John McCain Myth Buster: John McCain and Transparency

May 15, 2008 -- John McCain will say today that his "administration will set a new standard for transparency and accountability." Yet throughout his run for president, his own campaign has been anything but transparent and highlights just how hypocritical this promise is.

John and Cindy McCain: Photo by Jason Means (CC)

His campaign's refusal to release Cindy McCain's tax returns, along with the news yesterday that her assets included investments in Sudan even as McCain was criticizing firms for doing business there, raises serious questions about what other information the McCains are trying to hide. His decision to unilaterally withdraw from the public financing system without permission from the FEC shows that McCain thinks that the rules apply to everyone but himself. And his claims to be a break from President Bush couldn't be farther from the truth considering he has promised a third Bush term on the economy, a health care system that leaves many families behind, and a long-term American troop presence in Iraq. [McCain Campaign Email, accessed 5/15/08]

McCain may say he's going to be a different kind of leader, but if his campaign is any indication, it's clear that like Bush and Cheney he thinks he is above the law and that the rules don't apply to him. Sounds like instead of setting a new standard for transparency he'd be more of the same.

McCain's Rhetoric On Transparency Rings Hollow

Campaign Will "Never" Release Cindy McCain's Tax Returns, Not Even If He's Elected.
"CINDY MCCAIN: You know, my husband and I have been married for 28 years and we have filed separate tax returns for 28 years. This is a privacy issue. My husband is the candidate.
QUESTION: You'll never release, you're saying?
CINDY MCCAIN: No
QUESTION: Never?
CINDY MCCAIN: No. No.
QUESTION: Even if you're first lady?
CINDY MCCAIN: No.
QUESTION: Because that is, even though not an elected position, you would be in a very public role.
CINDY MCCAIN: I'm not the candidate." [NBC's The Today Show, 5/8/08: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXDV2kZX_MU]

McCain Family Investments Had Ties To Sudan. According to the Associated Press, "Cindy McCain, whose husband has been a critic of the violence in Sudan, sold off more than $2 million in mutual funds whose holdings include companies that do business in the African nation" and "that are listed by the Sudan Divestment Task Force as targets for divestment." [Associated Press, 5/15/08]

FEC Says McCain Cannot Withdraw From Public Financing System. According to the New York Times, the FEC release a letter in February that "said Mr. McCain could not withdraw from public financing until he had answered questions about a $4 million line of credit for borrowing that was secured, in part, in December by the promise of federal matching money." [New York Times, 2/22/08]

McCain: A Third Bush Term

McCain's Health Care Plan Does Little to Help America's Uninsured. McCain's plan does not focus on "reducing the ranks of the uninsured," of which there are about 47 million, or one in seven Americans. According to the New York Times, "The McCain campaign has no estimate of how many of America's 47 million uninsured would likely gain coverage under its plan." [Wall Street Journal, 10/11/2007; New York Times, 3/2/2008]

McCain Said US May Stay In Iraq For 100 Years. At a New Hampshire town hall when McCain was asked "President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years." McCain responded: "Maybe 100" and "that would be fine with me." [McCain Town Hall, Derry NH Opera House 1/3/2008]

McCain Wants To Make Bush's Tax Cuts For the Wealthy Permanent. At a debate earlier this year McCain said "I'm disappointed because I think it's very important that we make the Bush tax cuts permanent. I voted to make them permanent twice already." [MSNBC Debate, Boca Raton Florida, 1/24/08]

Source: DNC

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