Harry Reid ups the ante

[Ed W]

Democratic Senator Harry Reid said today that the reason former Governor Romney will not release his tax returns is because he did not pay any taxes for ten years.

"His poor father must be so embarrassed about his son," Reid said in reference to George Romney's decision to turn over 12 years of tax returns when he ran for president in 1968.

Reid suggested that Romney's decision to withhold tax information would bar him from ever earning Senate confirmation to a Cabinet post. Then, Reid recalled a phone call his office received about a month ago from "a person who had invested with Bain Capital," according to The Huffington Post.

Reid said the person told him: "Harry, he didn't pay any taxes for 10 years."

"He didn't pay taxes for 10 years! Now, do I know that that's true? Well, I'm not certain," Reid told HuffPo. "But obviously he can't release those tax returns. How would it look?"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/post/harry-reid-mitt-romney-didnt-pay-taxes-for-10-years/2012/07/31/gJQADXkSNX_blog.html

Now, a story from an anonymous Bain investor doesn't carry much weight - usually - but can Romney afford to leave it unchallenged and potentially dogging him right up until election day? Or would it better to release his tax returns, hopefully proving he did indeed pay his fair share of taxes?  Of course, if he didn't pay any taxes for ten years, he'd be cooked. 

This looks like a lose/lose situation.

[RecycleMichael]

I have never been a fan of Harry Reid.

True or not, that is a pretty slimey way to bring up the topic. Reid shouldn't go public with anonymous sources.

[nathanm]

I don't think he paid no taxes. I think it's more likely he managed to impute a bunch of income offshore and use other tax tricks to reduce his bill to embarrassingly low levels. Reid is right about one thing: Cabinet appointments have been rejected over less than what we already know about Romney's finances.

I suspect the Republicans would not be so bold as to nominate a candidate who actually hadn't paid taxes for a decade while still making as much each year as many small towns make in total. Their goal, after all, is to reduce taxes even further. If it came out that Romney paid no income tax for an entire decade it would make that end much harder to reach.

To channel TTC, Mormon infighting is funny.

[Townsend]

I have never been a fan of Harry Reid.

True or not, that is a pretty slimey way to bring up the topic. Reid shouldn't go public with anonymous sources.

While I agree with you, politics, these days, are screaming for slime.

Reid just called down the thunder and I'd imagine he's going to get slimed as well.

Quick, everyone jump over to Palin's blog and see what she says.

[Hoss]

While I agree with you, politics, these days, are screaming for slime.

Reid just called down the thunder and I'd imagine he's going to get slimed as well.

Quick, everyone jump over to Palin's blog and see what she says.

The issue at hand is the fact that McCain vetted 10 years of Romney's returns when considering him for Veep.

They picked Palin.

That almost answers itself.

[Ed W]

The issue at hand is the fact that McCain vetted 10 years of Romney's returns when considering him for Veep.

They picked Palin.

That almost answers itself.

I think they were forced to take Palin, Hoss, if only to appease those on the right who thought McCain wasn't conservative enough.  But I've never read any of the insider stories. 

[GG]

I think they were forced to take Palin, Hoss, if only to appease those on the right who thought McCain wasn't conservative enough.  But I've never read any of the insider stories. 

And they may try to force Mitt Romney to take Marco Rubio to appease the right who think Mitt Romney is not conservative enough.   It will be another Palin like mistake.  I would be happy with Rob Portman or Tim Pawlenty in that order myself.

[Townsend]

Romney to Reid: 'Put up or shut up'

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/02/romney-to-reid-put-up-or-shut-up/

"Harry's gonna have to describe who it is he spoke with because of course that's totally and completely wrong," Romney said Thursday in the radio interview. "It's untrue, dishonest and inaccurate. It's wrong. So I'm looking forward to have Harry reveal his sources and we'll probably find out that it's the White House."

[nathanm]

Hypocrisy is funny. I don't agree with Reid's stunt, but Romney hasn't exactly been doing a lot of putting up himself and he managed to throw an equally baseless allegation in Obama's direction while he was at it. I doubt there is an anonymous Bain investor in the White House.

[Conan71]

Hypocrisy is funny. I don't agree with Reid's stunt, but Romney hasn't exactly been doing a lot of putting up himself and he managed to throw an equally baseless allegation in Obama's direction while he was at it. I doubt there is an anonymous Bain investor in the White House.

i must have missed the allegation toward the president.  What was it?

[Hoss]

i must have missed the allegation toward the president.  What was it?

This?

"Harry's gonna have to describe who it is he spoke with because of course that's totally and completely wrong," Romney said Thursday in the radio interview. "It's untrue, dishonest and inaccurate. It's wrong. So I'm looking forward to have Harry reveal his sources and we'll probably find out that it's the White House."

Poor Mittens.

[Teatownclown]

To channel TTC, Mormon infighting is funny.

No. It's scary. And I don't see "infighting"...I see RMoney taking money from those that need a hand up and from our military and redistributing his portion to the LDS. Hence, he pays no taxes....by contributing it to a 5013c.

I am certain there are shenanigan's in every nook and cranny of those returns. Judging from Mittens attitude I also would submit he plans to take a firm position in prioritizing his church over his country.

[nathanm]

This?

Bingo.

[Conan71]

Wow, call me underwhelmed.

TTC ignores the volumes of information out there describing the good charitable works of the LDS which brings comfort and food to the underprivileged.  No need to let facts get in the way of a good vendetta though.  No their brand of religion isn't for me but I can't fault them for their mission work.

[Teatownclown]

Wow, call me underwhelmed.

TTC ignores the volumes of information out there describing the good charitable works of the LDS which brings comfort and food to the underprivileged.  No need to let facts get in the way of a good vendetta though.  No their brand of religion isn't for me but I can't fault them for their mission work.

Oh BS. You blab....


Mitt's Stain. Mission work my a$$.