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Excerpt: "The public will see just two years of returns and no more, Romney said, before appearing to admit that the records may contain something politically damaging."

Mitt Romney, job-destroying corporate stiff, lacking in conscience and empathy, at Bain Capital buyout firm. (photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters)
Mitt Romney, job-destroying corporate stiff, lacking in conscience and empathy, at Bain Capital buyout firm. (photo: Brian Snyder/Reuters)



Romney Suggests Releasing Tax Returns Could Be Politically Damaging

By Igor Volsky, ThinkProgress

19 July 12

 

itt Romney appeared on Fox & Friends Monday morning to respond to the growing number of conservatives who are calling on the former Massachusetts governor to release more of his tax returns.

At least eight Republicans have urged Romney to publicize the records and put the issue behind him, but the candidate is sticking to his guns. The public will see just two years of returns and no more, Romney said, before appearing to admit that the records may contain something politically damaging:

ROMNEY: The Obama people keep on wanting more and more and more. More things to pick through, more things for their opposition research to try make a mountain out of and to distort and to be dishonest about. We’re going to put out two years of tax returns.

Watch it:

Republicans are also raising alarms about Romney’s returns. “The fact is, there are a couple of years he may not have paid any taxes,” MSNBC host and former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough predicted during Monday’s Morning Joe. “Maybe he’s concerned about that. But if it’s going to come out, he needs to get it out now so he has a couple of months to explain it.”

 

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+97 # MEBrowning 2012-07-18 07:28
If there is ANYTHING about his tax returns that Romney feels could be politically self-damaging, he should not be running for president. Period.
 
 
+29 # CAMUS1111 2012-07-18 09:49
he's a fascist--he shouldn't be running anyway!
 
 
+74 # Barbara K 2012-07-18 07:49
He doesn't want us to find out how crooked his business deals were; isn't that obvious? All the more reason we need to see his tax records. If he had nothing to hide, he could have shown us several past years already. The only reason not to show, is that he is hiding something. We already know how dishonest he is by all the lies he tells. Come on, Mitty, show us your tax records.
 
 
+8 # giraffee2012 2012-07-18 19:38
""For all those RepubliCons suggesting that the President show his College transcripts, I ask are you serious? Do you realize he had the great honor of achieving "magna cum laude" and he was the "head of the Harvard Law Review." For you who do not know what "magna cum laude" means, It is a distinction awarded to students who have displayed remarkable academic distinction, suggesting that the student worked even harder for his or her degree. Obama 2012"
 
 
+2 # Billy Bob 2012-07-20 12:17
They know that. They're just trying to distract and confuse the debate.
 
 
-110 # MidwestTom 2012-07-18 07:51
John Kerry gave us less. Is this all we can find to attack Romney on? What about his policies?
 
 
+85 # Linda 2012-07-18 08:31
John Kerry did put out his tax returns MidwestTom ,"get the facts straight ," it was his wife who didn't put out all of hers and she wasn't running for President !
John McCain balked but in the end he did put out more tax returns .
You know darn well he is hiding tax evasion and god knows what else or he would show them.
Perhaps he is afraid of not just losing votes he might be afraid of prosecution for tax evasion !
If he had nothing to hide he wouldn't make an issue out of showing the tax returns period !
When your own party is calling for you to step forward and show the documentation and you still refuse there has to be something pretty darn damaging to your political career !
 
 
+40 # rcossebo 2012-07-18 08:48
Don't you think that being a man who used Bain to kill off companies and peoples retirements is “just cause” to ask questions about his FINANCIAL SITUATION? Um, let's see, if the companies go bankrupt and people are out in the cold and yet Mr. R becomes UBER-RICH and then doesn't really disclose a lot of the info on the taxes, hummmm; yeah, I could see how that would kill him politically and other ways! Seriously, if he is SUCH A GREAT GUY, why the HELL isn't he being more transparent and not so BETTER THAN THE SMELLY MASSES! He is the one who chose PUBLIC LIFE! If he had something to hide, he should have thought about it more. He's coming off like "every-man" with his speeches and yet all the pictures and comments he makes are nothing more than another nail in the coffin of his political career. Good for him, at least he has principle, or is that stupidity?
 
 
+15 # CAMUS1111 2012-07-18 09:51
are you simply ignorant of the facts or actually lying? Inquiring minds want to know.
 
 
+19 # Feral Dogz 2012-07-18 10:56
Quoting MidwestTom:
John Kerry gave us less. Is this all we can find to attack Romney on? What about his policies?


