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Apr-20-2008

McCain Releases His Tax Return, but Not His Wife's

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Republican presidential candidate John McCain released tax returns yesterday showing he collected a more modest income than either of his Democratic rivals, but he withheld filings made by his wife, Cindy, that would have given a more complete picture of his family finances. (More...)
Based on John McCain's Senate financial report for 2006, the Center for Responsive Politics pegs the family's net worth at $27 million to $45 million. (More...)
Certainly saves him no money to file MFS, but his income is too high to get any benefit from a joint filing anyway. (More...)
Transparency has become something of an issue in the presidential campaign. (More...)
In 2006, McCain and his wife donated, from community assets, about $129,000 to charity and $211,000 last year. (More...)
In this April 15, 2008 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., delivers a speech during a campaign event at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. (More...)
The Clintons and Obamas take pay raises. (More...)
It is very disingenous that Cindy McCain's finances are not made public. (More...)
McCain earned $256,898 in book income for '06 and '07, comprising earnings from Faith of My Fathers," "Worth the Fighting For," "Why Courage Matters," "Character is Destiny," and "Hard Call." (More...)
Teresa Kerry just had a penchant for marrying already-sitting Senators. (More...)
Failure to disclose "sets a terrible precedent for future campaigns for important posts at the national and state level." (More...)
The National Review, we are awaiting your substantial examination and analysis of Cindi's McSame's tax returns. (More...)
I agree, it is not comparable to the Kerry situation in 2004. (More...)
Since McCain has access to Cindy's money you best to believe it is relevant. (More...)
During the ABC debates Americans saw first hand that the Senator from Illinois''' tax plan requires further study. (More...)
If thats the ONLY plausible explination you can come up with then you are not very bright. (More...)
We've been so brainwashed the past 95 years (1913 fed income tax amendment) we simply expect it. horrible. (More...)
When you have as much money, you can afford to give. (More...)
I'm impressed that McCain donates his book royalties and his annual congressional pay raise since 1991 to charitable organizations. (More...)
The campaign argues that the two keep their finances separate, and that she has privacy concerns for her kids. (More...)

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Republican presidential candidate John McCain released tax returns yesterday showing he collected a more modest income than either of his Democratic rivals, but he withheld filings made by his wife, Cindy, that would have given a more complete picture of his family finances. Campaign officials said McCain declined to release Cindy McCain's separate tax returns to protect the privacy of his wife and their children. As precedent, senior adviser Steve Schmidt cited Democrat John F. Kerry in 2004; his wife, Teresa, similarly had filed separate returns from the candidate. The campaign appeared misinformed about the tax information provided by Teresa Heinz Kerry, who after initially disclosing only a portion of her financial information eventually made public the first two pages of her tax returns. McCain released only two years of his filings, covering income made in 2006 and 2007. His possible opponents, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.), have between them shared decades of tax returns that cover millions of dollars in earnings by themselves and their spouses. McCain's returns show that he earned about $420,000 last year and $320,000 in 2006 through his job in the Senate, his published memoirs, his U.S. Navy pension and his Social Security benefits. Obama's tax returns from 2000 to the forms he filed last week showed escalating income that peaked last year at $4.2 million, most of it in profits from his best-selling books. [1] McCain Releases Tax Returns 19-Apr-2008 Written by: Corinne Regan John McCain released his tax returns, but receives criticism for not releasing his wife's tax returns. According to Reuters, presidential candidate John McCain released his tax returns Friday, indicating he paid $157,231 in federal income taxes for 2006 and 2007. The Arizona senator had taxable income of $474,104 combined from 2006 and 2007, mostly from his Senate salary, Navy pension, Social Security Income and book royalties. Cindy McCain, who is an heiress to her father's multimillion-dollar Anheuser-Busch beer distributorship, did not release her tax returns, according to Reuters. 'In the interest of protecting the privacy of her children, Mrs. McCain will not be releasing her personal tax returns,' the McCain campaign said. The Democratic National Committee criticized McCain for not releasing his wife's tax returns. 'The connection between the McCains' business ventures and their political ties have been well documented and the American people deserve to know how McCain's role as a public official may have benefited their bottom line,' said DNC chair, Howard Dean. Hillary Clinton recently released her tax returns revealing she and the former president made over $100 million since leaving the White House.[2] Presumed Republican presidential nominee John McCain has paid $157,231 in federal taxes on a taxable income of $474,104 over the past two years, according to returns released by his campaign Friday. That amounts to an average tax rate of 33 percent. More than half of his taxable income in 2006 and 2007 came from royalties on five books, which he has made a policy of donating to charity. Since signing his first book deal in 1998, McCain has donated more than $1.8 million in proceeds to charity, primarily the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation. Aside from his book royalties and Senate salary, McCain also reported a total of $114,654 in tax-free income from his Naval pension over the past two years. The Arizona senator has earned far less than either of his Democratic presidential rivals, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama. McCain'''s tax disclosures did not include his wife Cindy'''s personal finances. The two file separately and Cindy McCain, who heads a beer distributorship founded by her parents ''' Hensley & Company ''' declined to release her tax returns.[3] Senator John McCain's income jumped by nearly $50,000 from 2006 to 2007 because of higher book royalties, according to federal tax returns he released today. In 2006, the presumptive Republican nominee reported earning $358,414, including his Senate salary, book royalties, Navy pension, and Social Security (he is 71). He reported $405,409 in income in 2007. Over those two years, he paid about $157,000 in federal taxes and gave about $170,000 to charity. McCain had been under pressure to release his returns after both his Democratic rivals, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, did so in recent weeks. He did not, however, disclose most tax information involving his wife Cindy, an heiress to a beer distributorship in Arizona worth an estimated $100 million.[4] McCain's individual return was released Friday. It shows that McCain paid $84,000 in taxes in 2007. He gave $105,000 to charity and also donated $177,000 in royalties from five of his books, including the biographical "Faith of My Fathers" and "Worth the Fighting For." His income included his Senate salary of $161,708, a Navy pension of $58,358 and Social Security income of $23,157. Aides say Cindy McCain will not release her tax returns to protect the privacy of her four children; details of their wealth are included in her filing. Because Arizona is a community property state, McCain and his wife each must report one-half of their shared income and expenses. Though McCain reported $258,800 in taxable income on his 2007 return, the couple's joint income was twice that amount. According to their tax returns, Cindy McCain's income from the beer distributorship, Hensley & Company, was $432,991 in 2007. McCain's campaign also released his 2006 tax returns. For 2006, he reported income of $215,304 and paid $72,771 in taxes. He also reported charitable gifts of $64,695 and book royalty donations totaling $80,390. Earlier this week, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, reported making $4.2 million last year. That was a significant jump in their income from the previous year. Profits from his books "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope" accounted for some $4 million.[5]

Susan Davis reports on the presidential race. Sen. John McCain released his 2006 and 2007 tax records Friday, but they do not provide a full accounting of the McCains' worth. The Republican presidential candidate and his wife, Cindy McCain, file tax returns separately and she will not be releasing her tax returns, citing privacy reasons. She is the chairwoman of Hensley Co, an Anheuser-Busch distributor and her worth has been estimated to exceed $100 million. 'Senator and Mrs. McCain have kept their personal finances separate throughout their 27-year marriage,' his campaign said in a statement. How wealthy is John McCain? According to break down from the campaign, his total 2006 income was $320,665 but his 2007 income was $419,731, mainly due to spike in income from royalties from his five books. McCain draws income from his Senate salary, roughly $161,000 per year, as well as from his books, Social Security, and his Navy pension.[6] John McCain earned a total of $405,409 last year and donated a quarter of it to charity, according to tax returns his campaign released yesterday that provide only a partial picture of his family's wealth. The presumptive Republican nominee's income included his U.S. Senate salary of $161,708, a Navy pension of $58,358, and Social Security income of $23,157, plus book royalties that he donated to charity. The tax return showed that he paid $84,460 in taxes and donated $105,467, most to the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation, which then distributed much of the money to charities.[7] WASHINGTON (AP) - John McCain's tax records show he earned just over $400,000 last year, and donated a quarter of that total to charity. The 2007 filing doesn't reflect the enormous wealth of his wife, Cindy, heiress to a Phoenix-based beer distributing company. Her worth is estimated at $100 million. A prenuptial agreement keeps their money separate. McCain's income included his Senate salary of almost $162,000, a Navy pension of over $58,000 and Social Security income of $23,000. He paid $17,700 in alimony last year; he and his first wife divorced some three decades ago. He gave over $105,000 to charitable organizations, mostly through the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation. The donations include royalties from 5 of his books. He paid about $84,000 in taxes on taxable income of $258,800.[8]

Wolf, before marrying 27 years ago, the McCains signed a prenuptial agreement. That keeps their finances separate, and they file their taxes separately. McCain's campaign said Cindy is not releasing her returns, in words of the campaign, "in the interest of protecting the privacy of her children." You remember, Michelle Obama, who also, of course, has very young children, she did release her tax records, and she filed those jointly with her husband, Barack Obama. Now, the DNC chairman, Howard Dean, he issued a statement just a short while ago calling McCain's lack of transparency, quote, "troubling" and said not releasing Cindy McCain's taxes, quote, "raised -- raises questions about what he's hiding." Now, ironically, Wolf, you probably remember -- well, actually I can tell you now, McCain advisers are defending not releasing his wife's tax records by comparing it to Democrat John Kerry, his campaign four years ago. What you do remember, then, is his multimillionaire wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, she refused to disclose all of her tax returns. That's something Republicans campaigned about -- complained about, I should say. First of all, he received more than $58,000 from his Navy -- from the Navy for his pension. He's 71 years old, and the presumptive Republican nominee also got $23,000 last year in Social Security, and he paid nearly $18,000 in alimony to his ex-wife. He actually earned nearly $177,000 in royalties from the books that he sold, and he donated, along with his wife, all of that money to charity. Let's look at some of the charity because it's interesting.[9] Barack and Michelle Obama earned a total of more than $4 million last year. Hillary and Bill Clinton outearned them all last year with a total income of more than $20 million." Earlier in the program, Bash compared the portion of McCain's income that he gave to charity with the portion given by the Clintons and Obamas -- without noting that McCain presumably benefits from his wife's wealth and from her income from her separate property, a figure that she has not released. Bash stated: "So, all told, John McCain donated about 26 percent of his income to charity. Wolf, by comparison, the Clintons gave 15 percent, and the Obamas, they gave 6 percent." Bash reported: "Now, ironically, Wolf, you probably remember -- well, actually I can tell you now, McCain advisers are defending not releasing his wife's tax records by comparing it to Democrat John Kerry, his campaign four years ago. What you do remember, then, is his multimillionaire wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, she refused to disclose all of her tax returns. That's something Republicans campaigned about -- complained about, I should say." As Media Matters for America documented, while Heinz Kerry did not provide her full tax returns, as The New York Times reported, she did release a "two-page document" showing a "total income of $5,073,554 last year." Heinz Kerry's release enabled the Times to do an analysis to determine how much she had benefited from the Bush tax cuts, which John McCain supports extending permanently.[9] Several media outlets have reported that Sen. John McCain's campaign justified refusing to release Cindy McCain's tax returns by citing the Sen. John Kerry and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, as "precedent." They did not report that, while Heinz Kerry did not provide her full tax returns, she did release what an October 16, 2004, New York Times article described as a "small part of her 2003 income tax return": a "two-page document" showing "total income of $5,073,554 last year." Heinz Kerry's release enabled the Times to do an analysis to determine how much she had benefited from the Bush tax cuts, which John McCain supports extending permanently. In contrast to the Kerry campaign, the McCain campaign has released only the "Wages and Salaries" that Cindy McCain received in 2006 and 2007 as chair of Hensley & Co. and Cindy and John McCain's share of interest income from a bank account and their shares of income from John McCain's book royalties; it did not reveal any capital gains income from that period. Therefore, a similar analysis of how the McCains have benefited over the past two years from the Bush tax cuts is not possible, based on Cindy McCain's release alone. These media reports, therefore, have advanced the McCain campaign's comparison between Cindy McCain's limited release of financial information and Heinz Kerry's, and in doing so, ignored a key distinction in the information they released: Unlike Heinz Kerry, Cindy McCain did not release sufficient information for the public to determine the extent to which she benefited from the tax cuts her husband supports extending.[10]

The couple signed a prenuptial agreement that keeps most of the assets in Cindy McCain's name. "Senator and Mrs. McCain have kept their personal finances separate throughout their 27-year marriage," the McCain campaign said in a statement accompanying the tax returns. "Accordingly, they have for many years filed separate tax returns." Aides say she will not release her tax returns to protect the privacy of the couple's four children. Because Arizona is a community property state, McCain and his wife each must report one-half of their shared income and expenses. Though McCain reported $258,800 in taxable income on his 2007 return, the couple's joint taxable income was twice that amount. Democrats criticized McCain for not releasing more information about his wife's income, noting that Republicans during the last presidential campaign had called on Senator John F. Kerry to disclose more about the finances of his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry. "John McCain's lack of transparency is troubling and raises questions about what he's hiding," Howard Dean, Democratic National Committee chairman, said in a statement. "McCain should hold himself to the same standard set by past presidential candidates, both Republican and Democrat, and the example already set by both Democratic candidates."[7] WASHINGTON, April 18, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Today John McCain, the ninth richest member of Congress, again showed the American people that his call for openness and accountability in government applies to everyone but himself. By only releasing two years of returns, he is the first nominee of either party since Ronald Reagan in 1980 to disclose that little information. By failing to release his wife Cindy McCain's return, serious questions remain unanswered about how John McCain's position as a U.S. Senator may have benefited John and Cindy McCain's business ventures. "John McCain's lack of transparency is troubling and raises questions about what he's hiding. From his willingness to skirt FEC law to releasing less information about his tax returns than any other candidate since Ronald Reagan, John McCain continues a troubling pattern of thinking the rules don't apply to him. McCain should hold himself to the same standard set by past presidential candidates, both Republican and Democrat, and the example already set by both Democratic candidates. "In 2004, the Republican National Committee called on the Kerry campaign to release Teresa Heinz Kerry's tax returns, saying 'Americans value disclosure and transparency in campaigns.' We expect the RNC will call on John McCain to release Cindy McCain's records just as they called on the Kerry campaign to do so in 2004. The connection between the McCains' business ventures and their political ties have been well documented and the American people deserve to know how McCain's role as a public official may have benefited their bottom line."[11]

The company sold 23 million cases of Anheuser-Busch beer in Arizona last year, more than 60% of the suds sold in the state, the Hensley Web site said. John McCain last year gave $105,000 to charity and donated $177,000 in royalties from five of his books. The senator has made more than $1.8 million in royalties from his books since his first in 1998 and has donated all of it to charity, the campaign said. His returns gave a small window into his wife's wealth, showing she earned $432,991 from Hensley & Co. last year and had $85,833 in taxes withheld. No information about her investment income was revealed. Democrats charged that the failure to release Cindy McCain's returns belied his "straight talk" rep. "John McCain's lack of transparency is troubling and raises questions about what he's hiding," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean. Republicans made similar attacks against 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry when his wife, Teresa, with $500 million from the Heinz foods fortune, withheld her financial data. John McCain's Democratic rivals outearned him.[12] "As required by federal law and Senate rules, Mrs. McCain has released significant and extensive financial information through Senate and Presidential disclosure forms. In the interest of protecting the privacy of her children, Mrs. McCain will not be releasing her personal tax returns." Sen. Barack Obama, meanwhile, has disclosed that he made $4.2 million in 2007, much of that royalties from his two books. McCain will be under intense pressure to release his wife tax information since the senator enjoys the benefit of not just his salary, but his wife's fortune as well. It would be impossible to afford the McCains' eight houses on his Senate salary alone, for instance. McCain advisers who talked with reporters this morning made sure to point out that the 2004 presidential campaign of Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee that year, didn't release the returns of Teresa Heinz (as in ketchup) Kerry, whose wealth far exceeeded her husband's. That wealth helped keep Kerry's campaign financially afloat at one point when he borrowed against the family's mansion on Beacon Hill in Boston. Kerry wasn't running as the champion of straight talk. it's going to be difficult, if not impossible, for McCain to claim the mantle of transparency and forthrightness if he doesn't make his wife's financial information available.[10] Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008. Reading Sen. John McCain's, R-Ariz., personal tax returns, which the White House hopeful released today, you'd never know he's the Senate's eighth wealthiest member. McCain's returns show he earned about $400,000 last year and gave a lot to charity. That's well above the poverty line -- but well below the $27 million to $45 million reflected in McCain's Senate financial disclosures. The secret? The vast majority of the McCain family wealth comes from Cindy, McCain's second wife, who is heiress to a fortune built by her father, a beer distributor, whose firm she now chairs. Unlike the Obamas and Clintons, the McCains file their taxes separately -- and Cindy's returns are off-limits to the public, the campaign says. McCain's Senate disclosures give a picture of Cindy's impressive wealth -- and that of their children -- and show that almost none of it is directly shared with McCain himself.[13] INDIVIDUAL ASSETS: John and Cindy McCain file separate tax returns. His return does not include dividends, capital gains, interest and other income that went only to her. The disclosures from 2006 and 2007 indicate that he spent most of his own income, suggesting that Cindy McCain funds their lifestyle. The campaign cites privacy concerns in not releasing her data. Sen. John McCain reported income of $405,409 last year, but the money he spent on charitable contributions, wages to household staff, alimony and taxes ate up most of that -- showing how his wife, Cindy, helped support a wealthy lifestyle. McCain on Friday released his 2007 and 2006 tax returns, but not those of his wife, whose income from ownership of a beer distributor far exceeds $1 million, according to financial disclosure statements filed previously in the Senate.[14] Republican Senator John McCain has kept secret his wife's tax returns, providing only a partial picture of his family's vast wealth. The presumptive Republican nominee reported income of $405,409 last year which he spent on charitable contributions, wages to household staff, alimony and taxes. According to the Associated Press, McCain's tax filing does not account for his wife's estimated worth of $100 million. By not releasing his wife's tax returns, pundits are questioning how the Arizona senator's political position may have benefited McCain business ventures. Disclosures from 2006 and 2007 have revealed that throughout their 27-year marriage, Cindy Hensley McCain has helped create a wealthy lifestyle for Senator John McCain who is believed to be the ninth richest member of Congress. While their prenuptial agreement has kept most of McCain's assets in the name of his wife, an heiress to a Phoenix-based beer distributing company, the 71-year-old senator has routinely been ranked among the richest in Congress. Pundits believe Senator McCain has chosen a troubling pattern, thinking the rules do not apply to him.[15] Cindy McCain, the wealthy and politically connected Arizona beer heiress McCain married shortly after leaving his first wife, and just in time to move to Arizona to run for Congress has refused to release her income tax records. John McCain and his Wife file their Income Tax separately. As heiress to her father's stake in Hensley & Co. of Phoenix, Cindy McCain is an executive whose worth may exceed $100 million. Her beer earnings have afforded the GOP presidential nominee a wealthy lifestyle with a private jet and vacation homes at his disposal, and her connections helped him launch his political career -- even if the millions remain in her name alone. The arm's-length distance between McCain and his wife's assets also has helped shield him from conflict-of-interest problems. John McCain's lack of transparency is troubling and raises questions about what he's hiding. From his willingness to skirt FEC law to releasing less information about his tax returns than any other candidate since Ronald Reagan, John McCain continues a troubling pattern of thinking the rules don't apply to him. McCain should hold himself to the same standard set by past presidential candidates, both Republican and Democrat, and the example already set by both Democratic candidates. McCain will not release information on his wife's estimated $100 million fortune.[16]

