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With President Obama's and Vice President Biden's 2011 tax returns now posted online, the Obama campaign is calling on Mitt Romney to release his -- as well as those going back several years.
“Mitt Romney’s defiance of decades of precedent set by presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle, including his own father, begs the question -- what does he have to hide?" Obama Campaign Manager Jim Messina asked in a statement. "Did he exploit loopholes in the tax code by keeping his investments offshore and is that why he’s protecting those loopholes now? Why did he open a Swiss bank account instead of an American bank account and establish a corporation in Bermuda instead of on our shores? Did he pay a lower income tax rate than the 13.9 percent he paid in 2010 and is that why he opposes the Buffett Rule to ensure millionaires don’t pay less taxes than middle-class families?”
Files / AFP - Getty Images
With President Obama's and Vice President Biden's 2011 tax returns now posted online, the Obama campaign is calling on Mitt Romney to release his.
Earlier this year, Romney released his 2010 tax returns, which showed he paid an effective tax rate of 13.9%, as well as an estimate of his 2011 returns.
According to Obama's 2011 returns, he paid an effective tax rate of about 20%, and Biden paid about 23%.
*** UPDATE *** Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul replies, "It’s no surprise with the worst job creation record in modern history that President Obama would try to distract Americans from the real issues with a series of sideshows. Gov. Romney has already released his 2010 return and an estimate of his 2011 income and taxes. He will release his full 2011 return when it is filed."
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the distraction is working. Everybody is talking about tax returns instead of what is really important like, national debt of almost $16,000,000,000,000. No effort to rein in spending. At least two credit rating companies have lowered the USA credit rating for the first time in history (which drives up interest rates we pay on the debt). Unemployment posted at 8.2% but effective rate is much much higher and has been for 3 plus years. Social security and medicare will soon be bankrupt of funds. And, the current administration is converting the country into a nanny state. Of course, we all know none of this is Obama's fault.
if we did not have those tax breaks for over what ten years we would not be in this pickle now would we
@steve-3200687
It must be a disctraction. People talking about Romney and Obama's taxes couldn't have anything to do with the fact that it is tax season and tax returns and refunds are on the minds of 99% of the American public right now. It must be a massive left wing media conspiracy to get people to ignore what they already ignore anyway.
Beyond sanctimonious pricks eager to bitch about Obama, I never hear about the national debt because most people just don't care. That is the bald truth of the matter. Regardless of the fact that they should care, they don't.
Also, most people don't really give two sh!ts about the people bafflingly unemployed after two to three years. Maybe because most people "laid off" today will be of the "I took three sick days in a row to attend concerts and nurse hangovers" variety.
I always wonder how some unemployed folks can blame their cruel company for firing them when they manage to post record profits and improved efficiency after they canned you. The fact that you were not only unnecessary but a hindrance to performance must sting a bit.
A lot of empty headed 1%ers on the vine today.Angry because they realize that their free ride is over,and they will finally have to pay their fair share.Just like your candidate you have no solutions for the many problems our nation faces.All you all can do is wage personal attacks.Did you idiots read President Obama's tax return or are you just blathering to hear the rocks in your heads rattling around.Can you play any songs with your rocks,maybe "The Star Spangled Banner",shake your heads real hard,maybe.
hahahaha
Tired,
I did read it and saw that he took all of the legal exemptions to pay the lowest legal rate. He paid 20% which is a lower rate then the Vice President who made 40% of the President.
I also saw that the V.P. on $370,000 in income only donated $5,000 to charity. This tells me he cares about the poor but wants others to pay for them because he is already doing what he must consider his fair share
Yes, where is that "I would pay higher taxes" him and his buddy Buffet tout, "donation" to the US treasury?
Flip doesn't want to release the forms because it clearly shows he is "doing better now than four years ago." Therefore, he has to vote for President Obama.
Honestly - I don't see why Romney and any VP pick wouldn't be happy to show their tax returns for the same years the democrats are. He's honest and he's worked hard for his money. They're not going to show anything he would not be proud of.
It looks worse for him to not show it.
Show them your returns Romney!
his daddy gave that kingdom to him.
elvis - He may have given him the keys,but Romney's driving the car now.
Still say he should show his returns with pride.
If you do it,then stand up for it.
