John McCain makes public some of Cindy McCain's tax records

It must be "Release Day" at the John McCain campaign. First, a selected pool of reporters got a look at his medical files. And now the campaign has released Cindy McCain's 2006 tax returns, after saying for weeks that the McCains maintain separate finances and hers wouldn't be made public.

And both releases came on the eve of a three-day weekend, when people are thinking more about barbecue than politics. (UPDATE: You can have look-see yourself at the material they released.)

Our colleague Maeve Reston reports from Scottsdale that Cindy McCain's 2006 tax returns show an income that year of more than $6 million:

"McCain, who heads Hensley & Co., had insisted she had no intention of releasing her tax returns because she wanted to protect her children's privacy. Some have estimated her personal wealth at more than $100 million. She inherited ownership of what is said to be the nation's third largest Anheuser-Busch distributor from her late father James Hensley. The company has sales estimated at $178 million, according to financial information company Dun & Bradstreet.

"Cindy McCain had faced criticism and relentless news coverage for saying she would never release her tax returns. But a campaign aide said Friday she felt the issue was becoming an unnecessary distraction. The campaign released only the first two pages of her 2006 federal income tax returns Friday afternoon. More than $4.5 million in income was drawn from entities including rental real estate, partnerships and trusts. Aides said she has filed for an extension for 2007 and would decide later whether she would release those returns.

"'As far as why today and the timing -- the campaign doesn't discuss internal decision making,' Cindy McCain spokeswoman Melissa Shuffield said."

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[Chuck Paugh]

Secrets. Secrets. All these secrets, Cindy. Your children are grown adults now. What do you have to hide?

[Deward Bowles]

Those were "summaries" of the return, not the return itself.

McCain and the Republicans have said that wifes are fair game, so lets play.

Cindy McCain is an x-drug addict, an adulteress and has made money off the most brutal and oppressive regimes in the world.

This "summary" of her tax return is a smoke and mirror game to hide the facts shown on her real tax return. More double talk from the McCain clan.

You want more of the same, vote McCain.

My vote is for Obama.

[Seni]

Cindy McCain shows class and respect for our country. I think she will cooperate with whatever is needed and would make a great first lady. The Obamas get upset when questioned about most things concerning their past and associates. They think they are off the hook, but the Obamas and their friends will be exposed before the november election.

[08vote]

There should be more discussion about the incredible STRESS of the office of the Presidency. One can be healthy and still keel over from some unexpected call at 3 a.m. (Medical and mental fitness should also apply to Obama).

In the meantime, Cindy McCains caves in (as she should) and releases only a portion of her 2006 Tax Returns. We continue waiting for her to release ALL tax schedules, asset holdings, and verifiable income.