That is the question. The magic number is 23. That is the number of tax returns he provided McCain back when he was being vetted for Veep. What does it say that the McCain went with Sarah Palin, the most unqualified vice presidential candidate in American history? Yes, she was, even remembering Quayle.
Mitt Romney just doesn't want to level with the American people. He has provided us with one and a half returns to the 23 he handed McCain. What is he hiding? There's no question he's hiding something as George F. Will says, he must be.
Republican veteran Bush strategist Matt Dowd says that what's worst about Mitt Romney's refusal to submit his tax returns to the American people is the unprecedented arrogance. It's the sense of entitlement, that he can expect to be elected President of the United States without providing even the most basic information about himself.
So a recent ad by President Obama asks the unavoidable question: Has Mitt Romney paid any taxes at all? We know that he only submitted 2010 after a lot of arm pulling by Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry. That year shows he payed a 13.9% rate, much lower than Warren Buffet's secretary. Much lower even than the woman who does the nails of Mitt's wealthy Republican donor at the Hamptons.
While a 13.9% rate is outrageous for one the wealthiest person ever to run for President, it's sure bet that once we examined the tax information he submitted for McCain it would be far less even than this. When you factor in the Cayman Islands, the Swiss Banks, and Bermuda, along with Mitt's Magic IRA-IRAs have a $5000 limit yet Mitt managed to bend the rules to the extent that he crammed $100 million dollars into it-his tax bill was in reality likely 1.39%, if that.
"Romney admits that over the last two years he's paid less than 15 percent in taxes on $43 million in income," a narrator says in the ad. Then, as the years 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005 flash on the screen, the narrator continues, "Makes you wonder if some years he paid any taxes at all."
It's a good ad, and a good question. What does Romney have to say about this? He has no answer. All he can do is try to change the subject:
"Whether hiding lobbyists in coffee shops, cutting back-room deals on Obamacare, or concealing the records of 'Fast and Furious,' President Obama's pledge to be transparent has turned out to be just another broken promise," Romney campaign spokesperson Amanda Henneberg said in a statement to CBS News."
This is the best they have. No one is fooled by this. The American people will not elect this man President if he can't even exhibit this level of transparency. Whatever Mitt Romney is hiding, it must be a doozy.
Questions:
ReplyDeleteIs Mitt Romney guilty until proven innocent?
Did Mitt Romney beat the IRS out of $300 million without an audit?
Why hasn't the informant come forward and claim his handsome reward for reporting a tax evader?
Why doesn't Harry Reid just tip off the IRS and let them handle it?
Surely this isn't a simple partisan, political ploy, is it?
Is the US Senate the appropriate place to charge Mitt Romney with tax evasion?
Is Harry Reid interested in Tim Geitner's tax problems? If so, why did he vote to confirm him as Secretary of the Treasury?
JMJordan
jmarkjordan@me.com
"Is Mitt Romney guilty until proven innocent?"
ReplyDeleteThis isn't a coourt of law with due process this is the court of public opinion, so yes. Just like President Obama was with the phoney questions about his long form birth certificate.
Why won't Romney "do an Obama?" When the President released his LFBC Birtherism was over. Why won't Romney do the same? If he is innocent as you seem to assume releasing his returns would have the same effect.
Why can't he level with the American people and stop bitching about the media? He's not being asked to do anything that every candidate since his father in the 60s hasn't done done. Why is Mitt Romney special-why do you think he's special? He must be special if he doesn't have to release his tax returns.
"Is the US Senate the appropriate place to charge Mitt Romney with tax evasion?"
In the Senate every candidate that must be confirmed has to release their tax returns. Why is Romney special and they aren't?
Then you actuallyl mention Geithner. At least he released his tax retruns as required to do Why won't Mitt Romney? This suggests that what Romney is hiding is worse than Geeithner as he relassed his taxes but Romney refuses to.
The American people demand answewrs. By a 54-37% margin they want Romney to release his tax returns.
The fact that you don't, shows you thikn he's special and that the rules don't apply to him.
What is he hiding? Why is he playing chicken with the American people? Does he think he has a prayer of bein elected if he refuses to do what every candidate since the 60s has done?
You're a typical GOP hack. Why not answer the question-what is Romney hiding? What makes him special? Rather than the usual game of deflecting. Try answering these questiosn than trying to change the subject to what the Democrats allegedly in your mind have or haven't done.