Republican presidential candidate John McCain had income of $405,409 in 2007 and $358,414 in 2006, his campaign just announced -- figures that do not reflect the wealth of his wife, Cindy, but rather focus on his earnings as a U.S. senator, author, Social Security recipient and U.S. Navy veteran who receives a pension. McCain "paid $157,231 in federal taxes for 2006 and 2007," his campaign also announced. There are links to McCain's tax returns here. We'll have more about them as we have a chance to look at them more closely. Senator and Mrs. McCain have kept their personal finances separate throughout their 27-year marriage. Accordingly, they have for many years filed separate tax returns.[17] Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain released his 2007 income tax return Friday, reporting $405,409 in income and $118,660 paid in federal taxes. He also gave $105,467 to the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation, which subsequently farmed out the money to different charities. The income report included his Senate salary of $161,708; a Navy pension of $58,358 and Social Security income of $23,157.[18] ABC News''' Bret Hovell reports: The campaign of Senator John McCain has released his tax returns for last two years. McCain earned $419,731 in income in 2007, from a combination of his Senate salary, book royalties and his pension and Social Security income. McCain paid $84,460 in federal taxes - $258,800 of his income was taxable. Together, the McCains donated $210,000 to charity, most of which was given to a family foundation bearing their name. That organization distributes money to other charities directly, the campaign says.[19] WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain paid $157,231 in federal income taxes for 2006 and 2007, according to records released on Friday that did not include those of his wealthy wife, Cindy. McCain, 71, an Arizona senator, had taxable income of $474,104 in those two years combined based on his Senate salary, his book royalties, a Navy pension and Social Security income.[20] Sen. John McCain released his tax returns for 2006 and 2007 Friday, reporting a personal income of $320,665 in 2006 and $419,731 in 2007. McCain'''s income came from his Senate salary, book royalties, a Navy pension and Social Security benefits. According to his campaign, McCain and his wife Cindy have kept their finances separate throughout their 27-year marriage.[21] McCain's information is hardly the complete picture. In 2006 he earned $161,675 in his Senate salary, $80,390 in book royalty income, $22,104 in Social Security income, and $56,496 in his Navy pension. In 2007, those numbers were $161,708 in Senate salary, $176,508 from book royalties, $23,157 in Social Security, and $58,358 from the Navy. McCain gives all of his book royalty income to charity, and the campaign says that since 1991 he has "also donated the increase in his Senate salary for that year and each subsequent year to charity because he opposed the Congressional pay increase at that time and pledged not to accept the pay raises." He will no doubt take heat over not disclosing his wife's finances since she is the reason they live such a comfortable life. When this issue reared its head in 2004 with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and his multimillionaire wife Teresa Heinz Kerry, the conservative Weekly Standard made an issue out of it, asking why she wouldn't release her returns.[22] Cindy McCain, a stylish, pencil-thin blonde who is often compared to Barbie, is an heiress and businesswoman, worth an estimated $US100 million ($107.6 million). Her husband earned $US405,409 last year from the Senate, his navy pension, social security and book sales. Senator McCain, an advocate of transparency in government, said he was trying to protect his children's privacy. It was the same reason given by John Kerry, the Democrats' 2004 presidential candidate, although Teresa Heinz Kerry, his billionaire wife, was pressured into releasing a partial return.[23]

The 71-year-old presumptive GOP nominee's tax returns showed a total income of $405,409 last year - including $23,157 from Social Security - and $118,660 paid in federal income taxes, the McCain campaign said Friday. McCain files his tax returns separately from his second wife, whom he married in 1980. "Since the beginning of their marriage, Sen. McCain and Mrs. McCain have always maintained separate finances" under their prenuptial agreement, the McCain campaign said in a statement. The reason given for withholding her returns was the privacy of the four McCain children. Cindy McCain, who inherited Arizona's biggest beer distributorship - Hensley and Co. - from her late father, Jim Hensley, has assets reportedly worth more $100 million.[12] The eagerly awaited McCain tax returns from 2006 and 2007 were released today. The documents, provided by''his campaign ( and posted on their websiteclsbrkt showed that the GOP presumptive nominee''''earned over'' $400, 000 last year, and paid a total of $84,000 in federal income taxes. McCain also donated more than $100,00 to charity last year, and donated'' $256,898 in book royalties''combined for 2006 and 2007.The entire McCain family fortune, however, was not revealed as it is''mostly held by his wife. Beer heiress Cindy McCain''is''the ''chairwoman''of the largest Anheuser-Busch distributors in the country.Her wealth is estimated to be over $100 million, but since the McCains have a prenuptial agreement, she holds the majority of their assets and they have filed their taxes separately for the majority of their 27-year marriage. This year was no different. During a state of the race ''press briefing this morning, campaign senior officials said that the''decision to''keep Mrs. McCain's tax returns''private''was to protect the couple's children who are "reflected in her return."[24]

John McCain, who has clinched the Republican presidential nomination, reported $405,409 in income last year and paid $118,660 in federal taxes, according to tax returns made public Friday. He gave $105,467 to charity, the records show. His campaign didn't release tax returns for his wife, Cindy, who is chairman of Phoenix-based Hensley & Co., one of the largest beer distributors in the United States. "My wife and I, we have separate incomes, we have a prenuptial agreement, and her business is her business," McCain said. "I have never been involved in it since before I ran for the Congress of the United States, so I just feel that she has a right to a separate tax return."[25] McCain paid $157,231 in federal income taxes for the two years. During these years he and Mrs. McCain donated $340,323 to charitable causes, most of it to the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation, which makes direct contributions to charities. The McCain campaign did not release the tax returns of McCain's wife, who inherited a multimillion-dollar Anheuser-Busch beer distributorship, one of the country's largest, from her father. "Since the beginning of their marriage, Sen. McCain and Mrs. McCain have always maintained separate finances," the McCain campaign said in a statement.[20]

The chart did not include any income earned by McCain's wife, Cindy. As Dana Bash reported moments earlier of Cindy McCain, "Some estimates actually put her worth at about $100 million." On the April 18 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, during a report on the release of Sen. John McCain's tax returns, an on-screen chart showed McCain's income to be significantly lower than that of Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton when combined with the income of their spouses. The chart did not include any income that McCain's wife, Cindy -- who has not released her tax returns -- earned separately. As CNN political correspondent Dana Bash reported moments earlier of Cindy McCain, "Some estimates actually put her worth at about $100 million." While the chart was displayed, on-screen text read: "Comparing their wealth."[9] In 2006, McCain reported $358,414 in income, paying $72,771 in federal taxes, and giving $64,695 to charity. McCain, who is ranked among the richest members of Congress, had been under pressure to release his tax returns after both his Democratic rivals, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, did so in recent weeks. He did not, however, disclose most tax information involving his wife, Cindy, an heiress to a beer distributing company in Arizona whose assets are worth an estimated $100 million.[7] The McCains have donated a cumulative $340,000 to charity in 2006 and 2007. Cindy McCain has apparently made $870,000 during 2006 and 2007 for her work at Hensley (which was founded by her parents) and it's estimated that her assets could be worth more than $100 million. The McCain campaign says Cindy McCain's returns were not released because of privacy concerns but Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean said of "John McCain's lack of transparency is troubling and raises questions about what he's hiding." Barack Obama released his recent tax returns on Wednesday, while Hillary Clinton released many years of returns earlier this month.[26]

According to the returns, Cindy McCain's income from the beer distributorship, Hensley & Company, was $432,991 in 2007. McCain's campaign also released his 2006 individual tax returns. For 2006, he reported paying $72,771 on taxable income of $215,304. He also reported charitable gifts of $64,695. Earlier this week, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, reported making $4.2 million last year. That was a significant jump in their income from the previous year. Profits from his books "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope" accounted for some $4 million.[27] Cindy McCain is the heiress to Hensley and Company, a lucrative beer distributor company in Arizona. Her wealth has been estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars. "Having served the greater Phoenix area since 1955, Hensley & Company is widely respected as an exemplary corporate citizen, and makes significant charitable contributions of its own," the release said. McCain's Democratic rivals, Sens. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), released their tax returns earlier this month. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) hit McCain in a Thursday afternoon memo, criticizing him for failing to disclose his tax returns since coming to Congress, adding that by only releasing two years of information, McCain is not disclosing enough. In the memo, the DNC asked if McCain would make his wife's returns available, noting: "Don't forget that in 2004, the RNC repeatedly called on the Kerry campaign to release Mrs. Heinz-Kerry's separately filed returns. "McCain's aversion to disclosure stands in contrast with the Democratic candidates, both of whom have released full tax returns dating back at least eight years, as has become expected and traditional," the DNC memo said.[28] McCain was in the Navy, not the Air Force. Does this really surprise anyone? After the crucifixion they gave John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry, they probably thought it best to keep Cindy McCain's income underwraps. I hope they get swiftboated to the Hanoi Hilton. I'm sure a lot of Obama and Clinton supporters (I'm a Clinton supporter, but soon to be McCain supporter when she loses) are going to raise a big stink over this, but it honestly doesn't make a bit of difference to me that he doesn't release his wife's tax returns. Out of all 3 of the candidates McCain is by far the most trustworthy and I think it would be a tough argument to make that there is something hidden in his wifes tax returns. Senator McCain doesn't receive an Air Force pension because he never was in the Air Force. He served in the Navy. I don't think McCain receives an Air Force pension given that he served in the Navy. If viewing the tax returns of a candidate is a valid way to understand how money coming to him or her from different places might influence that candidate, then it is certainly valid to look at the tax returns of that candidate's spouse. How do we know where the McCains' finanical interests lie? How do we know what special interests Mrs. McCain might be making millions off of? We don't, unless she releases her tax returns. To say that a man won't be swayed in his actions by the financial interests of his wife is ridiculous. His wife's income is a double temptation: he will be tempted by the prospect of sharing in the benefits of that wealth, and he will be tempted to make his wife happy by seeing her interests pursued, independent of any direct financial benefit to himself.[29] No returns or summaries are included for wife Cindy McCain, who heads a privately held beer distribution company. Note, John and Cindy McCain have filed separate tax returns for every year of their marriage except their first year, 27 years ago. On questions of transparency, the McCain campaign points out that the Arizona senator has filed financial disclosures while he has been in public life. The campaign cites Teresa Heinz Kerry, John Kerry's wife, as precedent for not releasing Cindy McCain's returns -- even though Heinz Kerry loaned money to her husband's campaign. The Clinton campaign has recently called on Obama to release his tax returns from 1997 to 1999 when he was an Illinois state senator.[30]

Amid a sharp slowdown in the U.S. economy, the candidates are out to prove who is most attuned to the concerns of voters. Mr McCain and Mrs Clinton have both sought to portray Mr Obama as an "elitist" since his remarks about "bitter" small-town voters. Mr McCain is considered one of the wealthiest members of Congress because of his wife's fortune. The McCain campaign said the couple had kept separate finances throughout their 27-year marriage, and that Mrs McCain would not release her tax records in order to protect their children's privacy. Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, described the excuse as a "red herring" and said presidential candidates and their families must accept close scrutiny. "McCain has been the most outspoken about ethics so he is held to a particularly high standard of transparency," she said, predicting that Mrs McCain would eventually be forced to disclose her records. In 2004, John Kerry, the then-Democratic presidential nominee, initially refused to make public the tax returns of his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, heir to a $500m fortune, until three weeks before the election.[31] In 2006, the senator paid $72,771 in federal taxes and $84,460 in 2007. While the statement from the McCain campaign notes that McCain and his wife do file separate tax returns, and have since their marriage, former Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry (Mass.) and his wife, Teresa, came under fire in 2004 when Teresa, the widow of former Sen. John Heinz (R-Pa.), declined to release hers. "Since the beginning of their marriage, Sen. McCain and Mrs. McCain have always maintained separate finances," the campaign said in release.[28] ASHINGTON, May 11 - Teresa Heinz Kerry earned more than $5 million from investments last year and paid more than $587,000 in federal income taxes, the presidential campaign of her husband, Senator John Kerry, said Tuesday. The campaign said that Mrs. Heinz Kerry had received a routine extension until Oct. 15 to file her 2003 tax return and that she would make public the summary pages of that return after it was filed. Mrs. Heinz Kerry, the heir to the Heinz food fortune and one of the wealthiest people in the United States, has faced criticism since Mr. Kerry became the likely Democratic presidential candidate because she has refused to release her tax returns.[32] The company is valued at $100 million or more, published estimates say. Now, one of the most popular parlor games in the liberal blogosphere is "Can you imagine if a Democrat did this?" Most of the time, it's kind of tiresome, but this is actually a great test case, almost one of those "natural experiments" that economists are so enthused about these days. Here's the rest of the story: In the 2004 campaign, Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, at first said she would not release her personal income tax returns, also citing family privacy. After a torrent of criticism, Mrs. Heinz Kerry released part of her taxes that showed her to be wealthiest spouse of any presidential candidate in American history. We don't have to imagine what would happen if a Democrat did this.[33]

Some of Cindy McCain's financial statements have been released as part of regular Senate disclosures. The McCain campaign notes John Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz, did not release her complete tax returns during the 2004 campaign. An heiress to her father's stake in Hensley & Co. of Phoenix, Cindy McCain's worth has been estimated to be around $100 million.[34] Summary: Several media outlets have reported that Sen. John McCain's campaign justified refusing to release Cindy McCain's tax returns by citing Sen. John Kerry and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, as "precedent." They did not report that, in contrast with Cindy McCain, Heinz Kerry did release a part of her 2003 income tax return that showed "total income," which enabled The New York Times to analyze how she benefited from the Bush tax cuts. Such an analysis of how the McCains have benefited from the tax cuts -- which Sen. McCain supports extending permanently -- is not possible, based on the information his campaign has released on Cindy McCain's income.[10] "John McCain's lack of transparency is troubling and raises questions about what he's hiding. From his willingness to skirt FEC law to releasing less information about his tax returns than any other candidate since Ronald Reagan, John McCain continues a troubling pattern of thinking the rules don't apply to him. McCain should hold himself to the same standard set by past presidential candidates, both Republican and Democrat, and the example already set by both Democratic candidates. "In 2004, the Republican National Committee called on the Kerry campaign to release Teresa Heinz Kerry's tax returns, saying 'Americans value disclosure and transparency in campaigns.' We expect the RNC will call on John McCain to release Cindy McCain's records just as they called on the Kerry campaign to do so in 2004. The connection between the McCains' business ventures and their political ties have been well documented and the American people deserve to know how McCain's role as a public official may have benefited their bottom line."[29] In community property states, individuals maintain a separation of all property brought to the marriage, or inherited during it, but share financial responsibility for other assets acquired through the efforts of each spouse during the marriage. Their tax returns report one half of each of their community property income and expenses (such as income each of them earn as salaries, Senator McCain's book royalties, and expenses attributable to both of them such as charitable contributions from community assets)." UPDATE: Democrats hit McCain for not releasing more information about his wife's income, noting that Republicans had called on Senator John F. Kerry to disclose more about the finances of his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry. "John McCain's lack of transparency is troubling and raises questions about what he's hiding," Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said in a statement. "John McCain continues a troubling pattern of thinking the rules don't apply to him. McCain should hold himself to the same standard set by past presidential candidates, both Republican and Democrat, and the example already set by both Democratic candidates."[4]

