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Donald Trump on His Tax Rate: ‘It’s None of Your Business’
nytimes.com ^ | 5/13/2016 | Maggie Haberman

Posted on 05/13/2016 7:55:09 AM PDT by Trumpinator

Donald J. Trump said Friday that he doesn’t believe voters have a right to see his tax returns, and insisted it’s “none of your business” when pressed on what tax rate he himself pays — a question that tripped up Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential race.

Mr. Trump made the comments in an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” as he continued to try to answer questions about his change in explanations over the last year about why he won’t release the taxes.

When the interviewer, George Stephanopoulos asked Mr. Trump directly if he thought voters had a right to see his returns, something that presidential nominees have provided for roughly 40 years, the candidate replied, “I don’t think they do.”

Mr. Trump added: “But I do say this, I will really gladly give them — not going to learn anything but it’s under routine audit. When the audit ends I’ll present them. That should be before the election. I hope it’s before the election.”

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2016issues; trump; trump2016; trumptaxreturns
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To: billyboy15

We kick and scream if some dem doesn’t want to come forward with tax information, but circle the wagons around Trump.


61 posted on 05/13/2016 9:06:40 AM PDT by joesbucks
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To: joesbucks

Well, he already stated that he, like all business persons, takes full advantage of every break offered.

As someone said upthread, it’s just a gimmick to release the thing anyway. We all know that if there was anything wonky it would have come out. He gets audited every year.


62 posted on 05/13/2016 9:08:43 AM PDT by Ladysforest (Racism, misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia and vulgarity - with just a smattering of threats and violence)
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To: joesbucks
Never said he wrote the tax code. But fancy/schmancy tax breaks, even allowed by law, don't impress the everyday Joe. His opposition will be able to exploit those against him if he uses them.

That's such BS... even "little guys" like myself have used tax "loopholes" such as mortgage interest deductions, depreciation on assets, and so on. I'm still for a simplified tax code... perhaps even a flat tax or something close to that. The fact that my accountant does his job based on this year's tax laws doesn't make me a hypocrite.

63 posted on 05/13/2016 9:11:24 AM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: joesbucks

I don’t care if I never see Trump’s tax return. If he gets audited every year he’s not doing anything illegal.


64 posted on 05/13/2016 9:14:15 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Ladysforest

But saying he does and seeing them is often something different. Remember the old saying....a picture is worth a thousand words?


65 posted on 05/13/2016 9:20:53 AM PDT by joesbucks
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To: Cementjungle

There’s a lot of jealously over what someone like Trump can take as a deduction and what you and I are stuck with which is primarily a home deduction.


66 posted on 05/13/2016 9:21:46 AM PDT by joesbucks
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To: Trumpinator

Taxes should not be public ... PERIOD! If there is a conviction because of tax fraud, then publish the conviction, but this is NOT the business of the country to know what is on his tax forms ... hell, even the IRS can’t read tax forms, they should make sense to us? Publish a financial statement and tell them to Eff-OFF.


67 posted on 05/13/2016 9:22:15 AM PDT by ThePatriotsFlag ( Anything FREELY-GIVEN by the government was TAKEN from someone else.)
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To: Georgia Girl 2
Never said illegal. It's appearances.

I've gotten further on appearances at work rather than actual output. I've also gotten slapped over something that appeared poorly in someone's eyes, yet did nothing wrong.

68 posted on 05/13/2016 9:22:59 AM PDT by joesbucks
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To: traderrob6; Trumpinator
Really the only thing I’m concerned with is the amount/% that a person gives to bonafide charities.

That is nobody's business either. And if it is on his return, it is the IRS's business and Trump's business only!

And as for 'bona fide' charities, I don't contribute to United Way or the American Red Cross...top heavy, vulture organizations. I would rather give to needy individuals, non-deductible, and not appearing on the tax return. In fact, we do this...and from what we have heard, Trump does this too.

