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
Colin
August 2nd, 2012
4:14 pm
Hmmmmmm
August 2nd, 2012
4:00 pm
Colin
Have you just realized that republicans and democrats are only out for themselves… I mean, they have their own retirement package, health benefits, and choose to ignore everything or every reason they are in office to accomplish…
– Hmmmmm: I do, and I know I sound naive at times. Sometimes I feel you have to keep restating the truth over and over until people listen and not just hear.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 2nd, 2012
4:14 pm
cat…. That may be correct from your limited perspective.
Thulsa Doom
August 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
Joe Mama,
I found an interesting article in regards to what we were talking about last week about govt coming in and making zoning decisions about churches and businesses,etc. I believe my contention was that govt does these based on a number of reasons but rarely if ever have I seen govt try to stop a business from coming in based solely on their speech. Seems a few experts would agree with me on that point. Stopping businesses from coming in based solely on their speech is virtually unheard of.
“Alan Weinstein, a professor of law at Cleveland State University who specializes on the intersection of land-use law and constitutional issues, said he has seen officials try to use zoning laws to block adult stores or religious institutions, but never a commercial enterprise because of political views. He said that beyond the First Amendment, “in the land-use sphere, the government has no legitimate interest” in the political views of an applicant.”
Seems the ACLU is also in agreement on the free speech issue.
“If a government can silence an anti-gay business, the government can silence a pro-gay business,” said Adam Schwartz, a lawyer with the ACLU’s Illinois chapter.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444840104577553433755101016.html
Gimme Gimme Gimme
August 2nd, 2012
4:15 pm
“Percentages are fair. Romney makes $15 million one year … pays $3,000,000 in taxes at 20%. He nets $12 million.
I make $45,000 a year … pay $9,000 at 20%. I net $36,000.”
So what do you think bought more school lunches…Your $9,000 or Romney’s $3,000,000?
Piedmont South from North Georgia
August 2nd, 2012
4:16 pm
My guess would be Reid got the statement from someone connected to John McCain. McCains office had the returns.
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
4:17 pm
Numbers – what claim are you referring to?
Piedmont South from North Georgia
August 2nd, 2012
4:18 pm
The media prints information from undisclosed sources every day. Reporters couldn’t write their columns without them. I have that infomation from an undisclosed source.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 2nd, 2012
4:19 pm
Mitt made the statement “I have paid all the taxes required by law.” Since many of our posters will demand Reid back up his claim, then of course Romeny should be held to the same requirement. Show us your returns so that we may see you spoke the truth Mitt.
Hillbilly D
August 2nd, 2012
4:20 pm
Reid said someone told him that Mitt paid no taxes for ten years. He does not have to reveal his source.
That’s called toting tales in my world.
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
4:21 pm
Keep…I appreciate you paying more than the minimum
Piedmont – My guess would be that Bowling Green football is playing in the national championship game this year
Colin
August 2nd, 2012
4:23 pm
I believe my $9,000 did. Though I would like to have my cake and eat it too, I know there is more at stake than an unquenchable thirst for capital.
I didn’t find it necessary to make a huge amount of money, hoard a huge amount, and with that, didn’t have to say a “trickle down” effect would happen. In my opinion, I’ve learned the more you make, the more you want, the more you buy.
If Mitt didn’t “need” that $12 million, it would be elsewhere. And there’s where the story lies: trust.
You can look at all my tax records. And my wife’s not driving two Cadillacs.
Joe Mama
August 2nd, 2012
4:24 pm
Tiberius — “No you’re not.”
Sorry to disappoint you, but yes, I am.
“Your modus operandi is the same as it is over at that other site.”
That’s true. I’m being just as polite to you here as I would be over there. Then again, you don’t get over to Jay’s much, so it’s not surprising that you wouldn’t know that.
“Disagree just to be disagreeable.”
I haven’t *disagreed* with you, Tiberius. I’ve only asked for more information on an assertion you’ve made.
“I don’t play your game.”
Look, if you don’t want to tell me, then just *say* so. You don’t have to dance around and play passive-aggressive about it.
“It is important to note that one of the pollsters recent excuses for over sampling Democrats was to build in a bias due to expected increased turnout – completely missing their own polling data that showed Democrats less enthusiastic about this election than Republicans.”
I’d appreciate it if you’d post a link to that so I could read it for myself.
Thulsa Doom
August 2nd, 2012
4:25 pm
Piedmont South from North Georgia
August 2nd, 2012
4:08 pm
Thulsa Doom,
Reid doesn’t have to prove anything either.
Piedmont South,
I disagree. If the head of the U.S. Senate is going to make very damaging allegations he should have at least a shred of evidence. What kind of civil discourse are we going to have if some of the most powerful people in America just go around making crap up off the top of their head with nothing to back it up? There’s already enough “spin” out there on both sides. Do you want our political discourse to to disintegrate further into the sewer with people just making up crap out of thin air and not having to account for their made up BS?
