Cindy McCain: Woman of the People.

(Credit to Talking Points Memo for the video.)

Cindy McCain doesn't feel it's necessary to release her tax information, because "[she's] not the candidate."

That sounds *almost* logical; except for the fact that John and she are married.  Which means that what is hers is his.  Based on common knowledge regarding how marriage works (at least among the unwashed masses types), they share everything they own.  In other words, despite their separate-filing status, he still, in all likelihood, makes use of the things that Cindy's money paid for.  Like the kitchen, and the food, and the toilets, and the beds, and the sofas, and chairs, and cars, and gardens, and serva-- uh, and the domestic help, and the private jet (because what beer baroness *doesn't* have a private jet, right?)

(ftr, I am merely speculating about the private-jet ownership by Cindy.  Who knows what she really owns, because she won't release her tax records.)

Doesn't that mean John's wealthy, too?  Where else did the man find the money to run for public office in the first place?

(This is all just me, thinking out loud, all crazy-like.  Because, lord knows, Lady Cindy has a perfect right to keep *her* tax information to her own damn self.  John's obviously planning this whole presidency business without including her.  As is typical of the extremely wealthy pandering populist kinda Republican that usually runs for the highest office in the land.

Next you'll tell me John and Cindy have separate bedroom suites in each of their residences.  Which sounds so totally like my neighborhood.  Minus the space to have one actual bedroom suite in any of the houses in my neighborhood, let alone two.  Oh, and minus the multiple-residence-having.  Also, minus the super-sweet fancy vaseline'd-camera-lense for those times when my neighbors are interviewed on national television about their stockpiled millions.  Except for all that, Cindy and John are just. like. us.)

Comments

[Glennia]

Interesting points, Deb. Arizona is a community property state, which means that half of their "community" income has to be reported by both to the IRS. Her beer money, I mean inheritance, if she gained it prior to the marriage, would not be community property, but earnings on it might be (not a tax lawyer, but that's what I understand).

[Debbie]

Oh, yeah, Glennia, I can dig the legal aspect of her right to privacy re: her estate and tax info. I just think it's classic that John is trying to portray himself as a man of the people, the one who makes the least money of the three current candidates, and the media lets him get away with it, when they're perfectly willing to attempt to portray Obama as some wealthy richy-pants simply b/c he sold some books last year.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200804180013?f=s_search

[Kady]

Not completely sure, but I think that earnings off separate property remains separate property as long as there has been no co-mingling of funds.

And not trying to support Cindy here, b/c she's a little minx, but my husband has very very very strong privacy concerns. He's so paranoid that (1) he refuses to sign up for any sort of auto bill-pay, (2) he refuses to file his tax returns using tax-cut or any like program (he hand writes our tax returns), (3) in any situation where his payments (ie. campaign contributions) might become public information, he gives the $ to my mom and has her pay using her credit card. There's many more crazy things he does, and it is a very important issue to him.

Because of his insistance on privacy, I will never run for public office (for the very reason being raised here - b/c he would be expected to endure a level of public scrutiny that he cannot accept). And that is kinda sad (for me).

Yeah, he's a freak, but I actually respect his desire to protect his privacy. It is this fundamental right to privacy that is the foundation of Roe v. Wade.

[Glennia]

True, Kady, in a divorce proceeding her separate property and earnings on it would be hers, but does the IRS view income on it as sole or joint earnings during the marriage? I thought the tax law was different from distribution on death/divorce, when community property comes into play. Since the last time I looked any of this up was 20 years ago, when I studied for the bar exam, I may be totally wrong.

What were we talking about before this lawyer-y tangent? Oh yeah, Deb, hypocrisy, most definitely. Privacy issues aside, it is *rich* that McSame is down with the people, just like Dubya. They have a lot in common, don't they?

[cynematic]

Debbie, are you trying to tell us Cindy McCain has John on an allowance?

That would explain why he's so bad at "economy stuff."

Snerk!

[Kady]

LOL @ cynematic. And just think of our momocrats line for McCain - play nice or you won't get your allowance...

[John J.]

Actualy, Debbie, the private jet is 99% accurate. John got in trouble just a week or two ago for flying for free on Cindy's company's charter plane for free. Since the company is owned by Cindy, it technically didn't violate the campaign finance rules that require politicians flown on private charter planes to pay their own way.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/us/politics/27plane.html

[Alysa]

Thats interesting about the private jet. While I see why releasing your tax records for public scrutiny would be a turn off for most people, she's vying to be first lady here. Their whole lives will be public if, God forbid, they make it to the White House. She signed on for this.

[Alysa]

Why did my comment show up as John. J's? I'm Alysa!

[sarah gilbert]

if Cindy McCain becomes first lady, shoot me.

seriously, I wasn't that upset about the minor possibility of McCain winning the election (figuring at least he's better than Bush) until I got to know Cindy. any man who would select THIS woman as his wife-o-30-some years has serious judgment issues.

[Nora]

You may want to do some research about Cindy McCain before trashing the woman. Before she married, John McCain signed a very serious pre-nup, not that that is anyone's business and she is much more accomplished that Obama and Hillary COMBINED! It is a pity Obama's supporters are so enamored of him, they refuse to look deeper than his charm. If Obama were not so handsome and charming there is no way another junior senator of his inexperience and lack of depth on foreign policy, not to mention his lack of knowledge on foreign policy older than 10 years, would be this far. It speaks to the superficiality on the left. As a Mexican female, I was a Democrat most of my adult life until I stopped making decisions based on feelings and began making them based on logic. Obama is a first class hypocrite on most issues. For example, if gas guzzlers are so evil, why is he still riding in them? And if oil companies are so evil, why has he taken more money from them, oh sorry, from their spouses, than anyone else in the race?
Nora

[Lawyer Mama]

Speaking of hypocrites.... Did anyone see that McCain (who I swear was pro-choice like several elections ago) has now decided that the Republican party is just peachy keen in trying to outlaw all abortion, even without exceptions for the life of the mother or rape?

Yeah, now *that's* a hypocrite.

[Ugotta B. Kiddingme]

Do you mean to tell me, Nora, that Oil Companies have the right to marry in this country? I'd hate to be married to Exxon. I'm sure Exxon always leaves the seat up.

Let me understand your "logic": Cindy McCain: Drug addict who stole drugs from her tax shelter non-profit = accomplished.

Lawyer, Community Activist, State Senator, US Senator = vapid pretty boy.

Therefore, Vote for McCain!