Harry Reid manages to turn Romney’s tax returns into a good story for Romney
While we were focused on T-SPLOST, the presidential campaign marched on. Which is not to say it moved forward, in any normal sense of the word.
The latest moment in the summer silly season comes courtesy of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, employing the “when did you stop beating your wife?” technique toward Mitt Romney’s tax returns. From the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Sen. Harry Reid caused a stir this week when he told an interviewer that Mitt Romney hasn’t released more of his tax returns because “he didn’t pay taxes for 10 years.” On Wednesday, Reid doubled down on the charge. …
“I am not basing this on some figment of my imagination,” Reid said in a telephone call with Nevada reporters. “I have had a number of people tell me that.”
Asked to elaborate on his sources, Reid declined. “No, that’s the best you’re going to get from me.”
“I don’t think the burden should be on me,” Reid said. “The burden should be on him. He’s the one I’ve alleged has not paid any taxes. Why didn’t he release his tax returns?”
This is, not to put too fine a point on it, un-American.
You see, in this country, the burden of proof is on the accuser. That is the standard in criminal cases, and it informs our sense of propriety in the court of public opinion.
This is why neither 9/11 “truthers” nor Obama “birthers” have gotten any traction with the broader public: Their respective “cases” — to use another word loosely — rely on accusations they can’t prove and an implication the accused should prove they’ve done nothing wrong. That’s not how it works in this country.
For good measure, Reid also suggested Romney’s own deceased father would be disappointed in his son. I’m glad to know Reid’s tastelessness knows no bounds.
The good news is that the senator’s claim is likely to shift the focus from Romney to those jumping the shark while badgering him to release his past tax returns. After all, when you’ve lost Jon Stewart …
(Note: If you click that Jon Stewart link, you should expect to hear some language we don’t allow on AJC blogs. And no, I’m not going to defend the claims on the Fox & Friends clips he shows at the end.)
– By Kyle Wingfield
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988 comments Add your comment
Numbers-R-US
August 2nd, 2012
3:24 pm
Since there were no actual answers, I’ll try again.
What is Mitt campaigning on these days. Is he still promising to use his undisclosed experience at Bain to create jobs via increased tax cuts for the wealthy. Is he still promising to repeal Obamacare as soon as he gets in office. Is he promising to define marriage as the Bible defines it. Is he promising to make all abortions illegal with mandatory jail time for any woman caught with birth control pills. Will he declare Mormon the official religion of the land.
JamVet
August 2nd, 2012
3:25 pm
LHU, according to the neocons, the lazy, shiftless Jews are still on the Democratic plantation because they are just looking for all of those handouts from the government.
One day they will wake up and learn that the Republicans are really their best friends…
Lord Help Us
August 2nd, 2012
3:25 pm
‘Good luck getting re-elected by losing the white vote.’
Obama lost the white vote 55%-43% in 2008…try again…
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 2nd, 2012
3:26 pm
There is no need for elaboration to the statement “they don’t”, Joe Mama.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:27 pm
“Obama lost the white vote 55%-43% in 2008…try again”
link please.
Thanks
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:28 pm
“according to the neocons, the lazy, shiftless Jews”
JamVet loves to lie.
Lord Help Us
August 2nd, 2012
3:28 pm
‘link please.’
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/exit-polls.html
Willie
August 2nd, 2012
3:29 pm
If a republican said the same stupid, irrational, brain addled nonsense as Harry Reid the media would laugh them out of public life.
Lord Help Us
August 2nd, 2012
3:30 pm
‘link please.’
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/exit-polls.html
If you have better info, please provide…thanks in advance.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 2nd, 2012
3:30 pm
“What is Mitt campaigning on these days.”
Job. As usual.
“Is he still promising to use his undisclosed experience at Bain to create jobs via increased tax cuts for the wealthy.”
No.
“Is he still promising to repeal Obamacare as soon as he gets in office.”
Yes.
“Is he promising to define marriage as the Bible defines it.”
No.
“Is he promising to make all abortions illegal with mandatory jail time for any woman caught with birth control pills.”
No.
“Will he declare Mormon the official religion of the land.”
No.
