McCain's Campaign Flew Cindy's Jet Exploiting a Loophole

Cindy McCain has a Private Jet?  That's exactly the question this story should raise nationally...  The next question should be, When will we see Cindy's Tax Returns?

over a seven-month period beginning last summer, Mr. McCain’s cash-short campaign gave itself an advantage by using a corporate jet owned by a company headed by his wife, Cindy McCain, according to public records. For five of those months, the plane was used almost exclusively for campaign-related purposes, those records show.

Mr. McCain’s campaign paid a total of $241,149 for the use of that plane from last August through February, records show. That amount is approximately the cost of chartering a similar jet for a month or two, according to industry estimates.

This definitely breaks with the Media Narrative of John Do No Wrong McCain.  Dare we dream they have a backbone again? The NY Times is getting it's teeth again.

The senator was able to fly so inexpensively because the law specifically exempts aircraft owned by a candidate or his family or by a privately held company they control. The Federal Election Commission adopted rules in December to close the loophole — rules that would have required substantial payments by candidates using family-owned planes — but the agency soon lost the requisite number of commissioners needed to complete the rule making.

This marks two cases now where McCain has subverted the FEC's rules or at least the spirit of the rules.  

"This amounts to a subsidy for his campaign, which is notable given how badly they were struggling last year," said Sheila Krumholz, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that collects and analyzes campaign data.

Last Summer, McCain promised a local paper he wouldn't tap or exploit his wife's wealth in his campaign for President.

"I have never thought about it," Mr. McCain was quoted by The Arizona Republic as saying at a July appearance. "I would never do such a thing, so I wouldn’t know what the legalities are."

The Article notes that during the first 1/2 of '07, the campaign paid $1.04M for travel.  During the second half, on Cindy's Jet, the campaign dropped $542,160.  

1. The plane made over 100 flights to campaign locations.

2. Cindy's company wasn't reimbursed for the empty return flights back to Phoenix

3. The plane made 3-4 flights a day to Florida, New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina during the critical December / January period

The McCain campaign claims it's followed the rule of the law, which actually, they have.  However, they certainly took advantage of Cindy's Company and the plane.  The article notes there will be significant tax consequences for the usage as it's not tax deductible... but what does Cindy care.  She's got 8 houses and she's rich as hell anyway...

Maybe now though we'll have to see her tax returns too.