yeah he's scared..he knows the story of the chicago annenberg challenge and his deep long- standing relationship with domestic terrorist william ayers is finally coming to light

Simple answer for McCain. I own dozens of homes, none of which was purchased with the assistance of organized crime.

Obama likes arugula: elitist! (As though having good taste in food is a character flaw.)

McCain owns six houses and spends $500 on shoes: honorable everyman! (As though $500 is a lot for dress shoes if you're a millionaire.)

I think the elitist/non-elitist thing is stupid. Who wouldn't want an elitist running their country? The President should be able to find countries on maps and having good taste in footwear is a good thing for public figures.

Obama is now accusing McCain of being an out-of-touch elitist because McCain (well, his strategists) did the same thing to Obama.

It's a great tactic and its long overdue. This is a guy who is touting about how great the economy is - when we all know he knows nothing about it. He wears $500 loafers, doesn't know how many houses he owns, thinks that having 5 million bucks is what the cutoff for rich is, kowtows and has sold his soul to lobbyists. Many from the right were sure all over Kerry for the same issues, had a hay day (rightfully so) and it worked as a campaign tactic.

This just shows how out of touch he is with the average family, lots of whom don't think the economy is so great.

Just a note, the tax returns cited above are joint returns for the Obama's and an individual return for John McCain.

The comparison should be made to either Barack Obama's income and charitable giving vs. that of John McCain, or the income and charitable giving of the couples. Apples to apples, oranges to oranges.

Word, Rance. That's pretty dishonest. Good thing to point out.

insinuating that because he's wealthy he's too different from and out of touch with the typical American

Wait a minute... Republicans have been calling Democrats "elistist" for years, insinuating that they're too different from and out of touch with the typical American. And now you're whining about having it done back to you? Well, too bad.

I would argue this is a character flaw: allowing your brother to whither away in a hut in Nairobi, Kenya, while you're living the good life in America.

How about supporting a woman who denies that her sister even exists? Is that a character flaw?

Or what about cheating on your wife with a younger millionaire while your wife struggles to recover from a debilitating injury? Where does that fall?

Just a note, the tax returns cited above are joint returns for the Obama's and an individual return for John McCain.

An excellent point. Let's get Michelle Obama's tax return and throw it into the mix and see what the numbers are.

Are you lefties sure you want to do this? Michelle Obama doesn't strike me as being the generous sort. My guess is that the addition of her income would skew the percentages even more in favor of McCain but I suppose I could be wrong.

The drive bys are making hay out of this too. I do have one question though. Didn't the same drive bys applaud Lurch when it was revealed that he owned (through his wife)5 SUVs and several houses too? It seems to me that what is good for the goose should be for the gander. Then of course, Lurch was good Dim so the media did not give him the scrutiny that he should have gotten and George Bush and John McCain are evil money grubbing Republicans.

Um, Oregon, their *joint* return is right there. Cindy's is nowhere to be found. Keep up.

It's easy for McCain to give a huge chunk of his six figure income to charity to make himself look good if his wife isn't doing the same with her 7 figure income. You can't say that's not the case until she makes her records public, as Michelle has (by means of their joint return).

As such, this is a dishonest hack-job of a post.

I thought McCain's spokesman responded fairly well:

"Does a guy who made more than $4 million last year, just got back from vacation on a private beach in Hawaii and bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want to get into a debate about houses? Does a guy who worries about the price of arugula and thinks regular people 'cling' to guns and religion in the face of economic hardship really want to have a debate about who's in touch with regular Americans?"

Frankly it's just a poor line of attack for Obama. Also for McCain. Incidentally, has Obama been added to the list of Democrats being investigated for sweetheart mortgages, yet?

You really stirred up the trolls, Kim. Keep it up.

It was ok for Kerry to have big mansions and a wife with hundreds of millions.

Oh, and by the way, trolls, it absolutely turns my stomach to hear/read you imply that the McCains, particularly Cindy, are not generous. I strongly suggest you do a little research because you sound like ignorant, petty, whiners. Adopting a disfigured daughter from overseas is merely one example.

