We can't give our tax returns because they will be attacked?

[kentuck]

What kind of damn excuse is that? If there is nothing to attack, what's to worry? Everybody else has given their tax returns and were not attacked. Why are you any damn different? We don't want and we don't need royalty running this country. Either be straight with the people or take your lying asses back to Utah or Massachusetts, wherever the hell you call home. We are not going to have any Kings and Queens. Either be honest with the people or get the hell out of the race. Republicans are fools to support such shenanigans. This is the biggest pile of steaming crap I have heard from any campaign in my life. I am embarrassed for the American people.

[reflection]

1. Nice rant and I agree.

[TomClash]

2. Agreed!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021149548

[librechik]

3. yeah--our innocent loophole-free tax returns will be unfairly attacked by vandals in the press

And the fact that we pay half the rate most American pay is just the reward for our role as jobs creators, not fodder for criticism. You people need to mind your own business. We don't have to justify ourselves to you!

VOTE ROMNEY/RYAN!


ah jeez, do I have to? here it is

[russspeakeasy]

10. It's probably good that you did.

Most of the people on DU are pretty damn sharp, but...................

[maxsolomon]

4. If they're legal (and i assume they are), then they reveal something distasteful

that Willard does not want to address. The inherent gaming of the tax code that will fuel class rage against his candidacy and the .1%.

What is that something?
1. The rich get all the breaks, and everyone else is a sucker getting the shaft?
2. Investment income is taxed at a lower rate than income, and everyone who works for wages & salary is a sucker getting the shaft?
3. He hid large amounts of assets overseas and took advantage of a tax amnesty program, while people making 1/100th what he does get audited?
4. More, larger Rafalca write-offs.

[HubertHeaver]

21. Or playing the futures market with insider information.

[pnwmom]

5. We plead the fifth. We won't release our returns because they will tend to incriminate us.

That's essentially what they're saying.

[panader0]

36. I like that----"We plead the fifth"!!

[get the red out]

6. Absolutely!!!!!

If they've got nothing to hide then why are they hiding it?

[kentuck]

8. And how many times have we heard the hypocrites say?

"If you don't have anything to hide, why are you afraid of the government eavesdropping on your calls or secretly recording what you have to say. I don't mind - I have nothing to hide..."

They have said this in the past like a mantra.

[get the red out]

20. I hadn't thought of that

But you are spot-on. They are knee deep in their own crap.

[renate]

24. many many thumbs up

[Johonny]

7. Obama gave them his and they aren't using them for attacks

so I don't understand their argument.

[billky]

9. Tax returns attacked..

Yes! They do think they're king and queen, don't they?

[monmouth]

11. Most likely a third degree felony lurking in there...n/t

[silvershadow]

32. Yes. We need to push that particular aspect, which alone would doom anyone.

[veganlush]

12. isn't it bizzare?

She can't hear how that sounds? Its like. A suspect being interrogating saying " I'm not gonna confess anymore, because you'll just charge me with more crimes"

[Tennessee Gal]

13. If it were Obama doing this, imagine the outrage.

They are hiding something. If there is nothing wrong in them, there is no reason not to release them.

I would like to know how anyone can accumulate $100 million in an IRA.

[HooptieWagon]

27. Yep. They were yelling about him hiding his birth certificate

long after he made it available. Obviously Romney is hiding something that might be barely legal, but politically damaging.

[spanone]

29. the roar from the media DEMANDING his returns would be deafening

[Raster]

14. Hear! Hear! Two things:

(1) If your tax returns are that damaging, then you shouldn't even be running for public office, much less the Presidency of the United States; and

(2) If your tax returns are that damaging, how in the hell did you think you would get away with it?

[kentuck]

38. Agree.

+1000

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

15. "We can't let you see our police rap sheet because you might attack us for something we did"

Whether Romney is lying or telling the truth about having never paid less than 13% in taxes in any given year, he and Ann have both admitted that the tax returns contain something very controversial in them that might even be potentially disqualifying for the Presidency in the public mind, whether technically illegal or not.