Yes Tom, what about his policies? They also remain a great mystery!
 
 
+4 # KittatinyHawk 2012-07-18 18:49
No Conscience No Policies
 
 
+3 # AMLLLLL 2012-07-20 14:59
Yes, McCain and Kerry had already submitted tax returns as part of their disclosure as senators.
Romney doesn't seem to understand it's not the opposition he owes his disclosure to, it's us.
 
 
+9 # Feral Dogz 2012-07-18 11:06
Quoting MidwestTom:
John Kerry gave us less. Is this all we can find to attack Romney on? What about his policies?


Am I missing something? Is Kerry on the ballot again?

This must be turning up on this morning's GOP talking points for trolls email.
 
 
+25 # myungbluth 2012-07-18 11:10
So, let me get this straight. Obama, badgered for years by lies about his citizenship, has to suffer the indignity heaped upon him by the likes of Doofus Trump and the rabid right wing conspiracy theorists, but Mittens cannot BEAR to have merely his "perfectly legal" financial data - which employs every trick in the book designed for the wickedly wealthy - scanned by the very public he wants to elect him. There's something rotten in Denmark - I mean, Switzerland!
 
 
+5 # KittatinyHawk 2012-07-18 18:50
And do not forget the Cayman Islands
 
 
+17 # Feral Dogz 2012-07-18 11:18
By definition, if one has something and everyone knows he has it and he refuses to show it to anyone, he is hiding it.

Enacted in 1966, the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, gives any person the right to access federal agency records or information. The FOIA is based on the presumption that the government and its information belong to the people.

Aren't IRS records federal agency records?

Why do we need Mitt's permission to see his tax records?
 
 
+11 # Todd Williams 2012-07-18 11:27
No ,Midwest Tom, this is not all on which we can attack Lord Romney . There are plenty other things starting with his miserable record as governor. I'd also like to see a thorough investigation of his time as head of the US Olympic Committee. I wonder what juicey dirt can be dug up on that deal?
 
 
+4 # Billy Bob 2012-07-18 12:52
As a conservative you should be proud that he follows your policy of no taxes for the rich. What's he ashamed of? It's just milton friedman's zombie at work. I'm sure that if they were ever revealed, you'd defend them.
 
 
0 # LiberalRN 2012-07-18 19:53
I agree with Linda re: getting the facts straight - always important if there's to be any hope of counteracting lies like Romney's. I also agree with MidwestTom that there's much more than tax returns to attack Romney on - the tax returns are a symptom of much greater problems.
 
 
+2 # Lolanne 2012-07-19 09:06
Quoting MidwestTom:
John Kerry gave us less. Is this all we can find to attack Romney on? What about his policies?


What policies? He doesn't have any, he just changes his outlook depending on which way the wind is blowing that day. The only absolute to etch-a-sketch romney is whatever his handlers tell him to say on any given subject...and he'll change it as many times as necessary to pander to public opinion.
 
 
0 # RenDP 2012-08-04 13:08
Quoting MidwestTom:
John Kerry gave us less. Is this all we can find to attack Romney on? What about his policies?


It's a little hard to ask about those as he doesn't know what they are himself.
 
 
+10 # grouchy 2012-07-18 08:18
Oh golly gee, I certainly hope so!
 
 
+50 # GeeRob 2012-07-18 08:40
John Kerry released 5 years of tax returns when he ran for POTUS in 2004. Theresa Heniz Kerry never ran for the presidency.
Romney has painted himself into a corner with the help of Obama's smart campaign staff. It couldn't happen to a more deserving person (and I use the word 'person' lightly).
 
 
+23 # CAMUS1111 2012-07-18 09:59
Kerry actually had released 20 years of returns--http:/ /blogs.detroitn ews.com/politic s/2012/07/17/jo hn-kerry-releas ed-20-years-of- tax-returns/
 
 
+10 # BradFromSalem 2012-07-18 11:17
Of course he's a person! He's a corporation ain't he, my friend.
 
 
+3 # KittatinyHawk 2012-07-18 18:54
They can be audited also
 
 
+24 # BradFromSalem 2012-07-18 08:43
I agree with Mitt, in fact unless everyone's tax return is public information, then nobody's tax return should be public.

That being said, there is of course a caveat. If you are running for President, US Senator, or the US Congress, then the IRS must conduct a full tax audit. The results of that audit then become public information. This takes all the stupid stuff out, and also the confusing details. The audit could release totals of income types, and amounts paid in tax on that income. Where money is being hoarded, on shore or off and the taxes paid on those dollars as well.

