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
PJ
August 2nd, 2012
11:44 am
Romney needs to release his tax returns for the past 10 years come hell or high water. If as he says he has paid every penny due then all questions will be resolved. If he has paid at a much lower tax rate then he can explain to us what his deductions were and if they were legitimate. Unless he trying to pull a fast one on us with his taxes, like he did when he ran for the governors of in MA, and all is legal then blame the tax code and explain the need for change.
“JUST EAT THE CAKE ANNA MAE, PLEASE JUST EAT THE CAKE”
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 2nd, 2012
11:44 am
getalife was flogging Reid’s idiotic claim repeatedly on earlier threads.
Her credibility is no better than Reid’s now. In the toilet.
RC--apoi
August 2nd, 2012
11:45 am
Well, I sure hope Romney at least paid some taxes. I mean, if you’re making $50 million a year there’s just no way you can come up with enough deductions to owe zero. Or maybe old Mitt uses Bubba to do his taxes the way I do. Bubba always gets me a big refund. They take out about 400 bucks in fed and state taxes and I get a refund of about $5,000. Bubba says it’s that super-duper tax credit for little Nathan Zell George. Maybe Mitt gets the credit too. I mean, he’s got 4 or 5 kids.
Anyhow, I’m going to be a mite miffed if I find out old Mitt never paid any taxes for 10 years. I mean, even Tea Party Republican that I am, I think a multi-millionaire ought to pay a buck or two in taxes. They can still create jobs if they pay that piddly amount in taxes.
Have a good Thursday everybody.
getalife
August 2nd, 2012
11:46 am
What is will robme hiding and why is the gop covering it up.
You can’t trust him cons.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
11:46 am
” McCain only released 2 years and I don’t recall it being such a big deal.”
It’s only a big deal to libs because they don’t have any dirt on Mitt.
Centrist
August 2nd, 2012
11:47 am
Simply making accusations against Republicans is good enough for the liberal media. NAACP did it in GA last week against the GDOT, and it got nodding media heads and the Justice Department will now have to look into it. LBJ was notorious running for Congress putting out that his opponent [slept] with pigs just to hear him deny it.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
11:47 am
“You can’t trust him cons.”
Watch us.
Scott Fresno
August 2nd, 2012
11:47 am
“Romney has produced one (010) and said he’ll produce his 011 when it’s completed.”
When it is complete?! I don’t know about the rest of y’all, but I had to pay my 2011 taxes months ago.
getalife
August 2nd, 2012
11:48 am
BTW, your party voted no on a tax cut for you yesterday.
Cheer that on cons.
curious
August 2nd, 2012
11:48 am
How tax did Romney pay?
That’ll tell more about somebody’s character than a 40+ year old birth certificate or a 20+ year old college transcript.
What is Romney hiding?
geoffrey
August 2nd, 2012
11:49 am
I am curious if the proud citizens of Nevada are concerned that their respected senator is more interested in making political, unfounded statements, related to the presidential election rather than focusing on the dismal economy and joblessness in his state.
Erwin's cat
August 2nd, 2012
11:50 am
Pea – But on the other hand…Romney could have ended all this speculation months ago
If he wanted to….maybe just maybe he wants this speculation to simmer a bit longer.
Brosephus™
August 2nd, 2012
11:51 am
“JUST EAT THE CAKE ANNA MAE, PLEASE JUST EAT THE CAKE”
md
August 2nd, 2012
11:51 am
“The only way he’ll get those things done is with filibuster proof GOP majorities in both houses, and I don’t see that happening in this election.”
Not the case any longer. Obama has shown that one can go around Congress…..which should concern everybody but it doesn’t. It will only concern the other “side” when it gets used against them, then they will jump up and down and claim amnesia………
They need to be jumping up and down now so we all don’t have to continue the bad precedents down the road…….
The dems used reconciliation to finish up the aca……..and the reps have nothing to complain about because they used it on Part D……now, it’s a tit-for-tat system and Obama just opened the other end of Pandora’s box….
