(Unethical,hypocritical) ) 'McCain Used Wife’s Jet for Little Cost' -The McLame Excuse Doesn't Fly!

[Breeze54]

McCain Used Wife’s Jet for Little Cost

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/us/politics/27plane.html?hp

By BARRY MEIER and MARGOT WILLIAMS
Published: April 27, 2008

Given Senator John McCain’s signature stance on campaign finance reform, it was not surprising that he backed legislation last year requiring presidential candidates to pay the actual cost of flying on corporate jets. The law, which requires campaigns to pay charter rates when using such jets rather than cheaper first-class fares, was intended to reduce the influence of lobbyists and create a level financial playing field.

But 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.

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.

Because that exemption remains, Mr. McCain’s campaign was able to use his wife’s corporate plane like a charter jet while paying first-class rates, several campaign finance experts said. Several of those experts, however, added that his campaign’s actions, while keeping with the letter of law, did not reflect its spirit.

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During the first half of 2007, a time when Mr. McCain’s campaign did not use his wife’s jet, it paid out over $1.04 million for travel on noncommercial planes, F.E.C. records indicate. Over the second half of the year, when that jet was used almost constantly for campaign-related purposes, his campaign’s total spending for noncommercial flying was about one-half that much, or $542,160, those records suggest.

“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.”

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He wouldn't know what the legalities are?

:wtf: He backed the damn bill!!!

Sorry, that doesn't 'fly' with me!

[livetohike]

1. I cannot wait for the GE

:hi: This will be fun.

[Breeze54]

2. Hell yeah and we should keep a log of all his, "I wouldn't know anything about that" lame excuses!

He's so frigging lame!!!

:hi:

[JBoy]

4. And then fire them at him in a debate, one after the other. He'll explode on camera.

[Breeze54]

6. Into lying, flying, little pieces....

:P

I can't wait!! :D

[ryanmuegge]

3. LOL. Nothing will be covered, so most of the voters won't know about it.

They'll still be talking about lapel pins and pastors.

McCain has never done anything wrong. He's a "straight-talking, heroic, moderate maverick."

If Obama or Clinton had half of the shit that McCain has in his closet, as well as all of the recent flip-flops, they would be brutalized by the media. If they haven't touched any of this shit, then they (the media) never will. Image and character are important factors in elections in this country, as you know, and the media is responsible for creating the perceptions about both. In these areas, McCain has a huge advantage over our candidates.

[livetohike]

7. He better start wearing his lapel flag pin

:-)

We need to keep slamming the media with e-mails to remind them of McCain's b.s. I thought I was dreamin when I saw the pic with McCain and Bush and the birthday cake on Countdown the other night. It's a start.

[Breeze54]

8. He's not wearing it? Oh, the horror!

What kind of rethug is he anyway? he's setting a bad example!

:sarcasm:

[stray cat]

5. A kept man who is supported by his wife didn't use to fly with conservatives

[hfojvt]

9. you notice how it's a win-win for McCain though?

Imagine the furor if the "world's richest man" John Edwards had owned a company that owned a plane and then paid HIS OWN COMPANY millions of dollars raised from campaign contributors. Hey, I get to run for President, and while doing so, I can pay my children hundreds of thousands of dollars to work on my campaign staff, like Joe Lieberman did, or I can pay my own company hundreds of thousands of dollars for the use of a jet like McCain did. Even if I lose the election, I come out hundreds of thousands of dollars ahead.