Until we legally define what must be released or done to run for elective office I would think that Mitt should follow current convention, release his tax returns under protest and use it as a platform to propose sane legislation. But, of course, he is not that kind of guy. You know, the kind that actually solves problems.
 
 
+7 # Billy Bob 2012-07-18 13:06
I agree he's not that kind of guy. He's also not the kind who pays taxes.
 
 
+1 # KittatinyHawk 2012-07-18 18:56
It would prove that he was with Bain, signing those contracts although he was not in charge or was that not in charge in 2002 He does confuse with every mouthful he utters....
 
 
+51 # WahSupDoc 2012-07-18 08:43
Other presidents and presidential candidates have released their returns. Pres.Obama has released past 11-yrs and VP Biden has released past 14-yrs of returns. Romney is definitely hiding something otherwise he'd release his and put this issue to bed.
 
 
+21 # rcossebo 2012-07-18 08:59
Seriously? Is this guy for real?
When McCain said that gun toting Sarah would have made a better candidate, the Party should have taken notice! Oh wait, it really IS a good OLD boy network isn't it??? No Women allowed except to make the coffee!
 
 
+5 # linkedout 2012-07-18 09:34
I, for one, welcome our new Mormon overlords.
 
 
+4 # Billy Bob 2012-07-18 13:04
Are you quoting Kent Brochman about the giant ants from outer space?
 
 
+25 # mdhome 2012-07-18 10:35
There sure is a lot of stink around the mitt lately. I'd bet my last dollar on his paying no taxes on his quarter of a billion in offshore accounts.
 
 
-15 # MidwestTom 2012-07-18 10:47
I do not want to be put in the place of defending the apparent Republican candidate. I would have preferred Ron Paul or Hillary Clinton, both of whom are more honest and principled than either Romney or Obama, in my opinion. I am sure that Romney did all he legally could to avoid paying taxes, just like every other citizen, and he had access to the tools that all people with great wealth to save on taxes. Remember back three years when many of the top people chosen by Obama simply had not paid their taxes. If Romeny has broken any tax law I am sure that he would have been prosecuted by now. At the end of the day we are wasting time on this issue when we should be forcing him to define what he would do differently to help the economy. In my opinion neither candidate appears to have plan, both are suggesting band-aids, when open-heart surgery is probably what is needed.
 
 
+7 # Billy Bob 2012-07-18 12:58
Most Americans don't have the ability to avoid paying taxes altogether.

This isn't about "breaking the law". Since when has "breaking the law" been the only measure of whether or not a person is qualified to be President.

We are certainly NOT wasting time discussing whether or not he paid any taxes when his sole constituency are the super-duper-übe r rich who think taxes are only for the rest of us to pay and support their financial adventures.
 
 
+5 # Billy Bob 2012-07-18 13:04
I agree with loraxt10. It's pretty hard to do anything "illegal" when you represent the very people who wrote the tax laws in the first place.
 
 
+2 # KittatinyHawk 2012-07-18 18:59
He is going to be found out about his Bain Holdings and Directorship in a time he says he was not. He will be seen for the contracts he signed to China while Americans were goin off Unemployment...

He is Slime from his Governorship to his Healthcare bs to Bain and Offshore Accounts. Their is nothing American about this slime bag.
 
 
+14 # loraxt10 2012-07-18 10:49
my guess is that Mitt didn't do anything "illegal" because these people have hired
"the best and the brightest" to write the
tax laws and have bought our congress to
get them passed. Not illegal, but immoral,
dishonest, unpatriotic, and another example
of the rules only applying to "the little
people".
 
 
+12 # pernsey 2012-07-18 11:47
Romney Suggests Releasing Tax Returns Could Be Politically Damaging...

DUH!!! Ya think?
 
 
+13 # brown.joe.e@gmail.com 2012-07-18 11:51
Oh wow! There's a chance that a rich man didn't pay his taxes?! Say it isn't so!

The democrats don't know how to fight. Here they are, demanding,"Rele ase your tax information! We believe it's your weakness!"

Versus,

"Mr. Romney is hiding information about his past. What does he NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT HIM? Can YOU trust him to be your president?"
 
 
+11 # vgirl1 2012-07-18 11:52
"“The fact is, there are a couple of years he may not have paid any taxes,” MSNBC host and former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough predicted during Monday’s Morning Joe. “Maybe he’s concerned about that. But if it’s going to come out, he needs to get it out now so he has a couple of months to explain it.”"
_________________________________________

...so he has a couple of months to explain it.

