Tax returns are a deal breaker

[RecycleMichael]

Just release the returns. Every other major candidate this time has released theirs. Mitt has only released the two years when he was running for President. The issue has spiraled out of control and his tax returns shouldn't have this much weight in deciding, but they do this time.

The controversy ain't going away. The DNC has been given the perfect commercial with "What is Mitt hiding?"

If he doesn't release his returns for the past decade, Mitt loses. Period.

This minor issue overwhelms all others. Obamacare, unemployment, the deficit, are all bigger issues but they won't be discussed as long as this is on the table. The majority of Americans don't discuss complex problems that require work or have complex answers. That are not as educated as the posters here on TulsaNow. They will be swayed by the ads asking Romney to release his tax returns to prove he is not hiding anything.

Release the returns or lose.

[Teatownclown]

I'm more concerned about his advisers....what morons would advise him to keep them hidden....and what will they do while running our executive branch?

[Red Arrow]

If he doesn't release his returns for the past decade, Mitt loses. Period.

What I see so far is that people who wouldn't vote for Romney anyway are the ones most vocal about him releasing his returns.

[Hoss]

What I see so far is that people who wouldn't vote for Romney anyway are the ones most vocal about him releasing his returns.

I've seen some Republicans on Fox (well one, but that's more than enough) say that it might the deal breaker if it's still being talked about next month.  And it likely will be unless he does something about it.  If someone in your own party is saying that, there are problems.

[Gaspar]

LOL!  I thought the dog on the car was the deal breaker?  Or how about the funds from his Bain 401K being in foreign investments?  He also spends money on a horse!

There are so many deal breakers.  Unfortunately consistent failure is not one of them.  I prey that this election will be more about the economy this time than all of the typical petty liberal gripes.  I may be wrong, but I'm hopeful we've learned our lesson.

[Conan71]

LOL!  I thought the dog on the car was the deal breaker?  Or how about the funds from his Bain 401K being in foreign investments?  He also spends money on a horse!

There are so many deal breakers.  Unfortunately consistent failure is not one of them.  I prey that this election will be more about the economy this time than all of the typical petty liberal gripes.  I may be wrong, but I'm hopeful we've learned our lesson.

You left out bullygate.

[Gaspar]

You left out bullygate.

Yeah, and "war on women" and a few others.  Eventually something will stick, but for now, his negative campaign is just like his economic leadership. . .a guy in a dark closet feeling around for a light switch.

[AquaMan]

Yeah, and "war on women" and a few others.  Eventually something will stick, but for now, his negative campaign is just like his economic leadership. . .a guy in a dark closet feeling around for a light switch.

I'm surprised to see you speak about Romney like that. His negative campaign and sketchy history on economics other than hiding money in the Cayman's or spending federal money on the Olympics, IS a guy in a dark closet fumbling around for the switch. Only, he has decided that darkness is comfy and everyone should embrace it.

[RecycleMichael]

Laugh conan and gaspar. While I have shown many reasons why I won't vote for Mitt, this thread isn't about those.

Keep laughing while this single issue costs him the election. If you nor the Romney campaign doesn't see this, you deserve to lose.

People like me and you won't determine the winner in November, it will be the 20% of America who will decide who to vote for sometime after Labor Day. The momentum and buzz after the conventions and debates will help them decide. What do you think the chances are that his refusal to release his tax returns won't be brought up in the debates?

Mitt can't afford to be on the defense on this matter every day till the election. Trust me, he will be until he releases the returns.

Release the returns or lose the election. Period.

[tulsa_fan]

Not having time to look at or care about 10 years worth of returns, I'm calling BS on Joe Biden's return.  He obviously has his $$ in more than just he and his wife's personal name.  Just under $400k for all his income?  Doubtful.  It was interesting to see my husband and I personally contributed more $$ in charitable donations than he and his wife did on a ENORMOUSLY less amount of income.  I guess at least his money is where his mouth is, as is mine, I'd prefer to donate my money to local charities to help meet needs, seems he's content to give his $$ to grow bureacracy which rarely actually meets the needs of the people.  At least Obama has some strong charitable giving numbers.  That's about the effort I would give to any candidates tax returns, it has no bearing on my vote whatsoever.

[Townsend]

People like me and you won't determine the winner in November, it will be the 20% of America electoral college.

