How Your Beer Bought John McCain's $500 Loafers: Uncovering the government subsidies behind Cindy McCain's family fortune

News Type: Event — Seeded on Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:47 AM EDT

Article Source: Reason Magazine

politics, mccain, john-mccain, beer, pork, subsidies, cindy-mccain, corporate-welfare, anheuser-busch, budweiser, hensley, nbwa

Seeded by miasma

Should government be subsidizing (if not outright creating) an industry by forcing consumers to pay more for alcohol—for which they get little to no added value in return? And who's greedier, the family who exploits that system to amass a small fortune, or the brokers and traders McCain derides for pursuing profits in a free market?

Published to:

miasma's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: Left of Center, The Big 2008 Election
Regions: Washington DC

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4.9

{"commentId":3521365,"authorDomain":"miasma"}

miasma

With eight houses and 13 cars, I don't see this "Maverick" knowing any Joe Sixpacks or Joe DaPlummers. But he'll gladly take their taxes for corporate welfare.

How about some Straight Talk about your pork addiction, Mavvy? Step away from the trough.

{"commentId":3521365,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"miasma"}

5 votes

#1 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:52 AM EDT

{"commentId":3523296,"authorDomain":"taytaytaygen"}

taytaytaygen

Well I will give McCain credit for one thing he married money. The problem is how he got there, as he had to run over one wife on the way.

{"commentId":3523296,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"taytaytaygen"}

5 votes

#1.1 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:52 AM EDT

{"commentId":3524842,"authorDomain":"PeteZaHutt"}

Pete ZaHutt

yet another good reason to not drink.

{"commentId":3524842,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"PeteZaHutt"}

2 votes

#1.2 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:34 AM EDT

{"commentId":3527600,"authorDomain":"miller-709"}

melissa765

his wife was a swimsuit model( carol schepp) and got into a car accident. She had rods and pins put into her legs so she could walk again. She was in rehabilitation to learn how to walk with them in her legs. She was not suppose to be confined for ever and they both knew that. they make the story sound like he left a crippled for life person behind. She is and has been walking for over 30 years.Yeah, I'm sure an overweight supermodel that had to go through rehabilitation was just a whoot to be around. I can hear all her complaining now. she doesn't hate Mccain in fact she says they are best friends. He has and still does give money to her children. By the way he never had any children with her, she had those children with a man before mccain. You can read carol schepps story if you like. It is in the seattle newspaper.

{"commentId":3527600,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"miller-709"}

1 vote

#1.3 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:49 AM EDT

{"commentId":3528078,"authorDomain":"acidreflux"}

AdipicAcid

I'm sure an overweight supermodel that had to go through rehabilitation was just a whoot to be around

Hmmm. I thought he was a conservative and a defender of traditional values?

'to have and to hold
from this day forward;
for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
till death us do part'

{"commentId":3528078,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"acidreflux"}

5 votes

#1.4 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:02 PM EDT

{"commentId":3528364,"authorDomain":"miller-709"}

melissa765

well you have to have some standards set first. you can't always live up to them. that's God's job. geez so negative

{"commentId":3528364,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"miller-709"}

#1.5 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:09 PM EDT

{"commentId":3528373,"authorDomain":"a0ted"}

determined0a1

Well, at least the McCain did not have to ask Rezko for helping getting their 13 homes.

{"commentId":3528373,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"a0ted"}

#1.6 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:10 PM EDT

{"commentId":3532643,"authorDomain":"travelinfotog"}

travelinfotog

I'm not overly concered with beer, as I don't drink it. I prefer wine!! What alarms me is that the government keeps subsidizing the tobacco industry, then it turns around and sues the same for producing a harmful product.. I say give the tobacco industry subsidies for switching crops to sugar cane, so America can grow a renewable resource to kick our habit of oil.

Sugar cane can be used for clean buring fuel. Just look at what Brazil has done.

{"commentId":3532643,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"travelinfotog"}

1 vote

#1.7 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:09 PM EDT

{"commentId":3533759,"authorDomain":"jlt75"}

Wilfred of Ivanhoe

McCain's campaign is in such deep trouble now that stuff like this is just useless overkill.

{"commentId":3533759,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"jlt75"}

2 votes

#1.8 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:41 PM EDT

{"commentId":3534262,"authorDomain":"miller-709"}

melissa765

so what do you call it when your own wife(michelle) tells national tv she won't even vote for her own husband if she doesn't agree with the policies? She said it on the John Stewart show last week.