It looks worse if you don't.
why would anyone..vote for someone who hides his money.from The USA..our Bridges are broken..our roads need fix..but no.no..we need that kind of President huh tea party
If I had Romney's money I'd have it overseas also. Why get 1 percent here when I can get 6 percent overseas????? Doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure that out. Tax laws apply to all of us. If there's a loophole I use it, and if not, I just bite the bullet. Everyone who files tries to beat the screwed up system we have. How many commercials have you seen on TV that states we can find you more money off your return. Who cares how much money Romney makes. Bottom line is that I think the American people can afford him as President whereas we'll go broker with Obama.
for sure Romney is smarter than Obama. He makes way more money and manages to pay a lower tax rate. Much much smarter than Obama. Vote Romney to save the country from this socialist loser we have now.
Tax invader..President the tea party President
Assuming Romney is so smart as you fools believe he is because he is able to compound money and make more money belabors the point. He is clearly "doing better now than four years ago" and that is the standard by which the patron saint of the GOP, none other than Ronald Reagan, set to judge an incumbent. If Romney is poorer now than he was at the end of the Bush Administration I'll eat my hat.
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm...
BARACK !
HUSSEIN !
OBAMA !
Mmm... Mmm... Mmm...
yes please keep singing it it sounds better everytime a tea nut sings it
Only problem with that song, it does not acknowlege Soetoro in his name. Mmm...Mmm...Mmm
Please show me ONE middle class person paying a tax rate of 31%. You have to have an AGI (Adjusted gross income, after deductions) of 140k a year to pay 25%. SO tell me one middle class person making 140k. Or better yet, why don't the Dem's define the classes by income before they start pitting one against the other.
This whole Buffett Rule is a joke. He's trying to say Buffett only pays 15% while his OH so poor middle class secretary pays over 30%. What he doesn't say is she makes 300 plus K a year. Now how is she middle class. So he says Buffett and anyone making more than a million a year should pay a minimum of 30% like his Secretary. Then in his next breath he says he wants to raise taxes on everyone making 250k a year. Well the secretary just got a tax hike too and is going to pay 39% if he gets his way.... It's all BS smoke and mirrors.
no one is trying to say nothing its a fact..but hey you can call it a so called rich thing huh
What's a fact? ALL of it RIGHT. Or are you trying to tell me the secretary and her 300k job is middle class. Again, show me one middle class tax return that is paying 30%. Just remember to define middle class first!
I dont know what that is..please tell me..hahahaha
Sorry but he eliminated capital gains from the minimum tax so Mr. Buffet will not be paying any more.
Do you notice that the president's people are using the same playbook that Romney's opponents used during the debates and primaries.
First thing was the tax returns which only confirms that he is worth a lot of money and has the people that know how to invest it and get the most out of it without breaking any laws.
Nothing there for anybody to find and never will be. Move onto to your next baseless accusation or claim Mr. President.
If this is the best they can do, November is going to be interesting.
you mean we can use the birthere issue and ask if Romney was really born in Mexico..
Damn right we need to see flip's birth certificate, not the fake one his rich uncle got him, but the one from Mexico.
What really pee (s) off the pigbags, for years the Demo's more or less kept quiet on the pigbags BS. Then Karl Rove came on the scene, wrote a book, and the demo's have read his book.
Now the demo's are using the same tatic's the pigbags used, and the pigbags can't handle it. The pigbags keep throwing manure against the wall, hoping some of it will stick, and it doesn't, so they just have to throw more, hoping something will work.
They lost the majority of all women voters, and just might be now realizing it. Case in point, the flip flopper got his wife involved, like either one can releate to the working class.
DP--Yes, the Republicans gave the Democrats plenty of ammunition. Once Romney clears up the issue of the off-shore accounts, he can surely clear up any lingering impressions of shady dealings. At heart, however, the issue is whether Mitt can relate to the average American. When he doesn't have a real job and still makes more in a day than the average American makes in a week, that makes it more difficult for him to do so, particularly when he doesn't have a warm personality. Remember the data that shows Americans often vote for the fellow they'd rather have a beer with, not the guy with whom they'd discuss the finer points of dressage.
LMAO! Demo birthers...... I couldnt agree more. We want his freaking Mexican Birth Certificate!
