by Mark Silva
John McCain and Dale Earnhardt Jr. – what a team, in the eyes of the NASCAR world. McCain’s long-list of running mates may not run to Daytona or Charlotte, but the Budweiser car’s after-burners are revving up McCain’s campaign.
Sharon Theimer of the Associated Press writes about “a spring day at a speedway in the South’’ when McCain, his wife Cindy and Earnhardt highlighted the Arizona “couple’s political and business interests in a single snapshot.’’
The senator served as honorary starter that weekend in Charlotte, and Earnhardt drove the Budweiser car, “painted military camouflage, rather than its trademark red, to honor the troops.’’ Budweiser, then NASCAR's official beer, is brewed by Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc., Theimer notes in a long look at McCain Inc. and Bud, “whose products have made Cindy McCain and her family a fortune.’’
“The brewer sold toy replicas of its race car to aid the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and publicized its support for the group, on whose board John McCain served and whose chairman later endorsed him,’’ she writes. “The speedway appearance helped McCain court NASCAR voters, and his campaign circulated video of the event over the Internet. ‘’
“The McCains' marriage has mixed business and politics from the beginning, according to an expansive review by The Associated Press of thousands of pages of campaign, personal finance, real estate and property records nationwide,’’ Thiemer writes. “The paperwork chronicles the McCains' ascent from Arizona newlyweds to political power couple on the national stage. ‘’
Cindy McCain was heiress to her father’s stakein Hensley & Co. of Phoenix, the distributor. Cindy McCain is an executive whose worth may exceed $100 million.
“Her beer earnings have afforded the GOP presidential nominee a wealthy lifestyle with a private jet and vacation homes at his disposal, and her connections helped him launch his political career — even if the millions remain in her name alone,’’ the story goes. “Yet the arm's-length distance between McCain and his wife's assets also has helped shield him from conflict-of-interest problems.’’
Long before McCain became the Republican Party’s presumptive presidential nominee, he worked in public relations at his wife's family company. A few years after marrying Cindy Hensley, McCain won his first election. He was new to politics and fundraising in that 1982 House race, and his campaign quickly fell into debt.
“Personal money — tens of thousands of dollars in loans to his campaign from McCain bank accounts — helped him survive,’’ Thiemer writes. “Anheuser-Busch's political action committee was among McCain's earliest donors.
“Cindy McCain's father, James Hensley, and other Hensley & Co. executives gave so much the Federal Election Commission ordered McCain to give some of it back,’’ the AP reports. “McCain's campaign used Hensley office equipment such as computers and copiers, and Cindy McCain personally paid some of the campaign's bills. The campaign gradually reimbursed Hensley for use of its equipment and Cindy McCain for her expenses. The loans — described initially by John McCain as coming from him and his wife — caught the eye of the FEC, which repeatedly questioned him about them; spouses are held to the same donation limits as everyone else.
”McCain told the FEC the loaned money came from his share of joint accounts. At the time, McCain reported drawing a $25,067 salary and $25,000 bonus working for Hensley in public relations and receiving a Navy pension of $11,038 a year; his 1982 financial disclosure report showed bank interest but didn't say how much the bank accounts held.
”McCain's campaign debt grew to about $177,000 by the end of 1982. His 1984 House campaign repaid just under half the loans. McCain forgave about $93,000 in loans, a sizable personal donation to his inaugural campaign.
”McCain's fundraising base is now far broader than his family bank accounts and Hensley. Still, Hensley and Anheuser-Busch executives have been important and longtime supporters. Long before McCain became a sought-after speaker on the national stage, he gave several speeches at Anheuser-Busch's invitation in the 1980s and donated his fees to charity.
”Hensley executives are among the Arizona senator's top career givers. The Anheuser-Busch PAC has given McCain's campaigns at least $19,500 over the years. McCain's campaign fundraisers include Robert Delgado, Hensley's president and chief executive officer; Andrew McCain, the company's chief financial officer and John McCain's stepson from his first marriage, to Carol Shepp; and August Busch III, chairman of Anheuser-Busch's executive committee. Anheuser-Busch in 2006 gave $25,000 to the International Republican Institute, a pro-democracy group chaired by McCain.