"Simple answer for McCain. I own dozens of homes, none of which was purchased with the assistance of organized crime.

Nope. That would be his wife.

-and a little help from Charles Keating.

Didn't the same drive bys applaud Lurch when it was revealed that he owned (through his wife)5 SUVs and several houses too?

And didn't the right call him elitist and "too different from and out of touch with the typical American"?

It seems to me that what is good for the goose should be for the gander.

No, it clearly does not seem that to you at all.

it absolutely turns my stomach to hear/read you imply that the McCains, particularly Cindy, are not generous.

It must turn your head also, because you're obviously reading some other blog. No one said that here. Nice strawman, though.

"It's easy for McCain to give a huge chunk of his six figure income to charity to make himself look good if his wife isn't doing the same with her 7 figure income. You can't say that's not the case until she makes her records public, as Michelle has (by means of their joint return)."

You don't read so good, brian?

A very disingenuous comparison, Jay. McCain could give away 100% of his earnings to charity and not even feel it. Hell, he could give away 200%! Things are a lot different for you when your $100M wife is paying the bills.

Brian, your words from another post on this very blog. To me seems that you're implying Cindy McCain gives nothing to charity.

John and Cindy McCain's tax information is available at this website. Her information is at the top, and his is at the bottom of the page along with the John & Cindy McCain Family Foundation tax information.

"Or what about cheating on your wife with a younger millionaire while your wife struggles to recover from a debilitating injury?"

I didnt know that Edwards girlfriend was a millionaire.
-------

Hyperbolist said
'It's easy for McCain to give a huge chunk of his six figure income to charity to make himself look good if his wife isn't doing the same with her 7 figure income"

Brian said in a previous thread
A very disingenuous comparison, Jay. McCain could give away 100% of his earnings to charity and not even feel it. Hell, he could give away 200%! Things are a lot different for you when your $100M wife is paying the bills."

Brian said "
"it absolutely turns my stomach to hear/read you imply that the McCains, particularly Cindy, are not generous."

It must turn your head also, because you're obviously reading some other blog. No one said that here. Nice strawman, though. ""

Brian, learn to read the posts ahead of yours before you post and ALWAYS remember what you post so you dont tie yourself up in knots and contortions like Hyperboli did in the abortion thread.

It's not that WcCain shouldn't be trusted because he's rich.....

He shouldn't be trusted because he's senile and clueless.

Duh!

originally I would have said it doesn't matter that John mcCain has no idea how many homes he owns. Sure it paints him as an out of touch elitist, but come on next thing you are going to tell me he wasn't tortured in Vietnam that the Vietnamese just used enhanced interrogation techniques. Well if you use the Bush definition of torture that is.

It's not that WcCain shouldn't be trusted because he's rich.....He shouldn't be trusted because he's senile and clueless.

Funny, that's not what the Obama video focuses on. The last line in the narration points out the number of homes McCain owns and the cost. You are right though, if you are referring to yourself as that somebody who missed the point. Otherwise, contact the ones that made the video.

A question on personal finances that I haven't seen answered anywhere, is how is Cindy going to run the family business from DC. It's kind of hard to put the majority share of a business for which you are the CEO/President/etc., into a blind trust. I don't see that as workable.

That business was responsible for 94% of their combined income in 2007.

You don't read so good, brian?

I guess not, because I was looking through your comment to see if it contained a quote of someone saying what you're implying they said, but I didn't see it. Either that or you don't write so "good".

The Obama Campaign is hardly desperate. He'll name his VP choice and get a huge lift from days of press coverage of the Democratic Convention starting Monday and he has $61 million to spend on ads compared to just around $21 million for McCain. Obama's best days are ahead for sure.

Brian, your words from another post on this very blog. To me seems that you're implying Cindy McCain gives nothing to charity.

Nothing of the sort. I'm can't even see where you're pulling that from. My comment says absolutely nothing about, and is wholly unrelated to, Cindy McCain's charities. If my food, shelter, clothing, and entertainment were paid for by my wife's fortune, it would be very easy for me to give away 100% of my salary.

