Romney says his Mormon tithing shouldn’t be public [why he won't release his tax returns]

[maddezmom]

Source: SLTrib

Washington • Mitt Romney says in a new interview that one of the reasons he’s distressed about disclosing his tax returns is that everyone sees how much money he and his wife, Ann, have donated to the LDS Church, and that’s a number he wants to keep private.

"Our church doesn’t publish how much people have given," Romney tells Parade magazine in an edition due out Sunday. "This is done entirely privately. One of the downsides of releasing one’s financial information is that this is now all public, but we had never intended our contributions to be known. It’s a very personal thing between ourselves and our commitment to our God and to our church."

Romney has released his 2010 tax returns in his White House campaign and, so far, a summary of last year’s tax information. But despite pressure from Republican opponents in the primaries and President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign, Romney has refused to disclose more.

While it may not be a major reason, Romney says disclosing his charitable donations isn’t something he wants to do.

Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/54744938-90/romney-says-church-tithing.html.csp

---

now he's hiding behind his religion.

[Sedona]

1. If he didn't want the information public....

he shouldn't have run for president! Duh.

[atreides1]

6. And

His wife should not have bragged about how his tithing to the LDS Church somehow makes him a good man....

[get the red out]

28. Ha, good one!!!!!

Time for them to SHOW US THE MONEY!!!!!

[pnwmom]

57. This is like the guy in the job interview: what's your worst failing?

"I work too hard."

He's just such a modest guy, he can't stand for the public to know how wonderful he is with all his "charity."



(The LDS church spends hardly anything on what other denominations consider charity -- they're pumping all their money into shopping centers and golf course.)

[cyclezealot]

86. Would not mind if he gave all of his $225 million to the church , as long as he pays his taxes.

we all know he pays his 10%. If he gives more, that's his choice. Why not give away your Cadillac's to the church too.

[CreekDog]

146. We don't *know* that. Perhaps he doesn't give 10%, or perhaps the calculation is odd...

I'm guessing he would love to be "Prophet"/President of the LDS church sometime later, and perhaps there's something in there that would cast doubt on that.

[2pooped2pop]

151. and tithing isn't really charity is it?

I wonder if that's the only "charity" he gave to.

and I bet he screwed them too.

But hey, what if we let them black out that charity amount. Then can we have those returns Mitt?

[Vincardog]

96. I think that he is hiding from the LDS. He doesn't want the LDS to find out how much he made.

[Cha]

104. That was my first thought...besides romney's full of shit.

Anngry's out there bragging about giving to "charity" when it's required by the Mormon Church to tithe 10%.. let them prove it.

Will this backfire in ways they can't imagine now that he's trying to hide his tax returns behind the Mormon Church?

[Cosmocat]

107. True, but

I think this is something that the Rs will easily get behind as their talking point ... Simple minded and easy to parrot. Except, it sure won't be "tithing" it will be donating ...

[hip is everything]

113. i'm mittens damnit ... i don't have to tell you anything ...

[link:|

[unblock]

2. well he could have kept it private by not telling the irs about it in the first place.

KNOWING that presidential candidates are expected to disclose tax returns, he KNOWINGLY put information in his tax returns he'd rather keep private.


this is a problem 100% of his own creation.

[truthisfreedom]

7. That's interesting. At this point, the argument becomes, Mitt, it appears you purposefully disclosed

your tithing to the IRS in an effort to generate an excuse to keep the American public from seeing your tax returns. What do you have to say about that, sir?

[robinlynne]

40. you mean to create a large tax exemption.....

[truthisfreedom]

58. Well, we know that he also got a large tax exemption.

[wordpix]

105. We also know he's spent his life managing tax avoidance schemes for both himself and others

via Cayman Isl, Switzerland and Bermuda, at least.

[robinlynne]

144. what I mean is, if he was giving he money to god, he didn't need to take it as a tax deduction......

[hedgehog]

59. +1 - It's between God and me except when I want a tax exemption!

[UpInArms]

94. +1

[enough]

116. Very good point.

[VWolf]

71. Yeppers

If his donations were truly from the heart, then he shouldn't have claimed them as exemptions.

[truthisfreedom]

3. Wow. First he used his wife as a shield on this issue. Now his religion.

The guy will do anything to hide his criminal behavior. He knows that he can't reveal that he sought amnesty for his Swiss bank account(s). That would make him a "forgiven" felon and open up another huge can of worms about where else he hid his money.