Legal Eagle
August 2nd, 2012
11:54 am
Information contained in one’s Tax Return is protected by law. It is a Federal offense, punishable by imprisonment to disclose the contents of someone’s tax return without written permission. Reid should be investigated AND if he later claims that the statement was an outright lie, Romney should sue him for defamation.
HDB
August 2nd, 2012
11:54 am
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
11:46 am
” McCain only released 2 years and I don’t recall it being such a big deal.”
Actually, McCain released MORE than two years because he had disclosed his prior years’ returns during his SENATORIAL campaigns….so his tax returns have been evident! The question that many should be asking is that why would McCain pick Sarah Palin if Romney had released 23 YEARS of his tax returns to the McCain campaing….what did McCain see that made Palin the pick?? THAT speaks volumes as to what Romney is trying to HIDE……..
PJ
August 2nd, 2012
11:55 am
“Romney has produced one (010) and said he’ll produce his 011 when it’s completed.”
That’s one hell of a extention. If I had been this late I would have paid more in penalities that Mitt did in taxes for the las 10 years.
tiredofIT
August 2nd, 2012
11:55 am
Some say, if you have nothing to hide what is the harm in peeing in the cup.
@@
August 2nd, 2012
11:55 am
He would also get rid of subsidies and deductions as well, thereby making the net result no different, but simpler.
Which is exactly what needs to happen in order to avoid distractions like the one that’s going on now.
Peadawg
August 2nd, 2012
11:57 am
“Some say, if you have nothing to hide what is the harm in peeing in the cup.”
Amen!
Brosephus™
August 2nd, 2012
11:57 am
md
The signing statements and EO’s can only do so much. I seriously doubt any president, D or R, is going to try to push their full agenda by those methods. If that were really the new way of doing things, wouldn’t Obama have filled his vacancies by going around the Senate? We’re almost completely done with his 4 year period and many agencies are still being run by “acting” directors and such. That’s what I think all of America should be upset about.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
11:58 am
“what did McCain see that made Palin the pick??”
She is a woman. She was governor.
Del
August 2nd, 2012
11:58 am
Let’s review…blame Bush (didn’t work), class warfare (didn’t work), war on woman (didn’t work), Bain Capital ( worked a little but has since fallen apart), Romney’s alleged gaffes during his recent overseas trip (hasn’t worked), Demands for Romney’s tax returns (hasn’t really resonated with the likely voters), Harry Reid’s allegation that Romney hasn’t paid his income tax (if the Obama campaign is depending on Harry Reid they’re really showing desperation). Obama should have a little chat with Axelfraud.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
11:59 am
“Information contained in one’s Tax Return is protected by law. It is a Federal offense, punishable by imprisonment to disclose the contents of someone’s tax return without written permission. Reid should be investigated AND if he later claims that the statement was an outright lie, Romney should sue him for defamation.”
BOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!
stands for decibels
August 2nd, 2012
11:59 am
from me, downstairs, @ 9.02:
“I don’t think that was a real bright move on Reid’s part, but then I’m the guy constantly going broke overestimating the intelligence of the American public, so…”
I’ll stick with that.
PJ
August 2nd, 2012
12:00 pm
“I am curious if the proud citizens of Nevada are concerned that their respected senator is more interested in making political, unfounded statements, related to the presidential election rather than focusing on the dismal economy and joblessness in his state.”
Me too. I thought the same thing when all those congress members were calling 08/01/2012 a day of infamy just like Pearl Harbor and 9/11 all because women got some Health Care advantages.
Where are the jobs fellow?
compromise
August 2nd, 2012
12:00 pm
Forget about Romney’s taxes, They are capital gains anyway.Extend the tax cuts to earners making say, 400k jointly or less. Over 400k, let them expire. Extend the AMT provisions. Reduce the capital gains tax to spur investment and hopefully, jobs.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 2nd, 2012
12:01 pm
Reid is either a liar or a felon.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
12:01 pm
“What is Romney hiding?”
