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Subscribe to RSSIt's the topic Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney wishes would go away – but it won't. On Thursday, Romney tried to keep the focus on Medicare, but questions about his taxes just kept coming. NBC's Ron Mott reports.
Updated 12:41 p.m. - GREER, S.C. -- Mitt Romney said Thursday that he had never paid less than a 13 percent effective tax rate after reviewing his returns from the past decade.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee did not pledge to release any additional returns beyond what he had previously pledged, but essentially quashed rumors that he paid no taxes at some point.
Evan Vucci / AP
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney arrives at Birmingham International Airport, Ala., before boarding a plane for fundraising events Aug. 16.
"Given the challenges that America faces -- 23 million people out of work, Iran about to become nuclear, one out of six Americans in poverty, -- the fascination with the taxes I paid I find to be very small-minded compared to the broad issues we face," Romney told reporters gathered for a press conference at the Greer airport in South Carolina, where Romney had just arrived to attend a fundraiser.
"I did go back and look at my taxes, and, over the past 10 years, I never paid less than 13 percent," he said, later adding: "Every year, I paid at least 13 percent, and if you add in, in addition, the amount that goes to charity, the number gets well above 20 percent."
The wife of presidential candidate Mitt Romney defends their decision to not release tax forms from before 2010, and has some surprising words to say about the Obama family. NBC's Natalie Morales reports.
But the former Bain Capital executive has been dogged by accusations -- principally from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) -- that he had skirted paying taxes.
"Harry Reid's charge is totally false. I'm sure waiting for Harry to put up who it was who told him what he says they told him. I don't believe him for a minute, by the way," Romney said.
Romney has released his tax returns from 2010, which reflected that he paid a 14 percent effective tax rate. This was because most of his income came from investments, which are taxed at a lower rate than employment income.
Democrats have highlighted the discrepancy between investment and employment income in making their case for comprehensive tax reform in which the wealthiest Americans would face a higher tax burden.
The former Massachusetts governor has vowed to make public his 2011 tax returns before Election Day, but Romney has strenuously resisted making any of his other returns public.
Looks like that tax returns issue is still front and center. Romney said he never paid less that 14%. I wish I could have paid 14%. That is the difference between Romney and the middle class.
Show me! Show me! Show me!
Show me the Money Mitt!
Release the returns, then, I'll believe you!!!
Just a little off topic?
Did you receive the IRS AMNESTY in 2009 Mr. Romney on money you had in your accounts overseas? That's what I want to know.
Why are you vilifying a man for being successful. If I had the deductions that I could take to reduce my tax liability, I would take it. Who wouldn't. He has the deductions.
Even Obama gifted money to his daughters tax free. I did not hold that against him, he took advantage of the laws afforded all of us.
@Ron Indiana
That's not the ONLY difference, but it's a biggie.
And Romney says it like it's some kind of badge of honor. I'm paying at least 36% and I'm not raking in 57K per day.
I still think that his tax returns might show that he took the amnesty bail out on the offshore tax shelters. There's something in there that he doesn't want people to see. That's fine if you're a private citizen, but if you want to be the guy changing tax policy, show us the returns!
Ben-636050
Give us a break from this swift boating crap Ben. I posted about this on Monday and the stink just keeps growing. What is it that you do not understand about the motivations of the people behind this manure? I guess you approved of the massive editing job done on the President's words. Nothing to worry about there?
Ron, the government does not spend or operate on percentage, they spend money. So whine all you want about poor pitiful you and the percent you paid, but how much money did you actually contribute to the country.
Compare that to the amount Romney paid. Bet you paid less. So what is your point?
Since he said he will never release more tax returns … we will have to take him at his word … Sure we will
my2cebt$:
I completely agree. Good to see you on the board posting.
Then it's time to PROVE IT Willard!
Princess Annie herself said, there was ammunition in them!
Romney is lying - yet again.
There goes Mitt Romney lying again!! Prove to us that you paid any taxes!!!
hjack:
The point is I paid my fair share and no, I'm not whining.
Willard could put this issue to rest if he would release those tax returns. By keeping them secret, he looks guilty has hell.
Yawn....more of the liberals pathetic tactics to divert attention from Obama's pathetic record....
Bush who was entrusted with all of the might and with the unalloyed support of the most powerful nation on earth--failed to send enough troops into Afghanistan to kill Osama bin Laden in December of 2001 which has allowed death and destruction to metastasize throughout that region in a war that has yet to end ten years later.
Bush has caused those brave men and women to be re-deployed again and again, and again, leaving them and their families strained under the weight of duty.
