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Thursday, May 12, 2016

What is Donald Trump Hiding?

Hillary is rightfully criticizing him for saying he won't release them:

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/11/politics/hillary-clinton-donald-trump-tax-return/index.html

Even Mitt Romney says it's disqualifying:

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/mitt-romney-donald-trump-tax-returns-223088

This is sort of ironic for Mitt, but he's not wrong.

Yes Bernie should also release his taxes-but let's face it, Bernie isn't relevant anymore.

And at least Mitt release summaries. Trump is releasing nothing.

Krugman has a good theory:

"Why is Dodgy Donald refusing to release returns? Like others, I think he fears that people will see he's not as rich as he claims"
https://twitter.com/paulkrugman/status/730508748012326913

Greg Sargent's has some theories:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/05/11/why-wont-trump-release-his-tax-returns-here-are-a-few-possible-reasons/

I like Krugman''s the best. Ironically, the reason why Romney didn't' want to release his are the opposite of why Trump won't release his.

Romney didn't want us to see just how rich he is-and how low his tax rate was. Trump doesn't want us to see that he's not so rich after all.

Or maybe he's 'cash poor, assets rich.' Which kind of tells you how far we've come in four years that now it's embarrassing not to be filthy rich rather than the opposite.

I heard MSNBC's Tamron Rule suggest Trump can get away with not releasing his taxes before November. I could not disagree more.

We simply can't allow him to get away with that. Hillary should demand he release them every day until November if he doesn't. For him not to release them is fine: it gives her a club.

For once Mitt Romney is right: it is disqualifying for him not to release his taxes. If you refuse to even show a resume, you don't get the job. Full stop.

If we do not demand Trump release his returns-and he doesn't pay a price if he doesn't-then as Americans we have simply acceded to the rule of Kings and Emperors again.

Trump argues that he doesn't have to release his taxes as there's nothing in them.

1. The fact that they're being audited debunks that claim.

2. Why would we even consider electing a man to the Presidency whose taxes are being audited? Again, if we have any self-respect as citizens surely a candidate who is being audited is not eligible for the highest office in the land.

3. It comes down to one word: transparency. Bernie too, has argued there's nothing in his taxes. But this is besides the point. If you want to be President this is part of the vetting process.

Hillary has released many years of taxes.

Think of all the shade she's been thrown over her paid speeches. Yet, why do we even know about them? Because she released her taxes. She practices transparency.

Can you imagine the headlines and cable news if she declared she won't release her tax returns because she's being audited and there's nothing in them anyway?

Trump cannot be allowed to flout even the most basic rules of transparency and yet still receive serious consideration for the highest office in the land.

Trump has a real mutual admiration society going with Vladmir Putin. If we with our eyes wide open are willing to elect our very own Putin, then we have no one to blame but ourselves. 

2 comments:

  1. Rubin, thinks he shouldn't get the nomination w/o tax returns. I disagree there (unless it leads to some sort of delicious chaos in the party). Whatever causes maximum damage to the GOP and GOP candidates in 2016 is what I'm for.

    She also has a good point here:
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2016/05/12/trumpism-is-just-spin/

    "First, Trump, we are reminded, has little interest in policy, even less intellectual curiosity and apparently no affinity for learning. He is totally unfit intellectually to direct policy, make and adhere to decisions, and give allies at home and abroad any confidence that he means what he says on any given day. He simply wanted to be president. Never imagining he would get this far, he does not and would not know what to do with it if he won. This is the proverbial dog that caught the bus. Who would be the “real” president if he got elected? Goodness knows, and judging from flaky advisers around him, it could be an unsavory and ignorant crony."

    Emphasis added.

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  2. I think he should get the nomination not the Presidency if he doesn't release the taxes. LOL

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