69 posted on 05/13/2016 9:26:45 AM PDT by GGpaX4DumpedTea (I am a Tea Party descendant...steeped in the Constitutional Republic given to us by the Founders)
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To: joesbucks

Don’t care about appearances. The old game is over. No more Democrats make a demand and our guy dances like an obedient monkey on a stick.

The appearance I care about now is him standing firm like a brick wall. This tells me how he will deal with Iran, Mexico, China, the EU, Congressfools, etc. That’s the only appearance that matters.


70 posted on 05/13/2016 9:26:56 AM PDT by DesertRhino ("I want those feeble minded asses overthrown,,,)
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To: joesbucks

I didn’t because what candidate pays in taxes has NO BEARING on how he will govern, none at all.

Trump just told the nattering nabobs to go take a flying leap. And I love it


71 posted on 05/13/2016 9:34:50 AM PDT by billyboy15
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To: joesbucks
There’s a lot of jealously over what someone like Trump can take as a deduction and what you and I are stuck with which is primarily a home deduction.

And Trump has addressed that... and said that the very wealthy will, if he has his way, pay more in taxes. He's on the right side of that debate... at least for those who see those big guy deductions as excessive.

Whenever the left (or RINO's) say they'll "tax the rich" it always translates to "tax the middle class more and give more breaks to the rich". I don't think he'll go that route.

72 posted on 05/13/2016 9:37:06 AM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: joesbucks

The FEC only requires audited financials for presidential candidates. that tells you everything you need to know. Trump mostly owns real estate. Half of his tax return will be page after boring page of real estate depreciation schedules. I spend many years paid to look at tax returns as a mortgage loan underwriter. I always wanted to see an audited financial statement.


73 posted on 05/13/2016 9:41:28 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: joesbucks

Frankly I have no interest in seeing his. I have no interest in seeing Hillarys either. I had no interest in seeing obamas.

Again, if a person/business is audited frequently - it’s a sure bet there is no “there” there.

But it would NOT stop the neverTrumps and the left (one and the same IMO) from creating a bunch of crap out of nothing and constantly DEMANDING that Trump go into detailed explanations. Then they will say, “See - if this were on the level then Mr. Trump wouldn’t have to bend into a pretzel to explain it all.”

It’s a lame tactic, and insulting to the public. They assume we are all idiots and easy to distract and misdirect.


74 posted on 05/13/2016 9:43:07 AM PDT by Ladysforest (Racism, misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia and vulgarity - with just a smattering of threats and violence)
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To: DesertRhino

You see, that’s you. You’re happy. The person Trump has to impress is the person uncertain come November. And that’s where optics come in.


75 posted on 05/13/2016 9:57:46 AM PDT by joesbucks
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To: Ladysforest

The reason it won’t stop the Never Trumps and the left is because optics mean a lot to the undecided voter. They are going for optics. Trump doesn’t want to give those optics to them. But withholding also gives optics. trump has to decide which optic is worse. Non disclosure or disclosure.


76 posted on 05/13/2016 9:59:12 AM PDT by joesbucks
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To: Trumpinator

If Trump refuses to show his tax returns, the Dems will do to Trump what they did to Mitt Romney. With Romney, they just got friendly media to start rumors that he didn’t pay his taxes then Harry Reid, with no proof, stated on the Senate floor that Romney didn’t pay taxes and, before long, the lie had been cemented.

Trump’s not the only person who can spread worthless lies in the media.


77 posted on 05/13/2016 9:59:54 AM PDT by OrangeHoof (Abort Hillary - again)
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To: Cementjungle

Again, you support Trump. Going forward, this is about the undecided voter.


78 posted on 05/13/2016 9:59:58 AM PDT by joesbucks
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To: joesbucks
Again, you support Trump. Going forward, this is about the undecided voter.

The undecided voter can opt to get taxed even more by the Dems or RINOS, or they can opt to go with Trump who will start to favor the middle class again for a change.

79 posted on 05/13/2016 10:02:46 AM PDT by Cementjungle
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To: joesbucks

Stealth trolls can still be zotted. :-)


80 posted on 05/13/2016 10:03:25 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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