***************************
Republicans preferred to have borrowed against our children and grandchildren and spend that money ($5 Trillion dollars) on multiple wars trying to find a guy in a cave who finally ends up in a nice home in a different country. LOL!!!!
Maybe it's just me, but I think most middle-class families would be thrilled to only pay 13% in taxes!
Then again, middle-class families DO NOT earn $57K per day while calling themselves unemployed...
Prove it oh lord and lady romney. Ben, any film producer/editor can slice and dice any footage and make one think they are seeing the real thing. Now you are accusing the President of being a drunkard, nonsense, more swift boat propaganda. I smell a Rove and other rats.
Obama 2012
Thanks Ron.
My pleasure.
Is that what Faux Noize, Beckerhead, Fatbo, Boortz and Lush is saying now??
I would like to thank the tea baggie faggies for developing John “Bozo” Boner and Eric “bendover” Cantor and the GOP dog and pony show, which has reduced the public approval rating of Congress to 9%, and is helping to assure the re-election of President Obama.
Just Remember this:
The republicans have filibustered President Obama over 100 times the first year he was in Office.
The GOP/Tea Bangers have filibustered Obama more in the in the past 4 years, than all of the past 50 yrs combined!!!
The GOP is the Party, that for "some" reason, has a personal, not political hatred for the President, which is stronger than their love for America or Americans!
hjack:
The point is that the system is rigged so that the rich get richer, and upward mobility becomes harder and harder for the rest of us.
If he is not going to release more returns then why does
he keep answering questions about the returns?
Guilt !
Why should we believe Romney. If you do the math on politifact.com he tells the truth only 29% of the time.
politifact.com
Release the taxes Mitt.
NEVER???????? we went from I pay my taxes to where he showed paying 14% and now he says he's NEVER paid less that 13%.....
Just like when you told people to TRUST you, that you paid your Massachusetts taxes when running for Governor only to find out that you didn't file your returns and you had to file them in the 11th hour... So this is the same BU!! $HIT you been pulling in every election!!!!!
Trust You, Willard..... SORRY, I DON'T TRUST LIARS!!!!
How much of that taxed income was made during short sales as the economy crashed in '08?
Romney has been pushing the cost of supporting this country on to MY shoulders and is NOT pulling his OWN weight.
That's the least we can expect of a President...that he shares equally in the burden of supporting this country, providing for its fighting forces, and contributing to it's security.
So far, his ONE year of tax returns is showing a 14% tax rate, offshore accounts in Cayman Islands and Bermuda and a Swiss bank account...whats he hiding??
Mitts returns must contain such damaging information that it would be impossible to win "any" election let alone President of the United States of America.
If the IRS is okay with Mitts tax returns, what the hell are they afraid of?
Romney and Ann's motto: ONLY THE LITTLE PEOPLE PAY TAXES
Yeah, and 13% of what?????? What was your adjusted gross income, Mitt???? And I too want to know about the amnesty thing. Did you take advantage of the 2009 IRS tax amnesty program?? Because if you did, in essence you committed tax fraud and were given amnesty for fessing up and paying the tax. Are you a crook Mitt?
Feisty -- What's more OUTRAGEOUS is that the Ryan plan calls for eliminating the CAPITAL GAINS TAX which would make Romney's tax liability ZERO.
What an American, eh?
Apparently they don't believe in paying for ANYTHING!
Since Romney's words never match the facts on any other topic, I refuse to believe he is honest about the taxes he is claiming to have paid. Romney isn't interested in contributing his fair share to our government and our country, he just wants to rule over them.
sure if they had Romney's money. How much money does he have? I know its a lot, cuz you lefties want to steal it.
HAHAHAH!!!!
What a dolt!
Do you have ANY idea how much you are ACTUALLY paying in federal income tax?
At LEAST 36% REALLY? Are you sure that is not the ENTIRETY of your withholding which is made of of Social Security, State Income Tax, possible health insurance and MANY more?
In 2011 the maximum Federal Income Tax Rate possible was 35% on taxable income of $379,150 or more.
And in 2012 the expected MAXIMUM Federal Income Tax Rate POSSIBLE is only 35% on taxable income of $388,350 or more per year (filing single or jointly as married).
You couldn't possible be paying 36% in Federal Income Tax you MORON!
Some people are SOOOOOO stupid - or just outright liars!!!!!
The left's heads are exploding and the bias of the authors of this site are showing by deleting my posts for the only reason that I can determine would be "off topic?" Well if that is the case, then why aren't others deleted in the same fashion?
Do you have the decency to respond moderators or are you poltroons?
Is that what Faux Noize told you??