Wow! The TPrepublicans are really convinced (and they may be right) that America will just let this candidate, who epitomizes the greed and favoritism the TPrepublicans are so inclined to protect, skirt his way into the oval office regardless of the secret money or hidden finances he represents, just because they so hate the notion of the Black man in the White house.
 
 
+11 # brown.joe.e@gmail.com 2012-07-18 12:00
The fact is, Romney is the GOP's token "job creator."

Romney's actions as CEO of Bain Capital would serve as text book examples of the practices that brought the economy to its knees, and the rampant out-sourcing that left Americans without jobs while executives got pay raises.

I really the hope the Obama Campaign capitalizes on the GOP's Achilles Heel - running a rich boy for President.
 
 
+2 # Kootenay Coyote 2012-07-18 12:01
Manifestly has dirty secrets to hide: otherwise....
 
 
-6 # SMoonz 2012-07-18 12:20
Romney should release his tax records and Obama should release the "Fast and Furious" documents.
 
 
+6 # Billy Bob 2012-07-18 13:14
Which "fast and furious" documents are you requiring? You mean the ones stating that it was a law written by repuglicans and merely continued by Obama? Do you mean the secret documents showing that giving guns to people raises the violent crime rate?

You want Obama to release records to prove something non-existent. You want him to magically produce non-existent records to confirm your wild allegations.

We want Mittens to release his tax returns. If he has nothing to hide it shouldn't be a problem.
 
 
-7 # KittatinyHawk 2012-07-18 19:03
thank you for a good retort...very surprised
 
 
-1 # SMoonz 2012-07-18 19:34
Interesting, so you do admit that the Obama administration was involved in an illegal gun running operation... yes, it started under Bush (Operation Wide Receiver) and continued with Obama (Fast And Furious). Still illegal.

You are incorrect by calling it a "law" when it wasn't a law but an operation. Law is legal. Operations are dubious and not always legal.

The operation did not show that "giving guns" raises violent crime. The operation was done to track guns as they were shipped to Mexican Drug Cartels to see in who's hands they wound up. The operation backfired and killed at least 1 federal agent and may have been responsible for the deaths of 30 thousand Mexicans.

By calling it an Operation that shows how guns increase violent crime is downright irresponsible at best.

Now, you claim that I want records release of something non-existent? You clearly state that this operation was happening during Bush and Obama. So it is definitely real. And I would hardly call it "wild allegations" when there has been an ongoing investigation.. . I guess I made all this up.

And for the record, I definitely want to see tax returns. Mitt Romney has no business being President. Then again, neither does Obama.
 
 
-1 # Billy Bob 2012-07-19 17:10
Are you familiar with the police tactic of a "sting"? Are cops guilty of being drug dealers or pimps when the do a sting operation to catch drug dealers and pimps?

This is a sting operation. Sting operations are legal. DEAL WITH IT.

If you have evidence that it was more than that, and that government agents were actually involved in moving the guns across the boarder (rather than simply turning a temporary blind eye), you should report it to one of the major news outlets.

So far, no one else has any evidence that a crime was committed either. They just HOPE one was, and they're HOPING they can find some documents showing that one was.

It's a fishing expedition in an empty lake, but don't let that stop you. If you find some hard evidence of the crime you're accusing, let us know. You might become as famous as the right-wing blogger who started this whole controversy. The only difference is that you won't just be making it up.
 
 
0 # Billy Bob 2012-07-19 17:51
By the way, if giving guns to people doesn't raise the violent crime rate, then what's the problem? It seems your entire argument stems from the fact that some of the guns that were allowed to be smuggled ended up being used.

It's irresponsible at best to think otherwise.
 
 
+5 # chrisconnolly 2012-07-18 13:51
When Bush was preparing to steal his first election his historical total lack of business acumen was public information. He was still able to garner enough votes in spite of this dismal business record to steal the elections. It seems clear this Romney hokus pokus actually could again fool the majority, or they just don't see his tax evasion as having any bearing on his qualifications for leader of the free world.
 