Nothing and if he was, the IRS would have been all over him.
You libs got NUTHIN on Mitt. NUTTTTTHIN
Joe Mama
August 2nd, 2012
12:01 pm
Kyle is exactly right; the burden of proof is on Reid in this instance. And he’s definitely gone over the top here by making the accusation without any proof, IMO.
My wife and I were discussing this matter this morning, and the only way we could see this making *any* sense at all is the following (please bear in mind that I am not saying this is what happened):
My wife and her family are former LDS, so she’s had some interesting perspective for me as the campaign has gone on. She speculated that having Reid make the public statement — as opposed to some junior lawmaker — might hint that whatever troubling is in the tax forms (assuming something is) is related to the LDS. Bringing up Romney’s father, she said, would also be a way of intensifying that point; one’s LDS forebears are sometimes brought up as a way of guiding or remonstrating wayward members to straighten up and fly right.
She further speculated that Reid’s comments weren’t necessarily meant for the general public — but were instead a message to Romney. She suspects that Reid was trying to tell Romney that the Democrats are ‘on’ to whatever it is he doesn’t want made public, and that it’s somehow related to the LDS and that it might be something that the broader LDS community wouldn’t approve of if they knew.
I’m not LDS and never have been, so I have no idea if this is at all plausible. I’m simply recounting what my wife was speculating on regarding this matter, as I thought it was a curious and novel notion. By all means disregard it if you think it’s bulldada.
@@
August 2nd, 2012
12:01 pm
Obama should have a little chat with Axelfraud.
And Jarrett.
I said long ago that Obama needed to clean house of his left-wing ideologues. Unfortunately, I don’t think he knows what to do without ‘em. He’d be lost.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
12:01 pm
Obama is a felon for snorting cocaine.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
12:03 pm
“Unfortunately, I don’t think he knows what to do without ‘em. ”
Well no kidding. I mean these folks propped him up in Chicago. The guy has NO record of doing anything other than agitating poor black folks on the south side.
curious
August 2nd, 2012
12:03 pm
Romney is a great American, alright.
1- Spent his time in France handing out leaflets (maybe) while others his age were being killed in Vietnam.
2- Put his money in tax havens overseas.
3- Instilled a love for the country in his Sons. Romney said their helping with the campaign was akin to serving the country as in Iraq or Afghanistan. Do they get a campaign ribbon?
4- Shut down a few mills, but to was able make millions off the deals. No sacrifice too great.
5- Helped export a few jobs to China.
6- Supported gun control.
7- Supported pro-choice.
8- Gave Israel the green light to attack Iran. Another war is good for the Military-Industrial Complex.
9- Surrounded himself with Bush’s advisors. The good ole days are around the corner.
That’s just a few. We need an American like that.
Joe Mama
August 2nd, 2012
12:03 pm
PJ — “That’s one hell of a extention. If I had been this late I would have paid more in penalities that Mitt did in taxes for the las 10 years.”
It’s possible that Romney’s in the process of amending his return. You can file an amended return up to three years after the due date and it’s not considered late, so long as you made the original filing on time.
Peadawg
August 2nd, 2012
12:04 pm
“Nothing”
So why won’t he release more tax returns? Hhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm??? He shouldn’t have a problem doing it if he’s got nothing to hide. It’s that simple.
TGT
August 2nd, 2012
12:04 pm
The libs just want to see how much Romney gave to the Mormon Church so that, given the Mormon’s support of traditional (biblical) marriage, they can point out (again) what a “homophobe” he is. Never mind that Dirty Harry is a member of the same church, and his donations go to the same efforts.
stands for decibels
August 2nd, 2012
12:05 pm
And to think that Mitt once frequented a restaurant and ate grits and acted as though he was just like all the other ordinary jobless folks around him.
Mitt could surprise me down the stretch, but he’s been a pretty lousy candidate so far. (And I really thought he’d make a more credible one than he has, back when the primary races got under way.)