Liberal morons, his father was born in Mexico of US parents. He himself was born in the US. Got it?
we want the real birth certificate from Mexico not the fraudulent one from Michigan
I'm in what you call a so called poor class..what is that tea party oh forgot y'all don't know what a so called rich person is ..so i need to ask someone who knows..things
I don't give a crap about transcripts nor do I care to see Mittens' tax returns. Mitten is a terrible candidate and he's going to lose, big time. And using the President's middle name . . really, what a bunch of racist a holes in this country.
Bib, what is wrong with using "Hussein", it is his GIVEN name. Just because it does not fit within your narrow scope of political correctness, does not mean you have to resort using the race card. In honor of Bib, I shall call the current occupant in the White House, President Hussein. What a joke that Bib is calling someone a "racist" ONLY because that called someone by their GIVING name.
Booooo Bib, There is President Hussein under your bed
Where do you all get these stupid ,stupid ideas?Thomas jefferson proposed a federal tax to pay for The Revolutionary War.Abraham Lincoln raised the tax rate to pay for the Civil War.The United States has always had taxes to pay for debts incurred in running a government.It is just that now people want an excuse to cry and mope around and just plain b-tch about something,so all you crybabies go ahead and cry because our government has always had and will always have taxes.We have to have taxes to pay for things we need as a nation.In the 1950's the wealthy paid 90% and they still got rich,in the 1960's and 1970's the taxes were 80%,in the 1980's they were 70% so we have always had taxes and the Pentagon and Congress will never let people live without paying taxes.
Here is a tax test for all of you liberals: On a sheet of paper from memory right down how much your tax refund was this year. On the opposite side of the paper from memory right down how much you actually paid in taxes. I'll bet 90% of you have -0- clue how much you actually paid in taxes.....
no but i bet you do. dont ya.the tea party never pays over 90 percent . right
@UAW, here is a money test for you. Do you think the GOP, who hates unions, hates SS, Medicare, etc, is going to enrich your wallet? If so, I got a bridge to sell you.
Elvis, I'm at 25% this year. Sally I DO NOT think either party will enrich my wallet. Frankly I think the current grid lock has done as much to help all of us keep more money in our wallets as anything either party has done. About this bridge... Is it a toll bridge on a busy road? Is the government agency that owns it broke and willing it sell the rights to the tolls? Thanks
I thought the tea party was looking for a an integrity president..but hey people can be fooled..look at walker.of Wisconsin.and now they want more. a tax invader President
Doth protest too much, much? A little sensitive there aren't we? Childish? Insecure? The President was elected fairly by the people and the people can vote him out, you don't need to point out his middle name. Is your first name Rush?
Hey St Claire
You said you were an "old vet" and an "airplane mechanic"
Is there any chance you were the last one to work on Amelia Earharts plane?
DP-CA- the issue is not Mitt Romney's wealth ,the issue is that his 59 Point Economic Plan gives large tax breaks to the people like himself who make a lot of money off of "Carried Interest". In other words he would pay less than the 12% that he currently pays.The "59 Point Economic Plan" is very similar to the "Ryan Budget" in that neither budget plan is very specific about which federal programs will be cut in order to make their massive tax savings numbers work.However, Rep. Ryan has hinted that the vast majority of the savings would come from slashing food stamps and school lunch programs for poor and working women,cut military pensions and medical care for veterans,cutting pell grants and college funding for research and cutting $2.4trillion in medicare and medicaid funding in addition to cutting $400billion from highway funding and various reductions in federal spending.All of this must be done due to the carelessness of the free spending George W. Bush administration a man who was a graduate of the Harvard Business School.We are not yet ready to let you all have another shot at destroying our nation for the sake of giving the wealthy another tax break.
Obama is a pathetic and chronic liar. He claims that he should pay higher taxes, yet he takes full advantage of all the tax breaks available to the wealthy. http://freebeacon.com/obama-family-tax-shelter/
When this duplicitous jackass starts practicing what he preaches, then maybe I'll change my screen name. I don't think that will ever happen.
Because you're so full of hate there's nothing he could do that would satisfy you. As a point of information, it's not a lie to follow the law.
Dont worry, ObamaLies, Old Vet just attacks and name calls anyone he disagrees with rather than sticking with the issues.
Old Vet, still has NOT agreed with me to demand the release of Obama's College Records at Occidental College. He is afraid of the truth so he just resorted on name calling me.
