Dean: John McCain's Lack of Transparency is Troubling, He Should Release More Complete Tax Return History Immediately
WASHINGTON, April 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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. And 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.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement: "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." Democrats Release Years Of Data, But McCain Hedges 2008 Democrats: Years Of Full Disclosure
Obama: Senator and Mrs. Obama released eight years of federal returns during the 2008 campaign. [Obama campaign release, 3/25/08, 4/16/08] McCain: Hedging His Bets, Might Not Release 26 Years, But He Has Never Released Returns: Although this will be his 26th annual tax filing season while serving in Congress, "McCain has never made his tax returns public." [Atlanta Journal Constitution, 3/18/08 And No Promises Now: The New York Times editorial page critically wrote that, "A spokesman for Mr. McCain raises the prospect that he may hold back his tax returns through the fall campaign." The Washington Post similarly wrote that, "Most troubling, Mr. McCain isn't even pledging to release his returns once he becomes the nominee." [Editorial, New York Times, 2/15/08; Editorial, Washington Post, 2/27/08] Watchdogs Call For McCain Disclosure 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." [Editorial, New York Times, 2/15/08] "Terrible Precedent." Failure to disclose "sets a terrible precedent for future campaigns for important posts at the national and state level." [Editorial, New York Times, 2/15/08] 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." [Editorial, Washington Post, 2/27/08] McCain: We'll Get Back To You. The campaign's response was that "when the right time comes I will have that discussion and get you an answer to your questions" [Editorial, Washington Post, 2/27/08] Center For Responsive Politics: "This is a part of the public record that voters have come to expect. Concern grows when anything is withheld," said Sheila Krumholz of the Center for Responsive Politics. [Knight Ridder, 3/18/08] The History: Decades Of Significant Disclosure Since at least 1976, all presidential candidates have released years of returns. 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. 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." [New York Times, 4/25/04] 2004: Kerry & Bush: Decades Of Records Kerry: Kerry continued his two decade history of releasing his returns annually. [Boston Herald, 1/19/08] 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. [http://www.taxhistory.org/www/website.nsf/Web/PresidentialTaxReturns] 2000: Gore & Bush Gore: Gore's returns for many years were already public, pursuant to White House tradition. [New York Times, 10/25/00] 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. [http://www.taxhistory.org/www/website.nsf/Web/PresidentialTaxReturns; Austin American-Statesman, 10/11/97; New York Times, 4/18/00 10/25/00] 1996: Clinton & Dole Clinton: As president, Clinton annually released his returns and materials back to 1978 were on the public record from prior releases. [Tax History Project (http://www.taxhistory.org/www/website.nsf/Web/PresidentialTaxReturns); Knight Ridder, 3/18/08; Associated Press, 3/6/08, 3/26/94] Dole: Then-Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole released 30 years of filings in January of 1996 (back to 1966) and then released his newest filing in April of 1996. [Associated Press, 1/25/96, 4/16/96] 1992: Clinton & Bush Bush: As president and vice president, Bush had annually released his tax returns going back into the 1980s. [Washington Times, 4/4/92; http://www.taxhistory.org/www/website.nsf/Web/PresidentialTaxReturns] 1988: Dukakis & Bush Dukakis: He released his 1987 return in early May, adding to his earlier release of the previous five years. [New York Times, 11/14/87; Associated Press, 5/5/88] Bush: As vice president, Bush had annually released his tax returns back to 1980. [Washington Times, 4/4/92] 1984: Mondale & Reagan 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. [UPI, 4/17/84; Associated Press, 5/31/79; New York Times, 8/25/84] Reagan: As president, he had released his taxes annually, building on his 1980 election year disclosures. [Washington Post, 9/27/94] 1980: Carter And Reagan 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. [New York Times, 9/29/76; http://www.taxhistory.org/www/website.nsf/Web/PresidentialTaxReturns] Reagan: As a candidate in 1980, he released his 1979 return. [New York Times, 8/2/80] 1976: Carter And Ford Carter: As a candidate in 1976, he released copies of six years of returns. [New York Times, 9/29/76] Ford: Released at least summaries for prior ten years. [New York Times, 9/29/76] Joint Filers No Exception: GOP Demands Disclosure 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. [Boston Globe, 5/12/04; 10/16/04] 2004: Head Of RNC Demanded Disclosure Of Spouse's Returns: During the 2004 campaign, then-Republican National Committee chair Ed Gillespie called on the Kerry campaign to release Teresa Heinz Kerry's tax returns, saying "Throughout history, presidential candidates have disclosed income tax information prior to Election Day. We believe Americans value disclosure and transparency in campaigns." Earlier in the year, an RNC spokesperson said "We're waiting to see what they do," and "It's a question of saying one thing and doing another." [RNC Release 10/14/04 via US Newswire; The State (Columbia, SC), 5/17/04] REALITY: Her Fortune And His Political Success Intertwined. According to the Associated Press "The 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. 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. Yet the arm's-length distance between McCain and his wife's assets also has helped shield him from conflict-of-interest problems." [Associated Press, 4/3/08] Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. First Call Analyst:
CONTACT: Stacie Paxton of the Democratic National Committee, Web Site: http://www.democrats.org/
2008-04-18 16:42:29 0339875 PRNEWSWIRE
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