”McCain's campaign still taps Hensley assets: His presidential campaign paid at least $227,000 last year to a limited liability company in which his wife and children are invested, King Aviation, for use of its private jet, according to campaign finance reports.
”Although Cindy McCain's business connections have benefited John McCain politically, they appear to have had little impact on his personal fortunes.
”McCain is routinely ranked among the richest senators. But a prenuptial agreement has kept most assets in his wife's name. That arrangement served as a defense for McCain when the Senate ethics committee scrutinized a real estate deal involving his wife, her father and disgraced savings and loan owner Charles Keating Jr. McCain said at the time the separation of assets helped prove the deal didn't benefit him.
”McCain himself reports little more wealth than when he started in politics. With his book royalties and radio-appearance fees donated to charity, McCain's Senate salary of $169,300 and Navy pension of about $56,000 are his only significant sources of income. He has accounts at two banks with his wife worth up to $15,000 each, according to his most recent financial disclosure report.
”In contrast, Cindy McCain is a millionaire many times over — though the McCains haven't disclosed just how many times.
”In government records, McCain is permitted to describe his wife's salary at Hensley as simply "more than $1,000" and, when listing her major assets, say only that they are worth "more than $1 million."
”The reports show Cindy McCain has at least $9 million in assets on her own and at least $15 million with the McCain children. But those figures are virtually meaningless; her stake in Hensley & Co. alone almost certainly exceeds them by tens of millions of dollars.
”Beverage industry analysts estimate Hensley's value at more than $250” million and its annual sales at $300 million or more. Hensley describes itself as the third-largest Anheuser-Bush wholesaler in the United States. It sold more than 23 million cases of beer last year and is among the nation's biggest beer distributors regardless of brand.
”Still, don't expect Budweiser to be the beverage of choice at the White House if McCain is elected. "Senator McCain very rarely, if ever, drinks alcohol," campaign spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker told the Associated Press
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Comments
I'll come out and say it. Watching cars with big stickers on them drive around in circles is the dumbest, most retarded waste of time on this planet. The overall average IQ in those packed stadiums is about 86 studies have shown and they are mostly filled with ignorant racist lowlifes who barely graduated high school.
Posted by: susan whitehurst | April 3, 2008 10:13 AM
Oh, that we could all be as enlightened as Susan. That's your inclusive democratic party! How DARE you people do something that Susan Whitehurst doesn't like. Why how dare you!
There's a NASCAR track right here in Chicagoland so I guess Susan didn't get the memo that many witty, urbane latte sippers like herself enjoy NASCAR, too. But don't let that stop your classist rant, lady. Why I just can't imagine why the dems can't win a single southern state in presidential elections.
Hey Swamp, Dale Jr. is no longer sponsored by Budweiser. You should at least note that the beer company now sponsors Kasey Kahne and Dale's main sponsor is now, fittingly, the National Guard. Where does the Bud distributorship that Jesse Jackson shook down for his kids rank compared to the Hensleys' distributorship?
Posted by: Jeff | April 3, 2008 11:08 AM
Jeff,
Why do you think I'm a Democrate just because I don't like NASCAR and think it's dumb? I'm voting for McCain, it bothers me when he panders to these types. Makes him look like a whore.
Posted by: susan whitehurst | April 3, 2008 12:20 PM
What kind of "types" are you talking about that watch NASCAR? People who work for a living and enjoy racing?
Anyway, I guess I'm glad you're voting for McCain. I apologize for assuming you're a democrat but that kind of talk can be heard regularly around here from the John Es on this blog who have little use for working people or their chosen form of recreation. After all, no one is passing judgement on what you like to do in your spare time around here.