McCain's individual return was released Friday. It shows that McCain paid $84,000 in taxes in 2007. He gave $105,000 to charity and also donated $177,000 in royalties from five of his books, including the biographical "Faith of My Fathers" and "Worth the Fighting For." His income included his Senate salary of $161,708, a Navy pension of $58,358 and Social Security income of $23,157. Candidates have historically released copies of their past tax returns. During the 2004 election, Republicans criticized Theresa Heinz Kerry for not disclosing her personal tax returns (she eventually released a copy of her 1040).[35] The forms are available to the public HERE ]] HERE. The Arizona senator also received $114,854 for his Navy pension. During those two years McCain paid $157,231 in federal taxes. McCain donates his royalties from books and Senate pay increases to charity, most of which has gone to the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation. The royalties from his books have totaled more than $1.8 million since 1998 and those from his pay increase more than $450,000. A statement from the campaign about the tax form release states '''Beginning in 1991, Senator McCain has also donated the increase in his Senate salary for that year and each subsequent year to charity because he opposed the Congressional pay increase at that time and pledged not to accept the pay raises.'''[36] McCain, 71, reported earning $258,800 in taxable income last year and paying $84,460 in federal income tax. That income came from his salary as an Arizona senator, as well as book royalties, Social Security and his Navy pension. His 2006 figures were comparable: $215,304 in taxable income and $72,771 paid in federal income taxes, from the same sources. Cindy McCain is the chairwoman of a huge Phoenix-based Anheuser- Busch beer distributorship, Hensley & Co., which her parents founded. She may be worth more than $100 million, according to some analysts' estimates.[37] If you refuse your Social Security, the govt. doesn't give it to someone who needs it. They just waste it on some give-a-way program. "Social Security Income: $22,104 $23,157 Why is a man who make $300,000 a year, + the multi-millions his wife pulls in, able to collect SSI? And more to the point, why isn't he refusing it so that someone who actually needs it can get it?" What a retarded question! He paid that money into the system. Its HIS money that he is entitled to. Why not refuse his Navy Pension while he is at it? Heck, why doesn't he just refuse his Senator's salary altogether and donate all of his wife's money? This has already donated $1.8 million from book royalties and who knows how much to the McCain Family Foundation. He has refused the increase in Senator's Salary. What other senators have done that? How much has Clinton donated from his book? John McCain has my vote.[30]

McCain paid $5,413 in alternative minimum tax, an assessment hitting more and more middle-class Americans and one that the senator wants to eliminate. The return also shows McCain paid $17,700 in alimony to his first wife, Carol, whom he divorced in 1980. Arizona is a community-property state, meaning the McCains must share any income they earn for tax purposes but can keep separate dividends, interest and profits from assets they brought into the marriage or inherited during the marriage. McCain earned a total of $257,000 from book royalties in 2006 and 2007, donating all of it and additional contributions to charity, with half showing up on his return and half on his wife's. The Arizona senator splits the royalties from his five books equally with his coauthor, Mark Salter, who is also his speechwriter and a top campaign advisor. Over the last decade, McCain has donated his share of the royalties -- $1.8 million -- to charity, according to the campaign. Most of McCain's books were not widely available when he began campaigning last year, and his sales paled compared with those of Obama, who took in $3.9 million in sales from his two books in 2007 alone. Sen. Clinton and her husband, former President Clinton, have also fared well with their memoirs. Her "Living History" has brought in more than $10 million since 2000, according to her tax returns. ralph.vartabedian@ latimes.com [email protected] Times researcher Scott Wilson contributed to this report.[14] Sen. McCain called it a "Gas Tax Holiday," claiming the move would be an economic stimulus with lasting effects. While we're on the subject of taxes, what in the world is John McCain doing with his in his household? The LA Times posted an article today about John McCain releasing his tax returns this morning, and his individual filing did not include his wealthy wife's holdings at all. Cindy and John McCain filed separate tax returns as they have throughout their marriage, and the Phoenix, Arizona heiress to a beer distributing company has an estimated worth of over $100 million. On his income alone, McCain reported $418,000 in actual income for last year - quite a hefty sum for a politician.[38] WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidate John McCain earned a total of $405,409 last year and donated a quarter of it to charity, according to tax returns that provide only a partial picture of his family's enormous wealth. His 2007 individual tax filing does not account for his wife's estimated worth of $100 million. McCain and his wife, Cindy, have kept their finances separate throughout their 27-year marriage, and long have filed their taxes individually.[27]

In all, the 71-year-old Arizona senator reported total income of $405,409 last year, and paid $84,460 in federal income taxes. The Republican presidential candidate files his taxes separately from his wife, Cindy, whose fortune is in the $100 million range. Because Arizona is a community property state, McCain and his wife each must report one-half of their shared income and expenses. Though McCain reported $258,800 in taxable income on his 2007 return, the couple's joint taxable income was twice that amount.[39] Out of 535 members of Congress, Roll Call newspaper last year ranked McCain the ninth richest. In 2007, McCain's total income was $405,409; his taxable income was $258,800; he paid $188,660 in taxes. The campaign did not release tax returns for McCain's wife, Cindy, heiress to a fortune from her father's beer distribution company, Hensley and Company, for which she now serves as chairman.[40]

Some information about Cindy McCain's earnings is included in the senator's tax returns. He reported that his wife earned more than $430,000 in each of the past two years in salary and benefits for her work as chairman of Hensley & Co., the company she inherited from her parents. Because Arizona has community property laws, married couples living there must report their salaries and income from jointly held assets on each spouse's taxes when the husband and wife file separate tax returns.[41] USA TODAY's Matt Kelley and David Jackson write that "some information about Cindy McCain's earnings are included in the senator's tax returns. He reported that his wife earned more than $430,000 in each of the past two years in salary and benefits for her work as chairman of Hensley & Co., the company she inherited from her parents." OpenSecrets.org, which tracks lawmakers' personal finances as well as the money they collect for their campaigns, estimates that the McCains' "net worth" was between $28 million and $45 million as of 2006.[17]

McCain reported paying $136,572 in wages to household employees in 2007. Aides say the McCains pay for a caretaker for a cabin in Sedona, Ariz., child care for their teenage daughter, and a personal assistant for Cindy McCain. The campaign says she will not release her tax returns to protect the privacy of the couple's four children; details of their wealth are included in her filing. McCain's filing, however, gives some clues to his wife's earnings last year.[39] McCain reported paying $136,572 in wages to employees in 2007. Reports said the couple pays a caretaker for their Sedona, Ariz. cabin; a personal assistant for Cindy; and child care for their daughter. The Arizona senator filed a return separately from his wife, Cindy, heiress to a Phoenix-based beer distributing company. The 71-year-old senator maintains that he and Cindy have kept their finances separate because of a prenuptial agreement. Under Arizona community property law, John McCain is entitled to claim a share of his wife's income. Based on his tax returns, Cindy McCain made $432,991 in 2007 from stocks at Hensley & Company, which she inherited from her father.[18] WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidate John McCain reported taxable income of nearly $259,000 on his 2007 tax returns, an individual filing that does not include his wife's far more extensive wealth. McCain and his wife, Cindy, have kept their finances separate throughout their 27-year marriage, and long have filed separately.[5] Sen. John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, has released his tax returns for the past two years, including details about the money he donated to charitable causes. In 2007, the Arizona senator reported $405,409 in total income and contributed $105,467, or 26 percent of his total income, to charity. In 2006, Mr. McCain said he had $358,414 in total income and donated $64,695, or 18 percent of his total income, to charity.[42] WASHINGTON Republican presidential hopeful John McCain reported earning $405,409 last year and paid $118,660 in taxes, according to tax returns released Friday that did not include many details of his wife's wealth.[41] Fri. John McCain released his '06 and '07 tax returns today. The returns show that in the past two years, he paid $157,231 in federal taxes, and he and his wife, Cindy, have contributed $340,323 to charitable causes. "accordingly, they have for many years filed separate tax returns."[43] The Kerrys file separate tax returns, a common arrangement when one spouse is wealthy." Here'''s the release from the McCain campaign: ARLINGTON, VA -- Today, U.S. Senator John McCain's campaign released his tax returns for 2006 and 2007. Senator McCain's tax returns show that he paid $157,231 in federal taxes for 2006 and 2007.[30] UPDATE: As fate would have it, we just finished up taping an ABC News Shuffle Podcast with Charlie Black, a senior adviser of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign. Here are the relevant portions about this disclosure issue. TAPPER: I want to start right off the bat with asking you about something that just landed in my inbox moments ago which is an email from your campaign saying Sen. John McCain has released his tax returns for 2006 and 2007. First of all it took a long time to get him to release these returns. BLACK: Well,. it's pretty early in the campaign, I don'''t know that there was any particular reason to do it earlier. They probably -- I wasn'''t involved with the accountants or anything but they probably didn'''t finish the 07 return until just recently since it was viewed this week. TAPPER: Well, one thing that I am suspecting you'''re going to get lot of heat for is the fact that Senator and Mrs. McCain, Cindy McCain keep their finances separate and you guys have decided not to release Cindy McCain'''s returns. The millions of dollars that she has invested or whatever, the public is not going to find out about, because it says the desire or privacy of the children.[22] Privacy? Oh, come off it. Aides say Cindy McCain will not release her tax returns to protect the privacy of her four children; details of their wealth are included in her filing. Why does Sen John McCain believe he can come off as some regular John who makes $243,000 as a Senator and Retiree while his actual net worth is in excess of $100 MILLION ? I guess Senator John McCain got off that Straight Talk Bus a few stops back.[16]

Most of her assets are in trust funds that she shares with her children. In a statement issued by the campaign on Tuesday, Mrs. Heinz Kerry said she would release the first two pages of her 1040 form once it was prepared and filed in October. "John and I believe this strikes a balance between my family's privacy and the media's request for more financial information," she said. The first two pages show the amount of income, deductions and taxes but do not provide the details of how those sums were reached. In the past 30 years, all major-party presidential and vice-presidential nominees have made their tax returns public. President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Mr. Kerry have done so this year. Normally, the question of spouses' taxes does not arise because they file jointly, but Mrs. Heinz Kerry files a tax return separate from her husband's. Her net worth has been estimated at more than $500 million.[32] The Clintons have made nearly $109 million since leaving the White House in 2001, capitalizing on lucrative business ventures and his speaking engagements. The Democratic National Committee criticized McCain for not releasing more than two years of returns and for not releasing his wife's tax returns, noting that the Republican National Committee called on 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry to release the tax returns of his multimillionaire wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry. "John McCain's lack of transparency is troubling and raises questions about what he's hiding," DNC Chairman Howard Dean said in a statement.[39] The Democratic National Committee criticized McCain for not releasing more years' worth of tax documents. Both Democratic candidates Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have released returns dating back eight years. The DNC also suggested McCain should release his wife's tax returns, noting that the Republican National Committee criticized 2004 Democratic nominee Sen. John Kerry for not releasing his returns for his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry.[6]

The comparison is not a direct one, though, as McCain and his wife, Cindy, file separate returns. The campaign opted to release only the senator's returns, which show his income from his Senate salary, his various book deals, his military pension and Social Security. Campaign officials said the decision not to release Cindy McCain's returns was based, in part, on the precedent set by the 2004 Democratic nominee, Sen. John Kerry, whom they said did not share details of his wife's fortune. "Since the beginning of their marriage, Senator McCain and Mrs. McCain have always maintained separate finances," the campaign said in a statement accompanying copies of the returns.[44] WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican presidential candidate John McCain has a Senate salary, a Navy pension, monthly Social Security income, book royalties, and a wealthy wife. He also donated more than $100,000 last year to charitable organizations.[39] A majority of McCain's charitable contributions went to the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation to be distributed to individual causes. Last year, those included $35,000 to groups that perform cleft- palate and other craniofacial surgeries for poor children, $25,000 to the HALO Trust, which clears mines from war-torn areas, and $4,000 to the North Phoenix Baptist Church. McCain donates his book royalties and Senate salary increases to charity. His income is far more modest than the amounts that his Democratic presidential rivals reported this year.[37] McCain's Senate salary in 2007 was $161,708. The money he received as royalties for his five books, including the bestselling "Faith of my Fathers," increased by nearly $100,000 from 2006 to 2007, when McCain was back in the spotlight with his presidential bid. McCain took in $420,000 in income last year, and $320,000 in 2006 -- far less than the earnings posted by his Democratic rivals, Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, in those years.[10]

John McCain on Friday faced accusations of hypocrisy for failing to disclose his wife's tax records, despite his promise to bring greater transparency and accountability to government. The Arizona senator declared income of $419,731 in 2007 a fraction of the multi-million dollar earnings reported by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, his Democratic rivals. The disclosure excluded the income of his wife, Cindy, the heiress to a large Arizona beer distribution company, whose wealth is estimated at more than $100m (63.5m, '50.2m). Mrs Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, this month reported joint income of $20.4m for 2007, while Mr Obama and his wife, Michelle, declared $4.2m.[31] Of special note is John McCain's tax return. The other two Democratic candidates have revealed income from the candidate and their spouses. Even as painful as it must have been for the Clintons, they revealed over seven years of income. Mr. McCain on the other hand, has only revealed his income for the last two years and not the income of his spouse (Cindy). Mr. McCain claims than in over two years he has only made $700,000+ and most of that income has gone at taxes and charity. How big of a fool, does Mr. McCain thank the American people are and will competent journalists investigate this.[45] McCain reports income of $405,409 Boston Globe John McCain earned a total of $405,409 last year and donated a quarter of it to charity, according to tax returns his campaign released yesterday that provide only a partial picture of his family's wealth.[7] A prenuptial agreement left much of the family's assets in the name of Cindy McCain, heiress to a Phoenix-based beer distributing company. McCain's tax return, released Friday, indicated that he paid $84,460 in taxes on taxable income of $258,800. He gave $105,467 — a quarter of his total earnings — to charitable organizations, most of which went to the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation.[39] The Arizona senator routinely is ranked among the richest in Congress. A prenuptial agreement has kept most of the family's assets in the name of his wife, an heiress to a Phoenix-based beer distributing company. Released Friday, McCain's return indicated that he paid $84,460 in taxes on taxable income of $258,800. He gave $105,467 to charitable organizations, most of which went to the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation.[27]

According to filings, Mrs. McCain received an annual salary of over $430,000 for serving as chairwoman of the company, which one of the country's biggest distributors of Anheuser-Busch products. Under a prenuptial agreement, Cindy McCain's assets are kept separate from her husband's. According to Senator McCain's tax filing, he paid a total $157,231 in taxes on taxable income during the two-year period, a tax rate of about 33 percent, according to his campaign. Over the past two years, Senator and Mrs. McCain donated about $340,320 from their community assets to charity, the campaign said.[45]

Senator McCain should be ashamed of taking $23,000 in social security money. Even if it wouldn't make a dent in the finances of social security, McCain should never have accepted this money when he already has other income over $400,000. As a symbolic gesture to help the elderly of this country, not to mention the future of today's youth, the senator should have publicly returned his social security check un-cashed to demonstrate that he's willing to help the country in every way possible, big and small. Oh gawd, here we go again. this is like shooting yourself in the foot on purpose. Wifey needs to open up the tax returns and get used to the idea that a president's wife (if he is elected) is under the microscope just as much as he is. This is the first genuine mistake of the McCain campaign and will haunt him for the next 7 months.[29] The 2007 tax return shows that McCain gave $105,467 to charity, most of it to a family foundation that supports surgery for disfigured children and clears mines abroad. The contribution included all of McCain's earnings from his books. McCain paid about 29% of his total income and 31% of his adjusted gross income in taxes to the federal government, avoiding tax shelters and even avoiding taking deductions for routine expenses for his business as an author of books. He also paid $34,000 in Social Security and Medicare taxes for his staff. "He is paying his fair share of income tax," Holthouse said.[14]

GOP presidential candidate John McCain released his 2006 and 2007 tax returns Friday, showing he earned more than $740,396 in the last two years combined$45,261 of which comes from Social Security.[36] WASHINGTON (AFP) — Republican presidential candidate John McCain released his personal tax filings for the last two years on Friday, but he refused to disclose the income of his multi-millionaire wife. McCain revealed that he makes 162,000 dollars a year as a senator while last year he received 23,000 dollars in social security payments, in addition to his 58,000 dollar pension as a retired navy pilot.[46] Republican presidential candidate John McCain released his two most recent tax returns Friday, but they don't provide a full picture of his wealth because they don't include his wife's income.[37] REPUBLICAN presidential candidate John McCain released two years of tax returns last week. He was accused of hypocrisy for keeping his wife's finances private.[23]

The McCain campaign pointed to John Kerry and his wife Theresa Heinz Kerry as precedent for the spouse of a presidential candidate keeping financial information private. In 2004 when the Massachusetts Senator was running for the White House, his wife's tax returns were not released.[10] Ford: Released at least summaries for prior ten years. In 2004, Kerry Campaign Releases Spouse Returns: The only apparent example of a presidential candidate who files taxes separately than their spouse in recent history appears to be John Kerry, with Teresa Heinz Kerry filing separate returns than her husband. We presume that Cindy McCain and John McCain file separate returns, although since they have never disclosed their filings publicly, it is impossible to say for sure. In 2004, the Kerry campaign released her 1040 form when it was filed, having provided summary figures earlier in the year.[11]

The Democratic National Committee released a statement Friday calling the McCains' lack of transparency troubling and said not releasing Cindy McCain's taxes "raises questions about what he is hiding." McCain campaign advisers defended not releasing his wife's tax returns by comparing the situation to Democratic Sen. John Kerry's campaign four years ago.[40]