Kurty--My response is at post 40.3, posted at 2:47 pm. You were responded to well before you posted the above. Sorry you have difficulty reading. Now respond to Ursula's question about the Second Amendment (post 29.3). I haven't called you any names. I've just pointed out that you have cognitive difficulties and wished you well in dealing with your issues.
Mr. Romney should show his tax returns only after insisting Mr. Obama show his sealed academic records, quid pro quo
tess--Obama has shown his tax returns. The quid pro quo, therefore, is Romney showing his. Didn't you ever play "I'll show you mine if you show me yours?" That didn't mean I'll show you my bicycle if you show me your house. By the way, when did Romney release his college transcripts?
Obama will NOT release his College Records (at least while still President) at Occidental College. Having A "President" getting a college scholarship as a FOREIGN Student is rather problematic.
Go ahead, OLD VET, demand that Obama release his college records at Occidental College and I WILL GLADLY demand that Romney release his college records. Old VET dares not demand Obama release his Occidental Record for the Truth regarding Obama's past when he was known as Barry Soetoro would be known.
old vet, Romney has shown 2 years of tax returns,remember he made a lot of money because he was a success at fixing problems(the olympics, as governor and as a businessman), but Obama has not shown academic records. Obama had shown old tax returns that revealed Mr. Obama gave to one charity only for a few years, the Rev. Wright church of american/white/jewish/american military hatred, a cause you might believe in.
Well, with the post, tessiet, you are NOT going to be hired by MSNBC Evening Cable News, you are too logically and expose the truth. That is a No No for MSNBC Cable News
tess--Romney has not shown his academic records either.
When the Romney's came back to America in 1914 they had to leave everything behind in Mexico,because they were running for their lives.In 1938 the Romneys settled their lawsuit against the Mexican government,which is where the family got their wealth,the lawsuit was settled through the Mormon Church and all of the records are in the church archives in Salt Lake City.The Mormon Church is very secretive and has refused access.This perhaps explains Mitt Romney's great dedication to his church,since they hold the secrets to his family's story.The majority of my knowledge is from Wikipedia but some information was gathered through various newspaper articles that I have read since Mitt Romney began last years Presidential campaign.I like being informed by facts not heresay or bullsh-t.
Hey all of you piss heads no-one has said that what Mitt Romney pays in taxes is illegal, we just say it needs to be changed.
tired--Yes, but they don't seem to get it. No one says it's not legal and most are confident that as soon as he clears up the issue of off-shore accounts all questions of shady dealings will be gone. The question has to be, is it fair for someone who doesn't really have a job to pay a lower income tax rate than someone who is working for a living?
It sounds as though Mr. Romney has been working quite hard running the olympics, running a state, raising 5 children, running huge companies...perhaps you are unfamiliar with which our tax laws work...people that have earned high salaries are taxed the highest for federal alone 35%..after they have been taxed that same money goes into some kind of investment, which usually means investing in companies or governments that helps the economy grow...for lending your hard earned income, that was already taxed appropriately, you get a discount on the money you earn while investing i.e. your home, stocks, bonds, pensions and that mr. old vet is how our economy keeps moving forward instead of the depressing policies of tax and spend that put us trillions of dollars in debt brought upon us in the last 4 years. your vet pension is brought to you by the good folks that make a lot of money and pay a lot of taxes.
How long did it take to come up with a birth certificate?
Thats how long Mr Romney should take to release his taxes.
Because a birth certificate is the same as a tax return?
What a minute, fradulant birth Certicates like the one released last April 27th do not count. Still waiting for the real one to this day
Like Mitts fraudulent Michigan BIRTH CERTIFICATE! We want the one from Mexico!!
Now Romney wants an extension so that he won't have to file his taxes until Oct.15,2012.What is he trying to cover-up?
tired--You're kidding, right? That's politically stupid. Elections are about impressions and this gives the impression he's hiding something.
Reason No. 6 for independents to consider voting for Mitt Romney:
If you think considerable spending increases on defense should be implemented and Planned Parenthood should be “done away with”, vote Republican in 2012.
Reason No. 7 that independents should consider voting for Mitt Romney:
If you think the tea party members of Congress have worked to promote a healthier economic environment, reward them and vote Republican in 2012.