On Morning Joe Van Jones just said that Mitt Romney has probably focus grouped the tax

[CTyankee]

returns issue and found that if he didn't pay any taxes it will be even worse than the stonewalling he is doing now. So that is why Romney continues his stonewalling.

Van just might be right on this. If it looks disastrous to us now, it can probably get a LOT worse if the truth comes out...

[spanone]

1. it's a win, win for democrats.

[CTyankee]

3. Yes, but if true it is a disappointment to me as a Dem...

I'm hoping for the real tax returns to come out in October to finish the Mittster off.

[spanone]

4. i think the pressure to release them will only get stronger.

[berni_mccoy]

12. They want Romney to be the nominee before the truth comes out.

[mucifer]

2. It amazes me that the republicans can block cabinet nominees and mayors have to

give their tax returns. But, it's cool if rmoney doesn't

[GoCubsGo]

5. No kidding.

They stonewall for Romney, while STILL harping on Tim Geithener's tax returns.

[RagAss]

6. Wing-nut voters don't care if he led an army of cannibals through an orphanage !

[CTyankee]

7. I'm afraid you are right. They and the foam at the mouth racists will vote for Romney

no matter what.

[Berlum]

8. Willard is into Stonewalling? Who knew.

[CTyankee]

9. Imagine it!

[marshall]

10. Why isn't the IRS on this?

If he didn't pay taxes for a DECADE, surely they will have some kind of audit and demand the money he owes.

[berni_mccoy]

13. Good question...

[Zen Democrat]

11. Romney already admitted as much.

He said he's not releasing anything more because Dems would pick apart his returns and make political hay. That's straight-up admitting that there is damning evidence in the returns. I think he not only didn't pay taxes, but also didn't take advantage of the Swiss bank account amnesty, which would put him in legal jeopardy.

[magical thyme]

14. whoa, now there's a twist. I assume he *did* take the '09 amnesty

for fear that his name would be among the 4,400 or so that UBS released. I reas somewhere that he banked with UBS and left it unclear on some forms that he filed whether it was the U.S. legal branch or the Swiss secret branch.

I've also assumed that his claim to have paid all he legally owes was technically true, and wondered exactly *when* did he pay what he legally owed. Did he hide enough money in Swiss accounts for a decade or so -- say 1999 when he supposedly left Bain until 2009 -- to pay no taxes for that decade. And then, when he was about to get caught, take the amnesty and pay all that he owed legally to avoid going to jail?

Or did he have the balls to pray he wasn't among the released names and try to hang onto every cent?

[Frustratedlady]

15. He may try to hide it, but in the back of his mind, he surely realizes "someone" knows...

something. McCain, for one. The mystery informant, for two. The IRS, for three. His CPAs and their office staff, for four or more. And, of course, his Bain connections and his own family.

So, even though he might pull off the secrecy with us, others know the truth. How could he hold his head up before them?

Oh, yeah! He's so accustomed to lying, it wouldn't bother him...or, would it?

[rbixby]

16. I bet someone 'finds' his tax returns

in a dumpster somewhere sooner or later