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
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
5:13 pm
Jam – What’s the capital of Israel?
Lord Help Us
August 2nd, 2012
5:13 pm
‘Which are the total opposite of Obama’s.’
Ooh, name them…
Have you ever been right
August 2nd, 2012
5:13 pm
Tiberius
The thumper of the bird chest. Big Hat, No Cattle
md
August 2nd, 2012
5:13 pm
“Have we been attacked?”
Yes……it was nothing but a sheer stroke of luck that the underwear bomber didn’t accomplish his mission. Nobody stopped the guy………..
SW44
August 2nd, 2012
5:14 pm
Dirty Harry Reid is the gift that keeps on giving, almost like that other idiot Biden. They can’t run on their own record of failure and they know it. From soaring energy, health, and food prices to soaring numbers of new households in poverty. Their record of failure speaks for itself:
“The number of U.S. workers filing applications for jobless benefits rose last week, continuing an uneven pattern that suggests job creation was likely modest in July.”
“The first GDP estimates for the second quarter are out and it doesn’t look good for the economy. The BLS notes the economy grew at an anemic 1.5% after an adjusted first quarter rise from 1.9% to 2.0%.”
^^That’s “progress” to a Democrat liberal. All their petulant selves can do is ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK! But then again, these are the same brainiacs that say only government can create job growth (considering the economy is 70% consumer driven, you figure that logic out).
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
5:14 pm
“Only pollster has Romney winning is the ex pollster for Bush, Rasmussen. And even he has Romney behind in the EC.”
That’s the nice thing about elections. Can’t wait for November.
Sick of Progs
August 2nd, 2012
5:15 pm
getalife
August 2nd, 2012
5:01 pm
Logic,
Lost 9 million jobs vs steady job growth to recover 5 million of the jobs you lost.
You logic is a lie
Those numbers are skewed by propagandists. The same ones that said Mittens hasn’t paid taxes in 10 years. Without proof. Liars figure and figures lie!
JamVet
August 2nd, 2012
5:15 pm
Talk about an identity crisis. And major confusion.
A bunch of fascists in Tampa are going ready to nominate a socialist to represent them this November.
No wonder they can never tell you what they are for. (At least in any intelligent, specific way.)
But they sure as hell have a list ten miles long of who and what they are against.
The Party of No…
Lord Help Us
August 2nd, 2012
5:15 pm
When Bush was CIC, ‘We’ got Saddam (the guy that didn’t attack us)
With Obama as CIC, ‘We’ got OBL ( the guy that did attack us)
Better?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
August 2nd, 2012
5:15 pm
Anyone who voted for Ralph Nader and admits to it is unfit to cast a vote.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
5:17 pm
“Ooh, name them…”
Oh lets see, Clinton and the Repubs balanced the budget, created a surplus to name a few. Clinton didn’t pour billions to “stimulate” the economy. Clinton never bailed out GM etc.
Just a few, sport.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
5:17 pm
“A bunch of fascists in Tampa ”
Says the guy who supported Ralph Nadar.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
August 2nd, 2012
5:18 pm
Much better, LHS.
Hooray for much appreciated accuracy!
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
5:18 pm
“With Obama as CIC, ‘We’ got OBL ( the guy that did attack us)”
Yep, and since the economy is in the tank, no one cares anymore.
G Mare
August 2nd, 2012
5:19 pm
Eat a peach, that would mean I’d have to READ the stuff. Well, okay, if it’s for research….
Sick of Progs
August 2nd, 2012
5:19 pm
JamVet
August 2nd, 2012
5:15 pm
Talk about an identity crisis. And major confusion.
A bunch of fascists in Tampa are going ready to nominate a socialist to represent them this November.
No wonder they can never tell you what they are for. (At least in any intelligent, specific way.)
But they sure as hell have a list ten miles long of who and what they are against.
The Party of No…
I agree!! The fascists and party of no are the democratic senate!!!
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
August 2nd, 2012
5:20 pm
Logic, the budget was never actually balanced. Just an accounting gimmick.
josef
August 2nd, 2012
5:20 pm
On TOPIC
Kyle said it. It’s the silly season in politics…
Thulsa Doom
August 2nd, 2012
5:20 pm
“Since when did college records put you in jail, every week in this country someone goes to jail because of something they put on taxes.”
