WSJ's Henninger called Cindy McCain's refusal to release tax returns "a fairly marginal issue," but WSJ urged Heinz Kerry to release hers
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SUMMARY: On Lou Dobbs Tonight, Wall Street Journal deputy editorial page editor Dan Henninger said of Cindy McCain's refusal to release her tax returns: "I think it's a fairly marginal issue." But in a July 2004 editorial, the Journal asserted that it was "past time" for Sen. John Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, to release her tax returns, stating, "Their assets should be disclosed to the voters so that they can assess whether there are any potential conflicts of interest."
On the May 9 edition of CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight, host Lou Dobbs said of the refusal of Sen. John McCain's wife, Cindy McCain, to release her tax returns: "Whose business is it anyway? She would be if he's elected, first lady, whose business is it? And to hear all this nonsense, at least to me?" In response, Wall Street Journal deputy editorial page editor Dan Henninger asserted, "I think it's a fairly marginal issue." But in a July 1, 2004, editorial, the Journal asserted that it was "past time" for Sen. John Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, to release her tax returns. The editorial's subheadline stated: "His divorce records are his own business. His wife's tax returns aren't." The Journal claimed: "The Kerrys would be the richest couple ever to live in the White House, and with wealth comes responsibility. Their assets should be disclosed to the voters so that they can assess whether there are any potential conflicts of interest." In calling on Heinz Kerry to release her tax returns, the Journal also cited the role Heinz Kerry's wealth purportedly played in her husband's presidential campaign. But Cindy McCain's personal fortune has reportedly played a role in the presidential campaign of her husband as well.
According to Henninger's Journal biography, Henninger became deputy editorial page editor in 1989; his June 25, 2004, and July 2, 2004, columns similarly identify him as such.
In an April 4 article, Associated Press reporter Sharon Theimer wrote that "[t]he McCains' marriage has mixed business and politics from the beginning, according to an expansive review by the Associated Press of thousands of pages of campaign, personal finance, real estate and property records nationwide." Further, in an April 27 New York Times article, Barry Meier and Margot Williams reported that McCain's campaign used a corporate jet owned by his wife's company, Hensley & Co., "over a seven-month period beginning last summer" and that "[f]or five of those months, the plane was used almost exclusively for campaign-related purposes." Meier and Williams added that "McCain's campaign was able to use his wife's corporate plane like a charter jet while paying first-class rates, several campaign finance experts said. Several of those experts, however, added that his campaign's actions, while keeping with the letter of law, did not reflect its spirit." In a May 10 post to the Times blog The Caucus, Meir and Williams reported that "Federal Aviation Administration records indicate that she appears to be using her personal wealth to help his campaign, through the continued use of her corporate jet," and that "[a]ccording to public records, the campaign has continued to use the plane, even as Mr. McCain, of Arizona, became the presumed Republican nominee and his campaign's finances have improved."
McCain also used Arizona property owned by Cindy McCain for a March 2 barbecue for reporters. The property is worth more than $1 million and, according to a profile by Home & Garden Television, has both a guest house and a third house next door for additional "living and entertainment space."
Further, in calling on Heinz Kerry to release her tax returns, the Journal asserted: "Since the Kerry campaign is proposing to raise tax rates on the upper middle class, most people would probably like to know whether the Kerry household uses tax-avoidance techniques to avoid paying its 'fair share.' " But during his appearance on Lou Dobbs Tonight, Henninger did not address whether "most people would probably like to know" the extent to which the McCains have benefited from the Bush tax cuts -- which John McCain supports extending permanently, after previously opposing them. An analysis of how the McCains have benefited from the tax cuts is not possible based on the information his campaign has released about Cindy McCain's income.
On April 18, the McCain campaign released John McCain's 2006 and 2007 income tax returns, but not Cindy McCain's separate returns. As part of John McCain's tax returns, the campaign released the "Wages and Salaries" that Cindy McCain received in 2006 and 2007 as chair of Hensley & Co., the McCains' share of interest income from a bank account, and their shares of income from John McCain's book royalties. But the information did not reveal the capital gains income, if any, for Cindy McCain from that period. By contrast, Heinz Kerry did release what The New York Times reported on October 16, 2004, was a "two-page document" showing "total income of $5,073,554 last year" that enabled the Times to determine how much she had benefited from the Bush tax cuts.
Media Matters for America previously noted that between January 1 and May 5, notwithstanding its 2004 call for Heinz Kerry to release her tax returns, the Journal did not similarly call on Cindy McCain to release her returns. According to a Media Matters search* of editorials since May 5, the Journal still has not called on Cindy McCain to release her returns.
