Democratic bloggers look foolish squawking about McCain's babe's ride

[thunder rising]

Jets 101:
They are somewhat expensive.
They appreciate; hence they can be financed over 20 or 30 years.
They cost $7000+ hr (normal sized corp jet) to operate.
If they ever go down, there is hell to pay financially; hence, they are never owned personally. They are always owned through a corporation; many a privately held corp headed by the true owner of the jet.

The fact that McCain's squeeze owns a jet means she has some money.
The fact that she lets McCain ride for free, well, it's her jet and they are married.
The fact that he seems to have no problem flying in a single jet with a known tail number ... priceless.

So, this talk about McCain abusing ethics codes is BS. It's no different than borrowing the wifes car, even if it belonged to a privately held corp headed by the wife.

I have wondered why the campaigns don't buy a jet at the start of the campaign. The trade-off is that you buy the jet when you are paying WAY more than the cost of ownership chartering.

[livetohike]

1. Then they should have no problem releasing her IRS info

for the last several years. Right?

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

2. :-)

Yes, McCain's babe hasn't really come through with that, has she?

[livetohike]

5. Nope.

It's B.S. if McCain thinks everyone buys the idea that it's her money and his money. Something to focus on for the GE.

[mcctatas]

15. Maybe she just has him on an allowance?

You know, X dollars for anger management, X dollars for the keeping and feeding of LIEbermann, stuff like that;)

[thunder rising]

7. Just letting you know that this is not an issue. I'm voting Obama, I don't care about her tax record

Not going to change my mind.

[livetohike]

10. I'm for Obama too

I think it's interesting that McCain is portraying himself as a good old boy. Not elitist. Not many of us have a private jet at our disposal and their refusal to release her tax records is a lame attempt to hide how unlike he is from the majority of the electorate.

He needs called out on it.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

11. I'd imagine you understand that not everyone agrees with you. They have a combined income and I

think we would see some conflict of interest issues come out in "babe"s returns.

Big, gigantic conflict of interests for a presumable first spouse.

[napi21]

6. WHY are so many people interested in people's tax returns?

If anyone is doing something illegal, it's sure NOT going to be on their TR!

[livetohike]

8. All of the candidates had to release their tax returns

I guess it makes for interesting reading for some :-). McCain is running on the good old boy, I'm not an elitist ticket. Meanwhile he benefits from the hundreds of millions of dollars his wife has.

I think it's a point to be made.

[napi21]

14. Oh, I agree, as long as the others were forced to release theirs

he must do so as well. I'm just remarking that I think all the clamoring for any of the candidates to do so is just silly.

[4themind]

3. Time talking about this is time not talking about his views(lack of) on the economy

"So, this talk about McCain abusing ethics codes is BS. It's no different than borrowing the wifes car, even if it belonged to a privately held corp headed by the wife." Agreed, plenty of better stuff to hit him with, and time is getting limited to do it.

[KittyWampus]

18. look, the "Obama/Elitist" narrative is already forming. This helps a counter narrative. So along

with issues, this MUST be pushed.

[dkf]

4. I think its a twofer...shows he's a hypocrite on CFR and

that he's not a regular joe flying economy...his wife owns a jet and he is a phony.

[thunder rising]

9. This is an issue that falls into the "giva'a shit" column on both sides. We're not voting for him

and there are 30% that will not vote Democratic. Either way who cares. Pick a better issue. The fact that he's so FUCKING Bush stupid is good.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

12. Conflict of interest, anyone? Why the secrecy?

Sorry it offends you, though. :hi:

[CJCRANE]

13. Kerry had to deal with attacks

about his wife's wealth back in '04 so McCain is fair game this time.

[TexasObserver]

16. Wrong. Jets are lousy corporate investments. They're about flash, not economics.

And yes, it is appropriate to comment on how McCain's wife is using her corporate assets to underwrite illegally his campaign.

[KittyWampus]

17. do they file joint returns? your cute language doesn't change the fact it's illegal

and too fucking bad if it's more sense for her corporation donated the jet.

It's ILLEGAL.