Romney again admits releasing tax returns would be politically damaging

[ProSense]

Romney again admits releasing tax returns would be politically damaging

by Jed Lewison

Mitt Romney to NBC's Brian Williams on his refusal to disclose any tax returns before 2010:

I'm following the same precedent that was put in place by John McCain. Two years, and by the way, hundreds of pages (LAUGH) of returns for the Democrat operatives to go through and twist and distort and to turn in different directions and try and make a big deal out of. But, you know, the American people are not real concerned about tax returns. They're concerned about who can get this economy going and create good jobs again. And I can. The president hasn't been able to do the job as he had expected to do. And I know how to get it done.

Uh, Americans do want to know what's in Mitt Romney's tax returns, and he knows it. That's why he won't release them. We polled registered voters on exactly this topic and by a 56-34 margin, a majority said they wanted him to release 12 years of returns. Among independents it was more overwhelming: 61 percent to 27 percent. And that was before Romney said releasing his returns would be politically damaging.

If Romney thought voters wouldn't care about his returns, he wouldn't be going to such great lengths to avoid releasing them. And when Brian Williams pressed him on the topic, that's basically what he admitted:

Well one, I’ve released all the information about my financial holdings. That's required by law. And then in addition beyond the law, have released, or will finally release act-- when the last year is complete, two years of full returns. And what we've noted is our Democrat friends, take what's there, twist it, distort it-- dishonestly use it in-- in attack ads. I just don't wanna give 'em more material than is required.

Romney's trying to have it both ways. On the one hand, he's claiming that he's already released all of his financial information, and on the other hand he's saying that if he releases the information, Democrats will use it against him politically. But the first part isn't even true—we didn't learn about his Swiss bank account or his Bermuda shell corporation until he released his returns. And the second part doesn't make sense—Democrats already are damaging Romney politically. If they were lying about or distorting Romney's financial information, wouldn't releasing more information clear the air?

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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/26/1113821/-Romney-again-admits-releasing-tax-returns-would-be-politically-damaging

Poll: 54 Percent Say Romney Should Release More Tax Returns
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/poll-54-percent-say-romney-should-release-more

Reuters/Ipsos poll: Obama attacks on taxes and Bain hit Romney ratings
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/24/us-usa-campaign-poll-idUSBRE86N05B20120724

Poll Shows Some Voters Want More on Romney Taxes, Bain Tenure
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021013341


OOPS! Mitt's 2010 Tax Returns NOT Fully Disclosed
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002969609

[ProSense]

1. Conservative Paper Faults Romney on Tax Disclosure

Conservative Paper Faults Romney on Tax Disclosure

By MICHAEL D. SHEAR

The Union Leader newspaper in Manchester, N.H., known for its conservative editorial stances, slammed Mitt Romney on Thursday for not releasing multiple years of his tax returns.

“Maintaining the secrecy creates the impression, justly or not, that there is something there to hide. No escaping that reality. The impression is there,” the paper wrote in an editorial posted online early Thursday.

The newspaper expressed surprise that Mr. Romney had not ensured that his tax returns were “above reproach” in the many years he was pursuing a national political career.

“Surely he could not have arrogantly believed that he could withstand any storm that developed by bluffing his way through it? If so, it hasn’t worked,” the editors wrote.

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http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/conservative-paper-faults-romney-on-tax-disclosure/

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If Romney intends to win, he is going to have to make the tax forms public. This storm won’t go away. It will distract from his policy debate with Obama — and it will distract from Obama’s failures, providing the incumbent with the smokescreen he is attempting to create.

Romney needs to end this. He needs to end this by revealing the tax documents, explaining them, explaining the legality behind his actions, and then he needs to move on.

http://www.unionleader.com/article/20120726/OPINION01/707269907/0/SEARCH

20 Prominent Republicans Who Want Romney To Release More Tax Returns Right Now
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/07/17/530121/15-prominent-republicans-who-want-romney-to-release-more-tax-returns-right-now/