Sorry, had to toss that in there for my own gratification.

[Conan71]

Laugh conan and gaspar. While I have shown many reasons why I won't vote for Mitt, this thread isn't about those.

Keep laughing while this single issue costs him the election. If you nor the Romney campaign doesn't see this, you deserve to lose.

People like me and you won't determine the winner in November, it will be the 20% of America who will decide who to vote for sometime after Labor Day. The momentum and buzz after the conventions and debates will help them decide. What do you think the chances are that his refusal to release his tax returns won't be brought up in the debates?

Mitt can't afford to be on the defense on this matter every day till the election. Trust me, he will be until he releases the returns.

Release the returns or lose the election. Period.

If he releases his returns, it's a never-ending cacophony of questions about partnerships, donations, bank accounts, etc. which detracts from any positive message he can get out there.  I think it's a brilliant strategy on both sides.  The Obama camp will simply say "TAX RETURNS!" every other day, while Romney's refusal will be saying to voters he's not taking his marching orders from the Obama campaign.  Obama becomes a single issue candidate: Romney's taxes and the 1%'er bogeyman.

Why doesn't Obama simply ignore the tax issue and run a positive campaign based on his own record of success in the White House?

There's got to be a lengthy list of accomplishments to be proud of after 3 1/2 years, right?

Unemployment isn't 10%.  He hasn't run us $10 trillion more in debt.  Could always be worse.  Wait! There's a great campaign slogan: "Obama 2012, it could always be worse!"

[AquaMan]

Not having time to look at or care about 10 years worth of returns, I'm calling BS on Joe Biden's return.  He obviously has his $$ in more than just he and his wife's personal name.  Just under $400k for all his income?  Doubtful.  It was interesting to see my husband and I personally contributed more $$ in charitable donations than he and his wife did on a ENORMOUSLY less amount of income.  I guess at least his money is where his mouth is, as is mine, I'd prefer to donate my money to local charities to help meet needs, seems he's content to give his $$ to grow bureacracy which rarely actually meets the needs of the people.  At least Obama has some strong charitable giving numbers.  That's about the effort I would give to any candidates tax returns, it has no bearing on my vote whatsoever.

At least those people released their returns, in spite of possible criticism, so that you could determine their charitable giving. This guy won't give you that opportunity. "just trust me"

[RecycleMichael]

Why doesn't Obama simply ignore the tax issue and run a positive campaign based on his own record of success in the White House?

Don't be naive. There are and will be many positive ads by Obama touting his success. But there will also be many negative ads, especially from the PACs. Show me any campaign without negative ads.

Mitt has raised millions. Thousands of republicans are donating because they want him to win. Losing because you refuse to release personal tax records would be stupid and an insult to your supporters.

Republicans will step up the call for him to release them. Refusal is not an option.

[Conan71]

Don't be naive. There are and will be many positive ads by Obama touting his success. But there will also be many negative ads, especially from the PACs. Show me any campaign without negative ads.

Mitt has raised millions. Thousands of republicans are donating because they want him to win. Losing because you refuse to release personal tax records would be stupid and an insult to your supporters.

Republicans will step up the call for him to release them. Refusal is not an option.

It's always an option.  Maybe not a winning option, but an option never the less.

Why wasn't anyone upset that McCain only released two years in 2008?  By all accounts, he's a wealthy man with various business interests.

Although the U.S. president is one of the most visible people in the country, the president's finances have often been closely guarded. But after Richard Nixon's vice president, Spiro Agnew, pleaded no contest in 1973 to tax evasion, the public became increasingly interested in financial disclosures from the president's office.

Since the 1976 election, presidential candidates have released at least one year of tax returns. After winning that election, Jimmy Carter then set the precedent for all sitting presidents and vice presidents to release their returns each year. Since 1984, the standard for challengers to an incumbent president has been to disclose at least two years of returns, if not significantly more.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has said he will meet this two-year standard. But 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain is the only other candidate to release just two years of returns in the last 34 years. Bob Dole, the Republican presidential nominee in 1996, set the tax-release record, disclosing 29 years of returns during his run for the White House.

http://www.nationaljournal.com/pictures-video/how-many-years-of-tax-returns-have-presidential-candidates-released-in-the-past-pictures-20120719