Posted by: Jeff | April 3, 2008 12:45 PM
Jeff,
Why are you defending this?
http://sports.yahoo.com/nascar/news?slug=dw-confederateflag100906
http://www.free-conversant.com/thom/108
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/10/23/Sports/NASCAR_under_attack_b.shtml
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/nascar/2006/02/race_at_the_races.html
Posted by: jackson | April 3, 2008 12:57 PM
Jeff,
What kind of "types"? Ummm....the "types" who think the Confederate Flag is a symbol of honour. The "types" who shout racist comments and tell black fans to "stick to basketball, this is a Southern sport". Those "types". You can't go to a NASCAR racetrack and swing a cat without hitting those "types"
Posted by: susan whitehurst | April 3, 2008 2:21 PM
Susan, please explain which NASCAR track you've been swinging cats at and I'll shut up.
I have been to chicagoland speedway in Joliet the past five years and have NEVER heard one racist comment there or seen one dixie flag.
I've also been to tracks in Daytona, Fla., and Martinsville W. Va. and never heard anyone scream a profanity at a black fan or tell them to "stick to baseball."
Tell me where the cat-swinging happened and what you witnessed and I'll shut up, but I think you're making a terrible generalization about millions of people based on bigoted innuendo and rumor.
Jackson, you're not even worth a response. Don't you have Robert C. Byrd to defend on another post or something?
Posted by: Jeff | April 3, 2008 2:28 PM
Also Susan, the prejudice you decry among people who call the confederate flag a symbol of honor is just as much evident in labelling the contents of a stadium that seats upwards of 300,000 people "ignorant racist lowlifes who barely graduated high school." Show us those "studies" that tell us every single NASCAR fan's IQ. I can't wait to read them.
Another example of do as I say and not as I do.
Posted by: Jeff | April 3, 2008 2:37 PM
Just so I understand Jeff, you and your ilk can call Obama a racist because he's been going to the same church for 20 years and his pastor said some ignorant things but when it comes to NASCAR, which I'm pretty sure has been around for more than 20 years, fans cannot be called racist for belonging to and participating in an organization that allows displaying the Confederate Flag at the same time it says they are "trying" to get rid of the stereotype of it being a sport for white racists? You can't have it both ways. Either Obama is not a racist because of what his pastor says or he is and so are fans of NASCAR for not distancing themselves and CHOOSING to follow a sport that bans all displays of the Confederate Flags and the sale of T-shirts that say, "If I'd known'If I'd known you all would've caused this much trouble, I'D HAVE PICKED MY OWN COTTON!"
Posted by: susan whitehurst | April 3, 2008 3:04 PM
Jeff,
There you go again, the King of Double Standards. Sen. Byrd just can't seem to run away from his racist past no matter how much legislation he's backed that is anti-thetical to the KKK cause, yet the charter member of the Keating Five, John McCain says he's sorry and champions Campaign Finance Reform and that's good enough to erase his dirty and sordid past for Jeffy boy. You sir are the King of Double Standards.
Posted by: jackson | April 3, 2008 3:39 PM
No Jackson, he can't. His words describing how he'll never yield to civil rights are written in stone. As recently as 2001 he wrote a letter praising the KKK, so don't you go telling me that Big Byrd is reformed. He's not. That's not a double standard, that's the truth.
Jackson, you're still an idiot. What's a "charter member" of the Keating Five? I wasn't aware that they had a charter. Did the DNC e-mail that one to you? Is John Glenn one, too? You do realize that the senate ethics committee said Glenn and McCain played only minor roles in it, don't you? Unlike DeConcini and Riegle who were recommended for censure? No fire there. Just smoke.
Susan, it's so GOOD to see you truly revealing yourself as the Obama apologist I originally pegged you for. I never called Obama a racist. I called Wright a racist and I was right to. If Obama wants to associate with such a person it's his own funeral. I don't need to make any insinuation about what he does and doesn't accept.