Put it this way–Mitt c. 2012 makes John Kerry c. 2004 look like Bill Clinton at Bill’s lip-bitin’, feelin’-yer-pain, back-slappin’ best.
But, there are several months to go, maybe Mitt’s been decoying us, or playing 12th dimension chess to Obama’s 11th dimension, or something.
Oblama
August 2nd, 2012
12:05 pm
What have we gotten from Reid’s ranting? Romney’s tax records were found legal by the IRS because he has not been charged with a crime. Romney has given millions to charity and Obama a pittance, Hillary wrote off Bill’s old worn out underwear. Reid is playing the class warfare card because Obama doesn’t think he can win on his economic failure to uphold the promise he made to turn the economy around. THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT OBAMA’S FAILURE ECONOMICALLY AND THE DISASTROUS UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND DEPRESSING FED DEBT. It’s not about legal ta returns. Voters won’t vote based on legal ta returns but will vote on the economy and Obama’s failure to keep his election promises.
@@
August 2nd, 2012
12:06 pm
The guy has NO record of doing anything other than agitating poor black folks on the south side.
True! And Jarrett was their slumlord.
schnirt
compromise
August 2nd, 2012
12:06 pm
So why won’t he release more tax returns?
Probably because a lot of people (most?) do not understand the difference between capital gains taxes and ordinary income taxes. IMO.
Del
August 2nd, 2012
12:07 pm
“Unfortunately, I don’t think he knows what to do without ‘em. He’d be lost.”
Well he’s one of them.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
12:07 pm
“Spent his time in France handing out leaflets (maybe) while others his age were being killed in Vietnam.”
Obama was snorting cocaine. Which is worse?
“Put his money in tax havens overseas.”
Which is legal.
“Romney said their helping with the campaign was akin to serving the country as in Iraq or Afghanistan.”
Lie.
“Shut down a few mills, but to was able make millions off the deals. No sacrifice too great.”
Obama sent jobs to China via GE. Obama’s solar panel companies went bankrupt.
“Helped export a few jobs to China.”
See above.
“Supported gun control.”
And now he doesn’t. Big deal.
“Supported pro-choice.”
And now he doesn’t. Big deal.
Reagan used to be a Democrat.
“Gave Israel the green light to attack Iran.”
Um, sport, Mitt can’t give the green light to any country to attack another country.
“Surrounded himself with Bush’s advisors.”
So, Obama surrounded himself with Clinton advisors.
Lil' Barry Bailout - Vote American
August 2nd, 2012
12:07 pm
Peadawg, same question on Obozo’s college transcripts and financial aid records.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
12:09 pm
“So why won’t he release more tax returns? ”
Because there isn’t one single law that says he should release them.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
12:09 pm
“So why won’t he release more tax returns? ”
Because he doesn’t have to.
kelly
August 2nd, 2012
12:10 pm
First of all, DWS did not have offshore accounts. She had investment funds that had some foreign exposure. So do many of us in our 401K’s. That’s not the same as setting up an offshore account in your own name.
As for Romney’s tax returns, he doesn’t have to show them. But he does have to withstand the speculation that comes from that non-disclosure. The democrats should continue to keep up the pressure as this will be a major campaign issue. It fits the growing narrative that Romney’s record is a bit shady. There is some reporting around Romney’s Massachusetts governor’s race and his prior IRS filings. Apparently he had to correct the record about his official residence, from Utah to Massachusetts. And there were some questionable deductions. Add this to the “retroactive” retirement from Bain and the smoke increases. I think these are legitimate lines of attack for the democrats.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 2nd, 2012
12:10 pm
“Peadawg, same question on Obozo’s college transcripts and financial aid records.”
Peadawg pretends to be a moderate. He’s a Hillary supporter! LOL
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 2nd, 2012
12:11 pm
“So why won’t he release more tax returns? ”
Because they’re none of your damned business.
Next?
Numbers-R-US
August 2nd, 2012
12:11 pm
“That’s why our show is so successful though because a lot of it we just make up” – Gretchen’s New like a Fox.