The Clintons' tax information goes back three decades; the Obamas have released eight years. McCain's tax return does provide some information about his wife's income. It reports she earned $432,991 from Hensley & Co. in 2007 from which she had $85,833 in taxes withheld. His return shows no information about her investment income.[47] With a tiny, um, caveat: Senator John McCain released his 2006 and 2007 income tax returns on Friday, showing his total taxable income was $474,104 but disclosing little of his wife's sizable wealth. Mrs. McCain, who has a significant stake in a beer distributorship in Phoenix that her late father helped found, is far wealthier than her husband.[33] McCain reported paying $136,572 in wages to household employees in 2007. Aides say the McCains employ a caretaker for a cabin in Sedona, Ariz., child care for their teenage daughter, and a personal assistant for Cindy McCain. Aides say she will not release her tax returns to protect the privacy of the couple's four children; details of their wealth are included in her filing. Because Arizona is a community property state, McCain and his wife each must report one-half of their shared income and expenses. Though McCain reported $258,800 in taxable income on his 2007 return, the couple's joint taxable income was twice that amount.[27] The tax returns were filed solely by Mr. McCain. His wife, Cindy McCain, an heir to a beer distribution company in Phoenix who has reported wealth of $100-million, files a separate return each year and does not plan to release her tax returns.[42] The McCain campaign reported the couple's charitable contributions jointly at $210,933 last year. Beyond that, the campaign said in a news release that "Senator McCain and Mrs. McCain have always maintained separate finances" and that Cindy McCain doesn't release her returns "in the interest of protecting the privacy of her children."[37] The McCain campaign said privacy for the family's children is one of the reasons it was not releasing Cindy McCain's personal tax records. The two have maintained separate finances throughout their marriage. U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York and husband, former President Bill Clinton, reported earlier this month that they had made $109 million since the latter left office in 2001.[48] The Clintons took in $20.4 million last year, much of it due to former president Bill Clinton's profitable speaking career. Cindy McCain, with assets valued at $25 million to $50 million, inherited her fortune from her family's privately held beer distributorship. She now serves as chairman of Hensley & Company, and some of her earnings are considered community property under Arizona law. In one portion of her husband's return, her salary is cited as $432,991, although few other details are provided. The McCains' comfortable lifestyle includes a 15-acre ranch alongside a picturesque river in a valley outside Sedona, Ariz. Disclosure forms show that Cindy McCain's financial holdings are enough to make her husband the 17th-wealthiest member of Congress, according to OpenSecrets.org.[1] According to last year's Senate financial disclosure form, the McCains have assets of at least $36.5 million. Some estimates put her worth at $100 million. McCain's campaign said Cindy is not releasing her returns "in the interest of protecting the privacy of her children."[40] By contrast, Cindy McCain reported assets of more than $1 million in a single Chase Bank account and assets of up to $1 million in each of about three dozen accounts and investments, according to a 2006 Senate financial disclosure report. Cindy McCain inherited ownership of Hensley & Co., said to be the nation's third-largest Anheuser-Busch distributor with sales estimated at $178 million, from her late father, James Hensley, according to financial information company Dun & Bradstreet. Judging only by his returns, McCain would seem to have the lowest income of the three candidates for the presidency.[14]

The return reported $4.2 million in income, mainly on profits from the senator's best-selling books The Audacity of Hope and Dreams from My Father. The tax return also revealed that the senator has set up a Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account, as tax planners recommended after he released his returns for 2000 to 2006 (see Obama Releases Tax Returns ). The 2007 return shows that Obama received a salary of $157,102 from the Senate, while his wife received $103,633 from her salary as vice president of community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center.[49] The 71-year-old de facto Republican nominee for president also received 80,000 dollars in 2006 and 176,000 dollars in 2007 in book royalties. The Arizona senator did not release the tax returns of his wife Cindy McCain, the heiress and chairwoman of a beer distribution company worth an estimated tens of millions of dollars.[46] Cindy McCain is a member of the Hensley family and current chair of Hensley & Co., one of the largest beer distribution companies in the country. The campaign did not release her tax documents, but estimates place her net worth in the tens of millions of dollars. The campaign also reported that McCain has donated all of his book royalties to charity along with the increase in his Senate salary since 1991.[21] The campaign said the couple contributed $340,323 to charitable causes during that period. The charitable donations included all the royalties from his books. The campaign said that amounted to over $1,800,000 since 1998, when he signed his first book deal. During the past two years, McCain earned $256,898 from sales of his books: Faith of My Fathers, Worth the Fighting For, Why Courage Matters, Character is Destiny and Hard Call. Beginning in 1991, the campaign said, McCain has "also donated the increase in his Senate salary for that year and each subsequent year to charity because he opposed the Congressional pay increase at that time and pledged not to accept the pay raises." That has amounted to over $450,000 in donations.[44] Senator McCain's book income of $256,898 for 2006 and 2007 is comprised of earnings for Faith of My Fathers, Worth the Fighting For, Why Courage Matters, Character is Destiny, and Hard Call. Beginning in 1991, Senator McCain has also donated the increase in his Senate salary for that year and each subsequent year to charity because he opposed the Congressional pay increase at that time and pledged not to accept the pay raises. The cumulative total of these donations is over $450,000. This is 19% of his adjusted gross income. This is 27.2% of his adjusted gross income for the year.[30]

The foundation then distributed much of the money to charities. The donations include royalties from five of his books, including the memoirs "Faith of My Fathers" and "Worth the Fighting For." His income included his Senate salary of $161,708, a Navy pension of $58,358 and Social Security income of $23,157. His return shows that he paid $17,700 in alimony last year; he and his first wife divorced some three decades ago.[39] "My life has not been one of privilege and luxury. I had the great honor of serving in this country," McCain has said. The 71-year-old presumed GOP nominee received about $23,000 last year in Social Security, and paid nearly $18,000 in alimony to his ex-wife. He received more than $58,000 from his Navy pension. He earned nearly $177,000 in book royalties, which he and his wife donated to charity -- and McCain donated an additional $17,000. McCain donated about 26 percent of his income to charity.[40]

Almost $100k more than the year before. The part that irks us most? Over $23,000 of that was in Social Security, which Generation X'ers may see none of in the not-so-distant future if Social Security is not reformed soon. experts estimate that by the year 2038, Social Security, Medicaid, and retirement will be less than what Gen X & Y'ers are paying, so where will it come from? But rest assured our taxes went to John McCain's $23k in Social Security for last year on top of his already near $400k income ( not counting Cindy McCain's cash flow).[38] The Arizona Senator made $405,409 (including $23,157 in Social Security!) last year and $358,414 in 2006, but returns for Cindy McCain, chairman of Hensley & Company, a Phoenix-based Anheuser-Busch distributor, weren't released.[26] Cindy EARNS? Or is it just her money that EARNS? Does she get up every morning and head out to a job to EARN her money or does her money just EARN interest and get taxed at a 15% Capital Gains rate. People that EARN money must do something more than inherit it and marry some John and make him a Senator. During those two years ' the only years for which returns released ' Cindy McCain, heiress to one of the nation's largest beer distributors, earned more than $870,000 from her role as chairman of the distributor, Phoenix-based Hensley & Company.[50]

A press release on McCain's campaign website asserts, "John McCain will make the Bush income and investment tax cuts permanent." The campaign of Senator John McCain has released his tax returns for last two years.[10] McCain's taxable income (income after deductions) was $258,800 in 2007 and $215,304 in 2006. He gave $105,467 to charities last year and $96,758 in 2006. The senator's campaign says in a statement that the charitable donations came from the McCains' "community assets" and that half of each year's total was allocated to his tax returns.[17] McCain's income tax return also detailed $17,700 paid in alimony - the senator and his first wife divorced more than 30 years ago.[18] SUMMARY OF TAX RETURNS Taxes Paid: For 2006, Senator McCain paid $72,771 in federal income, alternative minimum, and self-employment taxes (LINES 57 and 58) on taxable income of $215,304 (LINE 43), which is a 33.8% tax rate.[30] Officials with the Bush campaign and the Republican National Committee declined to comment about Heinz Kerry's tax returns yesterday." It wasn't until October, right before the election, that Teresa Heinz Kerry released a portion of her 2003 federal tax return, reporting that she paid $627k in federal income taxes on $2.3 million of AGI, primarily from dividends and interest. She received $5.1 million of gross income, $2.8 million of it tax exempt interest income. Mrs. Heinz Kerry, who filed separately from Senator Kerry, thus paid federal income tax at the rate of 12.3% of her gross income and 27.4% of her AGI. She referred to herself as "Teresa Heinz" on the tax return and listed her occupation as "philanthropist."[44] Same old Karl Rove lies. some things don't change do they. Teresa Heinz Kerry on Friday released a portion of her 2003 federal tax return, reporting that she paid $627k in federal income taxes on $2.3 million of AGI, primarily from dividends and interest. She received $5.1 million of gross income, $2.8 million of it tax exempt interest income. Ms. Heinz Kerry, who filed separately from Senator Kerry, thus paid federal income tax at the rate of 12.3% of her gross income and 27.4% of her AGI. She refers to herself as "Teresa Heinz" on the tax return and lists her occupation as "philanthropist." Considering that the President cannot actively control his personal Business Ventures as President, it seems a very obvious Loophole to allow his Partner to. Just as Billary Shared the White House during their previous Two Terms, it needs to be addressed that the office is actually Shared by Married Partners, and hold Both as one when it comes to Financial Discrepancies, and Term Limits.[44]

While Teresa Heinz Kerry did not release her full income tax returns/schedules (in interest of privacy for her children, she said at the time), she did, in fact, release at least a partial return showing her income from 2003. The New York Times wrote on Oct. 16, 2004: "Ms. Heinz Kerry on Friday released a small part of her 2003 income tax return, unlike her husband, Senator John Kerry, and President Bush and his wife, Laura, who have made their full tax returns available for public inspection.[30]

We know. It would unleash a "torrent of criticism," eventually leading to at least a partial disclosure of the spousal taxes. This time around, McCain chose not to release his wife's income tax returns even though he already knew what had happened to John Kerry when he did the same thing four years ago. Apparently he decided the media wasn't likely to make too big a deal of it in his case. Let's see if he's right.[33] The McCain campaign notes John Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz, did not release her tax returns during the 2004 campaign.[34]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. John McCain is considered one of the wealthiest members of Congress, but you wouldn't know it by looking at tax returns released Friday by his presidential campaign. Sen. John McCain and his wife, Cindy, file their taxes separately.[40] Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., today released his 2006 and 2007 tax returns. He and his wife, Cindy, have maintained separate finances since the beginning of their marriage and, to paraphrase Willie Sutton, her finances are where the money is. McCain's campaign says he will not provide her tax returns.[22]

Presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) released his 2006-2007 tax returns Friday, but his wife, Cindy, a multimillionaire, did not release hers.[28] Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain released his tax returns for 2006 and 2007 yesterday, but most attention is on his wife Cindy's wealth.[26] Clary/Getty John McCain and wife, Cindy, as he was crowned the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in Dallas March 4. His tax returns are revealing what they omit - his wife's income.[12] Cindy McCain -- head of a large beer distribution company in Phoenix and wife of Republican presidential nominee John McCain -- will not be releasing her personal tax returns in the lead-up to the November election.[48]

The McCains have always filed separate returns, and John McCain signed a prenup. It would be small minded of me to think that Cindy McCain's tax returns, or her income, would influence the mind of John McCain or his ability to carry out any duties in the public service sector, whether it be Senator or President. The Kennedys were affluent, FDR was affluent, and pardon my ignorance but I simply fail to see how their incomes played a strong factor, if any, in decisions that affected the populace as a whole.[42] John McCain has just released details from his tax returns from 2006 and 2007, and possibly the most interesting tidbit is that he did not release his wife's returns -- and McCain married into wealth. "Since the beginning of their marriage, Senator McCain and Mrs. McCain have always maintained separate finances.[29] The couple files separate tax returns. "Since the beginning of their marriage, Senator McCain and Mrs. McCain have always maintained separate finances," his campaign said in a statement. "In the interest of protecting the privacy of her children, Mrs. McCain will not be releasing her personal tax returns," it said. McCain's Democratic rivals, senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, have released the tax filings of their spouses along with their own.[46] Most of Senator McCain's contributions were made to the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation. It contributes to a number of groups including Operation Smile, an organization that provide reconstructive facial surgery to poor children and others, and The Halo Trust, an organization involved in mine-clearing. Mr. McCain's Democratic rivals released their tax information recently. Senator Barack Obama released his 2007 return on Wednesday.[45] Most of Senator McCain'''s contributions were made to the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation. It contributes to a number of groups including Operation Smile, an organization that provide reconstructive facial surgery to poor children and others, and The Halo Trust, an organization involved in mine-clearing. That'''s true, but as I reported here in February, between 2001 and 2006, the John and Cindy McCain Family foundation '''made contributions of roughly $1.6 million. More than $500,000 went to his kids''' private schools, most of which was donated when his children were attending those institutions. McCain apparently received major tax deductions for supporting elite schools attended by his children.''' The McCain foundation'''s contributions to Operation Smile and Halo Trust were nice, but very small next to the donations to his kids''' private schools.[51]

A statement from Mr. McCain's campaign said that most of the senator's charitable contributions were made to the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation, which makes direct contributions to charities. The senator and Mrs. McCain each make gifts to their foundation, which is focused on helping organizations that work "for the spiritual, educational, and medical needs of the community." Mrs. McCain has donated the same amount to charity as her husband a total of $170,162 for each of them over the past two years, his campaign said. On its Web site, the campaign posted a list of the organizations that have received gifts from the McCain family foundation in the past two years.[42] McCain and his wife also jointly gave $129,390 to charity in 2006 and $210,933 in 2007. Their donations are directed to their own charitable organization, the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation, which in turn directs contributions to other charities, the campaign said.[6]

John and Cindy McCain,married since 1980, file separate tax returns and hold a wide range of assets separately. The McCain campaign said Cindy McCain would not release her tax returns in "the interest of protecting the privacy of her children."[14] The couple signed a prenuptial agreement that keeps most of the assets in Cindy McCain's name. "Senator and Mrs. McCain have kept their personal finances separate throughout their 27-year marriage," the McCain campaign said in a statement accompanying the tax returns. "Accordingly, they have for many years filed separate tax returns. Their home state of Arizona is a community property jurisdiction.[4]

McCain released his tax returns, reporting an income of nearly $260,000 (not including that of his far richer wife). McCain continued building up his campaign today, adding a new pollster and a new campaign official to oversee the key battleground states of Pennsylvania and Ohio.[52] VIDEO: [[ The presidential hopeful reported a taxable income of nearly $259,000 for 2007, a figure that does not include his wife's wealth. McCain reported taxable income of almost $259,000 on his 2007 tax returns.[30]

Despite the large real estate holdings and his wife's business empire, the senator appears to own few income-producing assets individually. In 2007, he reported interest income of just $48 and dividends of $74. "It doesn't look like he has a lot of money tied up in typical assets," said Philip Holthouse, a founder and partner in the Los Angeles accounting firm Holthouse, Carlin & Van Trigt. Not listed on his return, but disclosed separately, was $58,358 that McCain received in a tax-free Navy pension. Asked whether his wife was supporting him, McCain's campaign staff offered a separate income calculation for 2007 showing that the senator's surplus income after expenses amounted to about $64,000 and suggested that he was providing for himself.[14] The presumptive GOP nominee also reported income of $358,414 in 2006 and $96,933 in taxes paid. McCain's reported total includes some income earned by his wife, Cindy, heiress to one of the nation's largest beer distributorships. She keeps many of her finances separate from her husband, an Arizona senator. On his own, McCain earned $361,373 last year and $264,169 in 2006.[41]

Overall, the couple's total earned income for last year was more than $771,000. McCain's two Democratic rivals released information about their taxes earlier. Both Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton file their taxes jointly with their spouses, giving a broader picture of each family's wealth and income last year.[39] LITTLE ROCK Republican presidential candidate John McCain made $405,409 last year - far less than the earnings reported by his Democratic rivals, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.[53] Outside groups estimate the McCains' combined wealth to be between $28 million and $100 million. Democratic presidential contenders Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama filed joint returns with their spouses, providing a clearer picture of their finances. Those returns, dating to 2000, were recently released. "John McCain's lack of transparency is troubling and raises questions about what he's hiding," Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean said in a statement Friday.[14]

McCain, a former pilot held for five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, also collects a nontaxable pension from the Navy, which totaled $58,358 last year. McCain's tax release is different from the information provided by Clinton and Obama, who file tax returns jointly with their spouses.[41] Shame on the straight-talk-express, McCain! He cannot talk straight on taxes. He says his wife's tax returns are none of anybody's business. What is he saying? For example, if elected the wife would not live in the White House! Hm, that is why he is not genuine and not going to the White House. McCain's wife and family are beer distribution barons/baroness, have extensive real estate holdings and connected to the savings and loans banks scandal etc. The public has a right to know their business interests because if McCain is president he would be making decisions which would impact their business interests. This double standard by politicians must be deplored. President Bush, Dick Cheney, Clinton, Obama etc and their spouses have released their returns and they all have their children's privacy to protect.[45] When you run for president the separate filing status don't cut it. Voters see her money as his money for the most part. For the sake of letting the people in on the immedate family loot they should release her taxes too. As for the lame rationale citing Kerry's wife tax returns, the McCains shouldn't do what Kerrys did unless they want the same results.[34] DNC Chairman Howard Dean''hit McCain for not divulging''the family's total amount." John McCain's lack of transparency is troubling and raises questions about what he's hiding," Dean said in a statement provided by the Democratic party. McCain senior aide Steve Schmidt said that''Democrats set a'' precedent in 2004 when Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of then Democratic nominee''Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)'', decided not to disclose her returns. "There was a germaneness there because John Kerry would not have been nominee if not for the loan out of her assets in 2004, "said Schmidt." She didn't release her taxes and,you know, they were treated as private.[24] I guess the only way to find out who controls what is if a divorce happened. Then we'd see how much John thinks he should be worth. "Campaign officials said the decision not to release Cindy McCain's returns was based, in part, on the precedent set by the 2004 Democratic nominee, Sen. John Kerry, whom they said did not share details of his wife's fortune."[44]

The returns don't tell the whole story, though. McCain's lifestyle is largely financed by his wife's wealth; she has been estimated to have holdings worth roughly $100 million. Most of her money stems from a family fortune. Her father, James Hensley, founded Hensley & Co. in 1955, an Arizona company that grew to become one of the largest beer distributors in the country. This item originally said Cindy McCain's holdings were estimated at $15 million.[44] Cindy McCain's $100 million family legacy is a lot of money to average Americans, but pales in comparison to $110 million in seven years, not disclosing God knows how much more from last year for the Clinton's. Is it any wonder Americans could be bitter when Politian's claim their motivation is public service.[35]

We believe Americans value disclosure and transparency in campaigns. During the 2003 filing year, Sen. Kerry made a $6 million loan to his campaign based on the value of a home jointly owned with his wife." The McCain camp has suggested that Cindy McCain's fortune has no bearing on her husband.[35]

The nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics tracks financial disclosure data filed annually, and it places the McCains' net worth at $27.8 million to $45 million. McCain's decision not to release his wife's returns baffled some Washington ethics experts. They noted that plenty of detail about the McCain children's trust accounts and even their credit card debt is included in the candidate's Senate financial disclosure forms. "I think this argument about the privacy of the kids is really a red herring," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "The fact is, it is precedent that presidential candidates release their returns.[1] As a McCain supporter, I'm not sure how I feel about this. It's pretty unusual for the campaign not to release Cindy's tax records, and it's obvious that they're doing this largely to avoid the spectacle of her presumably enormous wealth (rumors of nine figures). Senator McCain doesn't seem to live entirely off of her wealth: they share nice houses, but he drives a car worth less than a tenth of his individual annual income, and his senate office pays its own way on commercial airliners and small planes (i.e. he's not flying around on a Hensley & Co. Gulfstream). Considering the privacy concerns of their children (who may not even know how much their mother is worth), and considering that he genuinely appears not to be funded by her, I'm giving him a pass.[45] In 2006, recipients of the foundation's $187,639 in total gifts included Brophy College Preparatory school, in Phoenix, $50,500; and Christ Lutheran School, in Phoenix, $42,639. Mr. McCain's campaign said he donates his royalties from his books to charities and that "this sum has totaled over $1,800,000 since 1998 when he signed his first book deal." The campaign said his book income added up to $256,898 for 2006 and 2007. The senator's campaign also said that Mr. McCain has donated to charity a total of $450,000 since 1991 money he received from increases in his Senate salary "because he opposed the Congressional pay increase at that time and pledged not to accept the pay raises."[42] McCain's earnings in the past two years are far less than what Democratic rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama reported. Most of McCain's individual earnings come from his Senate salary ($161,708) and sales of his five books ($176,508).[41] Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and former President Clinton reported $20.4 million in 2007 income. Earlier this week, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, reported they made $4.2 million last year. The Obamas reported a significant jump in their income from the previous year as profits from the books "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope" accounted for some $4 million.[37]

The Obamas paid federal taxes of $1.4 million and donated $240,370 to charity. Their salaried income was $260,735, which included his salary as a U.S. senator and hers of $104,000 as vice president of community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center. By comparison, Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband Bill, the former president, reported $20.4 million in income for 2007 but have asked for an extension on filing their returns.[5]

The Obamas donated $240,370 to charity, including $26,270 to the Trinity United Church of Christ where retired pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright recently presided. At his debate with Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., in Philadelphia on Wednesday evening, the dueling candidates described their tax plans. Both said they intended to raise the capital gains tax, though Clinton said she would not raise it above the 20 percent level it achieved during her husband's administration. Obama said he might raise it as high as 28 percent. Both candidates also said they would not raise taxes on taxpayers making less than $200,000 or $250,000 per year, although Obama acknowledged he might consider raising the $97,000 cap on income subject to the payroll tax to provide more funds for Social Security.[49] My only question - IRS taxes me on my $16K U.S. Navy pension. Rob, John McCain is collecting Social Security Income because this is the money he contributed while working over the years. He is 71 now, so clearly over the SS withdrawal 65 age requirement.[30]

In 2007, McCain earned aSenate salary of $161,708 and book royalties of $176,508. His wife earned a salary of $432,991 as chairwoman of her company. Since he filed separately, John McCain's return lists half of his income and half of his wife's salary. McCain's return does not include a large stream of dividends, capital gains, private investment profits and interest that went solely to his wife and her dependents.[14] John McCain is now transparent, huzzah! Today he released his 2006-07 tax returns, and the poor Blue Collar couldn't even top seven figures. He made about $419,000 in 2007, of which approximately $259,000 was taxable (the rest was hidden in Secret Offshore accounts knows as "charity").[54] Jeff, No. 6: Social Security is not "welfare." It is a collective pension program, and those of us who earn high salaries get a much worse return on our contributions to it than do folks who earn more modest amounts. I don't fault McCain for taking the SS pension to which he is entitled. He turned around and donated a large portion of "his" income to charity. He benefits by living off of Cindy's income (those 8 houses are probably all in her name, no?), so his tax returns tell only a small part of the story.[45] NOTHING new. It was vital that Teresa Heinz Kerry must release all her tax returns, but not Cindy McCain.[29] To answer Darwin's question (comment #5), Teresa Heinz Kerry initially resisted releasing her tax returns, making the same claim as Cindy McCain, that it was to protect her children' privacy. After continual Republican attacks, Heinz Kerry eventually released her 2003 return.[45]

"The raw dollar amounts certainly are generous," said John D. Colombo, an expert on charitable-tax law at the University of Illinois law school. "But, we don't know what Cindy McCain's income is, and we don't know if John has sources of income," such as tax-exempt bond interest, which would not be reported on a federal tax return.[1] INDIVIDUAL ASSETS: John and Cindy McCain file separate tax returns. His return does not include dividends, capital gains, interest and other income that went only to her.[14]

The McCains file individually and his campaign did not release tax returns for Cindy McCain.[41] BASH: What the campaign did not release were tax returns for McCain's wife, Cindy. She, of course, is an heiress to a fortune from her father's beer-distribution empire that was called -- is called Hensley & Company, and she is now the chairman of that company.[9]

The National Review made a big stink about this issue when Kerry's wife balked at revealing her tax returns giving similar reasons. She eventually did release her 1040. Bet we don't see the "outrage" about Mrs. McCain this year. Another example of Republican hypocrisy - and media bias - if we don't.[45]

The McCains own four homes across the nation and employ a staff of at least four that in 2007 cost about $273,000, half of which was listed on the senator's tax return. McCain and his wife's properties, all held mortgage-free, include their creek-side ranch outside Sedona, Ariz. In 2006, they purchased a $4.7-million condo in Phoenix; and in 2004, she bought a $2.6-million beachfront property near the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego County, according to property records.[14] In community property states, individuals maintain a separation of all property brought to the marriage, or inherited during it, but share financial responsibility for other assets acquired through the efforts of each spouse during the marriage. Their tax returns report one half of each of their community property income and expenses (such as income each of them earn as salaries, Senator McCain's book royalties, and expenses attributable to both of them such as charitable contributions from community assets). Accordingly, Senator McCain's 2006 and 2007 tax returns contain a detailed "Statement A" showing the allocation of his and Mrs. McCain's community property income and expenses to their respective tax returns (2006 - 2007).[30] For 2007, Senator McCain paid $84,460 in federal income, alternative minimum, and self-employment taxes (LINES 57 and 58) on taxable income of $258,800 (LINE 43), which is a 32.6% tax rate. Charitable Contributions: Senator McCain donates his royalties from his books to charitable organizations. This sum has totaled over $1,800,000 since 1998 when he signed his first book deal.[30] McCain paid $72,771 in taxes in 2006, and $84,460 in 2007. He also pays $17,700 annually in alimony to his first wife, Carol. The campaign release notes that McCain donates his book royalties and his annual congressional pay raise since 1991 to charitable organizations. In total, his books have resulted in $1.8 million in donations.[6]

The tax returns show that McCain paid $157,231 in federal taxes for 2006 and 2007.[44] McCain's 2007 tax return and related documents are posted here. His 2006 tax return is here. She also brought in more than $150,000 from her salary as a senator.[17] New York Times: "Senator McCain has yet to release his tax returns, a strange omission for a candidate with a record of supporting strong government ethics measures. A spokesman for Mr. McCain raises the prospect that he may hold back his tax returns through the fall campaign, saying that he would not decide whether to release them until he officially is the Republican nominee."[11] Republican Presidential candidate Senator John McCain talked a lot about taxes this week. On April 16th, his campaign sent out an e-mail called "Have You Filed Your Taxes?" claiming that "if one of my Democratic opponents is elected in November, you can be certain your tax rate will increase across the board." Today, another e-mail about taxes called "Lower Gas Prices?" It said that McCain has laid out an economic plan this week aimed at providing immediate and long-term relief for American families by suspending the federal gas tax on gasoline from Memorial Day to Labor Day of this year. This is one sly move by the GOP: gas prices and taxes are two of the most moaned-about topics related to the economy right now.[38] John McCain is so unlike Senator John Kerry who married that rich woman Theresa. This isn't ketchup this time, this is beer and alcohol of Anheuser Busch. Senator McCain is consistent. like he was against torture before he was for it, and he was against the tax cuts before he was for them. Let's see what the McCains have to say about this failure to reveal their finances to a jaded American audience who is tired of the same old politics of obfuscation and avoidance that we have had the past eight years. Or maybe we should think about Mr. Obama and his lapel pin. We don't need 100 years of this kind of politics in America.[29]

According to some, George Washington, who had argued vigorously for Annapolis to become the permanent home to the United States Capitol, had a strong attachment to the Maryland state house and instructed Pierre L'Enfant to model the dome of the Capitol building in Washington DC after it. Lets see if I have this right. Both Clinton and Obama made full dislosures and when they did, it was a front page NEWS article. McCain is in a column and he only discloses his own, deferring to a previous campaign comparison in which he took no part. McCain makes a point of disclosing both he and his wife's "charitable contributions" but not her income. This is another fine example of the slanted coverage Big Media (WaPo included) is giving to John McCain. In case you haven't noticed for the last month there has been 0-ZERO negative coverage of anything about McCain and EVERY bit of coverage for both Obama and Clinton has been like something out of a cheap tabloid. 12 days straight of Rev Rights comments, but not even an honest look at the fact that McCain has lobbyists running his campaign while touting his opposition to lobbyist influence. Because the corporate media wants to monopolize markets and the FCC stands between them and running all the independent media out of business. John McCain has consistently voted and used his position to influence the FCC to remove any barriers that protect us from one sided news.[44] McCain gave an additional $17,000 in charity. All told, John McCain donated about 26 percent of his income to charity. Wolf, by comparison, the Clintons gave 15 percent, and the Obamas, they gave 6 percent.[9]

Associated Press - April 18, 2008 2:23 PM ET WASHINGTON (AP) - John McCain's tax records show he earned just over $400,000 last year, and donated a quarter of that total to charity[8] Cindy and her kids are the only known shareholders in the company since Jim died about 10 years ago. People say she's worth $100 million, but the business is worth $250 million, and though they don't admit it, it seems the only owners are Cindy and her kids. Jim Hensley ran a huge stable of state and federal lobbyists, and recruited war hero John McCain for his obvious political uses.[44] Cindy EARNS? Or is it just her money that EARNS? Does she get up every morning and head out to a job to EARN her money or does her money just EARN interest and get taxed at a 15% Capital Gains rate. People that EARN money must do something more than inherit it and marry some John and make him a Senator. "McCain also is a multimillionaire executive, responsible for planning and "corporate vision" at her family's company. The Associated Press says her assets, including Hensley salary and stock, may total $100 million.[50] The paperwork chronicles the McCains' ascent from Arizona newlyweds to political power couple on the national stage. As heiress to her father's stake in Hensley & Co. of Phoenix, Cindy McCain is an executive whose worth may exceed $100 million. Her beer earnings have afforded the GOP presidential nominee a wealthy lifestyle with a private jet and vacation homes at his disposal, and her connections helped him launch his political career -- even if the millions remain in her name alone. The arm's-length distance between McCain and his wife's assets also has helped shield him from conflict-of-interest problems."[11] Big difference, McCain can't use Cindy's money for his presidential campaign unlike Hillary who used her joint account with Bill for a 5 million loan to his campaign. Cindy's assets are in her name. McCain also has three grown children and maybe they didn't want trust funds made public. That seems to be the reason. Who cares? McCain has disclosed financial records of his wife's earnings. She has 15 million in earnings. McCain donated all his money from royalties to his books which were 1.8 million.[22]

When McCain's presidential campaign all but went broke last year, there was some debate among election lawyers about whether Arizona's property laws would allow McCain to loan cash to his campaign from the couple's shared assets. McCain borrowed $3.9 million from a Maryland bank, which his campaign says it has paid back entirely. You forgot to include the part where McCain used the promised public funding in order to secure those loans, thereby making himself subject to the spending limits of a publically financed campaign. You also left out the part where earlier this year McCain broke those laws by knowingly spending more than he was legally allowed to. Odd that the media, so obsessed about flag pins and bowling scores, is able to miss such a rather glaring violation of the law and of the people's trust.[50]

When you don't, it looks like you've got something to hide." McCain in 2007 donated about $105,000 to charities, most of it -- about $88,000 -- to the family foundation that he and his wife run. That amounted to nearly one-quarter of his reported income for last year.[1]

McCain and his wife, Cindy, file separate returns. The campaign chose Friday to release only the senator'''s returns, which show his income from.[53] The McCains file separate tax returns. Sen. McCain released his 2006 and 2007 records Friday, and his presidential campaign said his wife's personal tax returns would not be made public.[48] Maybe you should sign-up with OD and spread the wealth of information. And, lest we forget, Theresa Heinz-Kerry DID release her income tax returns eventually, under constant Republican pressure. how little we forget. Or maybe this is just another example of McCain being treated with kid gloves by the media. Teresa Heinz-Kerry did in fact release her tax returns (her 1040 anyways) after the rep machine made a big deal out of it, calling it a betrayal of the American people. I wonder if they will do the same this time? how about we check our facts before taking the McCain campaigns word for it.[44] Mrs. McCain is not part of a political team, unlike Mr. Clinton and Mrs. Obama. Her income tax returns have been hers for almost three decades and are private matters. I doubt Mrs. Clinton will use this against Mr. McCain. Hopefully Mr. McCain will not be subjected to the same treatment inflicted on Mrs. Clinton in blogs and postings, but this remains to be seen.[45] Nothing sticks to Teflon John. That's right, the media loves McCain. He gets a free ride (look how quickly the story about the affair with the lobbyist got killed ) All the Sunday Morning talk shows ran with the Clintons Tax return, dissecting it over and over and let's see what happens with McCain.[44]

Too bad for the others. Why should McCain not releasing his wife's returns "kick up some dust." John Kerry files seperately from his wife and did not release her returns when he ran for President in 2004. I was beginning to believe that this was a new type of politics! I guess if you keep saying that enough you might even start to practice it. but as of now, it the same ole, same ole. Who cares?! Seriously, is she running for President? It's NONE of anyone's business if McCain's wife does not want to show her tax records.[29] John McCain is hidding his wife's connections that is why he and his wife will not release all of their tax retuns for the last 15 years.[22] Very interesting. He also said -- correct me if I'm wrong -- about a month or two ago that he would release his medical records by April 15th. It's now April 18th. BASH: That's right. Well, it was about a month ago, maybe more, that John McCain was actually coming from a doctor's appointment, and he said that he would release his medical records right about now. Then immediately, his campaign said, well, you know, it might, you know, be a couple of days later. The McCain campaign told us a couple weeks ago that they're actually not going to release his medical records until next month, sometime in May. The reason they give, Wolf, is because they say they're trying to line up all of his doctors because they insist they want his doctors to be at a press conference available to answer reporters' questions about McCain's health. Of course, you remember he had skin cancer eight years ago, and obviously, he is -- would be, if elected, the oldest president. They understand his health is a big issue. You know, it's going to be May before we get any kind of -- or any kind of medical records from him. They did release a lot of records back in 1999, the first time he ran for president. BLITZER: That was before the melanoma, though.[9]

Senator Obama stated that Sen. John McCain is too old to be President at the age of 71. Therefore, the Senator from Illinois logic does not make sense. If forcing Americans to work an additional 10 years (minimum age of 77) to be eligible to get Social Security benefits, then one would think that Obama believes that this age does not influence one'''s ability to work in any profession.[22] Many years ago I read about a senator who refused to collect Social Security "Because I am well off and believe that money should go to those who truly need it." John McCain has no such conscious.[35]

Why is John McCain accepting both a military pension and social security when he has the money he does? Didn't he say a few days ago that rich should not be in the medicare health plan, because they could afford to pay for their coverages. McCains with there combine income of millions that he should forfiet both his military pension and social security.Hey John it time for some striaght talk express and less BULL. The McCains should also drop the free congressional and military insurance and medical care. Since he is the one against all the earmarks and pork spending in congress. he should set an example for others to follow rather than stay with the staus quo.[45] I wholeheartedly agree with you. That is EXACTLY what offended me when I heard the breakdown of their income. $20K is a piss in the bucket compared to a hundred million and more! What on Earth does he need to be taking that money for? As a politician, doesn't McCain know that Social Security is a current topic of crisis? What could he possibly need that money for. to wipe his ass with? God, I pray the media pounces on this, and soon. Let him answer this question in a debate.[35]

Sen. McCain, 71, earned $405,000 in 2007, according to the released tax forms. That includes his U.S. Senate salary, royalties from books he has written, and funds from Social Security and his U.S. Navy pension.[48] Even two of the children had American Express platinum cards, carrying net balances between $25,001 and $65,000. McCain's income and assets include most of his $161,700 Senate salary and his $56,000-a-year Navy pension. He lists a single personal checking account, with a balance of between $15,000 and $50,000. Other than that, the only other "income" McCain reported holding onto in 2006 were two gifts of value: a glass bird from the Republican Main Street Partnership valued at $850 and a Waterford crystal eagle "on an engraved stand," which the disclosure valued at $8,000.[13] Mr McCain's income included a Senate salary of $161,708 and $176,508 in book royalties.[31] McCain'''s Senate salary in 2007 was $161,708. The money he received as royalties for his five books, including the bestselling '''Faith of my Fathers,''' increased by nearly $100,000 from 2006 to 2007, when McCain was back in the spotlight with his presidential bid. For more on this story from ABC's The BLOTTER, click HERE.[19]

