Fellow DU'ers: Should the Clintons Release Their Tax Returns?

[David Zephyr]

Are we crazy enough to think the Republicans will not use the Clintons' non-disclosure against us in a general election?

This is a very important question that all of us should search our souls and answer for the good of the Democratic Party.

Should the Clintons Release Their Tax Returns?

[gateley]

1. If Obama has released his, yes they should. Why not? nt

[ursi]

2. isn't it the law?

[HeraldSquare212]

5. No but it may as well be - it's pretty standard stuff now, has been for years. nt

[Bucky]

9. I'm surprised to hear that she hasn't.

I thought this was spin from the Obama camp. If she's really not releasing her tax returns, she'll get eaten alive for this.

[Tarc]

23. The same way Kerry got savaged for not releasing his military records?

A bunch of whining gnats looking fir dirt in all corners are going to try to make a mountain out of a molehill wit this tax thing, but it really doesn't matter all as much.

If it isn't an actual law that they have to be released, then the Clintons should just tell the O-Bots to go pound sand.

[KittyWampus]

7. No, but every candidate has since Nixon except -wait for it- BILL CLINTON

this time around it's the Clintons (AGAIN) and McCain.

We lose this issue for attacking if Hillary is the nominee.

[gateley]

19. That's worrisome. The fact that they didn't do it when Bill was a candidate

and again aren't - people HAVE to wonder why? I do.

[Cooley Hurd]

3. Everyone running for ANY public office should...

:thumbsup:

[bigwillq]

4. Yes

They should.

[nonconformist]

6. How could they use it against her in the GE?

She's already said that if she gets the nomination, she'll release them.

This is much ado about nothing.

[KittyWampus]

8. From 2006? We should just wait? I want the Clintons FULLY VETTED. She's the ass who claims they were

[gateley]

20. But why not now? nt

[guruoo]

50. IMO, better strat to wait and play it against McCain.

[Barack_America]

10. Especially now that they've self-financed her campaign.

Now it's absolutely imperative that they do so.

[roguevalley]

11. if only million and billionaires get to the kings and queens of

America then we deserve to know what their money is and where its coming from. Least the rich can do for the rest of us.

[Bluerthanblue]

12. yes, - either they have something to hide, or they are looking

for attention-

There is no need for this kind of thing becoming an issue within the Dem. Party-
They can answer the issue, quickly and easily.


peace~

[bicentennial_baby]

13. Of course they should

All candidates should.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

14. if she is the nominee

[jillan]

15. Is Obama releasing his?

If he is, then yes, she should.

[HeraldSquare212]

24. He did already, as did all Dems except Edwards, people have said. nt

[MonkeyFunk]

27. yeah

people have said, but I can't find any evidence for it.

If she's the nominee, she'll release them. She's already said that.

This is another trumped up smear.

[hfojvt]

33. here's some evidence

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/files/obama_2006_tax_return.pdf

A 2006 return. Perhaps he has not done his 2007 yet. Lord knows, I haven't even though I have a full refund coming.

[MonkeyFunk]

34. Yes I know Obama did

but others are claiming Richardson, Biden, Dodd et. al. did, and I can't find any evidence of that.

Clinton will release hers if she's the nominee - she's already said that.

[onenote]

44. I don't view it as a smear. Although some may misuse it as such

Given that HRC has indicated that she'll release them if she's the nominee, I have to assume that there isn't anything in them that's a problem. But whether or not that's the case, why not release them now and let some sunshine in. If there is anything that is, or might be twisted into seeming, controversial, why not get it out now, well ahead of the convention and the GE, rather than have it come out not long after the convention and serve as a distraction and potential momentum stopper. It just seems like smart politics to get it out now and be done with it.

[KoKo]

16. With what Bush has done...the Bar is So Low...that I don't think Dems need

to release anything. :D

[H2O Man]

17. Yes.

I remember how people of my generation recognized Nixon as a politician not to be trusted. He wanted to keep campaign finances secret. I admit that has made me suspicious of any politician that wants to keep finances secret.

[KoKo]

18. But....I think what the OP is trying to imply is that Hillary won't release

her info. I believe she will comply with the law. But, after Bush...I don't think she has to. I will wait to see what she does. It should be interesting.

But, we have no way of knowing after the Bush years...if any candidates reporting is REAL or NOT...because they can hire lawyers who can hide things...and this is true of both Clinton and Obama.

Bush/Cheney and Wall Street Crime has been a big Tutorial in how to disguise and obfuscate EVERYTHING.

So...I think we shouldn't believe much of anything these days coming out of either candidate...but we should keep DIGGING AND DIGGING just like we have since Stolen Election 2000 and "9/11" and Iraq War.