{"commentId":3534262,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"miller-709"}

#1.9 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:58 PM EDT

{"commentId":3536186,"authorDomain":"miasma"}

miasma

Independence.

{"commentId":3536186,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"miasma"}

1 vote

#1.10 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:13 PM EDT

{"commentId":3522455,"authorDomain":"superboothy"}

poliTICKSDeleted

{"commentId":3522687,"authorDomain":"douglasq"}

douglasq

Good thing I only buy microbrews and not that swill they call beer.

{"commentId":3522687,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"douglasq"}

4 votes

#3 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:33 AM EDT

{"commentId":3529478,"authorDomain":"Prilj"}

Prilj

Careful now, you're in danger of sounding like an elitist. Well, a beer elitist at least. :)

{"commentId":3529478,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"Prilj"}

3 votes

#3.1 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:43 PM EDT

{"commentId":3532159,"authorDomain":"douglasq"}

douglasq

When it comes to beer, Hell yeah!

I'm the biggest beer snob I know. When I ask in a bar "What's the darkest beer you have on tap?" and they tell me a stout, I ask "Anything darker?"

{"commentId":3532159,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"douglasq"}

1 vote

#3.2 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:55 PM EDT

{"commentId":3522896,"authorDomain":"estela"}

estela2008

Thank you for this seed. It delineates what I always knew or suspected:

1- in a free market system, monopolies dont exist--they are all created by government's grants of exclusivity;

2- beware rich politicians decrying the other guy's greed;

3- Republicans keep talking about a "free" market, while working assidiously to impose controls that keep newcomers out. We're not playing on a level field when money buys exclusivity in markets--whether industrial/economic, educational or job/career opportunities.

4- The free enterprise system is a myth today.

{"commentId":3522896,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"estela"}

7 votes

#4 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:40 AM EDT

{"commentId":3525946,"authorDomain":"acidreflux"}

AdipicAcid

in a free market system, monopolies dont exist

Incorrect. Standard Oil and US Steel both became monopolies absent government grants of exclusivity.

{"commentId":3525946,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"acidreflux"}

1 vote

#4.1 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:04 AM EDT

{"commentId":3523991,"authorDomain":"outthere4"}

outthere

A true hero is one that does not have to tell you he is a hero

{"commentId":3523991,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"outthere4"}

5 votes

#5 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:10 AM EDT

{"commentId":3524713,"authorDomain":"conservativenut"}

wilder

estela2008

"Politicks--mccain went to anapolis and the war college, thanks to his influential family."

I guess McCain's family kept him behind a desk, safe and sound all those years in the Vietnam War. He was a fighter pilot that crashed and was a prisoner of war for 7 years. Cindy McCain has given much of her time as a nurse in some of the poorest regions of the world. What are you guys talking about?!

Why is it so evil to make money in this country. If you want to make money and give it away to the poor, go start a company, make it successful, and give all your money away. Money will not make a person succesful, it's drive and determination. But don't tell me the goverment should decide who gets what, that is completely opposite of what this country is about.

{"commentId":3524713,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"conservativenut"}

#6 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:30 AM EDT

{"commentId":3526330,"authorDomain":"allengirl"}

Allen Girl

McCain was a bad pilot, which is why he was shot down. He was a hotshot who flew where he wasn't supposed to go. And he was a POW for 5 years, not 7 -- where he was treated better than average POWs because his father was an admiral. Other POWs who were there have said this.

And has far as old Oxycotin Cindy goes, yeah, she started a medical charity and then stole drugs from it to support her habit. Once she got got, she closed the charity, and that was the end of her "nurse" work.

And it's only evil to make money in this country when you treat your employees like dirt, cheat them out of pay, time off and benefits and make them work in unsafe conditions. I work for just such a company -- where the CEO is a huge McCain contributor. And then there are those companies -- like the oil industry -- that take advantage of consumers.