[BlueStreak]

20. It keeps coming back to that

What a lot of people can't keep straight is that the issue is on the 2009 return. There may be plenty of issues on the earlier returns, just as there are serious issues on the 2010 return. There is something special about the 2009 return that Romney must keep secret.

The Swiss amnesty program, if he used that, would obviously be on the 2009 return and would obviously be something he cannot divulge. I have not heard any other theory that makes such clear-cut sense.

That being the case, I continue to marvel that there has been so much discussion, yet I don't believe a single reporter has asked him point blank whether he used the amnesty program or not. Why do they keep asking hig the same vague questions over and over when there is one very specific question that really needs to be addressed?

[Roy Rolling]

34. Reason 2

Also mentioned as a likely reason is where he declared his residency on the tax returns. He voted in the special election to replace Ted Kennedy in 2008 and said he and his wife were residents of Massachusetts and lived in his son's unfinished basement. (next to the junk, lawnmower and furnace, I guess)

Voting in Massachusetts, while really residing in California where he has a multi-million dollar mansion, is voter fraud or something.

[BlueStreak]

49. I don't buy that

1) The tax return does not establish residence. Residency is a function of the state's Constitution or laws

2) It is a very old issue

3) Nobody cares about that now, and it isn't relevant to this election

That is not what he is hiding, IMHO.

If he used the amnesty program, and he has not denied that, that is essentially an admission of a tax evasion FELONY. That would be a very serious problem for him.

My guess is that Obama team knows exactly what the 2009 problem is and has a plan to get it out right after the Dem convention.

[matt819]

69. Not so

Filing a tax return in a given state - with those returns showing state of residence - is one very important factor in establishing state residency. Others factors include where his cars are registered, where he has a driver's license.

Whether anyone cares is one issue. Whether the return demonstrates residency in one state and a public record of voting in another, well, that's quite something else, isn't it? It's not murder. It's not drunk driving or B&E. No one's saying he held up a Seven-11. But it's still a felony.

[muriel_volestrangler]

72. I care about the residency issue - it would have been voter fraud

If he had lied about being resident in Massacheusetts (pretty likely, since how many multi-millionaires take a room in their son's house? He could have rented somewhere bigger with his pocket change) then it
(a) speaks to his character
(b) makes the Republicans look utterly hypocritical on the 'voter fraud' issue - if the most obvious perpetrator is their presidential candidate. It could shoot down their attempts to rig voting in flames. That could be vital in November.

[Scairp]

121. Oh man

I have a feeling "voter fraud" would be the least of the issues if his tax returns were made public. That would just be an amusing aside. It has to be really bad for them to be so intransigent about releasing more returns. We already know that the only one released is missing a form regarding the reporting of money in his Swiss bank account(s) so I think whatever is in those from like the last 10 years must be so bad that he might have to quit if everyone got to see them.

[Ruby the Liberal]

148. Residency is determined by where you pay your taxes.

Did he pay them as a NH resident, CA resident, or did he pay the higher MA taxes for living in his "sons basement"?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

152. Yeah, that was so believable.

King Mitt and Queen Ann sleeping on air mattresses next to the water heater.

[Karmasue]

153. Yep...that's what I think too...

Even on his own website, where he has his 2010 and 2011 estimated return - and Paul and Janna's 2010 and 2011 returns, he & they release financial disclosures. Interestingly enough Paul and Janna release 1999-2012, but Mitt & Ann release only 2011, 2012 & what? 2007!

And I also wonder why the media doesn't ask him point blank if he was involved in any way with the Swiss amnesty program.

That makes sense.

[link:http://www.mittromney.com/learn/mitt/tax-return/main|

[BlueStreak]

4. Fine. Produce the returns with those lines redacted.

I'm sure the Obama campaign would agree to leave the Mormon funding off limits.

[The Second Stone]

16. He won't do that either

because he is lying.

[BlueStreak]

29. Yes, of course. But the O campaign needs to make that offer, and I bet they do.

That will keep the discussion going for another couple of days.

[matt819]

70. Exactly the right move

Though it would certainly be interesting to see his religious and charitable and other deductible contributions.

