The Los Angeles Times asks what could be a campaign ending question

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If McCain wins what is the family going to do with all of its family assets?

This is not like a mutual fund that can be put into a blind trust. Family members are employed all through the corporation. Even if some type of Alice in Wonderland Firewall were to be established the occupants in the White House would still know that their family's wealth is still directly tied to selling Beer - something that requires government licenses to run their business.


There are issues of the Government trying to reduce drinking, underage drinking, alcohol content, and marketing.

How about liability suits in the Judiciary.

It is shocking that no one has been asking these questions.

The election of Senator McCain would raise mammoth ethical issues - and the campaign has said that they refuse to consider the questions until after the Senator is elected President. Right now as Senator when these issues come up he recuses himself - how does a President 'recuse himself'?

An excellent article by the Los Angeles Times raises these questions for the first time:

LAT Brings up Issues about McCain Family Beer Distributor Lobbying the Bush Administration against Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD)


Also Point to Severe Conflict of Interest should McCain win the Presidency.


Andrew McCain is active point man for company business interests.

Here is the link to the article

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-hensley22-2008jun22,0,457384.story?track=rss

By Ralph Vartabedian
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Here are some excerpts - headings are mine.


1) Hemsley & Co fights bitter battle against MADD:


The company has argued against such groups as Mothers Against Drunk Driving in fighting proposed federal rules that would require alcohol content information on every package of beer, wine and liquor.

Its executives, including McCain's son Andrew, have written at least 10 letters in recent years to the U.S. Treasury Department, have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to a beer industry political action committee and hold a seat on the board of the politically powerful National Beer Wholesalers Assn.

The company has also run afoul of health advocacy groups that have tried to rein in appeals to young drinkers. Hensley, for example, distributes caffeinated alcohol drinks that public health groups say put young and underage consumers at risk by disguising the effects of intoxication.


2) Election of McCain would create massive conflict of interest


Hensley, founded by Cindy McCain's late father, holds federal and state licenses to distribute beer and lobbies regulatory agencies on controversial alcohol issues that involve public health and safety.

The involvement of his wife and children in federal regulatory issues could create a conflict of interest for a future McCain administration, according to advocacy groups and political analysts. McCain has recused himself for many years on alcohol issues in the Senate, recognizing the potential conflict. As president, however, McCain would face far more difficulty distancing himself from an issue with such broad scope.

Cindy McCain holds the title of chairwoman in the company and controls about 68% of the privately held company stock with her children and the senator's son, according to records at the Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control. Cindy and John McCain keep their finances separate, and he has no interest or role in Hensley.

In an interview in May, she said she "knows everything that is going on," communicating with her executive team every day. She added that she does not need to be physically at the company headquarters to be in charge. So far, she has given no hint of what changes, if any, she envisions in the future.



3) McCain Campaign refuses to look at issue until after they are elected

If her husband is elected president and she retains her current role at Hensley, she would set a precedent for outside corporate activity by a first lady.

The McCain campaign Friday issued a statement about the issue saying that "any decisions going forward will be made when John McCain wins the election and takes office, and not before." Hensley executives declined to comment on the matter. Political analysts said they are astounded that the presumptive Republican nominee has not already addressed the issue.

"You can't run a beer company out of the White House," said Samuel Popkin, a political science professor at UC San Diego. "You can't run any company from the White House. McCain is leaving a live hand grenade on the table, a major embarrassment."

The President of the United States is going to be married to a major player in the Beer Industry which the Federal Government has considerable power over, and the campaign is stating that will take place when "McCain wins the election and not before".

Does the McCain campaign actually think that they can get away with this. It certainly will make an excellent question for the debates.

I wonder how all of those conservative Southern Baptists think about the First Lady presiding over a Beer Empire while sitting in the White House?

The Los Angeles Times may have just asked a campaign ending question.