Change you can drink to: John and Cindy Lou Hensley McCain's beer problem
By Robin Elliot
Created Jun 22 2008 - 1:55pm
Cindy Lou Hensley McMealticket, it seems you're not helping Husband
Sidney's
cause. But, judging from your past [1] escapades [2], it's clear that you
never have [3]. Aw, who cares, as long as the big bucks are rolling in,
right [4]?
Hensley & Co., one of the nation's major beer wholesalers, has brought
the
family of Cindy McCain wealth, prestige and influence in Phoenix, but it
could also create conflicts for her husband, Sen. John McCain, if he is
elected president in November.
Hensley, founded by Cindy McCain's late father, holds federal and state
licenses to distribute beer and lobbies regulatory agencies on alcohol
issues that involve public health and safety. The company has opposed such
groups as Mothers Against Drunk Driving in fighting proposed federal rules
requiring alcohol content information on every package of beer, wine and
liquor.
Its executives, including John McCain's son Andrew, have written at
least
10 letters in recent years to the 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.
Good p.r., Cindy Lou. It's always a plus to face off with the mothers of
children killed by beer-drinkers. Speaking of children and beer, how's
your
son?
[...]Andrew McCain is chief financial officer at Hensley and owns 6.8%
of
the stock, according to Arizona records. [...]
Hensley has run afoul of health advocacy groups that have tried to rein
in
appeals to young drinkers.
What a good boy! Mom and Dad must be proud. In fact, the whole family is
one
big bag of Special Interests R Us:
The involvement of McCain's family 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. As president, however, McCain
would face far more difficulty distancing himself from an issue with such
broad scope.
But that won't stop Cindy Lou Hensley McCor****ate. Why should she give up
all that foamy Big Beer Biz fun just because of some silly little First
Lady
conflict? This is now, and, gosh darn it my friends, Cindy Lou's not one
to
look toward the future. That would indicate, gulp! change! Hmmm, change
you
can drink to! The beer you deserve [5]?
If her husband is elected president and she retains her role at Hensley,
she will set a precedent for outside cor****ate activity by a first lady.
The McCain campaign issued a statement Friday 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.
I'm astounded that McWealthyWife hasn't already addressed the issue!
Political analysts said they were astounded that the presumptive
Republican nominee had not already addressed the issue.
Like I said. What, he thinks he can run a beer company out of the White
House?
"You can't run a beer company out of the White House," said Samuel L.
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."
Stop repeating everything I say! Anyway, I've covered [6] moments [7] of
his
humiliation [8] previously [9]...like embarrassment ever stopped J Sid
before [10]. Psh! As if! But wait! What will the abstinence-only set say?
Indeed, apart from its potential to create a conflict of interest, the
mere owner****p of the beer distributor could turn off some social
conservatives and those who object to alcohol use. [...] For some,
abstinence -- and a disdain for the industry -- is religion-based.
That's Trouble. With a capital T [11], that rhymes with B, and that stands
for BEER! Bruce Lee Livingston, executive director of the Marin Institute,
a
nonprofit alcohol industry watchdog group in San Rafael:
"The big question is how much access the beer industry is going to have
to
the White House. You would expect the president and first lady to be
concerned about alcohol abuse and alcoholism. The first lady and the
president need to have a bright line between the White House and the
alcohol
industry."
Not if the McBeer family can help it. Here's an idea: Start looking out
for
the American People... with a capital P which rhymes with V, and that
stands
for Votes.
_______
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"A little patience and we shall see the reign of witches pass over, their
spells dissolve, and the people recovering their true sight, restore their
government to its true principles. It is true that in the meantime we are
suffering deeply in spirit,
and incurring the horrors of a war and long oppressions of enormous public
debt. But if the game runs sometimes against us at home we must have
patience till luck turns, and then we shall have an op****tunity of winning
back the principles we have lost, for this is a game where principles are
at
stake."
-Thomas Jefferson
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