Where is the 2009 return? That was the year of the IRS amnesty & forgiveness for tax cheats who defrauded the government (us, the people) of taxes due by moving income to Swiss banks without reporting the transactions. I suspect Rmoney took advantage of the amnesty & forgiveness plan and it shows up on that 2009 return. The 2009 return is the only return or estimated return that has only been seen by Rmoney, Ann and their accountants going back 20 or more years.
John McCain's people looked at 20 years of Rmoney's returns and decided that he would be a great liability to his campaign. Given how large an anchor Sara Palin was certainly makes one wonder how he could be worse than she was.
Willard Romney refuses to release his tax returns. Why?
DCIA,
That's what they have the
littleYOU people for...I hope the hell the DEMOCRATS slam Romney and Ryan on the fact they would ZERO out tax liability for Romney and others like him, including PRIVATE EQUITY guys and HEDGE FUND managers.
Why should they be allowed to ZERO out their tax liability???? WTF is wrong with this picture?
ENOUGH!
Feisty -- Sounds exactly like what a ROBBER BARRON would say. You people!
Sheesh!
Mitt Romney's tax returns are one of those Lamestream Liberal Media "Gotcha" questions!
"I never paid less than 14% (crosses fingers) when I paid"
this is the yes/no game.
Romney said 14%?
And we are supposed to take his word without anything involving proof?
A guy who lies 7 out of 10 times?
A guy who says 'corporations are people' AND says 'corporations shouldn't pay taxes' all in the same breath? Corporations are people that shouldn't pay taxes?
A guy who, apparently, advocates for pure and simple tax evasion by corporations?
No wonder the far-right are the social conservatives. they're used to taking things on 'faith' and ignoring evidence.
As your stockbroker says, past performance is the best indicator of current and future performance.
And that performance is, Romney lies 7 out of 10 times.
Thats right.....Romney released 23 years of tax returns to McCain as part of the VP candidate vetting process in '08....Romney was just too big of a liability for McCain.
Pretty pathetic that Palin was chosen over Romney....but we now know why.
Romney didn't write the tax laws about income versus capital gains and rates, Congress did. There is nothing to suggest (except speculation) that he wasn't in compliance with tax law or current election law requirements. We aren't going to see any more of Mitt or Harry Reids tax history either, so you might as well get back to how he tried to kill his dog.
Stronghorse-
There's the fact he lies 7 out of 10 times.
That suggests he's lying again.
After all, if he lies more than 50% of the time...can you trust anything he says?
Flip a coin twice. if it pops up heads both times, he's telling the truth. Any other combination is a lie.
Feeling lucky?
Obama REFUSES to release ANYTHING.... WHY?
Yes!!!! Obama release the Fast & Furious emails. Release who was behind the security leaks in the WH that put our soldiers at risk and brings forth the fear from the left so much that they have posts deleted. Release your college records and applications. We can't take you at your word on these.
Steve - President Obama has NEVER refused to release anything every other President has released. Get over the school transcripts. As we've explained to you ad nauseum, EVERYONE'S college transcripts are sealed. EVERYONE'S!
Obama/Biden 2012
Mr. Romney, in case you are unaware of it, but I'm in the middle class and I never paid less than 21% in taxes. It is a crime to have these two republican nuts running for office and having no idea about how the common people live!
After seeing this most recent interview of Ann about not releasing tax returns, I believe her that there is ammunition in those returns, ammunition from a smoking gun, ammunition that would draw such serious attack they can't release those returns...Did Romney go for the amnesty? Until now, I figured they have just paid much lower than a 13.9% tax rate, and more of the off-shore shenanigans and what have you. But now I suspect Romney may have committed a felony. Should this be the case, they would have to end their candidacy now.
Oh, and the 10% to charity crap -- Paying tithing to a church used primarily to maintain operating expenses, or luxuries such as building temples, is NOT charity. Just be thankful the IRS lets you write that off. Also, since Romney has already been caught lying about many things including his taxes when he ran for governor, Ann, your husband is NOT golden.
Romney -- You can't pass GO until you release at least 8-years tax returns like President Obama. You can't run for president until you do -- You just can't! If you don't release the returns, you will lose, this we know for sure.
Let's get it on the ballot now for an amendment requiring all presidential candidates to release 10 years of tax returns. Then let's get to work on the tax code, and make it illegal for the 1%ers like Romney to pay so little percent of taxes. Many things that are legal now shouldn't be. The Buffet Rule was the minimum that should be enacted.
$700 billion in the Cayman Islands would pay for a lot. Stop asking for more "free stuff" Romney/Ryan. Say NO to plutocracy!
How could Mitt lead if he doesn't believe in government and pay taxes to support it?
Do what I say, not what I do - crap?
Hope and Chains,
You should feel the fool you are for making such outlandish right wing statements without knowing the facts. So 13% for a millionaire is a fair tax?