{"commentId":3526330,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"allengirl"}

2 votes

#6.1 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:15 AM EDT

{"commentId":3526692,"authorDomain":"washj5"}

JACKIE-562465

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/

{"commentId":3526692,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"washj5"}

#6.2 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:25 AM EDT

{"commentId":3526758,"authorDomain":"washj5"}

JACKIE-562465

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/

{"commentId":3526758,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"washj5"}

#6.3 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:27 AM EDT

{"commentId":3527265,"authorDomain":"bfrdi"}

brianbaDeleted

{"commentId":3527661,"authorDomain":"bfrdi"}

brianbaDeleted

{"commentId":3528201,"authorDomain":"miller-709"}

melissa765

my boyfriend is a materilas engineer working on his master's in Mecahnical engineering and his friend is working on his PH.D in Statistics and they both said they they have tried to fly a plane it is very very hard. and these guys are hard workers

{"commentId":3528201,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"miller-709"}

#6.6 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:05 PM EDT

{"commentId":3528454,"authorDomain":"bfrdi"}

brianbaDeleted

{"commentId":3528762,"authorDomain":"acidreflux"}

AdipicAcid

Any of them have Admirals for fathers and grandfathers? If McCain was named Smith and he graduated from the Academy where he did, he would never have been allowed to take the tests for flight school: he would have been so far down the line that the billets would have been filled by his brighter classmates.

{"commentId":3528762,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"acidreflux"}

2 votes

#6.8 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:20 PM EDT

{"commentId":3529011,"authorDomain":"miller-709"}

melissa765

it is not always about brightness. It is about all your experiences combined. Besides they( board of education) just confirmed that college is about working hard not intelligence.

{"commentId":3529011,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"miller-709"}

#6.9 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:28 PM EDT

{"commentId":3529208,"authorDomain":"douglasq"}

douglasq

Being shot down has nothing to do with being a good or bad pilot.

McCain did, however, crash some planes when not in combat as well.

{"commentId":3529208,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"douglasq"}

2 votes

#6.10 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:34 PM EDT

{"commentId":3531256,"authorDomain":"bfrdi"}

brianbaDeleted

{"commentId":3531496,"authorDomain":"bfrdi"}

brianbaDeleted

{"commentId":3532201,"authorDomain":"a0ted"}

determined0a1

Obama can't even find his thesis papers, Columbia grades and explained what he did in a free time in NY.

McCain could land a jet in a carrier.

{"commentId":3532201,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"a0ted"}

#6.13 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":3532217,"authorDomain":"douglasq"}

douglasq

douglasq-have you ever been involved in an auto accident that was not your fault?

I'm sorry. Did another plane hit him in an intersection?

McCain could land a jet in a carrier.

He also released live ordinance on a carrier deck. I'm sure that made some friends among the enlisted folk.

{"commentId":3532217,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"douglasq"}

3 votes

#6.14 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":3533921,"authorDomain":"bfrdi"}

brianbaDeleted

{"commentId":3535599,"authorDomain":"douglasq"}

douglasq

When an passenger plane loses all hydraulic function and crashes and most passengers are killed is it the pilot's fault?

If it were to happen to the same pilot 5 times? Then I would start to wonder.

Now, I realize each of McCain's crashes has different causes but, c'mon, 5 times?

{"commentId":3535599,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"douglasq"}

2 votes

#6.16 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":3524838,"authorDomain":"Etrues05"}

Etrues05

yes, very interesting seed indeed. I thought the cost of alchohol was a bit higher than perhaps noticed in other nations as well as subpar quality. I wondered where McCain could amass a fortune in Arizona, it isnt a state as well known for big money companies in manufacturing, finanance or other business sectors.

{"commentId":3524838,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"Etrues05"}

#7 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:34 AM EDT

{"commentId":3528262,"authorDomain":"miller-709"}

melissa765

McCain and his wife have a prenup

{"commentId":3528262,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"miller-709"}

#7.1 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:07 PM EDT

{"commentId":3526389,"authorDomain":"cpaul44"}

cecil paul

Sarah Palin sure did advertise the McCain's business on the campaign trail. She hell of a lot did say, perhaps a hundred times, that she was speaking to "Joe - Six Pack". McCain sure did pick a good speaking lady to promote his wife's business. You betcha,this Sarah Palin is real good at selling beer.

{"commentId":3526389,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"cpaul44"}

2 votes

#8 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:17 AM EDT

{"commentId":3526464,"authorDomain":"cpaul44"}

cecil paul

{"commentId":3526464,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"cpaul44"}

#9 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:19 AM EDT

{"commentId":3533035,"authorDomain":"a0ted"}

determined0a1

Sarah Palin sure did advertise the McCain's business on the campaign trail.