From a July 1, 2004, Wall Street Journal editorial:
[I]t's past time for his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, to release her full filings with the IRS.
[...]
Given Mrs. Heinz Kerry's fortune, estimated by the Los Angeles Times at between $900 million and $3.2 billion, it's unlikely she is doing anything unethical to raise the money for a mortgage, like the Clintons. But the Heinz fortune has already played a key role in financing Senator Kerry's political ambitions.
When his primary campaign was running out of cash last year, Mr. Kerry mortgaged his half of the couple's Beacon Hill house for $6.4 million.
[...]
The Kerrys would be the richest couple ever to live in the White House, and with wealth comes responsibility. Their assets should be disclosed to the voters so that they can assess whether there are any potential conflicts of interest. Since the Kerry campaign is proposing to raise tax rates on the upper middle class, most people would probably like to know whether the Kerry household uses tax-avoidance techniques to avoid paying its "fair share."
From the May 9 edition of CNN's Lou Dobbs Tonight:
DOBBS: Well, let's talk about what will happen to Senator John McCain. I think the same thing is possible, either winning big or losing big. His wife refusing to give her income tax statements. I'm watching more people harrumphing with absolute disgust, "My goodness, how could she dare?" I mean, do you think that's terrible, that she, having filed separate tax return all of her married life, is saying, "No, I'm not going to?"
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN (Democratic strategist): I'm really not too concerned about it --
DOBBS: Good for you.
ZIMMERMAN: -- because it's not about transparency, but it is about hypocrisy because these are the same Republicans who demand Teresa Heinz Kerry --
DOBBS: You know, I just got whiplash, I went from transparency to --
ZIMMERMAN: Hypocrisy, absolutely. Because it's typical of the hypocrisy that has been the hallmark of the McCain campaign, in particular after, of course, they all demanded that Teresa Heinz Kerry release her income taxes.
DOBBS: So, it doesn't bother you all?
ZIMMERMAN: But she's not --
DOBBS: Michael?
ZIMMERMAN: The hypocrisy does, though.
MICHAEL GOODWIN (New York Daily News columnist): Look, I think had they structured their taxes this year for this purpose, then it would be bothersome. The fact is they've been doing it this way for roughly 20 years, so I don't think it was done to specifically -- to shield her during the campaign.
DOBBS: Whose business is it anyway? She would be, if elected, if he's elected, first lady, whose business is it? And to hear all this nonsense, at least to me?
HENNINGER: Well, I think it's a fairly marginal issue. You know, eventually we're going to get into the general election. It's as though we have two elections. The primaries are like the playoffs; now we're going to get to the finals. And at that point, I think the American people will be looking at these two men and what they are saying --
ZIMMERMAN: Or man and woman.
HENNINGER: Or the man and woman.
DOBBS: Good job, Robert.
HENNINGER: It's going to be a liberal Democrat versus a conservative Republican, and I think come November the vote is going to be as tight as it's been the last several elections.
ZIMMERMAN: Quite to the contrary, it's going to be a mainstream Democrat versus a Republican who's taken both sides of almost every critical issue.
DOBBS: Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Dan said "conservative Republican." It is so noted, it's so written. It shall be.
[crosstalk]
GOODWIN: That was the news.
DOBBS: All right, Dan, thank you very much, great to have you with us. Michael, thank you very much. Robert, great to see you. Have a great weekend.
ZIMMERMAN: Hanging in there.
DOBBS: Go get 'em.
ZIMMERMAN: OK.
DOBBS: Persevere. Persevere. Coming up at the top of the hour, the Election Center with Wolf Blitzer in for Campbell Brown. Wolf?
*Search terms in Factiva: The Wall Street Journal AND McCain AND tax! AND review and outlook between May 5, 2008, and May 11, 2008.
Hypocracy is the only word to describe the right wing media, and Republican lawmakers. How do we know the McCain's structured their tax returns this way for the last 20 years? Because a McCain cheerleader told us so. Truth is, after gramps loses in a landslide this November, it won't matter a bit. Funny though, Kerry's assets should be disclosed to the voters so that they can assess whether there are any potential conflicts of interest, but as for McCain, we just need to trust them. I don't think so.
By the way, to all of the female child bearers ot there:
. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !!!
A landslide? Not only is it too soon to tell, but the current polls out there show your assessment to be incorrect.