GT,
Are you implying or suggesting that Mitt hasn’t paid his taxes? If he hasn’t then I’m certain the IRS is wayyyy ahead of you on this one. Until the IRS looks into it and says he has done cheated or not paid taxes you have nothing. Nada. Zero. Zilch.
Eat a Peach,
I just don’t like their food- their side items to be precise but when you mentioned go buy a shake I remembered their ice cream cones. They are to die for. Unfortunately I’m getting hefty and don’t need one.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
5:20 pm
“the budget was never actually balanced. Just an accounting gimmick.”
Yeah I know. Just wanted to anger a left winger a bit.
SW44
August 2nd, 2012
5:21 pm
How much has Romney given to his church/charity in a percentage of income compared to Joe Biden? Anyone wanna take a wag at that? Anyone? Biden gave a whopping 1% of his income to charity last year. Now for Romney’s info…
“(Bloomberg) — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney donated $7 million to charity in the past two years, more than the $6.2 million the candidate and his wife paid in federal taxes in that period, documents the campaign released show.
Romney and his wife, Ann, who jointly file taxes, gave $1.5 million cash in 2010 and $2.6 million cash in 2011 to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the tax documents show. A former Massachusetts governor whose campaign estimates his fortune at between $190 million and $250 million as co-founder of Boston private-equity firm Bain Capital LLC, Romney is a devout Mormon with deep family ties to the church.
The Romneys donated about 16.4 percent of their adjusted gross income of $42.5 million in the two-year period, according to their 2010 tax returns and an estimate for 2011 taxes. The 2010 return shows $3 million in charitable contributions, and the 2011 estimate shows $4 million.”
Eat a Peach
August 2nd, 2012
5:21 pm
Gmare
You will see the same pattern within a few posts. Craving for attention more than anyone else, especially from Jay. Very simple. He will just be under a different name, but again the style will be the exact same.
josef
August 2nd, 2012
5:22 pm
ERWIN’s CAT
Jerusalem.
SW44
August 2nd, 2012
5:22 pm
Fascism = government control over private enterprise and industry. Sounds like the “Progressive” liberal Democrat left to me, no?
Thulsa Doom
August 2nd, 2012
5:23 pm
Dadgum. Logic was never intended for libs is like a lawnmower. And the liberals are the grass.
md
August 2nd, 2012
5:24 pm
” It’s the silly season in politics…”
It’s always the silly season in politics……election years just provide more of it.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
5:24 pm
” Logic was never intended for libs is like a lawnmower. And the liberals are the grass.”
HA!!!!!
larry
August 2nd, 2012
5:24 pm
Erwin’s cat
August 2nd, 2012
4:51 pm
So , he didnt use his father’s money to start his hedge fund in 1984?
I believe he did.
I dont think he used a loan from the Small Business Administration.
Oy.
JamVet
August 2nd, 2012
5:25 pm
Check your brain at the door moron.
JamVet obviously lost most of his brain cells while smoking out with the OWS crowd.
Oops. Looks like some people have self-control issues.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Which warrants a banning per Mr. Wingfield’s Rule #1. (Don’t hate the moderator, hate the game.)
Or you two could always self-ban/self-deport.
I presume you will email Mr. Wingfield with the news…
They BOTH suck
August 2nd, 2012
5:25 pm
TD @ 5:23
I know you like it that he comes from the right, but not sure how much he is out debating anyone. Nor does he do it at Jay’s under his other names.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
August 2nd, 2012
5:25 pm
Josef, re: you’re 5:22?
Nice to see a liberal give Romney some props.
md
August 2nd, 2012
5:25 pm
“Mitt Romney donated $7 million to charity in the past two years, more than the $6.2 million the candidate and his wife paid in federal taxes in that period”
Only a matter of time before someone here gets all upset that they gave their church more than the gov’t was able to get…………..
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
5:25 pm
“You will see the same pattern within a few posts. Craving for attention more than anyone else, especially from Jay. Very simple. He will just be under a different name, but again the style will be the exact same.”
It’s interesting that someone posting under a different name is trying to call out someone else who is posting under a different name.
larry
August 2nd, 2012
5:26 pm
Darn!! I thought it was huffing agent orange in nam’.
Not something you joke about!!
Lord Help Us
August 2nd, 2012
5:26 pm
‘Yeah I know. Just wanted to anger a left winger a bit.’
The fact that Clinton did a much better job governing our country than any President in the past 50 years does not anger me at all…I voted for him twice.
