"...seven consecutive years of residency prior to a run for office..."

[SoCalDem]

This is a rule for running for office in Massachusetts..

Mitt's Bain-lies started because he wanted to be governor.

It must be especially galling to him now, because it is truly the "bain of his existence" now, in a race that commands a BUNCH more of scrutiny.

It's just another in his long daisy-chain of lies & flip-flops.

For decades now, anytime he has wanted something, there has been a magical way for him (maybe it's the undies) to wiggle out of a precarious position, and end up smelling like roses.

He NEEDED to "be in charge of Bain" in order to run for that office, so of course he played that up.

He was LYING then? now? both?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_gubernatorial_election,_2002
Prominent GOP activists campaigned to persuade businessman Mitt Romney to run for governor,[5] who was coming off his successful stint as head of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City[1] and was also mentioned as a possible candidate for Governor of Utah.[3] Romney had previously indicated in fall 2001 that he would not challenge a sitting Republican in running for the Massachusetts governorship, and thus was in a delicate position.[1][3] Massachusetts Republican State Committee chair Kerry Healey had flown to Utah to personally assess Romney's intentions.[3] On March 17, Romney flew into Massachusetts; a Boston Herald poll showed him defeating Swift by a 75 percent to 12 percent margin in a Republican primary.[3][6] On March 19, 2002, Swift tearfully declared that she had decided not to seek her party's nomination, citing family reasons and also saying "I believe that this is in the best interest of our state, as it will allow the Republican Party's best chances of holding the governor's office in November."[6] Three hours later Romney announced his candidacy.[1] Romney was subsequently unopposed in the Republican party primary.[7]

Massachusetts Democratic Party officials claimed that Romney was ineligible to run for governor, citing residency issues. The Massachusetts Constitution requires seven consecutive years of residency prior to a run for office. Romney claimed residency in Utah from 1999 to 2002, during his time as president of the Salt Lake City Olympic Committee. He had thus gotten a $54,000 property tax break there (which he now offered to pay back).[1] In 1999 he listed himself as a part-time Massachusetts resident,[8] and now said that he had planned to return to Massachusetts (where he had gone to business and law school and had spent his entire business career until taking over the Olympics) all along.

The Massachusetts Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Massachusetts State Ballot Law Commission, which eventually ruled that Romney was eligible to run for office, saying that "[Romney] never severed his ties to Massachusetts [and] his testimony was credible in all respects."[3] The ruling was not challenged in court,[9] and the whole matter engendered sympathy for Romney, who accused the Democrats of playing "ridiculous, dirty politics".[3]

[Kalidurga]

1. Oh now I get it...

He lied about his dealings with Bain to make his residency claims seem credible. Even though they weren't not really. So, he committed tax fraud as well then if he is claiming he was a resident while taking a tax break from Utah. So, he now says he will pay back that money very generous of the multimillionaire.

[maddezmom]

2. those darn quirky laws are for other people not Rmoney

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/12/1109033/-Romneyland-responds-This-is-nothing-more-than-a-quirk-in-the-law

[freshwest]

3. Darth and Mittley Whiplash sure have a thing for living in 'undisclosed locations,' like vipers.

Slippery little things, aren't they?

[PatSeg]

4. He is used to getting his way

I suppose it never dawned on him that he might have to play by the rules like other people.

Wake up call for Mitt!