Kerry's heiress wife fights to keep tax details secret

[emad]

From The Independent
By Rupert Cornwell in Washington
10 May 2004

<snip>
The refusal of Teresa Heinz Kerry, the heiress wife of the presidential contender John Kerry, to make public her tax returns is causing a quandary for Democratic campaign managers as they shape her husband's bid to capture the White House in November.

The release of tax records is a virtual rite of passage for US presidential candidates and their spouses - normally couples file a joint return which is routinely made public by their campaigns. But Mrs Kerry, whose inherited fortune through her late husband, the grocery magnate John Heinz, is worth $500m (£280m) or more, is a special case. The Kerrys would be far and away the richest first family in modern American history, owners of five homes (the Bushes, by comparison, are worth some $20m, while John Kennedy died before he could inherit his father's wealth).

The Massachusetts senator has indirectly used his wife's money for his presidential effort, when he raised a $6.4m mortgage on their home in Boston last year to keep his campaign afloat. But Mrs Kerry remains reluctant to go public, even though, sooner or later, she probably has little choice.

In a weekend television interview, she insisted her finances were meshed with those of her three adult sons by her marriage to Mr Heinz. "What I have and what I receive is not just mine, it is also my children's, and I don't have the right to make public what is theirs," she said. A similar argument was used by Geraldine Ferraro, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 1984, who refused to make public the tax returns of her husband, John Zaccaro, a businessman with allegedly dubious connections. When his tax files were released, they contained no damaging material, but by then the controversy had dogged Walter Mondale's campaign for weeks, drowning out his political message. The last thing the Democrats want is a repeat in what promises to be a close race this year.
<snip>
More:
Kerry's heiress wife fights to keep tax details secret

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. What kind of damage does she do to Kerry's campaign if she doesn't

reveal the information and why didn't they think about this before?

Just two innocent questions. I'm voting for Kerry, but the answers would help explain it to those out there who won't because of this situation.

[emad]

2. The super - rich shelter their family trusts from public scrutiny.

It's unfortunate that a presidential election challenges the privacy options that gives personal financial anonimity!

My gut feeling is that if this is not resolved pretty damned quick then the BFEE will seize on it and make it into a cause celebre.

Like many Dems, I have made a leap of faith that the ex-wife of Republican Senator John Heinz is no longer a Republican herself and that past political allegiances in no way taint her present husband's campaign.

By avoiding disclosure and claiming that this is to protect privacy issues of her sons, it does rather suggest that those sons' personal and political agendas may not be Democrat.

I hope she gets some professional advice on this one.

[workforpower]

8. Link?

Otherwise its BS.

[emad]

13. HERE IS THE LINK:

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=519722

Don't know why it failed to post previously.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[emulatorloo]

3. Right Wing Attack Machine - When will Karen Hughes Weigh In?

1. Attack Kerry's Military Service (he lied about medals)
2. Attack Kerry's Vietnam Protests (he lied about medals)
3. Attack Kerry's Wife (she called Cheney unpatriotic, she's hiding her taxes!)

[ArkDem]

4. It is kind of funny that a rich republican's money is helping

fund Kerry.

[trumad]

5. Fits right in with my thread...LOL

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x521890

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ArkDem]

12. My only wish is that I could be as articulate as you,

kind sir.

[LizW]

9. There's a right-winger attack e-mail floating around

lamenting exactly that. It is allegedly written by some rich Repug who knew THK's late husband. It goes on and on about how he must be rolling in his grave at the thought that THK is giving "his" money to liberal charities and campaigning for the liberal Kerry.

:eyes:

[no_hypocrisy]

10. There's a big difference between "secret" and "private".

Secrecy implies third parties have the expectation and right to review these documents.

Privacy implies that third parties have no business inspecting these documents as they do not affect public policy or debate, directly or indirectly.

Teresa Heinz Kerry's money is hers without bequest or gift from John Kerry. Therefore I don't believe the public has a right to know anything that she does not want to publish or discuss.

[jtb33]

11. I agree, but...

I think it would be in the best interest of Kerry's campaign to release it just so that there are "no questions". Since everyone knows how much she's worth and how much she makes, I see no reason to release her tax records unless she's got some improprieties in there...

I think that one of the big RW "accusations" was that she donated a large sum of $$ to "moveon.org" who then spent a large sum of $$ on a pro-Kerry/anti-Chimpy ad. HOPEFULLY that's just BS, otherwise the media will have a field day with it since that's called "laundering".

[nolabels]

18. I disagree

Unless her dad stole the money then she should make short amens to extradite a ledger of what is hers and make it public. She has nothing to hide. Inheriting money is not a crime but squirreling it away opens one up for criticisms. No need to play games

[AngryAmish]

14. Who is asking for these returns?

The Nazi RWers. Screw them. Teresa said there is nothing damaging in there. That is good enough. She is not a liar. Why should we question her?

[emad]

15. Read the story. Ferraro's fate says it all...

If there's nothing to hide, there's nothing to hide.

[notbush]

16. They should just release them

This ain't rocket science....Get this story out of the way.
One way or another the Kerry's will be forced to release or pay a political price.
Just do it now , and be done with it!!

[zulchzulu]

17. You forgot "hottie heiress wife"

What's Laura? Bush's mousy wife?