McCain and 'Wife Jet-Gate'

[LuckyTheDog]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/us/politics/27plane.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print&adxnnlx=1209381677-IZBoqQ/tuackViYWZnDdKA

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.

[npincus]

1. it kind of shoots the "elite" argument against Obama to Hell.

Unless Obama is scooting around on his wife's private jet.

[LuckyTheDog]

2. It's the hypocrisy that matters

McCain seeks tight rules for others, but fights to maintain loopholes for himself.

[unpossibles]

3. What? A Republican who doesn't practice what he preaches?

shocking!

Thanks for the heads up - I somehow doubt the MSM will bother with this story, McCain being a rich Republican white male and all.

EDIT; added "Republican" since if it were Gore or Kerry, they'd be all over it.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Despite His Corporate Media Enablers...People Are Starting To Notice...

...what a total hypocrite Gramps McVain is. The "maverick" shit doesn't work when you know this slimeball is for 100 more years of endless misery and war...and no matter how gramps and his enablers try to smooth this one over, it's not working...he's welded to boooshie's unpopular war. Then there's his admission he knows nothing about economics...and his screwed up policies show it. A tax cut does little for a person who doesn't have a job or is fighting to keep their home. Talking about capital gains cuts while millions have seen their portfolios and pensions wither away does nothing. Ask a Repugnican a question about economics and be prepared to hear a story from the twilight zone...and nothing the corporate media can say or try to "re-phrase" will smooth over this very major disconnect. Now he wants to have a "gas tax" holiday that may save people a few cents per gallon while it takes money away from maintaining the crumbling road system.

The GOOP agenda is in total ruins. They promised "fiscal responsibility"...we got $4 a gallon gas, shrinking savings and earning, inflation at its highest rate in 30 years and a trail of corruption a county mile wide.

Gramps has a serious problem with all those lobbyists who are hangin' with him...and my hopes are there are Democratic strategists and oppo researchers who have compiled a list of all those paid-fors on Gramps payroll and how they've screwed over the middle class.

As Digby says, Gramps is the most flawed GOOP candidate in our lifetimes...and the fact he's not breaking much over 40% in polling with all the positive spin he's getting shows the "ceiling" has been hit...as he gets "old" and is pressed to specify, his numbers will fall.

[Jennicut]

5. Hypocrite sighting dead ahead...McGrumpy Pants can't fool us

This is elitism to its very core. Do what I say not what I do.