Nah, Sarah Palin is a straight talker, she was talking about Joe the Plumber, middle American that want to set a business and is afraid to be taxed even his burundongo.

Anyway, Mrs. Kerry is the ketchup queen. One bottle in every kitchen table?

{"commentId":3533035,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"a0ted"}

1 vote

#9.1 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:20 PM EDT

{"commentId":3526873,"authorDomain":"lisank"}

Henry Mezie

I thought that, during the debate, that McCain would write out a check from his family holdings worth more than 500 Million Dollars to JOE THE PLUMBER to help him out of his predicament.
It is not enough to raise JOE THE PLUMBER TO THE REALMS OF LEGEND, McCain should explain to Joe why after more than 20 years on more in the SENATE suddenly he remembered people like JOE THE PLUMBER. He is just typical Politician playing to the gallery.

{"commentId":3526873,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"lisank"}

2 votes

#10 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:30 AM EDT

{"commentId":3527060,"authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

Raat ki Raani

Oh I get it. The maverick wants to help the nation drink its way out of a crisis! Well, I never. He sure is smarter than the average Joe.

Reasons to be cheerful. Not.

{"commentId":3527060,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

3 votes

#11 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:34 AM EDT

{"commentId":3527077,"authorDomain":"washj5"}

JACKIE-562465

http://www.vietnamveteransagainstjohnmccain.com/

{"commentId":3527077,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"washj5"}

#12 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:35 AM EDT

{"commentId":3529464,"authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

Raat ki Raani

Jackie - reinserting the link repeatedly, and certainly without actually engaging in the topic for the seed in question is not going to help your cause at all. It is actually against the CoH.

I do think that what the veterans have to say needs to be heard and there are other ways to do that. My latest seed may be an example.

{"commentId":3529464,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"raatkiraani"}

1 vote

#12.1 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:42 PM EDT

{"commentId":3528884,"authorDomain":"miller-709"}

melissa765

I was raised off food stamps. I went and got a job at age 16 beacuse I hated school. I ended up graduating late from high school(bad grades and skipping school). I went back to college(forced to to get a better job) at age 24. I am 29 now have my own business and 2 science degrees. Embrace college. If you apply you automatically get accepted for loans and grants from the federal government. Believe me if I can do it anyone can. Point is I was poor growing up so it gave me a reason to work harder. go to college.

{"commentId":3528884,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"miller-709"}

#13 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:24 PM EDT

{"commentId":3530370,"authorDomain":"miller-709"}

melissa765

well there is no doubt in my mind that both Mccain and Obama are really wanting to help this economy out. They are both very intelligent hard working men. I just tend to agree with McCain's plan a little more than Obama. However this turns out we should have respect for either of them. It's a hard job and I know I would never want to run a country. Too much stress.

{"commentId":3530370,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"miller-709"}

#14 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:07 PM EDT

{"commentId":3531203,"authorDomain":"lisank"}

Henry Mezie

Mr bringourtroopshome, all fingers are not equal, do you understand that, that is nature too, you can't cheat it either.

{"commentId":3531203,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"lisank"}

#15 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 1:30 PM EDT

{"commentId":3532995,"authorDomain":"miller-709"}

melissa765

Henry mezie,
I am a 30( an old 29) year old woman. It looks like both of them haven't exactly taken the honest route about everything. Illinois machine, acorn voter fraud, ex wife catastrophy....You have to look at the bigger picture which would be the policies.

{"commentId":3532995,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"miller-709"}

#15.1 - Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":3536635,"authorDomain":"godloved"}

godblessedDeleted

{"commentId":3536655,"authorDomain":"godloved"}

godblessedDeleted

{"commentId":3547725,"authorDomain":"miasma"}

miasma

godblessed - Go rant somewhere else. Deleted.

{"commentId":3547725,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"miasma"}

#18 - Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:44 AM EDT

{"commentId":3556559,"authorDomain":"a0ted"}

determined0a1

Miasma 2.12

I tried to post yesterday saying thanks for letting me know about my deletion but it did not work.

{"commentId":3556559,"threadId":"390327","contentId":"2005543","authorDomain":"a0ted"}

1 vote

#19 - Fri Oct 17, 2008 7:46 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"390327","isPrivate":false}

MIASMA

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How Your Beer Bought John McCain's $500 Loafers: Uncovering the government subsidies behind Cindy McCain's family fortune

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