[yellowcanine]

124. I suspect some of the charity giving is problematic for Willard.

A lot of the charitable giving of wealthy people may be fine legally but maybe not so much in terms of ethics. Conflicts of interest often abound, with friends, relatives, and business partners benefiting from the giving, for example. I would guess that this is one of many reasons why Willard doesn't want anyone poking around his tax returns.

[Dustlawyer]

5. That's b/c his church will see that he and his wife shorted them by a lot, just like they

did to the taxpayers!

[Bozita]

12. +1!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

21. Yes, cuts both ways against Rmoney. But that's only his public reason. He has others.

If he didn't give much to the Mormony, then he looks bad.

If he gave over the 10% to the Mormony and claims it against taxes, it looks like he is beholden to them.

But he has other potential reasons. See the Gawker dump. Also might be: voter fraud (registration vs residence), direct involvement in Bain, profits from things like fetus scavenging, tax amnesty for breaking offshore funds laws, foreign bank accounts, tax haven scams, ... not to mention so many tax dodges and loopholes that his taxable income is only about $50k and rate only 13% like he says.

[rocktivity]

51. Are you saying that deducting what he tithed would make the church just as unhappy

Last edited Sun Aug 30, 2020, 03:16 PM - Edit history (1)

as tithing less than ten percent before taxes?


rocktivity

[Bernardo de La Paz]

56. No

[rocktivity]

64. Well, if the church would not be offended by his deducting the tithing

Last edited Wed Oct 2, 2013, 07:18 PM - Edit history (2)

then he is hiding something indeed -- something gargantuan.

THIS JUST IN: There's no "if" about it...


rocktivity

[hamsterjill]

47. Yeah, did he tithe 10% of those 'capital gains'?

I don't know that the Mormon church makes a differentiation as to income.

[livetohike]

8. It's probably the only charitable giving deduction he has. That's why he wants to keep it quiet

Perhaps he did donate millions per year to his church and nothing to any other charity. It would look really bad, imo.

[jsr]

9. The bishop didn't contribute 10%, did he?

[unblock]

10. wait, so it's a very private thing for 2008 and 2009, but a public thing for 2010 and 2011?

[cyberswede]

25. That's the first thing I thought, too.

What a pantload.

[renate]

127. THANK YOU

This is some very sad bullshit. He's been asked for tax returns since he ran for governor, and it's taken him and his team ten years to come up with this fake-humility excuse? It isn't even worth the trouble of laughing.

[reflection]

11. I'm glad he brought this up.

I was afraid it was going to be forgotten in all the Akin furor.

Thanks Mitt!

[nolabear]

13. I'm afraid that ship has sailed. He either has to face the facts or the speculation.

And these days speculation is far more harmful. Unless, of course, the "facts" aren't facts at all.

[nilram]

14. Probably because they got more than the IRS did

[proud patriot]

24. +1

[Happyhippychick]

15. TOO FUCKING BAD , SHOULDA THOUGHT ABOUT THAT BEFORE YOU RAN, AND I THINK YOU'RE AFRAID THE CHURCH

Will find out you've been screwing them. No sympathy, no empathy, no redaction.

[IggleDoer]

17. I supposed that Obama's minions FORCED him to take the deduction.

Poor, poor Mitt. If he felt like such a victim, he could have shut the whole deduction thing down.

[benld74]

18. But if tithing is suppose to be a % of your income, and he wont tell anyone WHAT that income was

MAYBE his church will need him to INCREASE the tithing?

[CanonRay]

19. I call total BS

If he tithe's, it's 10%. Any idiot can figure that out. What's the big secret?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

22. He either shouldn't have claimed it, or he should have not gone into politics then.

Wasn't it his own father who said you needed to prepare to release 10 years of tax returns before running for POTUS?

[madrchsod]

91. yes it was and his dad was a good man

i guess mittens decided his dad`s shoes were to big for him.

[Kalidurga]

23. LLPOF Should be in front of everything Mitt says...

If that was the real issue. 1. as someone pointed out, it wasn't an issue when he released his partial 2010 returns or his estimated 2011 returns. 2. he would have said this from the very beginning to at least get some sympathy. Now it just looks like desperation. 3. Looks like one theory is definitely true, he gave significantly less than 10% to the Mormon church.