Colin
August 2nd, 2012
3:30 pm
It’d be nice if the polls were legal, but they’re cooked too. Didn’t we learn that from the movie ‘Wall Street’ back in 1987? “Now, you’re not naive enough to think we’re still living in a Democracy are you?” How true.
I wonder if we’ll get a prize for being the two or three generations who have regressed humanity the most. All you can really do is laugh at this point.
When I got back from the war, I had both Republicans I knew, and Democrats, saying all Veterans should kill themselves because we were mercenaries for a war no one wanted.
But what can you expect? With an exception to the true Natives of this country, we’re all essentially immigrants. I am not a huge JFK fan, but his comment of “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” seems centuries ago. Most everything I have heard about immigrants in modern America (and many natural-born citizens, too) is what can my country do for me. I came here for a better life for ME. MY family.
Never mind the huge sacrifices that did, at one time, make this country great.
All this stupid name-calling back and forth on here really does exemplify it. Like a tennis match. Politicians are the players simply hitting the tennis balls back and forth. We’re the balls. Not only are we falling, we’re laughing at ourselves as we’re falling. Eh, what can you do?
Gimme Gimme Gimme
August 2nd, 2012
3:31 pm
“according to the neocons, the lazy, shiftless Jews”
JamVet loves to lie.
Creative writing would be a nicer way to put it.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:31 pm
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows Mitt Romney attracting 48% of the vote, while President Obama earns 43%. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, and another three percent (3%) are undecided.
The president picks up support from just 35% of white voters overall. That’s eight points below the 43% of the white vote he won in 2008. Among white Democrats, 17% currently plan to vote for Romney.
stands for decibels
August 2nd, 2012
3:31 pm
Good luck getting re-elected by losing the white vote.
Hm. How could a guy ever manage to win a Presidential election with only, say, 43% or so of the white vote? It boggles the mind.
It’s unpossible.
Susan McMahon
August 2nd, 2012
3:31 pm
Last weekend in an interview, when Romney was asked if he’s always paid at least the 13.9% on the one year (2010) he disclosed (and not even fully).
Romney replied that he wasn’t sure,. Really? You don’t think he’s had staffers pouring through his returns? I don’t buy it for one second. He also said that he’s be “happy” to look into it. Well, we’re still waiting…
You betcha if he’d paid at least that rate in prior years, he would affirmatively say so.
This all points to the need for REAL TAX REFORM!
REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL AFFILIATION, are you folks out there really OK with Romney paying a lower rate than you? Off-shoring his money in tax havens? (He didn’t park his dough in Bermuda and The Cayman Islands for the weather.)
Come on? Where is your sense of basic fairness? You want to subsidize this kind of guy? Remember, taxes pay for the military, etc. Romney and his ilk should pay their fair share!
JamVet
August 2nd, 2012
3:31 pm
Cat,
I checked out the source code on the Romney website and talk about outdated! It is from March 2012.
He’s changed his mind on numerous issues numerous times since then.
Do you have something with his current positions of them?
Say from the last 15 minutes or so?
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:32 pm
Obama loses 8% of white vote he had in 2008
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows Mitt Romney attracting 48% of the vote, while President Obama earns 43%. Six percent (6%) prefer some other candidate, and another three percent (3%) are undecided.
The president picks up support from just 35% of white voters overall. That’s eight points below the 43% of the white vote he won in 2008. Among white Democrats, 17% currently plan to vote for Romney.
Numbers-R-US
August 2nd, 2012
3:32 pm
Wow. Facebook just keeps on dropping. If anyone wants to get out with a little bit to show for their investment, I’ll buy your FB shares for $5/each.
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
3:33 pm
Numbers – troll on
In you vain attempts to be clever, you should stride to be correct or at least credible ..
I get it…you don’t like Mitt, but the best defense you have for your position is based on what you can just make up….stay classy
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:33 pm
“If you have better info, please provide…thanks in advance.”
See above
Joe Mama
August 2nd, 2012
3:33 pm
Tiberius — “There is no need for elaboration to the statement “they don’t”, Joe Mama.”
I think there is when Quinnipiac’s Polling Institute *itself* states that they employ weighting in their polling methodology.