I don't see any reason for her not to release her tax forms, but I dont care if any candidate does or not. Its all creative accounting to begin with, so none of them are going to be accurate anyway. But what you guys are failing to comment on is a simple fact that Heinz/Kerry file joint return, and McCain's file seperate. There is a prenup, so her assets are not his, and therefore if any taxing plans affected her positively, they could always divorce thus leaving him in the dust.
Regardless, its foolish to think that people are going to weigh their votes on the releasing of tax information. With major factors such as the economy, oil prices, illegal immigration, and the war in Iraq...no one (cept the far left) cares about anyones tax returns right now. The people dont care what hers looks like, they want to know what their own will look like over the next 4 years!
Furthermore, as someone else pointed out, the sources of Mrs. McCain's income is highly relevant. Is she heavily invested in foreign countries? Has she profitted because of the Iraq war?
Even more important - has Cindy McCain profitted because of ANY legislation that was sponsored or pushed through by Gramps McCain?
Ever wonder how invested Cindy McCain might be in the telecommunications industry?
Ever wonder how invested Cindy McCain might be in the telecommunications industry?
We KNOW she's heavily invested in the beer industry - that's where she got her money in the first place. It just keeps looking more and more like the McCains have something to hide...
Well, Chris, I don't give a clam what the polls say, I'm predicting a Democratic landslide, unless your team has figured out a way to steal yet another Presidential election. We'll know in November.
I also don't care whether any of them release their tax info. My problem, and the point of my post, is with the hypocritical media forcing the issue with the Kerry's, and letting it slide with the McCain's.
It doesn't matter that they file jointly or seperately, nor does it matter that there is a prenuptual contract. These are just lame excuses to deflect attention away from the issue.
You believe people won't weigh their vote on the tax information, then you've made a good argument for your opposition. If it doesn't matter (as you say), then why not release the information?
You also stated the economy, oil prices, illegal immigration, and the war in Iraq, are issues that people care more about than her tax returns. And while this may be true of many voters, these issues are not pertinent to this thread. Even so, I'm certain there are voters who will take her stubborn refusal of disclosure into account when casting their ballot.
Very true. It makes me wonder what she is hiding.
I've yet to hear a good argument why Mrs. McCain should not voluntarily release her tax returns. Her stubborn refusal comes across as elitist arrogance, IMO.
Yes. "None of your business" does not apply in this case.
columbus may have sailed the ocean blue in 1492, but he appears to be 0 for 2 here. heinz and kerry also had a prenup, so there goes that argument. and if they filed a joint return, then why were there calls for her to release her return?
Good one!!! To paraphrase Ricky Ricardo on "I Love Lucy", Columbus1492 has some 'splainin' to do.
Yeah, riiight. It's such unimportant information that Republican thugs used such information to paint Kerry as a giggolo in 2004. You know the McCains are afraid to release this stuff because they understand implicitly that they cannot afford to appear anymore out of touch with 99% of the public than they already do. They understand how the GOP have used personal income against Democrats and they don't want to get caught in that crossfire.
My beef with all this nonsense is that odious Republican hypocricy.
People generally don't care about things the ELECTRIC EYE in their living room and the front page of their morning paper don't tell them to care about.
That the WSJ could make hay out of Heinz Kerry's tax returns and then down play the same subject on the McCain's is more proof positive that the MSM is giving McCain a pass and coddling him as much as possible. And unless the average Joe Voter reads information such as this on Media Matters, they are oblivious to how they're opinion and perspective are being propagandized.
But what you guys are failing to comment on is a simple fact that Heinz/Kerry file joint return, and McCain's file seperate. There is a prenup, so her assets are not his, and therefore if any taxing plans affected her positively, they could always divorce thus leaving him in the dust.
And what you keep ignoring is the simple fact that whether they file separately or not, John McCain DOES benefit from Cindy's money. Her money and connections got him into Congress in the first place, and her money has helped keep him in Washington in the intervening years. And I'm sure she's contributed more to his current campaign than a bunch of recipes that were copied off the Food Network's web site.
Leave it to a Repugnant to find meaningless distinctions....The Kerrys filed joint, the MCains file separate....They have different colored hairs....McCain doesn't get an allowance so it really doesn't matter....
Right- it's a marginal issue because the press is not talking about it at all. If one can't read it, watch, or hear it, then the average person will not talk about it. Thus, because the public doesn't talk about it much, it's a marginal issue.