And we’re not talking about some Joe Schmo talking head. We’re talking about the head of the U.S. Senate. Shouldn’t the man at least have some semblance of decency? Plenty of grade school kids have a better sense of decency than this man with what are so far completely bogus accusations.
md
August 2nd, 2012
4:25 pm
” A Presidential candidate should have no secrets from US citizens especially about his financial affairs. If he wants to keep them secret ……..”
He should meet at Caribou??
Hmmmmmm
August 2nd, 2012
4:25 pm
@Colin
LOL, Good luck with that…. Especially on this blog…. Unfortunately…
Gimme Gimme Gimme
August 2nd, 2012
4:27 pm
“And my wife’s not driving two Cadillacs.”
The hard working men and women on the line wish that she would.
independent thinker
August 2nd, 2012
4:28 pm
You think crotchety old John McCain decided that since Romney was a draft dodger and inveterate liar that he should do the honorable thing for his country and let Harry take a peak at hose twenty years of returns. McCain has already switched sides and told Michelle Bachmann that she is a disgrace to the GOP and to put up or shut up.
btull27
August 2nd, 2012
4:29 pm
This just in from the Obama economic braintrust,
Unemployment rates will drop as soon as more people give up looking for jobs and take themselves out of the equation.
Joe Mama
August 2nd, 2012
4:29 pm
Doom — “I found an interesting article in regards to what we were talking about last week about govt coming in and making zoning decisions about churches and businesses,etc. I believe my contention was that govt does these based on a number of reasons but rarely if ever have I seen govt try to stop a business from coming in based solely on their speech. Seems a few experts would agree with me on that point. Stopping businesses from coming in based solely on their speech is virtually unheard of.”
I don’t remember the specifics of your comments, but as I recall, you expressed amazement that government could tell a business where it could and could not locate. I pointed out that governments do it all the time via zoning restrictions, and I don’t think we went much past that.
FWIW, I *do* think that governments sometimes seek to restrict businesses for reasons that brush up against free expression — we started to talk about girlie clubs, and IIRC, there are a couple of municipalities in the area that have sought to deny business licenses to adult-related ventures.
“Seems the ACLU is also in agreement on the free speech issue.”
You’d be surprised who the ACLU takes up for sometimes. They even helped Rush Limbaugh with his legal defense for the doctor-shopping charges in FL.
Thulsa Doom
August 2nd, 2012
4:30 pm
“Since many of our posters will demand Reid back up his claim, then of course Romeny should be held to the same requirement.”
Keep up,
Hold them to the same standard??? The difference is that Reid made an accusation. Romney did not. How it is that you can’t seem to understand the difference is stupefying.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
4:31 pm
“And my wife’s not driving two Cadillacs.”
Who cares if someone drives two Cadillacs? Man you libs are just so angry that some people worked hard for what they have.
Colin
August 2nd, 2012
4:31 pm
@Hmmmmmm
Very true, very true. Oh well, at least we can laugh a little while longer … I hope!
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
4:32 pm
“Romney was a draft dodger and inveterate liar”
It surely didn’t bother left wingers that Billy Bob Clinton was a draft dodger. In fact, Obama would also have dodged the draft since he hates the military so much.
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
4:32 pm
how do you drive 2 Cadillacs?
Hillbilly D
August 2nd, 2012
4:33 pm
how do you drive 2 Cadillacs?
Very carefully.
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
4:34 pm
The left see’s Mitt as “too” successful
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
4:34 pm
The folks who cry about Mitt not paying his fair share should get a job, save and shut up about someone else having more than they do.
Hmmmmmm
August 2nd, 2012
4:34 pm
@Colin
It’s about to hit the fan, so to speak… Your absolutely right about the blood in the streets…. Oh well, we have done this to ourselves. We have only ourselves to blame…
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
“The left see’s Mitt as “too” successful”
The left pretty much hates anything that looks better or makes more than they do. They can’t stand success.
Colin
August 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
@ Gimme Gimme Gimme – I might if we could afford it, but not a neccesity or priority.
@ Logic – Mitt Romney thought Detroit would care if he let them know his wife was sporting two Caddies. And I’m not a “Lib” … I’ve worked pretty hard for all I have. Good, honest work, sir or ma’am.
Have you ever been right
August 2nd, 2012
4:36 pm
“The left pretty much hates anything that looks better or makes more than they do. They can’t stand success.”
Based on that criteria, they must love you to know end
hahahahahahaha
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
4:36 pm
“Mitt Romney thought Detroit would care if he let them know his wife was sporting two Caddies.”
Detroit is going bankrupt and I doubt they care what Mitt’s wife drives.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
4:37 pm
“Based on that criteria, they must love you to know end”
Speak english.
GT
August 2nd, 2012
4:37 pm
I think the boy has something he is hiding. They must be different than the ones he laid out for the last two years or why all the sweat. Real news has gotten so bad a rumor works now days as good as real fact.