[kestrel91316]

26. Fine. Redact that part and release the returns.

[MADem]

27. If he wants a GUBMINT TAX BREAK for his tithing, then it damn well SHOULD be public.

He doesn't want it public because he's stiffing the Mormon temple of their "due."

It would be, as Cruella his wife says, "more ammunition" for "you people."

[rocktivity]

99. ...and if the Mormons DISAPPROVE of high-ranking members taking tax breaks

on what they've tithed...




rocktivity

[get the red out]

30. He's scrambling

He waited a while before coming up with this excuse.

[Canuckistanian]

31. Didn't Harry Reid release his returns?

I mean, if this is such a big problem for Mormons, wouldn't Harry refuse also?

[LuvNewcastle]

80. Exactly.

I don't know of any church that releases information about members' contributions, so I don't see why this is such a special case with a Mormon candidate. Every time he opens his mouth, he just digs that hole a little deeper. You'd think he would have realized that by now.

[xxqqqzme]

32. Now, wait just a fucking

minute, the mittwit....You and your wife brag about your 'charitable' donations, when we all know that is LDS speak for the tithe required of you. And, BTW, it doesn't count as taxes (just unless you get an annual statement from tabernacle central telling you to pay up) because you use it as a deduction. Because you claim it as a deduction, we get to see it. I'm willing to bet he tithes more to LDS than he pays in taxes.

[The Wizard]

33. Tithing

A Mormon euphemism for paying 10% yearly for dues in a business exchange disguised as a religion to avoid taxes, and Rmoney is an expert at avoiding taxes.

[Raster]

46. A thousand recommends!!! As a born and raised - and now recovered - mormon, I am constantly...

...amazed at the gargantuan BUSINESS CONGLOMERATE that is the mormon church. It's wealth, holdings and businesses are truly mind-boggling. When it comes to being the religion of mammon and greed, the mormon church is right up there with scientology.

[bushisanidiot]

103. It IS a Business!

and they are hell bent on world domination.

p.s. I'm a recovering ex-mo, too!

[Raster]

137. Right on! Yep, more than a business, and you are right, the goal IS WORLD DOMINATION.

Bloomberg Business had an article on their website that detailed some of the church's financial structure, talk about an eye opener. Unfortunately, that article in particular has now been taken down. I suspect the High Command was not comfortable with some of the revelations therein.

Take care!

UPATE: Currently on Bloomberg Business:

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-10/how-the-mormons-make-money

[cstanleytech]

35. Maybe its because he didnt give his 10% to the church? That would kinda be embarrassing. nt

[2pooped2pop]

36. the church is probably tithing to him

rather than the other way around.

[Tikki]

37. I don't think that is the reason, at all. I think it is something PERSONAL and I bet our President

already knows what it is and may never share with us...
I could be wrong, just a feeling...


Tikki

[Sivafae]

38. The amount he gave to the church is a moot point anyway...

If I understand the tax code well enough, you can give to charitable organizations all you want, however for tax purposes, you can only claim a certain percentage to reduce your tax burden. So why would claim any more than what is allowable by law?

His logic just doesn't hold up.

[cstanleytech]

43. No, the logic is sound if he "didn't" give the church the % he was supposed to because

then he might lose some if not all of their support.

[Sivafae]

75. Except with the Mormon Church, they know how much you make and how much you have saved.

They know all your financial business. At least from what I understand.

I watched the documentary on the Mormon Church's involvement in Prop 8 some time ago and they interviewed a family. When the church elders came to their house they said that they knew the family could donate a certain amount because they knew how much money the family had. The amount they requested was a five figured amount and was for the children's college education.

[cstanleytech]

136. They cannot know what you told and or paid the IRS unless you show them the paperwork.

So maybe he got a bigger return and or tax break than he told the church.

[Panasonic]

39. Well

Rmoney has no other alternative - but to step down and let an even crazier Teabagger take over..

That way we can just simply focus on the Senate/House Race.

[rocktivity]

41. All the other presidents/presidential candidates (since his father's time)

have released their tax returns and survived.