Off topic, but does anyone know why the search says 'TAX!'... what's with the exclamation point? Does it keep WSJ, McCain and tax as a separate entity from the rest of the search... just wondering.
It's not "marginal".
For the wife of a presidential candidate (which makes her a candidate for First Lady, whether she likes it or not) to refuse to divulge where her income comes from, is about the same thing as the presidential candidate to refuse divulging his/her sources of income... it's about the same thing, due to the way both the Law and married couples themselves, view the incomes of husbands and wives (whether they file jointly or separately, being merely a difference in Accounting)...
And it's important (and not "marginal") because sources of income indicate financial interests... and we have every right to know up front and ahead of time, what are the financial interests of someone who petitions us for our Presidency (they or their spouse, the way these things are).
How do we know whether Cindy McCain receives income (perhaps a great amount) from foreign interests, say China or North Korea (or even South Korea)... don't we have a right to know about such financial interests, in whoever it is that asks us to be our next President, or his First Lady?
I mean, if they were to have financial interests that they held secret from us (as though they might use their power as a business agent of sorts), doesn't that concern us?
And if in the wild (but still possible) instance that Cindy McCain receives income from North Korea, but refuse to divulge that fact, and keeps it a secret from us...
...wouldn't that make her a Manchurian Candidate?
...or a Manchurian Candidate's wife?
This thing is so far from being "marginal", it's in truth something that disqualifies John McCain from any consideration to be President of the U.S.
His wife (who stands to be First Lady, whether she wants to be or not) refuses to disclose the sources of her income... which means the McCain couple refuse to disclose the sources of their income...
Which means we don't know what kind of "Manchurian Candidate" business agent with undisclosed financial interests she might be...
We know she's the Budweiser Candidate.
Is she also the Exxon-Mobil Candidate?
Is she the Lockheed-Martin Candidate?
The General Electric Candidate?
The Time-Warner Candidate?
Is Cindy McCain the Halliburton Candidate?
What kind of "Manchurian Candidate" is Cindy McCain, and why is she hiding her financial interests from the American People?
His wife (who stands to be First Lady, whether she wants to be or not) refuses to disclose the sources of her income... which means the McCain couple refuse to disclose the sources of their income...
Seperate income tax statements mean seperate sources of income, according to the IRS.
Read the piece above which suggests that the McCains had interest income from a joint bank account and shared book royalties.
If they have a joint bank account and shared book royalties, then they have co-mingled their finances. As such Cindy's tax return is just as important as John's, and should be released ASAP.
Two points here--
1) Can you prove they filed seperately, or are we to simply take their word for it?
2) Even if they did file seperately, why in the hell does that make any difference?
What does that have to do with anything? Since John McCain is a US Senator we already know they have separate incomes. Just because his wife makes her money from selling beer does not mean that her income is irrelevant. Is Cindy McCain going to try to benefit Budweiser? As a resident of Pennsylvania I want to know if Pennsylvania's breweries are going to be at a disadvantage.
This is separate from the issue of her income benefiting his campaign. I support Obama but one good thing I can say for Hillary Clinton is she has been open about using the Clinton's own money in the campaign. Obama has such wide support he does not have to dip into his saving to finance the campaign. Moreover, we know exactly where the Obama's income comes from.
And if in the wild (but still possible) instance that Cindy McCain receives income from North Korea, but refuse to divulge that fact, and keeps it a secret from us...
Wow talk about a stretch and conspiracy theory. I also think Hillary should release her financial interests in the makers of Stain Stick. Her pant suits depend on it.
Since you're the conservative here, why aren't you making this argument:
'If she has nothing to hide, then it shouldn't be a problem for her to release her tax information.'
I'm not making the argument of "why doesnt she, shes got nothing to hide" because I dont see it as that big of a deal, as some others do. To be honest, Heinz could have had a backbone and refused if it was against her moral judgement.
You aren't going to find much in any of the candidates personal tax returns, so all you're doing is beating a dead horse because theres nothing else to go at him for in regards to corruption. You should know that if anyone of them have anything to hide, it will be well hidden inside of corporate, non-profit, and/or charitable tax info.
The argument of she should do it because someone else had to is bunk. And dont give me this whole "because your a conservative" or "because your a McCain backer..." BS. I dont like McCain, and in fact, i see him as the third liberal in the current race. Im actually considering sitting this one out because all three of the candidates carry oppisite stances of my 3 most important issues (immigration, global warming, and health care policies).
"The argument of she should do it because someone else had to is bunk."--Columbus
So you are pro-double-standard? Why should we be surprised?