While candidate Clinton took 8 million on one book and other money for another for herself and Bill took 10 million and Obama took 4 million. McCain is the only one in the senate who refuses to take salary increases for his senate career.[22] Clinton earned $20.4 million in 2007 and Obama $4.2 million, thanks mostly to books the two candidates wrote. With his wife's money included, McCain is ranked by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics as the 19th-wealthiest member of Congress.[14]

McCain gets social security money because he paid into the system for 22 years in the military. McCain is the only candidate who doesn't take royalties from his books. McCain donated all 1.8 million of the royalties from his books.[22]

Ok, now let's not be silly, Republicans. The McCain's file separately and most of their income come from his wife's side. What you are looking at is strictly his senatorial income. It is admirable that he donates his published works proceeds to charity. He doesn't really need the money so long as he's married to a liquor baron. McCain is keeping the real income hidden from view to try to make himself look like something he is not to a very large group of delusional people. Since it is obvious that the previous posters are as typically oblivious to the fact that the wealth comes from his wife and that he is by far the wealthiest of all of the candidates, I will serve to remind you of that fact. I am never surprised at the blindness that Republican supporters have regarding their party's ideology and just how underhanded they run their campaigns.[30] Have you really gotten any of the precious anti-abortion, softer gun laws, or religious support you thought you would get from your present or previous candidates? I thought not. Know why? Because those are campaign topics that no politician in their right mind would touch. They are moral issues that should be taught at home or in church, not things that the government has any business intruding in. They may outwardly state it as their position, but they will never act on it. It is a distraction from the real issues such as the economy and war. I pray for all of you that you will see what the Republican party is actually doing to you and realize that they will do nothing short of destroying you unless you earn over $100,000 per year. What is nice about McCain is that he doesn't have this so-called "celebrity" spouse. Getting a little tired of Democrats candidates spouses flailing around and looking like the goofs they are.[30]

Based on John McCain's Senate financial report for 2006, the Center for Responsive Politics pegs the family's net worth at $27 million to $45 million. The assets, which are listed in broad ranges, almost all are in her name. [50] According to last year's Senate financial disclosure form, the McCains have assets of at least $36.5 million. Some estimates actually put her worth at about $100 million.[9]

McCain hasn't taken a salary increase in the senate since 1991 saving the taxpayers 450,000. Obama and candidate Clinton have taken a salary increase every year they have been in the senate. Clinton is charging interest for her 5 million loan. Why are the dems not taking candidate Clinton to task over this. She is worth 109 million but is charging interest to herself and won't pay the small vendors.[22] Hillary, Bill, and obama kept that money. McCain saved the taxpayers 450,000 for not taking salary increases for his senate pay since 1991. Hillary took interest for her 5 million dollar loan. There is no conflict of interest with the McCain's where the Clintons have conflict of interest through their joint account with issues like Columbia and Dubai. Bill speaking in dubai favoring the ports deal and then Hillary using that money for her 5 million dollar loan.[22]

Certainly saves him no money to file MFS, but his income is too high to get any benefit from a joint filing anyway. It is important to note here that McCain made less than Billary and Barack Hussein Obama, but wants to reduce our individual tax burden. The other two numbnuts like to becry their own fables of personal poverty and want to raise our taxes. McCain looks like St. John compared to these two yo-yos who are constantly telling me that living on a fixed income in my retirement is a good thing. [6] As a former John McCain supporter ( I was with him until he kissed the asses of the people who stabbed him in the back in 2000), I really don't see how his wife's income has any relevance to the campaign. It's her money,not his, and she isn't running. I'm surprised the evangelical right isn't on her for inheriting the profits of alcohol,but it's not an important issue to me.She had the money before he met her.Truthfully, someone who is already rich doesn't pose a problem as far as fears of him being bought.[35]

There is no comparison to Teresa Heinz who married an established U.S. Senator. How does McCain not report his wife's income and claim they keep separate finances, then turn around and take credit for the fact that "the couple" donated $340K to charity? Just more "straight talk" from the media's favorite "maverick."[44] Below please find summary information about Senator McCain's 2006 and 2007 tax returns. BACKGROUND ON THE 2006 AND 2007 TAX RETURNS Senator and Mrs. McCain have kept their personal finances separate throughout their 27-year marriage. Accordingly, they have for many years filed separate tax returns. Their home state of Arizona is a community property jurisdiction.[30] As required by federal law and Senate rules, Mrs. McCain has released significant and extensive financial information through Senate and Presidential disclosure forms. In the interest of protecting the privacy of her children, Mrs. McCain will not be releasing her personal tax returns. In her role as Chairman of Hensley & Company, a privately-held business founded by her parents, Mrs. McCain's main areas of responsibility focus on strategic planning and corporate vision. Having served the greater Phoenix area since 1955, Hensley & Company is widely respected as an exemplary corporate citizen, and makes significant charitable contributions of its own.[30] Privacy? Oh, come off it. Aides say Cindy McCain will not release her tax returns to protect the privacy of her four children; details of their wealth are included in her filing.[35] Cindy McCain is not the one running for President! Her tax returns are her business and no one else's. All of those people clamoring for her tax returns should first volunteer to disclose their own.[34] The tax returns from Cindy McCain, heiress to the national Hensley liquor/beer-distributorship fortune will not be released. They can argue that they are just as economically pressed as ordinary Americans (oops, except for the McCain's 8 houses).[45]

Cindy McCain, 53, is chairwoman of Phoenix-based Hensley & Co., a large Anheuser Busch Co. distributor. The tax forms released Friday do show she had a $433,000 salary from Hensley in 2007, but no further details on her wealth.[48]

Everything has shades of gray if you have any thought at all. Unfortunately for McCain he has lost the ability to see grays. McCain is still hiding behind the fiction that he and his wife have seperate finances. Why not? It worked for him during the Keating Five scandal when he greased the wheels for the criminal dealings of Charles Keating while his wife, Cindy, was neck deep in crooked deals with the S&L; theif. McCain claimed that his wife's finances had no influence on the bonehead decisions he made to help Keating along. The gullible folk in Arizona bought that line of crap and re-elected him rather tan seeing through his ruse and demanding jail time for bribery. Now, he he and Cindy think the entire country is just as dumb and as amnesiac as the voters in Arizona have been. If they come clean, he'll be headed for a federal penitentiary and not the White House. Don't look for Cindy McCain to say anything about her finances to the public. Somebody needs to remind the Democrats that the issue was settled during the last election when they made sure Mrs Kerry got a free ride. Considering Mrs Kerry claims to live in PA, with it's low tax rates, instead of in high tax MA with her husband, perhaps the Democrats might wish to take a look at her if they're truly so interested in making sure the rich pay their fair share.[29] Yesterday's release did not shed new light on the extent of the presumptive Republican presidential candidate's wealth which comes from his wife, Cindy McCain. Mrs. McCain holds a significant stake in a Phoenix-based beer distributorship, Hensley & Co. that her late father helped found. To date, she has not disclosed the size of her stake in the privately-held concern.[45] Cindy McCain, the chair of a beer distributorship in Phoenix, files a return separate from McCain. Her assets are estimated in the tens of millions of dollars, though she has not loaned money to McCain's presidential campaign.[10] In 2007, the foundation dispersed $78,250 to many of the same groups. McCain'''s wife, Cindy, is a millionairess, but she does not file jointly with her husband. The McCain campaign notes '''Senator and Mrs. McCain have kept their personal finances separate throughout their 27-year marriage.'''[36] Let's see how McCain's total income of about $405,000 compares to some other big-name political types. Remember, McCain filed separately from his very wealthy wife, Cindy.[9] While the chart was displayed, host Wolf Blitzer said, "Let's see how McCain's total income of about $405,000 compares to some other big-name political types. Remember, McCain filed separately from his very wealthy wife, Cindy.[9]

So none of Cindy McCain's holdings will be made public." Cindy McCain is estimated to be worth approximately $100 million, so most of the statement detailing McCain's finances is actually just giving excuses for why they are not discussing Cindy's holdings. In her role as Chairman of Hensley & Company, a privately-held business founded by her parents, Mrs. McCain's main areas of responsibility focus on strategic planning and corporate vision. Having served the greater Phoenix area since 1955, Hensley & Company is widely respected as an exemplary corporate citizen, and makes significant charitable contributions of its own.[54] What I don't get is how John Sidney McCain III and Hilary Rodham Clinton who with their spouses are both are worth more than $100 million have the temerity to call someone who was raised by a single mother on food stamps, who just paid off his student loans ELITIST.[6] What's more, McCain's relatively modest contributions to the family coffers are a fraction of the debt carried by Cindy and the children, the disclosures indicate. Cindy and the children jointly hold millions in loans against property owned by the children; Cindy has her own construction line of credit worth more than $1 million, and she had, at the time of the filing, between $65,000 and $150,000 in credit card debt.[13]

In 2006 the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation dispersed $187,639 to various charities which supported education programs, animal welfare and rehabilitation for craniofacial abnormalities.[36] Most of that money, though, went to the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation, which the campaign said in turn makes contributions.[29] Almost all of McCain's donations went to the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation. The foundation supports charitable ventures such as clearing land mines and aid for children with cleft palates, which the McCains' adopted daughter had.[40]

Keating went to prison for ripping billions off small investors. McCain was caught asking favors from regulators on behalf of Arizona businessman Lowell Paxson, again in return for the use of his jet on campaign. This year, though, McCain has turned over a new leaf, and is beyond all that. Because Cindy now has her own jet.[44] Well how Common of him, not makin' the big bucks like the elitist liberals. According to Marc Ambinder, "He and wife Cindy McCain have filed separately since the first year of their marriage, the campaign says.[54] Cindy McCain is rich, just like Teresa Heinz Kerry. Leave the woman alone, she has done nothing wrong and said nothing inflammatory on the campaign trail. You people really need to stick to going after her husband or you just look petty.[35]

In Tuesday's statement, the Kerry campaign said Mrs. Heinz Kerry had taxable income last year, primarily from interest and dividends, of about $2,338,000 and interest income of about $2,777,000 from tax-exempt bonds issued by state and local governments. The campaign said she had paid $587,000 in estimated federal income taxes for 2003 and $162,777 in estimated state and local income taxes.[32] The McCains have complied with that for the whole 24 years he'''s been in public life. It'''s a lot of information out their about the entire family'''s holdings. You know I remember this same set of questions from four years ago when Teresa Heinz Kerry never disclosed her income taxes or much about her wealth.[22]

Transparency has become something of an issue in the presidential campaign. Jill Hazelbaker, a McCain spokeswoman, said it's "important to keep … in mind" that McCain filed mandatory personal financial disclosures each year he was in Congress, starting with his 1982 election to the House. She asserted that "he has released voluminous financial information, more than Sens. Obama or Clinton." She said McCain would release his medical records on May 23. They have been eagerly anticipated given his age -- he's 71 -- and his medical history -- he was tortured during five years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam and has battled melanoma. [50] The disclosure of tax information has become an issue in the presidential campaign. Illinois Senator Barack Obama released his tax information in March and then pressured his rival for the Democratic nomination, New York Senator Hillary Clinton, to disclose her tax records. She did so on April 4.[25]

Summary: On The Situation Room, an on-screen chart showed Sen. John McCain's income to be significantly lower than that of Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton when combined with the income of their spouses.[9] By filing separately from his wife, McCain hides the fact that they're very, very rich. Imagine the uproar if Hillary Clinton had filed separately and released returns that didn't show the income of her husband since 2001.[45] Look, I don't care if Mrs. McCain keeps her tax return to herself. She is not running for anything. I think for Bill and Hillary Clinton to release theirs together was very forthright, they sure could have filed separately.[34] If McCain intends to use some of her money then she should release her tax returns.[34]

McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has never before released his tax returns.[14] From NBC's Domenico Montanaro McCain released his tax returns today. They include 2006 and 2007 and nothing previously.[30]

The McCains are some of the wealthiest people in Arizona. His tax returns show nothingexcept that he collects Social Security. No wonder he wants to keep the Bush Tax Cuts, which benefit the very rich. Too bad he barely did not qualify for the incentive tax rebate; he would likely gladly have taken that too.[45] I never knew a partner who was married to a wealthy person who did not reap the rewards of that wealth. Maybe he needs some "Straight Talk" about true honesty. He is not ready to be President if he can"t be honest. NOT releasing his wife's income tax returns is going to be fodder for the press. NOT releasing his wife's income tax returns is going to be fodder for the press. How dare he collect Social Security!!! With his wealth he should be ashamed even though he will cry that he is entitled to it.[29]

The 71-year-old, who would be the oldest first-term president if elected, also received a navy pension of $58,358 and Social Security income of $23,157. Mr Obama's household income jumped from $991,296 to $4.2m last year most of it from book sales as he launched his bid for the presidency. The Clintons' disclosure showed that they earned $109m over the past eight years mostly from Mr Clinton's books and speeches representing a sharp turnround from the heavy debts and legal bills they faced after leaving the White House.[31] Obama and his wife pulled in a cool 4.2 million dollars in 2007. It pales in comparison to Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, who released income tax documents for the past eight years showing they had raked in 109 million dollars since they left the White House.[46]

The Obamas paid federal taxes of $1.4 million and donated $240,370 to charity. The Clintons released the overall income figure but have asked for an extension on filing their returns.[39] Barack and Michelle Obama earned a total of more than $4 million last year. Hillary and Bill Clinton outearned them all last year with a total income of more than $20 million.[9] As a couple, the Clintons earned $20.4 million last year -- again largely thanks to Bill Clinton's paid speeches and book royalties. He too had a $150,000 salary from the Senate.[17] One thing to remember is that the Clintons made $100 million over 7 years and Obama made $4 million last year in just starting to reap the sales of his books. Obama outsold his books over Clintons so 2008 will be a very big year financially for him.[34] The news emerged after Republicans attacked Barack Obama for being snooty towards middle Americans. He earned $4.2 million last year, mostly from book sales.[23]

In 2006, McCain and his wife donated, from community assets, about $129,000 to charity and $211,000 last year. [29] Over the past two years, Senator and Mrs. McCain donated about $340,320 from their community assets to charity, the campaign said.[51]

I've seen bloggers here post on more than one occasion,where is the money coming from? May I offer a possible answer? John Hagee-the FundaMENTALIST(?) preacher whom McCain ardently courted for one year,before obtaining Hagee's imprimatur. (This is the preacher from SanAntonio who calls the Catholic Church the Great Whore of Babylon.)Now, John Hagee is a GREAT supporter of Israel,and a couple of years ago,he and a few other evangelicals created CUFI -Christians United fro Israel. They have become a huge political force and lots and lots of $$$$.[35]

Yeah.and I'll bet Obama's wife kept all of her $100 million+ worth to herself. Or was that McCain's wife.[24] As for the Democrat spouses you complain about. Michelle Obama is, much like her husband, a curiosity as a public figure, because there's relatively little known about her. With Bill Clinton, I assume his celebrity status hardly requires an explanation. Grampa is a triple dipper in addition to marrying into a trust fundbut he still shills for lobbyists. "Here's a man that, unlike Clinton or Obama, has never had the royal treatment." ______________________________________________________ WTF? When has the press been critical of McCain? And when has getting shot down over the wrong target and "talking" during "harsh interrogation" made someone a hero? Tax breaks for his wife and a continuation of a fraudelent war are all you need to know about McSame.[30] You know, like policy. What? he's gonna loose anyway. You guys do a good Job monitering these fourmes, I know a lot of people really appreciate the hard work you do. I work in costomer service my-self, so I really empithise with effort you put into keeping the stupidity and vulgarity off this site, to appease all those little old ladies in fargo. I am little confussed: If McBush is collecting Scocial Security Income, shouldn't he be retired by now? While I am not against old age'''but I can't help but say McSame is too old. Rob, So McCain cannot get SSI according to you? He's paid into it all of his working life, but he can't draw now that he is over 65? He has donated all of the profits from his books, has Obama done that? I don't think so, we need a man with true integrity in the White House, and he will be our next president.[30]

The only reason McCain files a separate return is to hide all the income his wife receives from which he benefits.[45] The McCain's say that an intern did it and you will not be able to prove otherwise. What type of man will not file income tax with his wife. Apparently, this old man think we all stupid.[30]

The tax returns are a joke!!! They include no infomation about his wife's fortune. The McCains file separately, apparently to avoid reporters and the public finding out his true wealth and the interests of his wife.[52] I'm a Democrat but. the law's the law and, if McCain has chosen to not disclose Cindy's tax returns, so be it. I wish we could get to the real issues and let this stupid stuff go.[22] HOw does not disclosing Mrs. McCain's tax return protect the privacy of her children? Just because Mrs. Heinze-Kerry did this doesn't make it proper.[45]

"Campaign spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said yesterday that Heinz Kerry's tax returns, whenever they are filed, would not be made public, because she is a private citizen who is under no requirement to do so. Speaking to reporters in Beverly Hills, Calif., yesterday, Heinz Kerry said she did not want to make her tax returns public because it would violate the privacy of her three sons. "If some god of taxes would want to come in and look at all of my portfolio, I'd let them," she said.[44] The additional tax liability was probably a combination of 2003 and 2004 estimated taxes. Under the law, taxpayers are given six-month extensions from the April 15 filing deadline more or less automatically, but they are assessed penalties if they have not paid a sufficient amount to cover all the taxes they owe. The statement did not explain why Mrs. Heinz Kerry's income was only about 1 percent of her net worth. Some of the assets, like her five houses, do not produce income. Some financial specialists speculated that most of the income-producing assets were in her children's names.[32] "But I don't think I have the right to put my children's privacy out into the open." Heinz Kerry already provides information about her personal finances on Senate ethics disclosure forms. Presidential candidates are not required to disclose their tax records, but almost all do so.[44]

In this April 15, 2008 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., delivers a speech during a campaign event at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. [27] Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.,and his wife Cindy speak at a press availability in Toledo, Ohio.[13] Cindy and John McCain's policies have been murder on the workers. AND now they're hypocrites who call for disclosure of others taxes when the wife is worth more than Fort Knox.[34]