You're the one who wants it both ways. What one racetrack does in Alabama does not reflect the millions of people who watch NASCAR every week and aren't racist. None of them are screaming their agreement with statements like 9/11 was "America's chickens coming home to roost" like they are at Wright's "church."
You can enjoy the sport of racing without buying the t-shirts and the other propaganda some racist POS tries to peddle at the tracks. You still don't get it. It's something people do for fun. It's recreation. Does people enjoying racing really offend your sensibilities that much?
No one's children were baptized at the NASCAR track the way that Obama's were by the racist Wright in his "church."
NASCAR is a pasttime. It's not one of the formative measures of a person like the church they choose. It's big enough to fit the millions of good people that enjoy it and, unfortunately, the few bad apples that fly the stars and bars.
Equating it with Wright's church of hate is just stupid. Anyway if you're really voting for McCain, more power to you, but everything in your post says you're a reverend wright apologist trying to pull some scam.
p.s. Speaking of cotton picking did you catch Lou Dobbs using "cotton picking" as a slur the other day?
Posted by: Jeff | April 3, 2008 6:43 PM
LOL. Wow....ignorant with IQ's of 86? Pretty funny stereotype...too bad it misses the mark. I am a college educated, Government employed, DC suburb living NASCAR fan, and you'd have to more than double that number to hit my IQ. You might want to do a little research at something other than shortsighted websites with questionable facts before tossing stones. I have been to over a dozen of those races that are filled with "white trash, trailer dwelling racists", and have seen 100 American flags for every one confederate flag.
Oh, and Earnhardt doesn't drive for Budweiser any more, Kasey Kahne does....a nice, fresh faced young man from Washington State who could probably woo any female from 100 yards with a smile and his baby blues.
Your shortsighted comments are almost as bad as the racism you claim all NASCAR fans have....uneducated and unwilling to be educated about a topic you decide to hate with no true knowledge of it.
This is like people deciding not to vote for one of the candidates because "They don't like them" without taking the time to learn their platform. Stupid.
Posted by: Kym | April 3, 2008 11:00 PM
Susan...you are making broad assumptions about NASCAR fans...but first, you obviously have issues with NASCAR and it's fans...so, why did you read the article in the first place? it's like bad t.v., if you don't like it don't watch it...shut your mouth and move on...second, the insulting remarks about fans...I am a fan to a degree...not a rabid one...but I like NASCAR...and I was insulted by your remark...I am educated in Fine Art, History, Audio Engineering, Astrophysics, Computer Graphics Visualizations...I also speak 5 languages somewhat fluently...and I play 9 musical instruments...the last I.Q. test I took several years ago placed my I.Q. at 186...so, I'll make against my usual mode of operations an assumption...I'm a NASCAR fan that is more intelligent than the knee jerk reaction minded likes of you...seriously, if you don't like it....shut up and move along...I very rarely ping in on these comment boards as it usually falls to these kinds of rants...I deplore falling to your level...but, even with trivial things like NASCAR, sometimes you have to take a stand...no matter how silly it seems...I feel even sillier for not following my own position of moving on past something I don't like...afterall, in a few billion years our Sun will shed it's outer layers as it runs low on nuclear fuels...it expands out to the orbit of Mars incinerating this meager little planet erasing every trace of me and people like you...it just doesn't matter in the end what you think...but, it can be fun to forget the awful atrocities humans cause each other caused by people with mindsets like yours...and simply watch racers go fast and turn left...sigh...just go away ok? and take your ego with you...you don't really matter at all...you will be dust in the ground sooner than
Posted by: Ken | April 4, 2008 12:46 AM
i love jr!!! his is the best!!!! i hope to see his come next weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! g2g
I LOVE YOU JR!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Amanda Flinchum | April 4, 2008 10:14 AM
My only regret is never getting back those wasted minutes of my life that I spent reading all your ranting and raving...I don't think this meant to be a personal chat room for you egotistical know-it-all jackasses...get a life
Posted by: Rick | April 4, 2008 12:05 PM