Obama campaign slams Romney 'black box,' wants 23 years of taxes

Obama campaign slams Romney 'black box,' wants 23 years of taxes
By ALEXANDER BURNS |
4/5/12 6:30 PM EDT -- Politico


They are demanding Romney's tax returns for 23 Years !

Tall order but perhaps a necessary evil.

Some even claim Romney is playing by a different set of rules,
and is a "loopholer".

But the article says Romney actually did provide 23 years of tax returns
to the McCain campaign so he could be screened for a possible V.P. spot.

Keying off the Washington Post's report on Mitt Romney's limited personal financial transparency, the Obama campaign is issuing its second demand in a week for the former Massachusetts governor to open up the books. The statement from Jim Messina:

Mitt Romney has asked Americans to elect him President based on his experience as a corporate buyout specialist. Each week, new questions are raised about whether he took unusual steps to avoid paying his fair share in taxes. Today’s report suggests that Governor Romney is exploiting a loophole in order to shield his assets and investments from public review.

Mitt Romney has put his personal financial assets in a black box and hid the key, attempting to play by a different set of rules than any candidate in recent history. In fact, Mitt Romney’s own father released 12 years of tax returns when he ran for president. President Bush released his tax returns dating back to 1991. And President Obama released his returns dating back to 2000 when he ran for president.

Governor Romney provided 23 years worth of tax returns to the McCain campaign so they could determine if he would make a suitable Vice President. He must meet that same standard now so that the American people may judge whether he would be a suitable President, and whether there are any conflicts of interest that could cloud his judgment.

What will the Obama campaign do if the tax returns come up "clean" as a whistle ?

Originally posted by xuenchen
What will the Obama campaign do if the tax returns come up "clean" as a whistle ?

Does it matter? The American Public should take it as an admission that they are doctored and not vote for him.

I don't trust him as a hugely wealthy individual. I don't trust him as a Mormon (grew up Mormon but really, strong religious views make me wary). And I don't trust anyone that comes with an H.W. Bush stamp of approval.

Period.

anyone else see the irony of obama demanding records from people?

it's all a big show, the next president has already been picked, and not by the american people.

Originally posted by Bob Sholtz
anyone else see the irony of obama demanding records from people?

Thats exactly what I was thinking when I read this post. Unfortunately, I believe the two party paradigm really planned this one out to make Obama the winner of this election. I honestly do not see Mitt Romney becoming president of the United States at all. As bad as the failures are of president Obama, the Republican party really have nothing good going for them. I believe that all died when George W. Bush took office.

Seems like a fair trade for Obama's college records....

Des

Does anyone see the Irony here? Even a little bit?? The man who won't release almost anything from his own past from School transcripts and records to his travel habits and time spent overseas in a Madrasa, learning what they teach in that type of school. Course...like 'ol Rev. Wright and the 20 years he spent there, I'm sure he wasn't listening while in Indonesia.

Now he has the gall to demand 23 years of Tax returns? I'm really curious...is anyone plugged into political databases well enough to quickly see how many years worth of returns are offered up on average by past Candidates to their opponents or the public? I'm guessing it's nothing like over 2 decades worth. Sheesh..... Really.. the nerve of some people. It's a thing to behold.

How ironic that Obama would have the audacity to demand transparency from Romney...uh, hypocrite much? Perhaps all of Barry's "questionable" documents are locked away in Romney's "black box." The ludicrousness of this whole political show should prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is not a nickels worth of difference between the two buffoons...just more of the same old bs. Disgusting! They must really think we're idiots if they expect us to swallow this garbage...

It doesn't matter if Romney shows his taxes or not...everyone knows what he's about without ever seeing them. He's Wall Street scum who supported bank bailouts but not a bailout of the auto industry that has been vital in our recovery and saved millions of jobs as so many businesses and middle class Americans depend on the auto industry. Many states would have HUGE unemployment rates right now. Michigan would be in incredible dire straights right now...that is certain.

The Auto Industry has had a remarkable rebound....and Romney was against it...and still is against it.

Screw Romney.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000

The man who won't release almost anything from his own past from School transcripts and records to his travel habits and time spent overseas in a Madrasa, learning what they teach in that type of school.

As far as I know, when taxes are concerned, obama has released everything asked. I don't see him asking Romney birth certificates and other bullS which is nothing but a waste of time anyway.

Originally posted by David9176
reply to post by Wrabbit2000

 

The man who won't release almost anything from his own past from School transcripts and records to his travel habits and time spent overseas in a Madrasa, learning what they teach in that type of school.

As far as I know, when taxes are concerned, obama has released everything asked. I don't see him asking about birth certificates and other bullS which is nothing but a waste of time anyway.

Fair enough... It's certainly correct to say that Obama has no requirement to show 90% of what people are asking to see and.....as a side note....previous Presidents haven't had issues showing before getting to office.

I't s also fair to note that Romney is under no legal requirement to show these, either.

So it's an almost funny catch-22 the die hard Obama campers are in if Romney just says no. If anyone complains, it validates the arguments for demanding those other less than personal but not quite public documents from the President. That whole obvious issue is why I'm frankly shocked Obama's people had the lack of mental follow through to make this an issue in the first place. A sign of things to come in this race?

reply to post by Wrabbit2000

Fair enough... It's certainly correct to say that Obama has no requirement to show 90% of what people are asking to see and.....as a side note....previous Presidents haven't had issues showing before getting to office.

I't s also fair to note that Romney is under no legal requirement to show these, either.

That's true, but it's something that is usually done. If Romney didn't feel it would hurt him...he'd release them....i figure he won't. He has already taken heat for what he has released last year....and he probably had them worked up to look better than they have in the past as he knew he'd be under pressure to release something.

In the end though, I don't think it matters. Everyone knows who Romney is. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and has spent most of life life making decisions that hurt working Americans....all for the will of himself and shareholders.

Not so much "they are demanding", but it is customary for a presidential candidate to be upfront about his finances. Romney, being born a millionaire, has had some very odd financial transactions, that suggest (among other things) using exotic millionaire-only loopholes and infusions of money from others who may expect the return of favors, since he was Governor. But, having promised the put all his financial cards on the table, Romney only made public his tax returns for the past two years - presumably the years he was gearing up for this campaign and therefore deliberately avoiding anything odd in the way of his finances.

Romney's father, when he was running for president, willingly divulged more than a dozen years of his tax returns, but Mitt the #t is keeping mum on how he was doing since being Governor.