Romneys 2008 national campaign finance chief says, "Release your taxes"

[techs]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs...f343a8c-e312-11e1-98e7-89d659f9c106_blog.html

However, in a move that could be significant, Huntsman forcefully called on Romney to release his tax returns. This matters, because Huntsman is a longtime backer of Romney — he has long been close to Romney; he supported his early campaigns; he was the national finance chairman of Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign; and he has raised a lot of money for him over the years. (He backed his own son in the latest GOP primary.)

“I feel very badly that Mitt won’t release his taxes and won’t be fair with the American people,” Huntsman told me. In a reference to Romney’s father, who pioneered the release of returns as a presidential candidate, Huntsman said: “I loved George. He always said, pay your taxes for at least 10 or 12 years.”

“Mr. Romney ought to square with the American people and release his taxes like any other candidate,” Huntsman said. “I’ve supported Mitt all along. I wish him well. But I do think he should release his income taxes.”



Seems like more and more Republicans want Mitt to release his taxes. If Reagan rose up from his grave he would ask Romney to release his taxes.

Does this change anything?

 

[monovillage]

Not to me, I'm still voting against Obama.

 

[Anarchist420]

So... his own friend ran against him after being on his campaign staff?

 

[blankslate]

Not to me, I'm still voting against Obama.

Of course it won't matter to you because you're not a swing voter.

It might matter with the swing voters.

 

[Genx87]

Of course it won't matter to you because you're not a swing voter.

It might matter with the swing voters.

There really arent as many swing voters as people like to believe.

 

[Phokus]

It's sad that it's shocking to me whenever a republican shows a sense of integrity. Really says something about republicans in general (especially the shitstain conservatives in ATPN who cheer Romney not releasing his tax returns).

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

An interesting possibility is that perhaps Romney will release his tax returns. October surprise!

It would be like Obama and the Birthers.

 

[Matt1970]

Of course it won't matter to you because you're not a swing voter.

It might matter with the swing voters.

This, And voter turnout.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

An interesting possibility is that perhaps Romney will release his tax returns. October surprise!

It would be like Obama and the Birthers.

Not really. The difference being that paying 14% still looks bad, whereas a birth certificate is either proof or it isn't.

 

[blankslate]

There really arent as many swing voters as people like to believe.

You might be right. I think it varies on the economy and the candidates themselves amongst other factors that I'm just forgetting atm.

There are probably less swing voters now, than for the year 2000 because there isn't an incumbent for that election.
When there is an incumbent I think that there tends to be less swing voters.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Not really. The difference being that paying 14% still looks bad, whereas a birth certificate is either proof or it isn't.

But it would be unremarkable. What it would mean is that he and Soros are alike as far as being a privileged. It seems that the Dems are hoping there's something juicy and it would be a bust to see that there's no real dirt. I don't know either way, but I'd find it amusing if that were the case.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

You might be right. I think it varies on the economy and the candidates themselves amongst other factors that I'm just forgetting atm.

There are probably less swing voters now, than for the year 2000 because there isn't an incumbent for that election.
When there is an incumbent I think that there tends to be less swing voters.

I would think that by now the independents have pretty much decided how they are going to vote. How that will play out is something we really don't know. I would be hard to imagine there are many who intend to vote who are undecided.

 

[K1052]

An interesting possibility is that perhaps Romney will release his tax returns. October surprise!

It would be like Obama and the Birthers.

The payoff would be pretty minimal by then. By that point most of the undecideds will know who they're pulling the lever for.

Meanwhile Obama and friends get to beat him with this stick repeatedly and it seems to be at least effective at throwing Romney off message and onto the defensive.

 

[CountZero]

He should just release them. Unless Reid is right (seems unlikely to me) and there are glaring problems with his taxes he should get them out there now, really he should have done it a while ago so it could blow over. It will likely be filled with expenses and tricks used by the wealthy in general. Obama will kick it around for a while as a reminder he isn't like the average person but honestly Mitt isn't going to be able to pull that "I'm just like you!" shtick like Dubya did so the harm is minimal. Sitting on it just gives the Obama campaign free reign to speculate and plant seeds of doubt.

Doesn't change anything for me since I can't imagine Romney doing anything to gain my support at this point but I do think his campaign is making a mistake not releasing them.