I didnt know that Edwards girlfriend was a millionaire.

Ooh, guess I hit a nerve, eh?

Brian, learn to read the posts ahead of yours before you post and ALWAYS remember what you post so you dont tie yourself up in knots and contortions

I think you should learn to read, period. None of the quotes you posted contradict what I said. The "knots and contortions" are in your attempts to distort.

The numbers: According to the McCain web site referenced above, "In 2007, Senator and Mrs. McCain donated $210,933 from community assets to charity, of which Senator McCain's one-half allocation is $105,467. This is 27.2% of his adjusted gross income for the year."

Note: The other $105,467 is 1.7% of Cindy McCain's Adjusted Gross Income.

On Drudge currently: McCain was sent an envelope with white powder.

Maybe Rezko 'cause McCain wouldn't cut a deal with him like Hussein did.

The white powder wasn't actually sent to McCain, it was sent to his campaign office in Denver.

And unless the police are cooperating, Rezko didn't do anything -- he's been locked up since he was sentenced.

Also note the reason for Cindy McCain not releasing her personal tax returns and The Hensley company for which she is chairman of:

"Note about Mrs. McCain's financial information:

Since the beginning of their marriage, Senator McCain and Mrs. McCain have always maintained separate finances. As required by federal law and Senate rules, Mrs. McCain has released significant and extensive financial information through Senate and Presidential disclosure forms. In the interest of protecting the privacy of her children, Mrs. McCain will not be releasing her personal tax returns.

Note about Hensley & Company:

In her role as Chairman of Hensley & Company, a privately-held business founded by her parents, Mrs. McCain's main areas of responsibility focus on strategic planning and corporate vision. Having served the greater Phoenix area since 1955, Hensley & Company is widely respected as an exemplary corporate citizen, and makes significant charitable contributions of its own."

What's missing from this note, I suppose, are the numbers pertaining to Hensley & Company, and how much she has to do with those.

Frankly the time, dedication and resources Cindy McCain has spent on charity and promotion of child welfare around the world would put all of them to shame.

"If my food, shelter, clothing, and entertainment were paid for by my wife's fortune, it would be very easy for me to give away 100% of my salary."

It seems you're saying that if a charitable contribution is "easy" it's somehow less virtuous.

Hooson - "The Obama Campaign is hardly desperate. He'll name his VP choice and get a huge lift from days of press coverage of the Democratic Convention starting Monday"

Whatever you say hooson, but I have to ask, whatever happened to that predicted "bounce" he was to receive during and after his "Yeropeaon [mis]adventure?

As for his coverage after the dem convention, that gets cut short by McCains vp selection who will be named at the very close of it and then the start of the Rep convention.

Frankly the time, dedication and resources Cindy McCain has spent on charity and promotion of child welfare around the world would put all of them to shame.

There was Wall Street Journal article awhile back detailing the work that Cindy Mccain does, and all the organizations she's involved with, including, I was surprised to learn, an international organization that works to clear out minefields in war-ravaged countries.

And the MSM would be singing her praises 24/7 if it weren't for the fact that she isn't a Democrat.

"The other $105,467 is 1.7% of Cindy McCain's Adjusted Gross Income."

So you're saying Cindy McCain's agi is $6.2 million. And your source of this information is? Did she release her tax records to you secretly, or does your cousin's sister's uncle's brother's friend's friend work for H & R Block?

Is there anyone more delusional and pathetic than Hoosen? What a loser.

Frankly the time, dedication and resources Cindy McCain has spent on charity and promotion of child welfare around the world would put all of them to shame.

Obama is getting desperate. He's now trying to malign John McCain because he owns several houses, insinuating that because he's wealthy he's too different from and out of touch with the typical American, so he shouldn't be trusted.

It's nice of you to mention the key part of this story, that McCain didn't even know how many homes he owned... Oh wait, you completely skipped that. Nevermind.

