Romney offers personal tax details, Democrats want more

Chicago Tribune ^ | 08/16/2012 | Gabriel Debenedetti

[SeekAndFind]

Seeking to put an end to questions about his personal finances, Republican U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney said on Thursday he paid at least a 13-percent tax rate every year over the last 10 years.

Democrats have criticized Romney for not releasing more than two years of tax information and openly asked whether the millionaire former private equity executive has something to hide about his wealth.

"I did go back and look at my taxes, and over the last 10 years, I never paid less than 13 percent," Romney told journalists in Greer, South Carolina. "I think the most recent year is 13.6 or something like that."

A campaign aide said the rate Romney was referring to was for his federal income tax.

Debate over Romney's taxes and the Medicare health program for the elderly has taken the focus of the campaign away from Romney's top issue: jobs.

Romney's announcement may have been an attempt to put a lid on an issue that has dogged him since January, when his Republican primary opponents accused him of being evasive about his personal finances.

But Democrats were not satisfied.

"He has the ability to answer all of these questions by releasing several years worth of tax returns and he simply hasn't done that. So we say: prove it Governor Romney," President Barack Obama's campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid accused Romney this month of not paying taxes for 10 years, a claim the Republican has strongly denied.

Romney said on Thursday that when charitable donations were taken into account, his tax rate effectively has been above 20 percent.

[madison10]

But Democrats were not satisfied.

We knew this would be the result. Vampires.

[comebacknewt]

I wouldn’t have given them this much.

Let them continue to pound sand on this one.

[Fester Chugabrew]

We have yet to see proof Zero’s parents were both citizens of the United States. That’s just a tad more important.

[Red Badger]

Trump has the right answer.

Tax records for college transcripts. Simple.......

[Red Badger]

We know his supposed father wasn’t a US citizen.....

[WhatNot]

When he picked Ryan, it seemed as though he finally got the conversation on the issues. Was he asked today about his taxes? If not, why in the world would he bring his taxes up out of the blue, he should have just kept his mouth shut.

[factoryrat]

Fishing expedition, tell the dems to get bent. Obama can’t even produce a valid birth certificate, why should any challenger produce any document the other side want’s to see. The current POTUS spent millions to hide his past; the current POTUS would be a hypocrite to ask ANYONE to document their past.

[Kickass Conservative]

Don't give a Percentage, give a Number. Two Million Bucks in Taxes paid, whatever. Then mention that Slow Joe gave $350 to Charity, following in the footsteps of Al Gore and his big $425 Charitable Donation when he was V.P.

What does Cheney give to Charity every year, a third of his income? G W Bush gives 25% to Charity, year in and year out.

Of course my favorite is Cheney giving a D.C. (Black( Youth Charity EIGHT Million Dollars when he received his deferred Income from his time at Haliburton after leaving Office.

[CyberAnt]

Oh good grief!!! When are the elitists ever going to figure out that the left is NOT THEIR FRIEND ..?????

Somebody in Romney’s campaign had to have suggested this .. and it was a terrible idea.

Now .. now that Romney has given them a tidbit .. the attacks on the tax issue will be relentless.

And .. the 13% interest is because the majority of Romney’s income comes from INVESTMENTS - which are taxed at a lower rate.

[Leaning Right]

Tax records for college transcripts.

ABSOLUTELY! Trump doesn't have many fans on FR, but he has more brains and guts than the entire Republican National Committee.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Romney should just release some phonied-up “returns” to placate the libdems. The IRS won’t be able to release his actual returns to refute the claims. Then what could be Dingy’s next step?

[Tau Food]

I hope he paid only what he owed, but not a cent more. There is no shame in a taxpayer trying to minimize tax liabilities.

However, I have learned that politicians will lie if they get a chance. And, while I'd like to trust them, I can still hear Ronald Reagan's words:

"Trust, but verify."

[Claytonbridge]

He also should have said how much he gives to charity!

[Fester Chugabrew]

We know his supposed father wasn’t a US citizen.....

Are you saying this is common knowledge? Is this a fact even Zero is willing to admit?

[CyberAnt]

Good point!!

[Claytonbridge]

He should also say the IRS had no problem with his submittals. Unlike some other well known Democrats.

[Graewoulf]

Is Romney reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeealy dumb, or just plain STUPID ?

[SeekAndFind]

Romney should just let the whole matter die. No one, but no one is interested in his tax returns.

By bringing it up again, he’s just throwing more fuel into the fire and distracting the campaign from the REAL ISSUE -— Obama’s dismal economic record.

[ConorMacNessa]

Trying to put a fire out with gasoline - IMHO he should counter by demanding a Bill of Particulars from the Kenyan-in-Chief - we know next to nothing about that Marxist maggot after more than three years in office. Romney should tell them to pound sand - but then he's only a RINO and they check their balls in when they enter the arena.



Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)