Obama was against the superpac. Now they criticize his for using what he was against, superpac money. There are some who expect O to just sit on the side line while Romney buys the election. Part of what Romney has done with his superpac money both in the primaries and this election is curve off fact and then claim that was not his ad he had no control. I tell you in this generation of reporters I might have seriously questioned myself if man really landed on the moon. There is no one we can trust any more..
pogo
August 2nd, 2012
4:37 pm
Once again “Obama the Dumb” returns to the comfort of his tele-prompter. Those seepages of his real beliefs without the prompter were killing him. Now he has been instructed to stick to the script written for him by his advisors and read what the teleprompter says, no matter what. In other words they are telling him, “don’t tell people what you really believe in or we are toast in November”. “You didn’t build that” was a brief visit into what Obama really believes and his handlers know it. They also know it would destroy him to put his real belief system out to the masses.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
4:37 pm
Have you ever been right
How does one “know end?” Is “End” a person?
JamVet
August 2nd, 2012
4:38 pm
These are tough times for the faux conservatives.
REAL tough times.
They’ve tried desperately to get one of their looney tune candidates nominated, but pathetically ended up with RINOs.
Twice.
Good times out there on the lunatic fringe.
In four plus years, when Barry leaves the White House, he will look back on these opponents and probably feel like Lou Gehrig – the luckiest man on the face of the earth…
Have you ever been right
August 2nd, 2012
4:39 pm
Someone say teleprompter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ubsRRAADTg
“end of quote”
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
4:40 pm
Logic – eww no what he meant
Joe Mama
August 2nd, 2012
4:41 pm
E. Cat — “how do you drive 2 Cadillacs?”
Stand on top and use a *long* set of reins. I seen a purty girl do that at the circus oncet.
Have you ever been right
August 2nd, 2012
4:41 pm
Logic
You got the point load and clear. That is why spelling check is the only thing you have left.
If what you said was true about what liberals hate and you are none of that, you must get much love from the left.
Colin
August 2nd, 2012
4:41 pm
Unfortunately, Detroit is going bankrupt. I doubt as well they care much for Mitt Romney or Ann Romney. – hey, Logic, we actually agree!
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
4:41 pm
Jam – whats the capitol of Israel?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
August 2nd, 2012
4:41 pm
Distinctions without a difference, Doom.
larry
August 2nd, 2012
4:42 pm
Man you libs are just so angry that some people worked hard for what they have.
Inherit millions from his father
Start a company buying companies in order to make them ” efficient”
Laying off people and closing facilities in the process to make them ” efficient”
Charging said company a humungous management fee after the process
Watch company, in some instances, go bankrupt
Laugh all the way to the bank.
OUCH!!! , That paper cut hurt!!!!
Thulsa Doom
August 2nd, 2012
4:43 pm
” I pointed out that governments do it all the time via zoning restrictions, and I don’t think we went much past that.”
Joe mama,
Yes. But we both already knew that. My amazement wasn’t that govt does it at all since we both know that and since I have opined many times on here about govt land use restrictions, particularly in California. My amazement was that they were trying to do it because they didn’t like Mr. Cathy’s speech. And that I had never seen.
“FWIW, I *do* think that governments sometimes seek to restrict businesses for reasons that brush up against free expression — we started to talk about girlie clubs, and IIRC, there are a couple of municipalities in the area that have sought to deny business licenses to adult-related ventures.”
I’ll not argue that since its close in many cases. But I think other issues with the girlie clubs come into play such as worries about a criminal element that they bring or that they may stand out in contrast to other businesses(same with churches perhaps) worries about property values, etc. You have to remember that cons like booty too- cept Larry Craig of course. Just not when it may diminish property values.
“You’d be surprised who the ACLU takes up for sometimes.”
No. I’m not surprised. I’ve even seen them defend the KKK and as you mentioned Rush. But the overwhelming majority of their causes are far left causes. IMDO They just take on a few conservative causes on occasion to give the appearance of not being overtly biased. But those cases are few and far between.
md
August 2nd, 2012
4:43 pm
“America doesn’t trust Romney because everything in his past is ‘off limits.’”
Interesting phenomena isn’t it……..yet there seems to be no problem with hiding college docs, docs from F&F, or the newly released secret meeting with lobbyists…….
Go figure……
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
4:45 pm
make that “capital”
getalife
August 2nd, 2012
4:46 pm
cons are fixated on a teleprompter again.
And you wonder why our country is in trouble if the gop win.
Lord help us.
PJ
August 2nd, 2012
4:46 pm
“I disagree. If the head of the U.S. Senate is going to make very damaging allegations he should have at least a shred of evidence. What kind of civil discourse are we going to have if some of the most powerful people in America just go around making crap up off the top of their head with nothing to back it up? There’s already enough “spin” out there on both sides. Do you want our political discourse to to disintegrate further into the sewer with people just making up crap out of thin air and not having to account for their made up BS? ”
This is how I felt about the “You Lie” comment shouted at the President of the United States during his State of the Union Address. At least Reid didn’t scream it at the top of his lungs with the whole world listening in. His was during a question and answer segment with the press.
“Plenty of grade school kids have a better sense of decency than this man with what are so far completely bogus accusations.”
Clean up your own house before you start talking about accusations and decency.