Why don't you just admit it -- that what you've given your church DOES NOT add up to ten percent of your income?


rocktivity

[bucolic_frolic]

42. Just ignore Mitt's pitiful attempt at sympathy

and realize he gave Millions while Mitt's asking seniors to pay
more and more for their health care

VOUCHERCARE is a FINANCIAL DEATH PANEL

VOUCHERCARE is a FINANCIAL DEATH PANEL

VOUCHERCARE is a FINANCIAL DEATH PANEL

VOUCHERCARE is a FINANCIAL DEATH PANEL

Tell everyone you know and don't stop repeating it until election day

The more you keep the word on VOUCHER, the more they have to
reply and deny using the same word

This will keep the public focused on the fact that

VOUCHERCARE is a FINANCIAL DEATH PANEL

[cstanleytech]

44. Or VOUCHERCARE = Plz Die Faster nt.

[bucolic_frolic]

65. Hey, Customize The Slogan However you Like

Grab the Public's attention

and drive home how much this MittWitt Insanity

will hurt Americans when they are sick and ill

[brooklynite]

45. So then, giving to charity is no longer a point in your favor, right Mitt & Ann?

[bushisanidiot]

48. My theory is it's another tax evasion scheme of his

My theory:

He has made a deal with the leaders of the Mormon Church to claim he is paying X amount of dollars so he can write it off as a donation to charity, when in reality he is paying X - Y amount. In exchange, they support his campaign(s) and business ventures (some of which actually DO involve the mormon church) with tithing money from other mormons.

[Deep13]

50. oh, bullshit. nt

[jberryhill]

52. His father wasn't troubled by it

And does be think he is the first politician ever to donate to a church?

Please.

[Solly Mack]

53. LMAO

[no_hypocrisy]

54. Then redact the tithing and release the damned returns.

[rocktivity]

61. If he took a tax deduction on the tithing

(which, presumably, is why he put it on his returns in the first place), what good would redacting do? All we'd have to do is multiply his adjusted gross income by ten per cent.


rocktivity

[no_hypocrisy]

63. Good point. I stand corrected.

[onehandle]

55. They just thought of that one?

Fuck you, you gigantic asshole.

[yardwork]

60. Then he shouldn't be running for president.

I would never run for public office, partly because I don't want to have to disclose all my personal business. Mitt is welcome to remain a private citizen. If he wants to be president he has to show us his tax returns. Simple as that.

[beac]

62. Mitt Romney is like a waiter at a bad French restaurant:

"Would Monsieur and Madame like to try the Excuse de jour? It is locally sourced from our own bullshit farm. It is very, very fresh... we killed it only this morning!"

[matt819]

66. The only conclusion

is that he's ashamed of his relationship his church.

Being pictured eating money and having money stuffed in his clothes. Check.
Proud pro-lifer, after being proud pro-choicer. Check.
Proud of being vulture capitalist. Check.
Okay with lies about off-shore accounts. Check.
Okay with outsourcing jobs. Check.

Amount tithed to Mormon Church. Ashamed.

Gotta make you wonder.

[mgarr]

67. Tax returns, if you please

Release the tax returns, Mr. Romney.

[canadowa16]

68. White-Out !!!!!!!!

I recall reading last week where someone told him to just cover with whiteout the 'private tithing amount' and leave the rest open to scrutiny. More lies. Just more lies.

[moobu2]

73. He's lying

[eShirl]

74. Nobody forced him to deduct that or any charitable donations.

I guess he made a poor decision when he decided to take advantage of every tax deduction and loophole allowed by law in order to lower his taxes. What a patriot!

[McCamy Taylor]

76. Maybe he did not tithe as much as he said he did...

...and the returns would prove him to be a liar yet again.

[FAHQ69_7]

77. Mitt is more afraid of the Church then the Public or IRS

Releasing of his Tax returns will show the Church Did not get its full cut and if that is the case he will lose his access to the super secret parts of the church and he may have to even wear burlap magic undies as penance.

[NV Whino]

78. My theory is

There are so many things wrong with his returns, he can't fix them all. He could probably skate with one or even two things, but there is the potential of the following

1. Offshore accounts
2. Amnesty for offshore accounts
3. Living in CA, voting in MA
4. Too much (or too little) tithed to Mormon church (don't piss off the Mormons)
5. Finances involving Bain Capital
6. Bain involved with fetus disposal

And the list goes on. Really, Mitney, you had to know these things would come up if you ran for pres.

[rocktivity]

84. Why would tithing TOO MUCH be a problem?

Especially if he deducted it -- which, I presume, is why he put it on his taxes in the first place?


rocktivity

[NV Whino]

102. Tithing too much could tick off the IRS

Assuming he correctly reported it. He could be claiming more than he actually gave, which would then tick of the Mormons. It's a "gotcha" situation.

