Ann Romney on taxes: "There's nothing we're hiding"

[Teddy B 17,252]

I don't think so. Obama's birth certificate was out there all along. Some lunatics chose to publicly wonder about its authenticity. That was crazy. There was always a comfortable majority of Americans that had no doubt that Obama was born in US and as such eligible to be President. The birthers were always a fringe element.

But where are the tax returns? A majority of voters believe that Romney ought to release them. Not some fringe element but the majority of the electorate. Don't think you'll have any issues around questioning their authenticity. The issue is that Romney is hiding them and whatever it in them.

I think if there was anything serious in Romney's tax returns, we would have already known about it. He had to provide them to the McCain camp 4 years ago, it would have come out then. Wasn't there the same type of issue with Clinton's tax returns during his first Presidential run? I really think this all smoke and mirrors by the opposition, just trying to muddy the waters as much as they can.

Edited August 16, 2012 by Teddy B

[^_^ 5,021]

I think if there was anything serious in Romney's tax returns, we would have already known about it. He had to provide them to the McCain camp 5 years ago, it would have come out then. Wasn't there the same type of issue with Clinton's tax returns during his first Presidential run? I really think this all smoke and mirrors by the opposition, just trying to muddy the waters as much as they can.

There was a swiss bank amnesty in 2009, after the last election. Romney probably took advantage of that. The IRS essentially "forgave" rich people's felonies.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I don't think so. Obama's birth certificate was out there all along. Some lunatics chose to publicly wonder about its authenticity. That was crazy. There was always a comfortable majority of Americans that had no doubt that Obama was born in US and as such eligible to be President. The birthers were always a fringe element.

But no authoritative expert has ever actually examined the original document. There are too many artifacts in the electronic images to render a conclusion of authenticity. Sorry.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I think if there was anything serious in Romney's tax returns, we would have already known about it. He had to provide them to the McCain camp 4 years ago, it would have come out then.

You do remember that Mitt did not become McCain's running mate in 2008, right? That may not have had anything to do with the tax returns he provided to the McCain campaign. And it could have. Who knows. A Swiss bank account we know he had - not just some bank account but a UBS account - and we know that account has been closed (from what he released from 2010). We know, because it is public record, that there was an amnesty for tax cheats with off-shore bank accounts in 2009 - triggered in no small part by UBS releasing account owner information to US authorities. And here we have Mitt refusing to release his tax returns. Now, where I come from, 1+1=2.

But no authoritative expert has ever actually examined the original document. There are too many artifacts in the electronic images to render a conclusion of authenticity. Sorry.

Those that originated the documented have stated time and again that it is authentic. But you can be the good birther you are and make yourself look as ridiculous as you want. It's a free country after all. Are you having lunch with The Donald today or with Orly?

Edited August 16, 2012 by Mr. Big Dog

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Those that originated the documented have stated time and again that it is authentic. But you can be the good birther you are and make yourself look as ridiculous as you want. It's a free country after all. Are you having lunch with The Donald today or with Orly?

I see. We are supposed to believe the forgers creators of the document that it is authentic.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I see. We are supposed to believe the forgers creators of the document that it is authentic.

As I said, in this country, you're entitled to be as lunatic as you want to be.

[Teddy B 17,252]

You do remember that Mitt did not become McCain's running mate in 2008, right? That may not have had anything to do with the tax returns he provided to the McCain campaign. And it could have. Who knows. A Swiss bank account we know he had - not just some bank account but a UBS account - and we know that account has been closed (from what he released from 2010). We know, because it is public record, that there was an amnesty for tax cheats with off-shore bank accounts in 2009 - triggered in no small part by UBS releasing account owner information to US authorities. And here we have Mitt refusing to release his tax returns. Now, where I come from, 1+1=2.

I thought Romney won the election.

Seriously, Romney had to produce multiple years tax returns to the McCain camp in 2008, and he has already released the most current 2 years returns, but this is all over the missing 2 years of 2008 and 2009? Sounds like a witch hunt to me.

[X Factor 1,112]

I thought Romney won the election.

Seriously, Romney had to produce multiple years tax returns to the McCain camp in 2008, and he has already released the most current 2 years returns, but this is all over the missing 2 years of 2008 and 2009? Sounds like a witch hunt to me.

It won't let up until it is produced - just like the President's birth certificate controversy.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

It won't let up until it is produced - just like the President's birth certificate controversy.

Yeah, 'cause that went away ...

[Teddy B 17,252]

It won't let up until it is produced - just like the President's birth certificate controversy.

No doubt.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Seriously, Romney had to produce multiple years tax returns to the McCain camp in 2008, and he has already released the most current 2 years returns, but this is all over the missing 2 years of 2008 and 2009? Sounds like a witch hunt to me.

I don't really care what he gave to the McCain campaign. That's not public. He's released most of his 2010 return and a summary for 2011 since he won't have his full return available until later in the year. And yes, at issue are the years prior to 2010. He knew this was coming. He's been running for President for years. He's rather taking the heat and feeding the speculation than releasing the returns. There aren't many sane explanations for this. There's really only one: What the tax returns contain is more damaging to his campaign than hiding them could ever be.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I don't really care what he gave to the McCain campaign. That's not public. He's released most of his 2010 return and a summary for 2011 since he won't have his full return available until later in the year. And yes, at issue are the years prior to 2010. He knew this was coming. He's been running for President for years. He's rather taking the heat and feeding the speculation than releasing the returns. There aren't many sane explanations for this. There's really only one: What the tax returns contain is more damaging to his campaign than hiding them could ever be.

I agree that the returns should be made public, but I just don't see it as such a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I mean everyone knows that all these guys are crooks, do you honestly think that if Romney produces the returns and it shows what you think it might, that his voting base will diminish?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I agree that the returns should be made public, but I just don't see it as such a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I mean everyone knows that all these guys are crooks, do you honestly think that if Romney produces the returns and it shows what you think it might, that his voting base will diminish?

If he benefited from an amnesty - i.e. if he committed a felony and got out of jail free - then yes, I absolutely think that would not only diminish his voting base, it would effectively end his campaign. If it would turn out that he paid virtually no taxes for any number of years - you know, something in the 1% or so range - then I believe that many people would not continue to support his bid for the White House. Look, he's not taking the heat because he wants to, he's taking the heat because he knows that he must.

[Teddy B 17,252]

If he benefited from an amnesty - i.e. if he committed a felony and got out of jail free - then yes, I absolutely think that would not only diminish his voting base, it would effectively end his campaign. If it would turn out that he paid virtually no taxes for any number of years - you know, something in the 1% or so range - then I believe that many people would not continue to support his bid for the White House. Look, he's not taking the heat because he wants to, he's taking the heat because he knows that he must.

I don't see it ending his campaign, in this day and age where everyone is forgiven for their crime, short of Romney killing someone, I really don't see it hurting him all that much, if any.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I don't see it ending his campaign, in this day and age where everyone is forgiven for their crime, short of Romney killing someone, I really don't see it hurting him all that much, if any.

I said "effectively" end his campaign. That means, the odds of him still winning would become virtually nil.