If you’ve heard that they haven’t, then I’m interested in where and how that claim was made, and by whom. I’m sure you’ll understand when I say that Quinnipiac’s statements seem more credible than your unsupported claims, particularly when you don’t seem to want to say any more than “they don’t” and the like.
I’m really trying to be fair to you, but if you’re not going to give me any more than that to go on, then I don’t see how you can expect me to believe you on this matter.
Vietnam2
August 2nd, 2012
3:33 pm
Logic? Is Mitt a member of the Bohemian Club? Since you profess intelligence. You should already know about the Bohemian Club. As a liberal, I do. I learned about it in 1982 in CA and then the AJC reported Newt went every year as SOTH. You probably know the following facts too.. Every GOP president since Calvin Coolidge has been a member of the BC, 90 years of history to back up the BC membership.. If Mitt is a true Mormon, he should not be member of the BC .Do you still think he has a chance to be elected? I figure McCain picked Palin to lose because it was getting to close in 08. That was due to people like you, who have so much LOGIC they would accept Sarah Palin as a world leader??? You tell people to Google. Just for fun! GOOGLE Phil Gramm R TX and read what the DEREGULATION of banks and derivatives has done to the US and world economy. If you vote for Mitt, you will get more DEREGULATION and the same results. Mitt has already said get government out of the way of private business and the economy will be better. When Obama talks about the past, this is what he’s talking about. Your GOP’s favorite talk is about deregulation. I know you already know this but how much money was traded in derivatives between 2000 – June 2008? Thanks to Phil and his GOP friends for deregulating banks and derivatives. IF you own a house, have you lost any value? Last but not least, what do you think caused the financial crisis on Sept 8th 2008?
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:34 pm
“are you folks out there really OK with Romney paying a lower rate than you?”
He pays more taxes than anyone on this blog.
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
3:35 pm
Jam…what’s the capitol of Israel ?
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:35 pm
Vietnam2
Paranoid much?
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
3:36 pm
Logic – He pays more taxes than anyone on this blog.
combined!
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:36 pm
“IF you own a house, have you lost any value?”
None of your business.
” what do you think caused the financial crisis on Sept 8th 2008?”
Barney Frank and Christopher Dodd can answer that question for you.
Numbers-R-US
August 2nd, 2012
3:36 pm
I see Tiberius has posted his opinion of what Mitt will do. He may have even got a few of those answers correct. Too bad he missed the first two though.
Lord Help Us
August 2nd, 2012
3:36 pm
‘The president picks up support from just 35% of white voters overall. That’s eight points below the 43% of the white vote he won in 2008. Among white Democrats, 17% currently plan to vote for Romney.’
Except for that darn electoral college thingy…
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:37 pm
“Quinnipiac’s statements seem more credible”
No not really considering they sample more Dems than Repubs in their polling.
Just like that bogus CBS/NT Times poll that came out the other day.
Dusty
August 2nd, 2012
3:38 pm
Just wondering……
Are there any psychiatrists here today? If so, maybe you could help one of our posters who has an extended peeve which he has exaggerated into a mental debacle. I mean talking about a former president and V. President with ugly names, misinformation and repetitious insults three years after they are gone. The diagnostic symptoms are all there. Is there any help for this broken one?
Numbers-R-US
August 2nd, 2012
3:38 pm
He pays more taxes than anyone on this blog.
How about posting his returns so the rest of us can confirm your claim. Then again, you’re most likely just making up answers without any factual basis to support them.
Gimme Gimme Gimme
August 2nd, 2012
3:38 pm
Logic ““are you folks out there really OK with Romney paying a lower rate than you?”
He pays more taxes than anyone on this blog.
Hey Logic…they don’t understand that and they never will. I call them “%er’s”. If they were offered a job (OK..stop laughing) and they had a choice between being paid 10% of a million dollars or 50% of $20K they would take the 50% of $20K because in their minds that is more.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:39 pm
“Except for that darn electoral college thingy…”
It’s funny how left wingers are always talking about getting rid of the electoral college when their candidates lose but when their candidate ONLY leads in the electoral college they are all for it.
