They can afford higher taxes.

"The McCains own 13 cars, eight homes and access to a corporate jet, and Cindy had her Marie Antoinette moment at the convention," Maureen Dowd wrote in her Sunday column in the New York Times. "Vanity Fair calculated that her outfit cost $300,000, with three-carat diamond earrings worth $280,000, an Oscar de la Renta dress valued at $3,000, a Chanel white ceramic watch clocking in at $4,500 and a four-strand pearl necklace worth between $11,000 and $25,000."

Yes, this makes me better understand why John McCain disdains Barack Obama for wanting to spread the wealth by raising taxes a little bit on millionaires and billionaires. They can afford higher taxes. But some of 'em would rather spend their excesses on multiple homes and cars and jewelry. --Jim Broede