If you are cool with being a hypocrite, than that is fine with me. At least you have learned to embrace that about yourself.
Columbus1492 probably delights in being a hypocrite! The really nice thing about hypocrites is that they never compromise their principles!
So you are pro-double-standard?
Its not a double standard, because there is no standard to begin with. Just because one person got called out for it 4 or 8 years ago, does not make it a standard.
And do not even start with double standards &/or hypocrite in regards to tax returns, there are much bigger double standard issues out there today, starting with black theology religion, environmentalists who complain about gas prices, and so on.
...there is no standard to begin with.
Very revealing remark. Essentially you are confirming the belief of many here that Republicans only apply certain standards to non-Republicans and turn a blind eye to their own hypocricy. Thank you...
It's not called a conspiracy theory, it's called setting the argument up, for using the term "Manchurian Candidate"... like a straight line sets up a punchline.
You can't be that dense.
And what's the point to these pointless argumentless inane comments you make, and questions you ask... to pester and annoy, like a mosquito does?
It is starting to look like you can define a Republican by his or her hypocrisy.
Hypublicans... ;>)
Is it true that if Sen. McBush becomes President that he and his wifes' money are put into a blind trust? Does anyone think that Mrs. McBush can live on her husbands tiny pay? Come Cindy, you trollop, be a REAL woman and expose yourself. Show me the money. As posted above, WHAT IS IN THOSE RETURNS THAT YOU WISH TO KEEP HIDDEN FROM AMERICANS? Come on Cindy, show that you have the ability to be first lady. Come on Cindy, show women around the world that your husband or his campaign staff can't bully you. Show us your tax returns so we can believe in you.
WHAT ARE YOU HIDING FROM US?
If the Democrats don't like the way they're treated and are so envious of the Republicans, why not cross the line and register as Republicans?
I've heard they've got a pretty "big tent" and they'll welcome just about anyone.
I expected to see Bearded Ladies but was surprised to see all the men with "beards".
...all the men with "beards".
Good one... Presumably lady "beards". ;>)
But we've excelled in just about every field, including the carnival sideshow.
Other nationalities get to stand on the broad shoulders of their ancestors.
We've got to be content with standing on Narrow Backs.
"...and unless the more moderate wing of the Party reasserts itself..."
Therein lies the problem...there doesn't appear to be much of a moderate wing of the Republican Party anymore. The Rush Limbaugh conservative crowd declared war on anything and anyone not marching in lockstep with their ultra-conservative ideology. They have not only attempted to remake the Republican Party but, essentially, to anihilate the two-party system by attempting to create a permanent (conservative) Republican majority. Can you say Power Hungry?
Sorry Colonel....I slipped out in the shower and bumped my head earlier in the day. I was transported OUT of RepubWorld(FantasyLand) into a land where 1+1=2 and day is day and night is night. It had the strangest people there. They liked truth and honest. And facts, they were everywhere. Libraries were full of books other than those written by Rove, Coulter, O'Reilly and of course, Little Dick Morris. It also had this wierd website called MediaMatters for America..they post Conservative misinformation on-line. How bizzare is that.
I am back now. I know, it sounds unreal and you may think it was drug induced but it exists out there. I think I remember facts being important. But, wouldn't you know..I bumped my head again and I am back. Excuse me while I look for a hammer.
P.S. I was looking for Philib but in the other world but he didn't exist. Now I hope Columbus doesn't try to discover this new land.
I think Cindy McCain should release her taxes. I too wonder what she is hiding. If McCain plans on being President, we as voters should see where the combined income comes from, same as we did with the Clintons.
I think this issue will dog McCain until she releases her 1040. If they were not hiding anything, they'd release the taxes right away and take away this issue.
Brrrrrr...it's damn cold down here in Hades. ;>)
Congrats, AA...for being a human being. ;>)
Irony,
Hahaha.... I do this every now and then just to confuse everyone. ;-)
I do this every now and then just to confuse everyone. ;-)
We prefer to refer to those times when you agree with us liberals as "lapses of sanity", AA. :-)
- "But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.
"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad." "How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "otherwise you wouldn't have come here."I bet a significant part of the voting population are not aware of Cindy McCain's fortune or where it came from. That's very different from 2004.
Where it came from might prove to be VERY important. Gramps McCain has been pandering to the Religious Right, and many of them might not want to support someone who's been supported financially by a beer heiress.....
This just sets the stage...the graph already showed that they are going to pretend that Cindy McCain's money doesn't even exist.