John McCain on Friday faced accusations of hypocrisy for failing to disclose his wife's tax records, despite his promise to bring greater transparency and accountability to government.[31]

John McCain later got in trouble for asking favors of regulators to help Charles Keating, in return for the use of Keating's jet on campaign.[44] You may have forgotten that there's this other guy out there who's also running for President, and he happens to be the GOP nominee. It's easy to lose sight of John McCain amid the constant crush of news about the Dem primary, but even as the Dems continue to bludgeon each other, McCain is quietly building up his campaign apparatus -- something we hope to be tracking here a bit more closely in the weeks ahead.[52]

Reagan's 1980 disclosure of a single year is the most minimal disclosure on the record. As the New York Times wrote in 2004, "Almost every president and nominee for president and vice president since Richard M. Nixon in 1973 have released their tax returns." Kerry: Kerry continued his two decade history of releasing his returns annually. Bush: Bush's returns were already public from annual releases from the White House, and years before his election were on the record from previous campaigns and disclosures.[11] Clinton: Senator and President Clinton's tax returns since 1977 are on the public record, including releases during the 1992 campaign, annually in the White House and during the 2008 campaign, including supporting schedules.[11]

Bush: As president and vice president, Bush had annually released his tax returns going back into the 1980s. Dukakis: He released his 1987 return in early May, adding to his earlier release of the previous five years.[11]

Presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., released the 2007 tax return for himself and his wife Michelle.[49] John Kerry faced EXACTLY the same situation in 2004. Theresa initially declined, but after incessant Republican and press pressure, she released her tax returns.[45] Where is the headline Clinton non disclosure. Clintons haven't released their 2007 tax returns when Clinton got all that money from his partnership with berkel. Clintons haven't released their public schedule from 2000-2006 and they are afraid the republicans will get the list from the secret service and that it is embarrassing. Clinton hasn't released her earmark projects.[22] Jake, Clinton has not released her 2007 tax returns which would show money from the partnership of berkel.[22]

The Clintons and Obamas take pay raises. To Rob, McCain donated all his royalties from his book which were 1,800,000 to charity. Hillary, Bill, and Obama take their book money. [30] You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. McCain donated ALL of his book royalties to charity. Hillary and Bill donated an INSIGNIFICANT portion of their book royalties to his presidential library. Obama donated a VERY SMALL portion of his book royalties to his racist church.[24]

It is very disingenous that Cindy McCain's finances are not made public. How can anyone believe that their finances are not connected? If Hillary Clinton pulled that trick with Bill's income, she would be smeared in every media outlet. McCain wants to make himself look of much lesser means than he really is. He and Cindy are loaded, but any candidate's financial holdings can say a lot about their interests, including a candidate's spouse's holdings. [45] A little lesson in corporate governance would help you realize that members of the board must be involved with all major economic decisions of a company including decisions regarding mergers and acquisitions, expansion into new markets, or the development of new lines of business. Board members can incurr civil liability for a neglect of their duties to the shareholders. Yes, Cindy Mccain earns her money. Just because she also has a lot of passive income on top of that work doesn't quite seem relevant.[50] No Walmart though I do not consider that a good investment. Since these are all publicly traded stocks more power to Cindy McCain or anybody else if they buy stocks that give a good return.[50] What is of interest are the returns from the John and Cindy McCain foundation. Ken Silverstein did a piece in Harper's last month about the breakdown of their foundation.[35]

We can't know.The McBush campaign says that none of Cindy McCain's holdings will be made public. YES! And they do know. Senators are required to disclose the publicly traded assets and holdings of their spouse in their Senate Financial Disclosures supervised by the Senate Ethics Committee. They are a matter of public record and available upon request from the Secretary of the Senate or the Secretary of State of the state which the Senator represents.[50] We can't know.The McBush campaign says that none of Cindy McCain's holdings will be made public. CNN has already addressed some of those concerns based on an Associated Press investigation. Cindy McCain's millions are separate from her husband by prenup agreement and are the result of her inheritance of a huge beer distribution company from her father. Instead of selling the company upon her father's death, she decided to run it and has been shown to be a very accomplished businesswoman.[50]

Not listed: several shared family homes worth millions. The McCains have not borrowed against their shared assets for politics, even when his campaign was strapped last year.[50]

I am sick of McClintons. They give charity to them selves. McCain gave $105,467 to their family foundation and got tax deduction.[34] In 1995, McCain sent birthday regards, and regrets for not attending, to Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonano, the head of the New York Bonano crime family, who had retired to Arizona. Another politician to send regrets was Governor Fife Symington, who has since been kicked out of office and convicted of 7 felonies relating to fraud and extortion. McCain has a reputation as a politician who has difficulty keeping his pants zipped, according to Republican sources. He acknowledges that his adultery broke up his first marriage. His second wife Cindy, the daughter of a wealthy Budweiser beer distributor, was addicted to prescription narcotics and even stole hard drugs from a medical charity that she ran. McCain acknowledges that she didn't want him to run, and only agreed once he promised that she doesn't have to go to New Hampshire or Iowa.[35] As Jill wrote Tuesday in a profile of the senator's wife, "Cindy Hensley McCain grew up in Phoenix, the only child in a wealthy family. Her father owned one of the country's largest beer distributors, Hensley & Co."[17]

Let's get real here. He is not some average middle class guy. The wealth of his wife far exceeds that of any other candidate and McCain was rated 9th wealthiest senator in congress. Those are facts. As far as the social security, he is entitled to receive it just as anyone who paid into the system.[45] Federal judges get their social security, too. If they retire at 65, they get their social security and their full paycheck -- you can't diminish the salary of a federal judge in his lifetime. It is not unusual for McCain to get the money he gets. His wife is not running for president. If they've always kept their money separate, why should it now be an issue for you? It's none of your business.[22] McCain gets a salary from being a senator, Social Security, Navy pension, book fees and free health care.[29]

As for Social Security, income has no bearing on receiving it. When McCain reached age 65, his Social Security checks started.[30]

McCain earned $256,898 in book income for '06 and '07, comprising earnings from Faith of My Fathers," "Worth the Fighting For," "Why Courage Matters," "Character is Destiny," and "Hard Call." The cumulative total of these donations" is over $450K. [43] Book royalties, pensions, spousal speaking fees and other income add far more. McCain routinely is ranked among the richest in Congress, but he and his wife have kept their finances separate throughout their 27-year marriage.[39] By hiding his wife's income, McCain gets to pretend his own income is less than the other candidates, and so he can call Obama an elitist. It's the same old game that Bush played, pretending to be a good ol' boy when he was really an East Coast patrician.[6] All of you die hard McCain haters here are such hypocrites. Kerry tried to hide his wife's income and holdings. Jon Corzine tried to hide his to protect his partners at Goldman Sachs (before it was a public company).[45] Yes! Modest, middle class, never had the royal treatment. That's McCain for ya! I often picture him reflecting on his honest, modest all american life as he flys around the world on his own private jet with his billionare wife. Nothing like those well to do Democrats like that elitist Obama.[30] Democrats need to wake up and realize thier party is so far left that it better represents the old USSR than America. What is nice about McCain is that he doesn't have this so-called "celebrity" spouse. Getting a little tired of Democrats candidates spouses flailing around and looking like the goofs they are. Modest man? I'm sure he's not benefiting at all from his wife's beer fortune.[30]

I don't know who I'm voting for, but it wont be lying Hillary. Leave McCain's wife alone.If you don't like him,then attack him.Remember when they said he fathered a multi-racial child when they really adopted? Can't we have a campaign based on the issues? Bush/Cheney are leaving.[35]

No- I read all of the excuses the WaPo-McCain Campaign promoters made for McCain. They weren't in news stories and they made sure they got buried. They lasted no time, and WaPo turned them into advertisements for McCain. McCain is getting a free ride because the corporate media is in financial trouble and they need the wealth favoring tax breaks to shore up their losses.[44] The McCains have been married since May 1980. "In the interest of protecting the privacy of her children, Mrs. McCain will not be releasing her personal tax returns," the McCain campaign said.[20] Hensley or entities controlled by it also have sizable real estate holdings, primarily in Arizona, public filings show. In a statement accompanying the release of Senator McCain's taxes, his campaign stated that it was not releasing Mrs. McCain's personal taxes "in the interest of protecting the privacy of her children".[45]

In the past two years, Senator and Mrs. McCain have contributed $340,323 to charitable causes.[30] As for the details, McCain took in about $321,000 in 2006 and about $420,000 last year.[29]

A lot is known between what disclosures have been made and the news that has been reported over many, many years. I think anybody who wants to look into it knows that Mrs. McCain has a family business inherited from her father and that that is a principal, more than principal source of income and Sen. McCain has always been careful not to vote on issues involving that industry or that company.[22] The difference is that four years ago, Kerry wasn't calling Bush an "elitist." McCain's campaign jumps on Obama for being out of touch with the needs of regular Americans, and claims that he understands their needs. Not that this SHOULD matter, but McCain opened this door, and should account for the degree to which he is a "man of the people" as he claims.[44] Dr Hubert writes, "At the same time, Senator Obama stated that Sen. John McCain is too old to be President at the age of 71." If you don't mind Dr. Hubert, could please provide a LINK for your source? You would think that if Obama (who has been questioned about the comments of others, not wearing a flag-pin, etc.) would have ACTUALLY made such a comment it would have been on every single channel known to man.[22] As the presumptive Republican nominee, Senator John McCain does not have to compete in the Pennsylvania primary. He does plan to be competitive in the lately blue state during the general election.[45] John McCain has served our great Country longer than I have been alive and I have nothing but respect for somebody like that. Even if you don't like republicans you have to give this man credit for his service to the United States.[29] This entry was posted on Friday, April 18th, 2008 at 8:18 pm and is filed under John McCain, Republicans. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.[24]

Democracy is dead if in our elections the candidates are not given fair and equal coverage. Big Media is trying to sell us John McCain and destroy his Democratic rivals out of pure greed.[44] John McCain'''s lack of transparency is troubling and raises questions about what he'''s hiding,''' Dean said in a statement provided by the Democratic party.""[24]

G H Bush has large oil investments. This is about John McCain yet a majority of the post is about Kerry.[44]

Teresa Kerry just had a penchant for marrying already-sitting Senators. He lives in a household with $100 million of assets, but don't call him an elitist. Cindy made him sign a pre-nup because she knew that he could do to her what he did to his first wife. He doesn't actually have access to any of her money. If he decides to follow "the little puppy dog" around, she'll cut him off. [44] The Arizona senator routinely is ranked among the richest in Congress. A prenuptial agreement has kept most of the family's assets in the name of his wife, an heiress to a Phoenix-based beer distributing company. Her worth is estimated at more than $100 million.[5]

I have rounded off these dollar amounts so, the $425,000 could be accurate. His wife's 'yearly income may be $1,000,000 but her total net worth is way over $100 Million. It may not be that big of a difference to most people but, for somebody who collects $850 a month, it's a big difference that he's trying to pass himself off as a middle-class citizen when in fact he's livin' the high life.[16]

Obama and his wife, Michelle, reported making $4.2 million in 2007, while the Clintons reported $20.4 million in income.[39] Tonight ABC reported the Senator's 2007 income was around $425,000.00 while his wife's was guestimated to be at least a million.[16]

McCain, 71, an Arizona senator, reported a total of $48 in taxable interest, $74 in dividends, and no capital gains or losses in 2007.[47] Hi Mary, did you notice that Senator McCain even got a increase from 2006 ($56,496) to $58,358 in 2007. It's unbelievable that he would even consider voting against a raise for the soldiers.[22]

The 71-year-old senator also reported receiving $23,157 in Social Security benefits last year.[41] The big jump came in book royalties, though the oldest candidate in the field also received $23,000 from Social Security last year, up slightly from the year before. He gets a Navy Air Force pension.[29]

McCain is not quite as rich as the other 2 candidates. He is entitled to Social Security. It does't make him unfit to President and people who believe that are practicing age discrimination.[45] As to Social Security, the government has been taxing McCain for that for decades, and I am sure that it then taxes the amount he gets, as it does many other people, such as myself, who are lower middle class.[45] Rob, McCain pays into social security so you get the check back that isn't your choice.[30]

Failure to disclose "sets a terrible precedent for future campaigns for important posts at the national and state level." Washington Post: Calling his position "disturbing," the Washington Post editorial page wrote that, "Most troubling, Mr. McCain isn't even pledging to release his returns once he becomes the nominee." [11] Good to see alot more Americans are waking up and seeing thru Hillary's lies!Hillary and McCain go hand in hand, lets start from the begining;Hillary voted for the War In Iraq, but after she decided to run for Office, now she says, she is against the War.Hillary's Dad was a Republican so you think that makes her a Democratic, it should be No! Hillary praised McCain on National T.V., if she recieved the Nomination, wouldnt she be running against McCain, then why praise him.Because she dont care if McCain or her Win.Could she be a undercover Republican? She didnt want to release her Tax-Info for months, maybe thats because she didnt want American Voters to see she Richer then Rich! NAFTA, Bill was for it, do you really believe then Hillary is against it? I think not!Hillary just days ago was taking shots of Whisky on the News, what kinda message is she sending our kids? Hillary has lied time and time again during this race for the Democratic Nominee.[19] Then Obama can challenge McCain's campaign on a daily basis and have it be a top news story - not low down the list after dealing with Hillary's mudslinging. That would mean putting the party and the country ahead of her/their egos and ambitions.[52]

Interesting that the Obamas and the Clintons filed and made public joint returns, but McCain doesn't.[45] I think the point here is that McCain had the audacity to come down on Obama with the Elitist comment, when he lives in in the top 1 % of ;this country's personal income. His neighbors must be the Clintons.[34] There are always excuses to complain. In the case of Bill Clinton it was necessary to make a difference to Mrs. Obama or Mrs. McCain because he was a former president.[45] After opposing President Bush's tax cuts in 2001, McCain voted against legislation in 2003 to accelerate the tax reductions enacted in the 2001 bill and to cut taxes on dividends and capital gains. In February 2006, he cast a vote in favor of extending the 2003 tax cuts on capital gains and dividends through 2010 (the vote was technically against eliminating the tax cut extension). When asked during the April 2, 2006, broadcast of NBC's Meet the Press why he had changed his position, McCain replied : "I do not believe in tax increases. The tax cuts are now there and voting to revoke them would have been to -- not to extend them would have meant a tax increase."[10]

How can anybody think this is OK? McCain has tried to hide/coverup anything unseemly having to do with his wife since her drug abuse problems. Why should Americans think this is perfectly OK? People with lots of money have lots of special interests to protect. Anyone serving as President needs to reveal ALL of theirs including their wifes.[29] When McCain went broke he couldn't tap into his wife's money. They are listed under her name so he couldn't tap into them. Big difference when Clinton went broke she tapped into Bill's money from Columbia and Dubai.[22]

EVERY Presidential candidate's immediate family will get celebrity treatment, especially once the general election rolls around. Meghan McCain has become a celebrity in her own right, and Chelsea Clinton has been in the national eye since she was 12.[30] Sen Clinton only released a summary for 2007. "In her role as Chairman of Hensley & Company, a privately-held business founded by her parents, Mrs. McCain's main areas of responsibility focus on strategic planning and corporate vision." She's also responsible for catering an annual company dinner using the many McCain traditional family recipes "borrowed" from the Food Network.[30]

In advance of the release of McCain's records, the DNC sent out a memo noting that since '76, every GOP or Dem nominee, except Ronald Reagan, "released at least six years of records" ( Hotline sources).[43] Mondale: Had 12 years total on the public record. In 1984 he released the prior three years, covering the period since he left the VP's office. This added to the annual releases while he was Vice President and the five years he released as the running mate in 1976. Reagan: As president, he had released his taxes annually, building on his 1980 election year disclosures. Carter: As a candidate in 1976, he released copies of six years of returns, and then annually provided releases while in office, for a total of ten years by the 1980 election. Reagan: As a candidate in 1980, he released his 1979 return. Carter: As a candidate in 1976, he released copies of six years of returns.[11] Since at least 1976, all presidential candidates have released years of returns.[11]

Obama: Senator and Mrs. Obama released eight years of federal returns during the 2008 campaign.[11]

Obama and his wife, Michelle, earned $8 million from 2000 through 2007, according to their returns.[50] Thanks to commenter "tmccrack" for catching that.) In 2007, Obama earned $3.9 million from royalties and collected his Senate salary.[17] In 2007, Clinton earned $152,864 from book royalties. She also had her Senate salary again, of course.[17]

The National Review, we are awaiting your substantial examination and analysis of Cindi's McSame's tax returns. If McSame did not have somethign to hide, he would probably have released it. He is the l7th riches guy serving in the Senate. [35] Cindy definitely SHOULD release her tax returns. She's part of the family. This issue will just sit and FESTER n the minds of the people, serving as another point of attack in November.[34] Let's see if the public demands equal disclosure, as with Kerry and other Democrats, and demands to see wealthy Cindy's tax returns too.[45] Are you suggesting that Kerry lost because his wife (initially) refused to provide her tax return? I'm sure there were a thousand more significant reasons he lost that election.[44] The reason that he didn't release his wife's tax return is that they have a prenuptual agreement.[29]

AZ "is a community property jurisdiction," where individuals "maintain a separation of all property brought to the marriage, or inherited during it, but share financial responsibility for other assets acquired through the efforts of each spouse during the marriage." Their tax returns "report one half of each of their community property income and expenses."[43] What I'm talking about are the tax returns of all the candidates. Investigation of these returns reveals who the candidates are truly working for, the American people or their own special-interest.[45]

Teresa Heinz Kerry was bullied by the press into releasing a portion of her 2003 tax return.[52] You want to run for President? You must disclose everything. Clinton was nailed to the wall re: her tax returns. Another tiresome example of the double standard, and blood thirst for Clinton. Otherwise he would admit to being a very wealthy man.[29] Last month, the Obamas??? tax returns from 2000 to 2006 were posted on the campaign Web site.[45]