We can't leave it up to THEM...we gotta do it ourselves. :-(

[H2O Man]

21. The democratic leaders

should be setting the bar high by willingly meeting the standard of openness and honesty. Any time a leader attempts to justify keeping things secret because the republicans have lowered that bar, we must say, "No, that is not okay."

[KoKo]

22. Key Word: "SHOULD"......but

you and I know that "SHOULD" in a Political Campaign doesn't mean anything. And to expect in this time of "High Crimes and Cover Ups" that the Democratic Party should "raise the bar" (given what we've gone through and the realities of life in America in '08) is too much to expect or even DREAM ABOUT!

And, you know, I wish that wasn't so...

[H2O Man]

32. It appears

that one democratic candidate is meeting that standard, and the other is not. Hence, we do not have to dream about it: it is real.

[KoKo]

37. I wish I could believe that was so....

Perhaps I'm too jaded........

[Raejeanowl]

25. They All Should Voluntarily Disclose n/'t

[tammywammy]

26. Yes

[Stephanie]

28. They also need to release the list of donors to the Clinton Foundation

So far all we have is what the Times was able to dig up - Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Walmart. We need disclosure on those funds asap.

[GoldieAZ49]

29. I thought it was required by law!

Haven't they had enough of the secrets?

[KoKo]

31. What LAW.?...in America under Bush/Cheney...there is only LAW to be Manipulated

so that the tired workforce who has no time to "parse and speculate" and DIGG will always see that the LAW works for Harvard/Yale Graduates and NOT the "rest of us." Hire a good lawyer...stall...and stall and the Corporate McMedia will praise you (think Chris Matthews and Rush Limbaugh) and the "ELITE" will always find that "way" to twist and parse the facts.

Martha Stewart served time in JAIL.... Think about Martha...and you will understand just one ice cube of the great Iceburg of how laws for the WEALTHY and WELL CONNECTED ...work for the rest of us.......if you cross a line and contribute in the wrong way for the "Powers that Be."

[Raejeanowl]

30. Does Anyone Have a Link?

To where we can view Obama's tax return, or at least verify it was released?

[hfojvt]

36. it is easily googled "Obama tax return"

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/files/obama_2006_tax_return.pdf

[KoKo]

39. One would HOPE that Du'ers for Hillary will post a similar Tax Return for Her

that will show she is being "fair."

[abburdlen]

35. One of the things I liked about Clark

was he released all of his records. He was an open book.

I don't understand how her supporters can defend the decision NOT to release them now.
She's stated she'll release them if she's the nominee so she knows if there are questionable issues the Republicans will have a chance at them anyway. So why not now?

What was that whole thing about being vetted?

[David Zephyr]

42. True.

Wes disclosed. So should the Clintons.

[KoKo]

52. Did Clark have as much to divulge as Hillary or Obama though...and how do you

know that a clever lawyer for him didn't redact some of his disclosure? :shrug:

[Political Heretic]

38. What does it have to do with qualifications for being President?

I mean, yes if all the other candidates do it then I supposed it would be better politics to do it, so that it can't be used against us later if Clinton is the nominee.

But honestly.... this is the part of "politics" that just makes me want to puke. I don't give a flying god damn what the candidates tax returns are. CAN THEY LEAD? Do they have vision and passion? Gravitas? Do they have a campaign platform I can believe in?

[BeyondGeography]

40. Yes, they should release them

Yes, her supporters are crazy enough to think the Clintons have been fully vetted.

[David Zephyr]

41. 89% of DU'ers so far think the Clintons need to release their tax returns.

.

[KoKo]

53. How do you know the returns will be accurate, though? n/t

[David Zephyr]

54. LOL!

Well, that's a whole other thread, isn't it?

It's just like Dolly sings: "Here we go again."

Trusting the Clintons again is like the scorpion and the frog.

This tax return should be the wake up call for all those lured into trusting them. The GOP will crucify them on this.

[KoKo]

55. I don't trust Obama's "returns," either, though....n/t

[Barack_America]

43. 10% of DUers seem to agree with the *other* party....n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

45. If you show me yours, I'll show you mine

Until everyone releases theirs, they should absolutely not.

[abburdlen]

51. Do we have to wait for Gravel?

Because Obama has released his.You can see them http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/acrobat/2007-04/29104204.pdf "> here

nevermind the Chicago tribunes link is dead.

[cgrindley]

46. What is damage with Americans and their tax returns?

Why is how much money a person makes such a state secret? Why would anyone give a shit?

[AZBlue]

47. What are they hiding?

[Yael]

48. And the sealed documents in the Fort Knox Library in Arkansas too

[guruoo]

49. Yes, but save it for GE against McCain.

edited for clarity

[KittyWampus]

56. We need more input!