[bushisanidiot]

106. That's EXACTLY my point!

only, I think the Mormon leadership is involved with helping Romney use the mormon church to evade taxes in exchange for running for POTUS. the mormon church is about money and power. they are the borg. the collective. they want everyone to be a mormon and they want everyone to pay money to get to "the celestial kingdom". Having a mormon POTUS will advance that dream.

[drm604]

79. I wonder how many focus groups they tested this one on?

Yeah, tithing, that's it. That's the ticket.

[LibertyLover]

81. I'm betting that Romney stiffed his Church on tithe amounts

and doesn't want them to know. As a good Mormon he is required to give the LDS Church 10% of his income, and I believe that it's gross not net, if he wants to become a god and get a planet after he dies. My money's on the fact that he decided to, shall we say, practice creative accounting and withhold critical data from the Church regarding his income so as to save some money. Now he doesn't want the Church to find out by just how much he low-balled them.

[pinto]

82. What did he expect? If he claimed his tithe as a deduction, then decided to run for President...

surely he was aware that candidates release their tax returns. If he's unintentionally that clueless, he's not qualified for the office. If he's intentionally that clueless, he's not qualified for the office.

[Bluenorthwest]

83. I thought he did not wish to speak of Mormonism, now he's using it as a defense?

The church orders 10% minimum tithe, so either Mitt is shorting them or hyper funding them, if he's anywhere near the 10% that's something we all have already been told again and again....
If this is his defense, we need far more information of Mormonism at once.

[woodsprite]

85. His father didn't have an issue with that, did he? n/t

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

89. As I recall, he did not...

Good thing the old man isn't alive to see what a weasel his son became.

[DallasNE]

114. +1000 - Plus

This is new reason number 94 for not releasing his taxes. Then I guess Romney has never heard of separation of church and state. Besides, isn't it a single line on the tax return so we don't know the exact amout he gives to LDS since his other charitible deductions are also included in that amount -- that is unless LDS is 100% of that amount but even then we woundn't know that.

[closeupready]

87. Lies. Oh, what a tangled web we weave,

when at first we practice to deceive.

[rocktivity]

90. And just before the convention, too!

Go, Mitty! GO, GO!


rocktivity

[Bluenorthwest]

88. No church publishes what people have given. Secret giving is a religious principle that precludes

taking a deduction. In my church growing up, tithe and also any contribution that created a deductions was not seen as actual giving, one is required, the other done for self gain. So actual charity is secret to all, including the government, and must be in excess of the tithe which maintains the church which belongs to the members, so it is not 'giving' so much as a HOA type fee.

[rocktivity]

93. DING DING DING! Bluenorthwest, you're our grand prize winner!

Last edited Tue Jan 19, 2016, 05:44 PM - Edit history (7)

Secret giving is a religious principle that precludes deduction(s)...In my church...tithe(s) and any contribution(s) that created deductions was not seen as actual giving: one is required, the other (is) done for self-gain...(A)ctual charity is secret to all, including the government...

By George, I think you've got it!

What if Mitt's problem is is NOT that his tax returns would reveal that he's under-tithed, but that he also DEDUCTED the tithes in order to pay LESS tax? I wouldn't be illegal -- BUT if the Mormons feel the way your church did, that would add up to VERY bad news for Mitt!

On edit: And it looks like we're right...

rocktivity

[Renew Deal]

92. OK, so redact that line.

[Knicks007]

95. total bullshit, last ditch excuse n/t

[Zen Democrat]

97. Well then, WAA-WAA should not have taken tax deductions for the tithing.

What a pathetic excuse. If he wanted to be anonymous, he could have been.

[AlbertCat]

98. Hey... separation of church and state....

....oh wait....


This whole election is an even bigger joke than 2000! It's like a bad "Hangover" movie. The only.... ONLY adults in the room have a "D" by their name.

[sdfernando]

100. This might have carried more weight if

if he was towing this line from the start...now it is just the excuse-du-jour.

[otohara]

101. Lying For The Lordy

Until Nov 6th

[yurbud]

108. The Mormon church is pretty vocal about expecting a ten percent tithe...

so unless Romney is doing less than that, it shouldn't be a problem with his church.