In April, the campaign said, "she paid $280,000 toward expected additional 2003 and 2004 federal tax liability."[32]

We can't know.The McBush campaign says that none of Cindy McCain's holdings will be made public.[50] I suspect, you have little interest in actually knowing, but if you really wanted to know all that information about whether Cindy Mccain owns parts of haliburton, walmart or "big oil," it is all ALREADY publicly available. It was a nice, but pathetic try to fabricate a scandal.[50] We need to know who Cindy McCain profits from. All the canidates are rich, so what? I would be more concerned if they were poor.[29]

Cindy McCain should have to reveal hers but for anyone here to try to claim the moral high ground in the name of the Democratic Party either has a very short memory or is a complete hypocrite.[45] Every comment i make pointing out Cindy McCain's worth and why they are hyopocrites with a long history of labor busting and hostility to workers, CNN ends up deleting it.[34] When someone is as rich as Cindy McCain, the kids and grandkids become potential targets of crime.[45]

Hmmm. I thought the only McCain did to get to the Beer Fortune was betraying and leaving his wife and children, and courting and marrying Cindy.[22] "I was always under the impression that McCain had converted his wealth into large diamonds that he stores in those massive hamster-pouch cheeks of his." Maybe his wife Barbie. I mean Cindy hid the wealth in medicine bottles that she formally use for her pain killer medication.[26]

What a convenient excuse not to include Cindy's income on the forms! Must say, that McCain is shadier than the rest of them.[45] For the benefit of those of you whoa are either just dumb or still in denial about McCain. He only discloses his income because that way he looks like he is really a good guy.[22] McSame is the same RepubliCON pig as they all are, just has been given a 'free ride' from those BBQ eatn' lazy ass MSN folks that brought us the "man we most wanted to have a beer with". Any military member ought to know that McCain also chose NOT to support Hagel/Webb Bill to give GIs Educational Benefits equal to those that WW ll Vets got (that gave us the greatest educated/wealthy middle class growth in history) - McCain supports sending more over, then giving LESS when his 100 Years are over - SEND"M but don't DEFEND'M.[35] All three White House candidates are senators, whose salaries are under $200,000 a year.[39] George and Laura Bush reported a combined income of more than $900,000 last year.[9] Considering her wealth, and what Cindy must have looked like 27 years ago, his $17,700.00 in alimony payments seem well worth the price.[6] I like that. Maybe Obama should release his tax info from his IL senate years and be transparent.[22] Presidential candidates are under no obligation to release tax records but it has become customary to do so as a signal of transparency. This year's disclosures have come at a sensitive moment.[31] "Throughout history, presidential candidates have disclosed income tax information prior to Election Day.[16]

I agree, it is not comparable to the Kerry situation in 2004. It was the wife's wealth that catapulted him into Congress in the 80s; without this wealth, McCain's presidential candidacy would be, let's say, "academic." [44] From here you can use the Social Web links to save McCain cagey about wife's 'private' squillions to a social bookmarking site.[23] Yup, a real 'family values' kind of guy. Do they think we're stupid? Everybody knows McCain's wife has a fortune she inherited.[44] Because the McCains file separately, it is hard to know if that is a large part of the family income.[1] War profiteering must end. we need to restore proper functioning representative democracy. It will not happen under another atostocrat or career government family like the bushs, clintons, or mccains.[45] Looks like Hillary Clinton is silanced on this issue of McCain's disclosure - may be it is a"Right Wing" conspiracy. The Clintons and the McCains are not hurting, they cannot relate to average, hard working Americans.[22]

Clinton and Obama are in a close battle for the Democratic nomination to face McCain in the November election.[46] McCain has shown much more restraint than Clinton when it comes to taking advantage of BO's "typical white person" comment, which I think was not that big a deal given the setting (a sports radio talk show host, very informal, was mainly a big deal because the Wright issue was so recent.) McCain said also that Obama had distanced himself from the Wright remarks and said it was over for him.[30] Why is it that so many political aspirants are inordinately wealthy? Clinton, McCain and to a slightly lesser extent Obama, rarely need to work another day to survive. This does not bode well for the ordinary citizen (no matter how talented or suited to high office they may be).[45]

I think some Republicans made wrong strategy. They should turn down Obama first, let Hillary and McCain compete. Either of them wins, I don't mind. Because they represent the American's tradition, the root, the majority force. They will continue treating the minority fairly. Do you really think Obama will bring Repulican together if he is elected?? This is his political gesture. As a so undecisive person, what DARE he do?? Did you watch the debates? How timid he is? Did he see his accomplishments? How timid he shows? He strongly attacked McCain, that means he WILL NOT unite Republicans if he is elected. He is so young, so inexperienced, he just blindly attacked McCain, he is the one doesn't respect hard working.[22] Alfredo. you're comparaing Obama to McCain? I would certainly compare Hillary to McCain. BIG money can buy you anything, but unfortunately she is running out of both money and time.[19] One more reason why Hillary should get the fuck out of the way of the Democratic Party NOW and let Obama run directly against McCain without her distractions.[52] McCain is of the same mind as other Conservatives, rules are for: Blacks, Hispanics, Gays and Strong Woman (did I mention Blacks?, ohh yeah they live for that). America will overlook it, if Obama or Hillary did this Hannity would be on Saturdays.[35] If McCain doesn't win the general election he can claim prejudice against the middle class! This gives him more credibility when slamming Obama, or even Hillary, as an elitist.[19]

Because the McCains are not running a Mom and Pop political campaign or life. Mrs. McCain has got a privileged life of her own thanks to her parents, a long time ago. Mr. Obama is free to try this one. Good luck to him.[45] Jim gave McCain a "job" as glorified beer sales rep so John could campaign around the state while Jim picked up the tab.[44] John McCain / Colin Powell 2008 No liars or racists in the WhiteHouse. America deserves the integrity of John McCain. (even if he is a closet democrat) ;-) But America needs someone close to the center.[30] While John McCain sat in a Viet Nam prison camp for 5 yrs getting tortured where was Bill.[22] John McCain went to the Naval Academy and was a naval aviator, I doubt be gets an Airforce pension.[29]

Since McCain has access to Cindy's money you best to believe it is relevant. [34] Isn't this money meant for senior citizens that need it as a safety net. I think this says a lot of McCain's character that a rich man like him would take money from the government when he doesn't need it.[45] Other than to keep his wife's wealth out of the public record, what possible reason can McCain have for filing seperate returns? Sounds like more Double Talk Express to me.[6] Where's the beer hubby stealer's tax returns? Time for her to fess up so we can see just how "elitist" Tailhook Johnny really is. Modest? Don't forget he is married to a woman of extreme wealth. what do they have, 8 homes? Hardly modest. Talk about a snake oil salesman! Yeah, like he doesn't "benefit" from the trophy's wifes money.yeah, okay. Again, they think we are stupid. He has 6 or 7 houses, doesn't he? WHY, on earth, is he collecting social security when they are multi-millionaries? Give it to someone who acutally needs it.[30] Rob, AZ You are an idiot. He worked and paid SS taxes and that is why he gets to collect them. I agree about the social security comment, why would a man of that income want to keep that money when there are other worthy lower class citizens that could use that money, my mother being one of them.[30] If you have paid taxes and are deserving of social security you should get it. His job is a U.S. Senator he gets paid for doing his job and gets benefits just like any other Senator.[29]

During the ABC debates Americans saw first hand that the Senator from Illinois''' tax plan requires further study. Senator Obama almost made a commitment that he would not tax the Middle Class making under $200,000. The Senator from Illinois''' tax plan does not support this comment. His tax plan does not protect retirees. The Senator from Illinois made this issue clear during the same debates. Senator Obama stated that he would put a $75,000 cap. Then the Senator from Illinois suggested that this cap was not off the table since Senator Obama believes he knows what is best for America. American'''s know that the media will never question him. [22] Young politicians with limited knowledge that are 41 (or younger) need more experience that time brings. Other issues require further investigation. As Americans know, Sen. Obama believes that anything that his campaign committee says is not his responsibility. Will Sen. Obama govern his cabinet in the same manner as he has done with his election committee? Either is he responsible or he is not responsible. How can he run America if he will never be responsible for any one that he selects to crucial positions. Such a government would result in total chaos. Since 50% of Obama'''s contributors are from those that have given him $1,000, I do not know many Average Americans that can afford to be so generous.[22]

The Obamas' total income in 2006 was $991,296. ( Correction: We mistakenly typed "2009" earlier.[17]

I think the Democrats should come out against beer because of Mrs. McCains connections. That will really get middle America approval right? You Obama supporters will smear a good man like McCain who is the only person that reached across the aisle to get legislation passed.[45] The conservative rags were wrong to push for it. No, they won't say anything now - as McCain is their candidate - and all reporters - including ABC's reporters - are hypocrites - just like the candidates themselves - and just like most of us. I try to be fair and push for the same things on both sides.[22] Like war, which McCain peddles daily, all of it is good only for the undertaker. It all depends on what you peddle, I guess. It all has some redeeming value in the eyes of the defender of such things.[45]

Fortunately since most Americans aren't pinheads like you, we know better. I think it would be the right thing for the McCains to disclose everything, irrespective if it's legal to keep it private. Senator McCain prides himself on being straight and open so this hardly seems something on which to declare privacy.[22] I'm sorry, Ms. McCain, but when you run for President, you 'kinda' give up the right of privacy. This is a lame excuse, and they don't want to seem like they're gazillionaires. As Jake said, let's see how the wingers react this time.[22]

Addressing the Republican National Committee's meeting of state chairmen at posh Tamaya Resort, McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said those voters will play a major role in this fall's general election. He urged GOP officials to familiarize themselves now.[35] Isn'''t it keeping with Sen. McCain'''s pledge of good government to release as much information as possible.[22] McBush releases some of his tax returns.But his Wife who is worth at least 100 million does not. (claiming she wants to protect her kids. What is she hiding.??? Does she own part of Halliburton. ???[50] First Read clearly states: "Clinton released a SUMMARY for 2007, but not the full RETURN yet." He forgot to list his earnings as the beer truck driver for his wife. Actually, part of his contributions went to Joe Lieberman as being the silent writer of his books.[30] You note that Obama released his 2007 returns, but neglect to say that Clinton hasn'tand has said that she won't unless she wins the nomination.[45]

In recent memory, every general election candidate already had a tradition of releasing returns and/or released at least five years of records, often many more.[11] Gore: Gore's returns for many years were already public, pursuant to White House tradition. Bush: As president, the White House annually released his returns. As governor of Texas, he had also annually released federal returns and released his 1999 filing in October of 2000.[11]

If thats the ONLY plausible explination you can come up with then you are not very bright. In reality they have to file separate tax returns because there assets are kept separate, as per their Pre-nup agreement. [45] Next tax return he will be able to claim medical deductions for the transplants he'll get of organs harvested from the sex-slave children "rescued" from that hyper-Mormon compound in Texas.[54] I really don't care what the cadidates tax returns reflect. I do care how they will present this Country to its citizens and the rest of the world.[34]

We've been so brainwashed the past 95 years (1913 fed income tax amendment) we simply expect it. horrible. He's a politician and acts just like one. [29] Americans proudly saw Pope Benedict XVI turn 81 during his ongoing visit to the United States. Everyone knows that Pope Benedict XVI runs the largest organization (Catholic Church) on earth without any loss in his mental abilities. Since age seems to be part of the ongoing presidential primaries, this issue requires further discussion. During the recent ABC debates, Sen. Barack Obama stated that he plans on increasing the mandatory retirement age for Social Security recipients an additional 10 years.[22] People are struggling to make ends meet, unemployed and no health insurance. He has the audacity to say Obama is out of touch. I know that he has earned a pension and social security but the man is working full time. My tax dollars are paying him 3 times.[29]

Michelle Obama, who has young children, did release her tax records, filed jointly with her husband, Sen. Barack Obama.[40]

When you have as much money, you can afford to give. Since they never should have gotten those raises anyway - shame on the public for now protesting - he should give his share to charity. Hell, they should all give their full share to charity. Since the public is having a hard time, they shouldn't even be enjoying all those nice comfty guaranteed salaries and benefits at the hands of tax payers. What he gives money to charity, when you are worth that much, you should give to charity. [22] If you run for President you aren't privledged in the since of disclosing income sources. He is in a family with his wife? He gains from a Billionaire lifestyle but wants pity that he is not. What portion of her wealth is donated to charity? IF you want to be know as generous let's see the hole picture.[22] It is just like Bill recdeiving $800,000 to push a trade agreemnt that his WIFE may be in a position to sign into law.[34] The Clintons have made nearly $109 million since leaving the White House in 2001, capitalizing on lucrative business ventures and his speaking engagements.[5] Published estimates have speculated that it could be worth up to $100 million or more.[45]

I'm impressed that McCain donates his book royalties and his annual congressional pay raise since 1991 to charitable organizations. I think that shows something about his character. [6] Politicians' spouses who file taxes separately rarely face pressure to make returns public. According to the Internal Revenue Service website, the automatic extension is for four months, which would mean that Heinz Kerry could file her returns anytime between now and mid-August. If she waits until then, it would be after the Democratic National Convention, in late July, and at a time when many Americans will be tuning into the televised 2004 Summer Olympic Games or are possibly on vacation.[44] You want to vote for this man? He can't even keep his household in order and the bible says how can a man be a ruler of a nation/kingdom when he doesn't rule his own house. It sounds to me that Cindy knows something. Legally, Cindy doesn't have to release anything because they file separate returns. Until she becomes first lady she doesn't have to release anything.[44] If Bill's income is used to judge Hillary and Michelle's to judge Barack, then Cindy's should be used to judge John.[30]

The campaign argues that the two keep their finances separate, and that she has privacy concerns for her kids. The Obamas and the Clintons both file taxes jointly. [34]

SOURCES

1. McCain Releases Tax Returns - washingtonpost.com
2. McCain Releases Tax Returns Feature Story
3. CQ Politics | McCain Releases Tax Returns
4. McCain releases tax returns - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com
5. The Associated Press: McCain reports 2007 taxable income of $258,000
6. Washington Wire - WSJ.com : McCain Releases Two Years of Tax Documents
7. McCain reports income of $405,409 - The Boston Globe
8. WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL: McCain tax return shows earned a total of $405,000 last year
9. Media Matters - CNN chart purporting to compare candidates' "wealth" omitted Cindy McCain, who is reportedly worth $100 million
10. Media Matters - Several media outlets advanced comparison between Cindy McCain's and Teresa Heinz Kerry's release of tax info, ignoring key distinction
11. Dean: John McCain's Lack of Transparency is Troubling, He Should Release More Complete Tax Return History Immediately
12. McCain made $405,409, tax returns reveal; files separately from wealthy wife
13. ABC News: Heiress Wife Is Source of McCain's 'Secret' Millions
14. McCain releases his tax returns not hers - Los Angeles Times
15. Press TV - McCain, keeping wife's wealth secret
16. Heiress Cindy McCain promises to release Rachael Ray's Income Tax Records by Richard Owl Mirror - informed, richardowlmirror, richard owl mirror | Gather
17. McCain's income topped $750K over past two years - On Politics - USATODAY.com
18. McCain Reports $405,000 In Income In Separate Tax Filing | April 20, 2008 | AHN
19. Political Radar: John McCain Releases Tax Returns
20. McCain paid $157,231 in federal taxes in 2006-07 | U.S. | Reuters
21. McCain Releases Tax Returns | KCRG-TV9 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
22. Political Punch
23. McCain cagey about wife's 'private' squillions | The Australian
24. McCain Releases Tax Returns « FOX Embeds « FOXNews.com
25. McCain made $405,000 in '07
26. Gothamist: McCain Releases His Tax Returns, But Not His Wife's
27. The Associated Press: McCain reports $405,409 in earnings for 2007
28. TheHill.com - McCain releases his tax records but not wife's
29. John McCain releases his tax returns -- but not hers* : Top of the Ticket : Los Angeles Times
30. McCain's tax returns - First Read - msnbc.com
31. McCain's honesty questioned - Finance - Politics - United States - United Kingdom - International - Obama running for the White House - Africa
32. The New York Times Washington Campaign 2004 Disclosure: Kerry's Wife Releases Some Financial Data and Promises More
33. Goose Meets Gander, By Kevin Drum - CBS News
34. CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time Blog Archive - McCain to release his taxes, but not Cindy's « - Blogs from CNN.com
35. McCain Tax Returns: Latest News - Politics on The Huffington Post
36. Townhall.com::McCain Gets $45,000 in Social Security::By Amanda Carpenter
37. McCain Releases Taxes, but Not Wife's - Politics - redOrbit
38. ConnieTalk: McCain Loves Tax Talk But Doesn't Release His Wife's Return
39. The Associated Press: McCain reports $405,409 in earnings for 2007
40. McCain releases his taxes, not wife's - CNN.com
41. McCain trails rivals in earnings | StatesmanJournal.com | Statesman Journal
42. John McCain Discloses Data on His CharityGiving - Philanthropy.com
43. Hotline - Tax Return To Sender
44. John McCain Releases Tax Returns | The Trail | washingtonpost.com
45. McCains Tax Returns - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog
46. AFP: McCain releases tax returns
47. Bloomberg.com: U.S.
48. Wife's personal tax records will be kept private in John McCain's presidential campaign - The Business Journal of Phoenix:
49. WebCPA - Obama Releases 2007 Tax Return
50. Cindy McCain earns more than John - Kenneth P. Vogel - Politico.com
51. "McCain'''s Tax Returns and Charity" by Ken Silverstein (Harper's Magazine)
52. TPM Election Central | Talking Points Memo |
53. McCain reports taxes without wife'''s earnings
54. Munnies: McCain Releases Dumb Tax Returns, Cindy's Fortune Kept Secret!

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McCain Releases His Tax Return, but Not His Wife's

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