Posted on 05/12/2016 1:48:49 PM PDT by jazusamo
Mike Huckabee on Thursday ripped Mitt Romney for calling on Donald Trump to release his taxes, accusing the 2012 GOP nominee of trying to "sink" the party's current presumptive presidential nominee.
"I supported Romney, just as I will Trump, despite having serious differences with both," Huckabee wrote on his website, adding that he was "especially disappointed" in Romney over the issue.
"He’s not only trying to sink his own party’s presumptive nominee, but he’s factually incorrect and he’s making the same unfair attack on Trump that was launched against him in 2012," he wrote.
Romney has been calling on Trump to release his tax returns since February, while other Republican candidates were still in the primary race. He reiterated that call on Wednesday, saying it would be " disqualifying" if Trump didn't release his returns. Democrats have also seized on the issue this week.
Romney, who came under fire in 2012 from his political opponents for releasing his tax returns in what they felt was a timely manner, again claimed Trump's refusal to release his returns indicated they included a "bombshell."
Trump said he'd release his returns after an audit ends, though the Internal Revenue Service said in February there's nothing preventing him from releasing his forms.
Huckabee suggested there was nothing to learn from Trump's returns, as the candidate himself has argued , and said it would be a "treasure trove" for the businessman's political opponents "to lift items out of context to make him look shady."
Huckabee also argued it's "an invasion of privacy" for presidential candidates to release their tax returns, writing, "The qualifications for the Presidency are clear-cut, and there are specific financial disclosure forms you must file. But no law requires a candidate to release his or her personal tax forms."
Later in his post, Huckabee admitted, "Early in my political career, I volunteered to release all my tax returns. Why not? I had nothing to hide." However, he said, his political opponents misconstrued them. He said Romney should instead turn his attention to "the 70,000-plus-page tax code."
That phrase links to this article:
IRS: Nothing prevents Trump from releasing tax returns
Trump used the wrong term: he said "can't release", instead "won't release", because he is currently being audited.
The IRS said he was free to do so, but the article points out that it wouldn't be a good idea. Trump's return would be publicly scrutinized, giving the IRS more things to consider in an audit.
Personally, I think it would be dumb to release them until the IRS completes their audit, so that he can say: "Look, the IRS has gone through my tax return with a fine tooth comb, and they say it's fine." That would quickly put an end to any complaints about whether it is correct.
Maybe Romney would be happy if he could strap Trump to the top of his car and drive around for a while.
Romney has always been a wimpy puppet. Lost 2012 and losing now. Loose limbed puppet.
Conservatives cannot put any faith in his opinion.
LOL! Good one and you may be right.
You got it!
I am beginning to think the Clintons have plans for Romney in their administration.
This seems to be the only reason for this coordinated attack by Beck/Reid/Romney/Lee on Trump.
over zealous drivel from a soured grapes purveyor
He wouldn’t mind if the “next guy” won as long as the “next guy” was part of the Uniparty.
Trump’s not part of the Uniparty.
Trump must be destroyed.
/mittrant
A good point, and it wouldn’t be too surprising from their actions of late.
I’ve little doubt Romney is more interested in whatever power he may get over loyalty to the Republican party.
Sore Losers have no place in the Conservative Party.
Make that Sore Losers with a long memory.
Get over it or take a seat.
thank you
>> My advice to Trump, do not release your taxes <<
Good advice. No need to release, because the IRS will leak them in October, just in time for the election.
Tax Cheats? Gee, it doesn’t seem to bother Democrats when it is known and proven, but an innuendo is going to sink Trump ... duh, I don’t think so.
Unipartiers like Mitt gonna Uniparty...
Anything that the IRS says is a lie. It's a basic premise of Boolean IRS logic.
I wish Trump would hillary-slap the taste out of Mitt's mouth...
Thast dude looks like he just Mitt his pants...
There's probably a big load of Mitt in the magic underwear...
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