AP, Cafferty noted Clinton has yet to release tax returns, but did not mention McCain's failure to do so
SUMMARY: In reports on the fact that Sen. Hillary Clinton has yet to release her tax returns and White House records, the Associated Press and CNN's Jack Cafferty did not mention that Sen. John McCain has yet to release his filings and has reportedly made no pledge to do so.
In a February 27 article, the Associated Press reported that "Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton says she won't release her tax returns until she has the Democratic presidential nomination in hand, and not before tax filing time comes in mid-April," but did not note that Sen. John McCain has yet to release his tax returns and has reportedly made no pledge to do so. Indeed, in a February 27 editorial, noting that Clinton has not released her income tax returns, The Washington Post wrote that McCain has also "so far refused to do so. Most troubling, Mr. McCain isn't even pledging to release his returns once he becomes the nominee."
On the February 28 edition of CNN's The Situation Room, commentator Jack Cafferty similarly did not mention McCain's failure to release his filings, stating: "There's a lot of information that voters still don't have about Hillary Clinton, including the White House records from when she was first lady and her tax returns." Moments later, Cafferty added: "As for the tax returns, Hillary Clinton also said at the debate that she would release them once she becomes the nominee or, quote, 'even earlier,' unquote, but her campaign seems to be backing away from that statement now, suggesting that Clinton won't release the financial information until tax time in April." Cafferty later asked viewers to respond to the question: "How important is it for Hillary Clinton to release her tax returns and White House records now?"
Cafferty's question about Clinton's tax returns also appeared in a February 28 post on his CNN blog, with no mention of McCain.
From the February 28 edition of CNN's The Situation Room:
CAFFERTY: There's a lot of information that voters still don't have about Hillary Clinton, including the White House records from when she was first lady and her tax returns. When asked at this week's debate, a couple of days ago, about those White House records, Clinton said she would absolutely release the documents to show the public what she did and who she met with over the course of those eight years. She said she's, quote, "urged the process be as quick as possible," unquote.
Well, the Bush administration now says it's actually the Clintons who are holding up the release of these records. They say the former President Bill Clinton's representative has not made any move yet to release over 11,000 pages of records. The Clinton campaign says it made two -- may take two more weeks for that representative to decide what to release and then to request the actual release of the documents from the White House. That's convenient. That would be after next Tuesday's primaries in both Texas and Ohio.
As for the tax returns, Hillary Clinton also said at the debate that she would release them once she becomes the nominee or, quote, "even earlier," unquote, but her campaign seems to be backing away from that statement now, suggesting that Clinton won't release the financial information until tax time in April. When Clinton loaned her own campaign $5 million, Barack Obama suggested she should follow his lead, release her tax returns, so the public could see where the money came from.
Here's the question: How important is it for Hillary Clinton to release her tax returns and White House records now? Go to CNN.com/CaffertyFile, you can post a comment there on my blog.

















MR L,
"and (*gasp*) China."
That's a great question but since it seems that most of our money comes from China and Saudi Arabia these last decades..... I guess we're all terrorists and/or un-American?
What's good for the goose is good for the gander, let them both release their tax returns as there should be equal scrutiny on all candidates.
Good job MMFA.
"official whine alert"
Now if I had said what you just said Mag, I would be immediately called on it with something like "This isn't about whether or not candidates should release their tax returns, this is about the media's unfairness in calling for Clintons and not McCains" .....blah, blah, blah
I think the difference, dear Tommy, is that you have a LONG and tiresome history of saying such things when it is wholly inaccurate and inappropriate to do so.
So, no, you haven't earned a pass. In fact, much like Bush, you long ago squandered the benefit of the doubt.
Quit'cher belly-achin'...
Tommy,
You gotta love the blind acceptance of a double standard from some. I must say I am thoroughly amused with the "it's o.k. for others to do it, but not you because you do it more".
One wonders if that is the approach such people use in teaching their children. I sure hate to think so. I can see it now..."son, it is o.k. to call others on things that you let some get by with...just make sure the ones you give a pass to agree with you on everything"
Governor, Can you provide "ad nauseum" examples of mine where I point out this particular double standard, or is this just more blustering silliness from you?
I'll wait.
Not bad, I agree, but the Governor often resorts to deflection tactics when he can't provide backup for his assertions - yet he asks me for them all the time. Funny how that is.
He can't even live up to his own challenges of others, but then again he is nothing more than a harmless comic strip.
Mag, It is a valid point, for sure. I don't know why it is necessarily our business at all? But if the media highlights one candidates' non-release of such records, they should be consistent and fair and call for all.
As for your point, I don't disagree.
Cafferty is simply a lazy, crotchety, old corporate...
hack.
He can't be bothered with actual journalism--he's working on his little curmidgeon act.
I don't know what the rational is for not releasing them but regarding the importance of it...I don't know that it makes a difference since they all have to disclose financial information as a Senator...so isn't this stuff already out there for the media to look at if they want? Having said that I think Clinton should just release it and shut them up already about this stupid stuff. Although no doubt when she does they will sensationalize it in some form or another even if there is no there there...it hasn't stopped them before.
I would like to see how each candidate earned his income. If I remember correctly, a few years back before the impeachment, where Clinton took write-offs for donating used underwear to charity.
I think there's something inappropriate about Republicans who are still thinking about Bill's underwear. Creepy, at least. Dick Morris creepy. ;0)
BTW, AnotherAmerican, what do you think about McCain's hearty acceptance of the endorsement of loony bigot religious extremist Hagee? After your spirited questioning of Obama's manhood for not denouncing the Farakkan endorsement forcefully enough for your tastes, I was expecting to see you really lay into McCain for his madness.
It's almost as if there's some sort of hypocritical double-standard in play here, but from all of your lecturing others for their partisan blindness, I know that can't be the case. You're probably just a lot busier today. heh.
Hillary and Camp Clinton is the core of what is Wrong with Washington politics, the do and say anything to win no matter what is done to the country and the country's morale. Jim Hightower, Texas columnist states, "Senator Obama represents the bright future that is possible in America when ordinary people begin to take charge. Clinton and McCain certainly have a wealth of Washington experience, but Obama has tapped into our country’s enormous democratic potential, and that’s not merely exciting, it is invaluable to our future.” The reason so many Senators are endorsing Obama is because they know with him, they have a chance of getting unity and not division, truth and not spin. Obama has released his tax forms. She should disclose hers and John McCain also. Let's see where the Money comes from.Hillary Clinton Was for Nafta before she was a little bit against it. Hillary Clinton will run the Country like she has run her Campaign, a disaster. Hillary Clinton takes words from her husband and Edwards, but that is not Plagiarism. Hillary will never apologize, she does not believe in that.