THIS IS INCREDIBLE. More incredible is that the press doesn't specifically ask him to address that which he finds so problematic in his returns, whether he releases them or not. How can a candidate have the nerve to tell people to get lost when the same candidate admits he's hiding something embarrassing and potentially radioactive to his campaign?

[Chiyo-chichi]

16. ...

[pokerfan]

17. Must be some devastating stuff in there

Otherwise, why not release them?

[Herlong]

18. This reminds me of the right wing argument for the patriot act

If you have nothing to hide, why worry. I think the Romney's have a lot to hide.

[kentuck]

19. Absolutely right!

When Bush was reading our emails and eavesdropping on our phone calls, they said "If you don't have anything to hide, then it's alright"..

[sad sally]

22. Remember what he said on Fox back in April about Gingrich?

Romney stated on Fox & Friends Wednesday morning, “I’m sure I can go out and say, ‘hey, please don’t do anything negative. But you know, this is politics and if you can’t stand the heat in this little kitchen, wait until the Obama Hell’s Kitchen turns up the heat. Look, this is a time when we have to be able to stand up and defend ourselves.”

[nolabear]

23. Can you imagine Queen Ann in the White House?

Those are some frosty eyes to have to look at for four years.

[sad sally]

25. Well at least the maids would be paid by taxpayers..

Mitt Romney's Maids' Salary Raises Questions

WASHINGTON -- For a woman with three houses and sixteen grandkids, Ann Romney doesn't have very much help around the house, according to her 2010 tax return.

IRS forms released Tuesday by Mitt Romney's presidential campaign show that despite reporting income of $21.7 million, the couple paid only $20,603 in taxable wages for household help in 2010. This figure was divided among four women: Rosania Costa ($4,808), Kelli Harrison ($8,667), Susan Moore ($2,238) and Valerie Cravens Anae ($4,890).

According to a number of Boston-based domestic staffing agencies, the salary range for a housekeeper is between $20 and $30 an hour, which adds up to an annual salary of $40,000 to $50,000 based on forty-hour weeks and two weeks of paid vacation a year.

But this number is only for one house, and the Romneys have three houses -- a 2,000 sq. ft. townhouse in Belmont, Mass., a 5,400 sq. ft. lake house on 11 acres in Wolfeboro, N.H., and a beach house in La Jolla, Calif., that is undergoing renovations to double its size.

Even if the Romneys avoided spending time in La Jolla in 2010, they spent plenty of time in New Hampshire, with regular visits in the summer from five sons and their families.

Yet the Romneys still paid only half of the lowest range of an average housekeeper's salary, which raises the question of who cleaned the Romney houses the other 50 percent of the time. A Romney campaign adviser declined to respond to questions from The Huffington Post about the housekeeping salaries.

http://www.datalounge.com/cgi-bin/iowa/ajax.html?t=11235592#page:showThread,11235592

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

34. You suppose they're paying undocumented immigrants in cash?

No, they'd never do something like that. They'd never take advantage of an immigrant housekeeper or maid by paying her less than minimum wage, under the table. No way.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

35. She makes Barbara Bush look like a cuddly old granny.

Ann Romney is cold.

[Randomthought]

26. Two years worth to re-fi our house

so 5 years worth to run for president seems more than fair

[Solly Mack]

28. That's what she said...used as "ammunition".

Which implies there's something there that can be used against them. (because it supports the case against Romney)

At one point she said it would give them (the Obama campaign/Democrats) ammunition. (or words to that effect)

Making it even more obvious that those tax returns contain validation of everything said about the Romney's.

[silvershadow]

30. Royalty. That's it in a word, someone said it upstream. Both of them.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

33. So you know damn well there's something fishy in them.

Presidential candidates have been releasing several years of their tax returns for decades now, and I don't recall that there were ever any "attacks" arising from what was in them. Even very wealthy candidates like Kerry and McCain didn't get any undue flack, as I recall. Yes, they were rich, and one can make whatever one wants of that, but I don't remember any reluctance to give out tax information or any fallout from it.

So, Mittens. Why are you so afraid that something in your tax returns will stir up "attacks," even though that's never been a problem for any previous candidates?

[SoCalDem]

37. Childish logic

If the kid tell Mom he lit the matches that started the fire in the garage, he will be punished.....so he does not tell her..