I understand that people can have their own opinions, but when you're omitting basic facts, then, basically, you're lying.

This, folks, is typical socialist propaganda. Hate those who have more. Don't trust those who have more.

So is McCain a socialist for implying these very same things when he talks about Obama living in a mansion?

I never thought I'd long for the days of a Wizbang where Paul posted everyday, but holy fricken deity of your choice, your jumps in logic are astounding.

P. Bunyan,

As I said in the post, those numbers are from the McCain web site. Her reported AGI was $6,066,431.

http://www.johnmccain.com/downloads/CIndyMcCain_2006_IncomeTax_1.pdf

I think john McCain is out of touch but still he has done a few good things. McCain feingold is probably his greatest legislative achievement.

It seems you're saying that if a charitable contribution is "easy" it's somehow less virtuous.

No, I didn't say that at all.

Though I highly doubt that you'd attribute the same characteristics to someone who has $10,000 and gives away $1,000 as you would to someone who has the same amount and gives away $1.

The facts kill off this story within one more day. Why is Obama doing this now? Why attack McCain's wife right before the convention? Why go nuclear negative before he announces his VP? Who the hell is running his campaign?

He should have said 50 eh eh 57, what difference does it make?

It seems you're saying that if a charitable contribution is "easy" it's somehow less virtuous.

I don't think that in either case we're looking at the widow's mite.

A better answer than the one I proposed earlier (#44) would have been: 57 of course, one in every state dughh.

Haha, you so funny Jan!

Obama misspoke about how many states there are, whereas McCain didn't know how many houses he owns.

Way to blow a statistically significant jump in the polls, you out-of-touch elitist clown.

RE #40:

Sorry Rance, it was my understanding that Cindy McCain's tax records were not going to be released, but then there they are on the web page (at least one page anyway). Go figure. Anyway, I was wrong and you were right. And the figures in the article Kim linked to are therefore smisleading.

There's more to this story for sure, though.

My interest is Obama's great leaps in income once he became a politician. Book sales after he became a top Presidential contender, I can understand but the rest should be investigated.

McCain attitude toward being rich has been more in term of a person lifestyle than net income. I'm sure he considers himself as currently rich. When he was being torture, he may had trust funds and receiving a pretty good income as a Naval Officer but I doubt that he consider himself rich at the time.

Tas - "It's nice of you to mention the key part of this story, that McCain didn't even know how many homes he owned... Oh wait, you completely skipped that. Nevermind."

Funny, like ObamaMessiah's lying ad, you failed to correctly state the question McCain was asked when making this BS comment.

What's the problem, you so far in the tank for The One you go to bed wearing a snorkel each night.

Dear Sirs,

As to the political score, one look at the picture of McCain in the hospital after his return from Vietnam will completely remove any thoughts that he is not a very uncommon common man.

The actual answer to the house question is that he does not own a house. He and his wife actually live in 3 of them, owned by her. The others are investment properties of which he has little knowledge.

Regards,
Roy

The best comment I heard tonight was on the O'Reilly Factor with Laura Ingrham filling in where an Obama supporter stated that Obama just recently paid off his student loan. John McCain didn't have a student loan as he went to the Naval Academy and paid his loan off by serving his country. Part of it was in a POW Camp during Vietnam.

The issue is not how many house McCain owns. The issue is that he owns so many houses that he doesn't know the number. That's why he's out of touch. Republicans always make a socialist mountain out of a molehill. Good for him that he's got a bunch of houses. But he's still out of touch.

It's the hypocrisy, stupid. People are labeling Obama an elitist. McCain is supposed to be the man of the people when he doesn't know how many houses he has?

After all is said and done... The country needs another Republican president. All Democrats are corrupted. McCain is for everyone, I would rather have millionaire Republicans tell me what to do than these poor Democrats. Look the higher up you go financially the more you appreciate being a Republican. I am not trying to be a snob, but let the truth be told.

Yes poor Republicans cast their votes too but McCain has the right to give first privelege to the corporations and millionaires who paid for his campaign expenses.