Can’t wait to see Hussein go down in November.
Hmmmmmm
August 2nd, 2012
3:39 pm
@Susan
Obama would and probably does the same thing with his taxes… If it’s legal, then why should anybody have a problem…
Yes, we need tax reform, but we will NEVER get reform from any of these politicians… Republican or Democrats will never reform or limit the amount of power the government has on the people it governs.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:40 pm
Gimme Gimme Gimme
Most of the left wingers that reside on the AJC blogs can’t even do simple math. Of course they don’t understand the tax system.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:40 pm
“How about posting his returns so the rest of us can confirm your claim.
Dumbest comment of the day.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:41 pm
Dusty
JamVet or Numbers? Both are in great need of a doctor.
JamVet
August 2nd, 2012
3:43 pm
The Romney campaign and its allies on the Jewish right have been mounting a campaign in recent weeks to try to peel off a small but significant segment of the Jewish voting population in swing states and deliver it to Mitt Romney. But even those carrying out this strategy acknowledge it’s a long shot.
Try being a little less bigoted, xenophobic and fascistic. It might actually work better than some goofball strategery that nobody of any consequence is going to buy into…
JamVet
August 2nd, 2012
3:45 pm
How about posting his returns so the rest of us can confirm your claim.
Hysterical. And niiiice burn.
Romneybots – open mouths, insert feet.
(Does this mean that Mitt is one twelfth the man his dad was?)
getalife
August 2nd, 2012
3:46 pm
Reid knew the right would deflect to him.
They are framing robme as a felon.
White collar crimes.
Colin
August 2nd, 2012
3:46 pm
REGARDLESS OF YOUR POLITICAL AFFILIATION, are you folks out there really OK with Romney paying a lower rate than you? Off-shoring his money in tax havens? (He didn’t park his dough in Bermuda and The Cayman Islands for the weather.)
Come on? Where is your sense of basic fairness? You want to subsidize this kind of guy? Remember, taxes pay for the military, etc. Romney and his ilk should pay their fair share!
- Well put, Susan. It is the American public that is misrepresented. The whole thing IS about honesty, loyalty and service when you are President … especially of an entire country. He or She is a representative of us. Our main ambassador.
Not a huge Obama fan. Definitely NOT a Mitt Romney fan at all. Have not been a Republican fan in years. At least John McCain was an honorable man, and a national hero, at that — at least he was honest. Romney isn’t even a good liar. From what I have seen and heard he seems like some hillbilly buffoon.
Sure he has money. It’s not difficult to make a lot of money if that’s all you want to do is be rich. You can steamroll many honest, hard-working people, lie to others and sucker even more with this or that.
It’s about standing up in the face of all of that. Standing up for what is right. The person or people who, by bad luck or circumstance may not have had as fair a shake as you. Because, in the end, it is you.
getalife
August 2nd, 2012
3:47 pm
“I am not a crook” willard robme.
Lord Help Us
August 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
‘Try being a little less bigoted, xenophobic and fascistic.’
Maybe Mitt can sing a rendition of ‘Bomb bomb bomb, bomb by Iran’ and bump up his cred for more of the Jewish vote…What? Someone already tried that? How did that work out?
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
“Hysterical. And niiiice burn.”
JamVet thinks that stupid comments are a burn? Hysterical.
Soapy Johnson
August 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
This coming off Harry Reid’s seizure over burning Olympic uniforms made in China, while pushing policy that prices jobs out of America — http://placeitonluckydan.com/2012/07/100-american-china/
Numbers-R-US
August 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
Logic,
How about posting his returns so the rest of us can confirm your claim.
getalife
August 2nd, 2012
3:48 pm
LSU # 1.
Get some bama.
Our quarterback can throw this time .
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
Jam @ 3:43..what was bigoted, fascistic or xenophobic in that post?
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
3:49 pm
” are you folks out there really OK with Romney paying a lower rate than you?”
Deja Vu??????? Didn’t we already go over this? ROMNEY PAYS MORE IN TAXES THAN EVERYONE ON THIS BLOG…COMBINED.
Well, maybe not JamVet since he doesn’t work.