Drugs and alcohol DO mix.

[clambake]

Beer deal poses issue for McCains
How will wife's Busch distributorship be handled if senator wins presidency?

By PHILIP DINE
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

WASHINGTON — John McCain's Straight Talk Express is far less talkative when it comes to beer.

McCain's campaign is unwilling to directly address questions flowing from InBev's purchase of Anheuser-Busch Cos. in light of his wife's ownership of a large Anheuser-Busch distributorship in Arizona, Hensley and Co.

• For more than 20 years as a legislator, McCain has abstained from taking positions or voting on measures related to alcohol. As president, would he act on beer-related legislation — or continue to abstain, in effect casting a veto?
• InBev does business in Cuba, designated by the United States as a state sponsor of terrorism. As a candidate, McCain has been tough on the Cuban government. Will his wife now sell the products of a company that does business in Cuba — or even expand her business to include InBev's other products?

McCain's campaign is unusually tight-lipped on those questions and wouldn't say whether Cindy McCain plans to separate herself from Hensley.

"The McCains would, like they always have, ensure that they are abiding by all ethical rules," said Wendy Riemann, a campaign spokeswoman. She added that McCain "has a history of consistently voting 'present' on any legislation dealing with the beer industry."

Asked how he would act as president when such bills come his way, Riemann repeated that he would continue to act in an ethical fashion and declined further comment.

McCain's campaign won't say how much the couple stands to make as a result of the Anheuser-Busch sale.

But based on the May 2008 Senate personal financial disclosure form filed by McCain, it appears that Cindy McCain stands to make at least $800,000, based on the amount of stock she owns.

"A spouse's dealings are always a complication for a candidate, and in this case a significant one," said William Galston of the Brookings Ins ution, an expert in campaigns who served as a domestic adviser to President Bill Clinton. "This is a major financial holding that his wife has that turns out somewhat unexpectedly to have public policy implications."


'Being transparent'
Brian Darling, director of Senate relations at the Heritage Foundation, said McCain has done all he can do on the issue.

"Sen. McCain is being transparent about his family interest in Anheuser-Busch. The fact that the American people do have knowledge of his family's interest, and his record in the past of not getting involved in matters in which he has a financial interest, are laudable," Darling said.

Veteran political analyst Steven Hess said Cindy McCain would have to divest herself of the beer distributorship if her husband became president.

"There'd be too many questions when the president of the United States would have to take actions related, directly or indirectly, to her substantial holdings in this company that he couldn't duck," Hess said.



in bed with castro....and whoever's been in bed with castro.....chavez.....ahmajdidacindy.......now.... mccain.

[clambake]

i guess....now....we can rule out "freedom" for cubans.