 
+6 # humanmancalvin 2012-07-18 14:02
I'm thinking at this point that Mr. Romney will contradict a whole slew of things that he has BS'ed about already on the stump if he releases his tax records. It is more than obvious that this uber-wealthy politician has changed his policies to suit the crowd he stands in front of. Claims one thing to cater to this particular group, yet another to the next group.
The list of things he could be hiding are deep & may no doubt knock the man out of contention before the voting ever starts. Outside of the fact that way too many Republicans will vote for him whatever is revealed, that may not be enough as independents may make or break this race. Of course a large group on the right see absolutely nothing wrong with a little tax dodge here & there as they believe that they are being far overtaxed to begin with despite paying the lowest rates in 80 years.
only solution? Obama/Biden. Period.
 
 
+5 # tinkertoodle 2012-07-18 14:48
What he's hiding is that although he said he left Bain Capital to take over the Olympics there is evidence he was still running it as the CEO and drawing a paycheck when all those jobs were outsourced and he's outright lying about it. If he releases the tax forms it will prove he was behind it.
 
 
+2 # KittatinyHawk 2012-07-18 19:06
This is the whole of it he keeps tottering over dates, what he did, what others did but no one sees others signatures just his
I believe that this should be looked into for all its worth. Tax Evasion is minor, that would not stop him I do believe he has lied outright about Bain and his Position, Contracts, Firing Americans...and he knows full well that this will end his Campaign.
Time for IRS Audit and FBI investigation after all someone signed a lot of contracts that gave a lot of money and jobs to China.
 
 
+6 # allie 2012-07-18 15:03
Swift boating aside, I well remember the big stink the republicans put up over Kerry’s wealth, let alone his wife’s. Kerry’s wealth was put on display by those thugs, egging the public on, to reject him. Everyone knows all the political wealth is and always has been held by repubs. How ironic, Kerry’s name came to the forefront of Mitt’s tax mess.
 
 
+10 # granny6 2012-07-18 16:42
I for one are so very, very, tired of being treated like the village idiot by the Republican Party. Do they really think we are all that stupid? It is time to show them that we are smart enough to not put a rich, bully into the White House. Let's face it if he bullied that kid when he was in high school he didn't out grow it.
Once a bully always a bully. He even bullied the family dog.
 
 
+3 # Pancho 2012-07-18 17:25
The list is way bigger than this, and growing rapidly. The National Review just endorsed a release of returns.

These eighteen very prominent Republicans are calling on Romney to release more tax returns, now:

George Will. Bill Kristol. Ron Paul. Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley. Michael Steele. Rep. Walter Jones. Ana Navarro. Rep. Pete Sessions. Gov. Haley Barbour. Matthew Dowd. Rick Tyler. John Weaver. Brit Hume. David Frum. John Feehery. Gov. Rick Perry Texas. Sen. Chuck Grassley. Sen. Dick Lugar.
 
 
0 # KittatinyHawk 2012-07-18 19:08
Amazing now where is Walker's name, Palin, Bachman list for me is longer Boner

Could be a boost for Ron Paul
 
 
+2 # MEBrowning 2012-07-18 20:50
Let's hope not. Notwithstanding his position on war and drugs, Ron Paul would be a disastrous president, too.
 
 
+6 # WestWinds 2012-07-18 17:29
The Rethuglicons are making a big deal out of Obama lack of transparency, yet, Mitt Robme is declaring he's not going to be transparent from before he would take office. Remind us again why We the People would ever want to vote for this person who made his millions by buying out companies, firing workers and cannibalizing the assets? Now he puts a new facet on his diamond, lack of intellectual honest with We the People by not releasing his tax forms.
 
 
0 # Billy Bob 2012-07-19 21:54
He made his money the old-fashioned way. He inherited it.

He then used the millions he inherited just like you said.
 
 
+2 # KittatinyHawk 2012-07-18 19:13
Tax Evasion will be the least Damaging. He is going to be undone about his Lying about Bains He is gonna show Americans, Republican, Democrat, Independent, Green that he sold out jobs to China Already saw the Olympic Uniforms there is lots more to come

If I was an American Olympian I would be wearing American Blue Jeans and TeeShirts There is plenty of time to get them now. I hope they do not disgrace America and where this Foreign Trash. I will not watch the Olympics nor do I care if we win. Olympics are sell outs I am sorry for those who have bought into the bs, families who thought this was about honoring America.
Olympics are about money, nothing more, nothing less. Athletes are just pawns, their families also.

Mitt representing himself, he is also representing Mormons. I believe that this will prove again that Religion has no place in Politics. Religion is Politics of its own.
 
 
+2 # Susan1989 2012-07-18 20:10
It might be pure arrogance that is motivating his stubborness. This man is one of the coldest people I have ever met. Yes....I met him years ago and was blown away by his superior attitude. He has no respect for people.
 

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