[slutticus]

109. My bet

My bet is that he's not giving his required 10%, or that the 10% was calculated off some bullshit measure of "income" that is much lower than what he actually makes.

In any case, he's in quite the spot now. If he caves and releases, then he looks weak; if he remains stubborn then he looks like he's hiding something. I love it.

[Botany]

110. "It’s a very personal thing between ourselves and our commitment to our God .... "

..... and our Swiss Bankers and our Cayman Islands Accounts, and our Irish Funds, and our
very very low % of interest we paid on our millions, and steri cycle earnings, and our bringing
$ back into the country in an IRS amnesty program in 2009, and the money paid me by Bain
Capital after I said I left the company, and the money I made selling short in the market as the
housing bubble crashed and the money I made outsourcing jobs ......

"We are on a mission from God."

[wordpix]

111. playing the god card and then, "This is done entirely privately" - so why get IRS involved, Mittwit?

geesh, the guy can't keep his justifications straight.

[evilhime]

112. But everyone else

discloses that.. and honestly I for one don't care what he tithes, I'm more interested in what he has overseas in banks, and how he can pay so much less in taxes percent wise than the rest of us. Not to mention his place of residence when he voted in MA while probably living in CA (does anyone really believe he lived in his son's unfinished basement??). And of course there is all that CEO Bain money he got after he supposedly resigned from there - oh wait that was retroactive . . . And then there is MA law that he has to live 7 consecutive years in the state before running for governor, but he lived for a period of time in Utah during that 7 years... but wait he retroactively corrected that too . . . <sigh> So let him retroactively correct how much he tithed.

[notadmblnd]

115. Why would one be ashamed of how much they give to God?

Hmmmm.... thinking... thinking... Oh! I know, He's been cheating god too.

[Hugabear]

117. Then don't run for President.

If you don't want your financial history - including your tax returns - subjected to public scrutiny, there's a very easy solution to that. Don't run for the highest fucking office in the country.

[april]

118. he is to give 10% to the church

may he has not given that percentage due to all of his offshore accounts and does not want the church to know as well.

[Mr.Bill]

119. I was thinking the same thing.

He fears the Mormon church more than he fears the voters.

[trailmonkee]

120. makes me want to see them even more....

[Javaman]

122. Nope not hiding behind his religion, he's scared of it...

He's supposed to give 10%. Me thinks he didn't give anywhere near that.

He's more afraid of them than he is of us.

[LynneSin]

123. What a dumbass

The more he talks about not wanting to show it and the lamer the excuse the more damage he does to his campaign.

[PurityOfEssence]

125. Hmmm...so is he cheating on his religion, too?

They're supposed to get their cut; is he welshing on the deal?

Patriotism isn't the last refuge of a scoundrel, religion is.

[yellowcanine]

126. I personally save on taxes by giving money to a church but I sometimes wonder how "fair" that is.

Think about it. A church is basically a social club. Yeah I know, they do good and all that, but most of the money directly benefits the members. Why should I be able to write off my activities on a Sunday morning but the guy who plays golf can't?

[BSUbluNorange]

128. I'm a full tithe payer (give 10% of all my income to the church)

and I could care less if people knew that amount. Very personal thing between ourselves and our commitment to our God and to our church" my butt!

[wordpix]

131. the fact Mitt told the IRS is public enough - personal my butt is right

[thelordofhell]

133. But here's the thing

How would you like to know if the richest members of your religion did not fully tithe to the church? It looks like Romney hasn't, and he's just one guy. I'm certain a lot of the richer Mormons out there (who could easily afford it) don't tithe 10%, and when this comes out, it will hurt the church.

Disclaimer: I'm not a Mormon, but a lot of my family is, and they have told me that church accountants have gone over their returns to make sure they tithe...........has Romney ever been through this????

[BSUbluNorange]

155. Idk about that..

Personally I don't believe the church audits members because thats just not how it works. To be honest, there have been times when I wasn't a full tithe payer.

If it came out that Romney didn't pay 10% it would look very bad because he's so self righteous. If it was huntsman people probably wouldn't be surprised. I don't think the biggest issue would be mormons thinking the church was getting jipped, it be more the fact that it'd show his personal convictions towards the church. Maybe thats what he means by this being personal because it really shouldn't be.