 

[techs]

Romney has the weakest set of principles of any candidate in my lifetime. For a guy who routinely changes positions 180 degrees I am absolutely sure there is something in his taxes that is pretty bad if it gets out. There is no way he is not releasing them on principle. Whether its paying a very low tax rate or being involved in a scam to lower his taxes or making money, say, on the bailout, etc there is something there he doesn't want to come out.

Romney wouldn't be the first politician to run for high office and have something that would end his candidacy if it came out. Politcians tend to think they can get away with anything.

 

[techs]

So... his own friend ran against him after being on his campaign staff?

No, he's the father of the guy who just ran for President and got less votes than a Spike Lee movie at a KKK film festival.

 

[jackstar7]

But it would be unremarkable. What it would mean is that he and Soros are alike as far as being a privileged.

Though the two are rather dissimilar in that only one of them is running for President.

 

[UberNeuman]

An interesting possibility is that perhaps Romney will release his tax returns. October surprise!

It would be like Obama and the Birthers.

It's possible - but you'd have to admit the ineptitude of Romney and his campaign to date highly negates this outcome...

\however - we shall see...

 

[sportage]

I think it's cute...
Mitt wants people to ignore his taxes, his Bain track record, his term as governor, his religion, yet he feels entitled somehow to be the next president.
(question) Why?
Guess he feels just because he can stand on a stage, with huge "Romney for president" banner behind him, that in itself is his qualifier.
That's a new one...
No experience. Please ignore any suggestion of my past experiences. Just elect me.
TRUST...ME.
Just do it. Please!
TRUST ME.

 

[Jhhnn]

An interesting possibility is that perhaps Romney will release his tax returns. October surprise!

It would be like Obama and the Birthers.

Yeh, and Bigfoot will stage a press conference the same day, the day that Hell freezes over.

I don't think this is about Romney's tax rate, at all. He could easily put that off to the fact that his assets are held in a "blind trust" administered by his long time personal lawyer, that he has "no control" over his investments, which is really bullshit, anyway, but it would sell.

I think it's about felonious tax evasion in foreign accounts prior to 2009. When the Swiss began cooperating with the IRS, what had been safe but illegal conduct in the past no longer was safe, and thousands of very wealthy investors took advantage of an IRS amnesty program. Pay up & we'll forgive the rest, keep the whole thing on the hush-hush, too. You've been a very, very bad boy, so take a slap on the wrist & come home to Mama, swear you won't do it any more.

By 2010, their offshore interests had been reorganized to be either more honest or better hidden, or a little of both. Hence Romney's 2010 return, laundered, starched & pressed for the IRS, suitable for public viewing as well.

If that's on his 2009 tax return, releasing the information would be political suicide. I really can't see anything else as being so damaging that it must remain hidden at all costs.

 

[soulcougher73]

Not to me, I'm still voting against Obama.

Too bad your vote is wasted because you live in CA. Maybe instead you should fight to have the EC removed so your voe might mean something regardless of where you live.

Im in the same boat, but im smart enough to realize me voting for Obama in KS is wasted as well.

 

[MovingTarget]

So.... what about his new running mate? Will Ryan release his taxes like both Obama and Biden have done, or will he follow Willard Romney's lead? This oughta be good...

/popcorn

 

[Farang]

It's sad that it's shocking to me whenever a republican shows a sense of integrity. Really says something about republicans in general (especially the shitstain conservatives in ATPN who cheer Romney not releasing his tax returns).

Agreed. The worst example of this was when Palin was picked, nobody was willing to admit what everyone knew--she was an embarrassment. Four years later, most Republicans admit that, but during the heat of a campaign almost none of them did.

 

[cybrsage]

Seems like more and more Republicans want Mitt to release his taxes. If Reagan rose up from his grave he would ask Romney to release his taxes.

Does this change anything?

No, it simply means there are more returner loonies like you. There were a lot of bither loonies at one time, but many of them have realized how stupid they were and stopped. This same thing will happen with returners, since they are much like birthers.

 

[cybrsage]

1Guess he feels just because he can stand on a stage, with huge "Romney for president" banner behind him, that in itself is his qualifier.
That's a new one...
No experience. Please ignore any suggestion of my past experiences. Just elect me.
TRUST...ME.
Just do it. Please!
TRUST ME.

It worked for Obama.