John McCain Releases Tax Returns

[kskiska]

Source: WP

Sen. John McCain this morning released tax returns showing that, while he is among the wealthiest members of the United States Senate, the vast majority of his wealth comes from his wife.

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. 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. "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."

Read more: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/04/18/john_mccain_releases_tax_retur.html?hpid=topnews

[zbdent]

1. ahhh ... but reality was not a part of the 2004 Republican smear against Kerry

and they used his "wealth" as yet another attack against him ... so ... McCain should be afforded the same courtesy that the Repukes gave Kerry ...

Similar to how I feel about Bush and Bill Clinton ... Bush43 should be subject to the same "lenient" scrutiny that Bill Clinton had when he was president ... snicker ...

[LSparkle]

2. I just wanna know -- what kind of beer does Cindy's family distribute?

So I can MAKE SURE I DON'T BUY IT.

[thecrow]

4. Annheiser Busch, I heard

[onehandle]

5. I drank a Bud once.

I'm much better now.

[AlCzervik]

3. but they chose not to release his wife's numbers, nice, Clinton got bashed because of how much

Bill earned but at least we know. The McCain's have no bawls---at all.

[RobertSeattle]

6. Why is his Navy Pension not taxable?

My dad was a career Army officer and I'm pretty sure he pays taxes on his pension.

Is it because he was a POW? Disability?

[Thepricebreaker]

7. I think it was the POW status.

[RobertSeattle]

10. I wonder what the "rules" are

Do you hve to be a POW for X amount of time? Perhaps someone will explain later.

[karynnj]

8. MSNBC already said that in fact THK did

put out the first few pages of her return in 2004 after it became an issue - so in fact they are not following the Kerrys' example. What was the same was the initial reason - THK's return contained information on her children's incomes.

[grilled onions]

9. Does He Really Need Social Security????

When the threats of social security going dry it seems we have more then our share who seem to have ample income to dip into the social security pool as well. If I had anywhere near his income(never the less having a wealthy spouse) I wouldn't hesitate to leave my social security to others more in need.

[hopein08]

12. Is $23,000 a common amount for Social Security?

Besides the fact that he clearly doesn't need it, $23,000 seems like an awful lot. Then again, I'm not really all that clear on how the amount that a particular person gets from Social Security so I'd really appreciate any explanation. Even if it is just to say that the average 71 year old gets $23,000 a year, I want to know.

[Warren Stupidity]

11. bullshit mccain

hiding behind your latest wife again.

[Name removed]

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