about expensive gym memberships isn’t helping her children.
Captain Scarlet on May 24, 2008 at 7:16 AM
Calm down guys. Those are the eyes of dedicated wife and a women who can maintain her focus in the face of overwhelming odds.
Steely eyes are what any business person needs to be successful.
MSGTAS on May 24, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Was NYT invited to the showing?
right2bright on May 24, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Look what the loons in the media have done to the language.
Note how privacy somehow means abortion on demand, but doesn’t mean your taxes are your own business.
corona on May 24, 2008 at 11:00 AM
The DNC is a whinning point factory.
TheSitRep on May 24, 2008 at 1:24 PM
Doesn’t open, but I’ve been thinking it’s about time for someone to mention that this lady must have been a heart-stopping beauty in her day.
Jaibones on May 24, 2008 at 6:08 PM
Beauty blossoms from within.
ronsfi on May 24, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Hmmm. Didn’t the elitist Clintons make a heck of a lot more money than “heiress” Cindy?
And, since she’s in charge, does that no longer make her an heiress?
Good work in covering for so many people who don’t pay their share of income taxes Cindy.
originalpechanga on May 25, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Please don’t take this wrong, but you’re going to burn in hell for that.
Squiggy on May 26, 2008 at 6:30 PM
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