Archived: Should Cindy McCain release her personal income tax returns?

Set as news: False

Set as news: True

Should is fine... I'm in full agreement with gethro... let's approve this.

Obviously I like "should" -- I'm also fine with "responsibility" or "necessary" though.  Your call, Brian. 

I want this approved and I don't have enough of a problem with 'should' to argue for another week.

I'm having trouble finding evidence that wouldn't fit if we simply left it at "Should she release them." If someone says she does not have a responsibility to release them, can they say she should release them at the same time? I don't think so. So I'm still for "Should she release them" because that will encompass the most evidence.

I think I'd go with "Is it necessary for Cindy McCain to release...?" (It is necessary/It is not necessary) or "Does Cindy McCain have an obligation to release...?"

But if people are OK with "responsibility," then that's fine, too.

"Does Cindy McCain need to release her personal income tax returns?"

I'm lost in a fog of "really, who cares?" once again...

Actually, responsibility seems to be the debate based on Jenna's posted evidence. Howard Dean essentially is saying she DOES have a responsibility because her husband is running for president, while Cindy McCain is saying she DOES NOT have a responsibility to do so since she isn't the one running.

If you ask "should she" you're just asking people to take a side... not actually think about whether or not she really should based on the fact that she's not the candidate. People could say "if the media wants to know, then she should just do it" but that's not a fair assessment of the situation... it's really about whether her being the wife of a presidential nominee puts that responsibility on her shoulders.

At least, that's my take on this...

I think we should leave this as "should she release them." I think "responsibility" sort of muddles the debate. She should release them because her husband is running for president, or she shouldn't because that's her personal business. Where do we go wrong if we ask "should she?"

Set as news: True

That's fine with me...

I like JZipp's...

My suggestion:

Does Cindy McCain have a responsibility to release her personal income tax returns?

Or important, maybe?

Is it important for Cindy McCain to release her personal income tax returns?

Is it appropriate for Cindy McCain to refuse to release her personal income tax returns?

Don't like "should". I feel like the negative affirmative -- "should not release her personal income tax return" -- wouldn't be representative of the debate.

Is it necessary for Cindy to release her personal income tax returns?

Other option: "Is it appropriate...?"
 

Howard Dean unfortunately isn't really talking directly about his wife's tax returns. Unless, of course, he is.

TPM - by JM

So why does John McCain get to pull the same stunt with his wife? I was thinking of this when I saw McCain's tax return release today since I know McCain is actually an extremely wealthy man. His wife is reportedly worth more than $100 million because she is the heir to her father's beer distributorship, which played a key role in McCain's political rise. And if you note down on his disclosure page it states that "In the interest of protecting the privacy of her children, Mrs. McCain will not be releasing her personal tax returns."

Oh yes, this is an issue, alright!

First Read

 

The Democratic National Committee has decided to jump on this, noting how Cindy McCain's wealth has benefited her husband's political career. For example, John McCain -- when his campaign was struggling with money -- was able to use a corporate jet (at a lower cost) owned by a private company headed by Cindy.

"John McCain may not like it, but the American people have a right to know about the well documented links between his political career and the McCains' business ventures," DNC chairman Howard Dean said in a statement. "John McCain's refusal to meet the standard of every other candidate seeking the office is one more reason he's the wrong choice for America's future."

The Swamp

Never say never.

Unless you are the wife of Sen. John McCain, you are worth a lot of money and you are asked about releasing your personal income tax returns.

Cindy McCain says she will not. Not now. And not if her husband is elected president. "No... No...,'' she said to both, today on NBC's Today Show.

"My husband and I have been married 28 years, and we have filed separate tax returns for 28 years,'' said Cindy McCain, whose family made its money in beer. "This is a privacy issue.... I'm not the candidate.''