I also see who he supports this election cycle…
David Granger
August 2nd, 2012
5:26 pm
Could be true. With Harry Reid, you never know if it’s true or not. (To be fair, you can probably say the same about most politicians.) I do notice Reid was careful to say “somebody TOLD me this”, so that he’s protected from any potential slander charges.
But if it is true…if Romney paid absolutely no taxes because of tax credits, writeoffs, and deductions…then who’s more at fault? The person (Romney) who has never been in any position to have any role or influence at all on the making of federal tax law, or the man (Harry Reid) who has been Majority Leader of the Senate and who has actually been in a position to help make or change the law but hasn’t?
Anna B
August 2nd, 2012
5:26 pm
Welcome to the world created by Karl Rove and the Tea Party … guess you are finding out it is not such a great place after all republicans!
Go Harry Go!!!!
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
5:27 pm
“Oops. Looks like some people have self-control issues.”
Nope, we’re just calling you out for what you are.
“Which warrants a banning per Mr. Wingfield’s Rule #1. (Don’t hate the moderator, hate the game.)”
Irony: JamVet pretends to play the victim when just a few minutes ago he called people names.
BTW, show me where I called you a name. Come on, JamVet.
Thulsa Doom
August 2nd, 2012
5:27 pm
Larry,
You’re really reaching. Its pretty well acknowledged that while Romney had advantages and came from a well off background that he made his money on his own. Spouting a bunch of nonsense isn’t going to change that fact.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
5:28 pm
“The fact that Clinton did a much better job governing our country than any President in the past 50 years”
HAHAHAAH!!!!!!! I JUST SPIT COFFEE ALL OVER MY KEYBOARD!!!!! That gets my nod for most ridiculous post of the day.
md
August 2nd, 2012
5:29 pm
“So , he didnt use his father’s money to start his hedge fund in 1984? ”
“When Bain Capital was started, the seven founding partners took pay cuts and pooled much of their savings to invest in the firm. They wouldn’t see a return for at least two years, and they say they feared failure. As one of Romney’s partners said, only half-joking, the money they were holding up in the 1984 photo was all they had.
“We were excited about the prospects, but it was scary,” said Robert F. White, one of the co-founders, who would become one of Romney’s closest friends. “We were making a big bet, we still had student loans, and we had very little money to invest.””
josef
August 2nd, 2012
5:30 pm
MD
“It’s always the silly season in politics……election years just provide more of it.”
I can’t argue with that…
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
5:30 pm
“Funny that libs love “freedom of speech” when they get to control it. ”
JamVet pulls the same charade on Bookman’s blog all the time. He’ll name call and throw out insults and when someone fights back, he pretends to be the victim.
They BOTH suck
August 2nd, 2012
5:31 pm
larry
While no fan of Romney; I think he gave most if not all of his inheritance to BYU. I’m sure he had some “seed money” and connections help in business and / or politics but he is a sound businessman.
Not saying I agree with much of his politics or all of his business side, but a sound businessman nevertheless.
Thulsa Doom
August 2nd, 2012
5:31 pm
they both suck,
I dunno. He seems to have a one liner for all of the liberals and makes some pretty good points in short fashion. He’s taming em pretty well IMDO. But I’m about to get outta here for a little bit. Gotta git some ink cause I got a lotta apps and crap to print tonight. Gonna be a long work night for Doomy. But that’s kind of a good thing I guess.
Numbers-R-US
August 2nd, 2012
5:31 pm
Romney and the GOP are in agreement on taxes. They want to increase the taxes on the middle class in order to fund another tax cut for the wealthiest.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right
August 2nd, 2012
5:31 pm
AmVet, before crowing about Kyle’s new rules, I suggest you review the one about insults and name calling..
People who live in glass houses. . . .
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
5:32 pm
larry – you said he was successful because he inherited a million from his Dad…I just pointed out that Mitt donated the inheritance…
now you’ve moved the goal posts to 1984..and the answer is … Bain had several investors including Bill
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
5:32 pm
“but a sound businessman nevertheless.”
That’s exactly what Bill Clinton said when he went off on Obama for his stupid remarks about Bain Capital.
Lord Help Us
August 2nd, 2012
5:32 pm
‘ I JUST SPIT COFFEE ALL OVER MY KEYBOARD’
Coffee, cough syrup…whatever.
Dude, you’re the one saying all the great things about Clinton. I was agreeing with you.
I would love to see this country back where it was in 2000…