[rocktivity]

135. Do you deduct your tithing from your taxes?

And does your church approve? If the Mormons don't, then Mitt's got a BIG problem...


rocktivity

[BSUbluNorange]

154. No, because it'd only bring my adj gross income down a few thousand bucks

No reason to, I also don't view tithing as donations to charity. Its a biblical law of gratitude, giving back some of what god has given you.

[Blue Idaho]

129. This guy really is out of ideas isn't he?

What a dumb shit.

[MrsMuir]

130. hypocrite

If Mr. Romney really wanted his tithe to be just between him, his god, and the Mormon church, he should have never debased his tithe by deducting it from his taxes.

[beac]

145. Oh but that's why Mittens is "qualified" to be POTUS, dontcha know.

According to him, the ability to "take advantage of tax savings" and screw the country out of money makes him a great candidate to run it.



And WELCOME to DU!

[defacto7]

132. someone can check me on this...

but I remember reading that the Mormon church is the wealthiest church per capita of any church on the planet including the Catholics.

It sounds incredible, but living in Utah, I have seen what they can buy. They once owned the Mount of Olives in Israel. When they sold it, the amount was secret... like most of their transactions.

During this recession they dumped billions into the Utah economy through channels to prop up their mortgage holdings. Then they turn around and tout that conservatism works. Every Mormon is guaranteed housing, education and some kind of living if they stick to the rules of the church. Isn't that socialism? 'Couldn't possibly be because the Mormons are the conservative of the conservatives.

Hypocrites, opportunists... Brigham Young, the next in line from Joseph Smith had his fellow Mormons dress up as Native Americans and they attacked wagon trains to blame it on the Indians. That is... if they didn't pay their TOLLS! They used to charge non Mormon settlers exorbitant prices to the point of poverty just to pass though their territory. BTW, They claimed most of the west coast from Canada to Mexico as their territory. They called it the Nation of Deseret. (Honeybee)

People, I live here.

This is an edit.... I need to check my specifics so here's a better history of the Territory/State of Deseret.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Deseret

But what I have heard from other Mormons here is that B.Young wanted the whole of the western US at the beginning.

[Raster]

138. You are correct. The mormon church is now the wealthiest religious entity on the planet.

UPDATE: Now on Bloomberg Business: How the Mormons make Money

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-07-10/how-the-mormons-make-money

[defacto7]

134. I just had a thought,

Maybe it would be the Mormon Church that would be in trouble if Romney showed his taxes?

Just a thought...

[orpupilofnature57]

139. Equating tithing with taxes ,scares me on his Separation ...

of Church & State .Jesus said " Render on to Caesar what is Caesar's " He was the first to advocate separation of C&S, never used his Rabbi status to get out or in to anything.

[TwilightGardener]

140. Hmm, let me see.... NOPE, not buying it.

[Control-Z]

141. "It’s a very personal thing

between ourselves and our commitment to our God and to our church."

Right, mittshit. Very personal, unlike my vagina.

[MadrasT]

142. Then don't claim it as a deduction

and don't run for President.

Easy-peasy.

You made your bed Mitt, now you have to lie in it.

[mysuzuki2]

143. Ah, that explains it then.

Not!

[6000eliot]

147. Then why run for president?

[polly7]

149. Ann Romney Destroys Her Husband’s Newest Tax Excuse

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2012/08/23/ann-romney-destroys-her-husbands-newest-tax-excuse-video/

Video.

While Mitt’s most recent excuse for not releasing his tax returns (not wanting to disclose tithing) is a shoddy one, it completely loses credibility altogether when his wife, during an interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts, says the following: “You know, you should really look at where Mitt has led his life and where he’s been financially. He’s been a very generous person. We give ten percent of our income to our church every year. Do you think that is the kind of person that is trying to hide things?”

Well, he didn’t want to reveal that amount (although it’s well-known how much Mormons are supposed to give), so yes, he is the kind of person who is trying to hide things. The positives of this, however, cannot be denied: Mitt Romney’s latest excuse now fails to hold any water.

[Major Hogwash]

150. He can't hide behind his church.

Sorry, won't work.

Maybe Mitt should let his wife, Anne, go back on tv and say about the same thing that he just said, so he can hide behind her skirt!!

Mitt has more excuses than a double-dealing dealer in Vegas.