Hope & Chains and Ben-
You're asking someone to release classified documents to you on a whim?
Might as well just paint our flag red and throw a sickle and hammer on it, clamoring for the right of all parties to know all classified details. We can just open airplane doors for terrorists, too, and ensure that chinese nationals get top jobs at NASA and the Energy Commission. They'd end up with all that information anyways.
Let's get you access to Langley's central database, while we're at it, and make sure you have NSA credentials too.
Heck, after you bury your firstborn in Iran you can give a solemn red-salute to your new sickle-and-hammer flag and talk about the rights of the proletariat and the communal culture demanding the occassional blood of patriots to protect and ensure that all men, regardless of the public trust put in them as signified by the electoral college, have a right to all information pertaining to the safety and security of the United States.
obama lies 11 out of 10 times. This is fun
Obama! ill tempered seabass with fricken laser beams on the economy?
My stupidity you idiot is the going tax rate for my tax bracket without any loopholes or off shore accounts! Are the right so stupid to blame the tax laws on me?
Everyone just relax about Romney's effective tax rate - that's not the point. Someone that wealthy and powerful can afford to hire good tax accountants to pay the lowest rate possible - but he's not stupid enough to try to avoid taxes altogether (think Al Capone).
It's the source of his income that should be scrutinized. There was a lot of market activity in 08-09 that resulted in most of our 401Ks losing 40% of their value. What's possible is that Romney executed a bunch of short sells, and now that the market is back, he could've multiplied his net worth. That in itself isn't illegal, but who would risk that kind of capital without some insider knowledge (think Martha Stewart).
Yes, Cesar.
In your world, the sum total can be greater than the individual total.
That's why you take things on faith.
Heck, I have faith that if you stick a gun in your mouth, take the safety off, ensure a round is chamebered, and then pull the trigger, that it will NOT fire.
let's do a faith-test on you.
Hope and Chains, So the fact that when Obama took office we were losing 750,000 jobs due to bush and the republicans and we now have been adding about 167,000 a month.? We got change, but you're blinded by the right! See the light man!
Wow...you just keep Goose Stepping in Lock Step to every Sound Byte your 'Private Sector' Ministry of Propaganda (The FAUX NOIZE Network, Lush, Boortz, Fatbo and Beckerhead) spews out.....dont you??
No 13 % includes the republican sponsored loopholes for the rich. Let's end it and stop the top 1% from owning 42% of the wealth up from 40% a year ago. Will you be happy when they own it all? Most haven't worked a day, like my neighbor who's mommy left it to him.
Romney committed voter FRAUD: Thats a FELONY!
The likelihood that those tax returns would reveal indisputable evidence that this year's GOP standard-bearer is an actual voter fraud felon himself...
To date, there has been NO legitimate explanation for Mitt Romney having cast a vote in the January 2010 Special Election for the U.S. Senate between Scott Brown and Martha Coakley. At the time of his vote (which he has admitted doing) he owned NO house/homes in MA, and yet he was registered to vote from the address of his son's unfinished home in Belmont, MA. WHY??
While Romney owned houses in both CA (purchased in May of 2008 for $12.5m) and NH (April of 2009 for $3.5m) at the time, it wouldn't be until July of 2010 --- a full six months AFTER the Special Election to replace the late Sen. Ted Kennedy --- that the state's former Governor would once again own a house there, after purchasing an $895,000 townhouse in Belmont.
The state's requirements for residency for the purposes of voting are quite clear in MA. Ones residence must be "where a person dwells and which is the center of his domestic, social, and civil life," according to state law. Yet, the evidence demonstrating that Romney ran afoul of those requirements in order to vote in that election are similarly clear, at least as fairly meticulously compiled by a former Republican Presidential candidate last year.
Romney's 2010 state tax return, which he still refuses to release, even though he finally released his federal return from that same year, likely shows that he did not pay state income tax in MA, but rather declared himself to be a NH resident for its more friendly tax purposes.
Such a declaration, if revealed via his 2010 state tax return, would underscore the apparent fact that Mitt Romney himself is actually a voter fraud FELON.
Is that what Faux Noize, Beckerhead, Fatbo, Boortz and Lush said??
From the news - Romney says, 'the fascination with the taxes I paid I find to be very small-minded'
OK, Mitt, why don't you - be big-minded and pay your share to support our society - after all, you are running to lead us, right? Lead us toward what? stinginess, toward refusal to support America?
Actually, we the middle class can't run away into Swiss banks, the middle class only have a paycheck and a house, if we are lucky, and the government has total power to tax these two.
Then why we middle class voters want to vote for you????????? You got to be kidding, right, Mitt?
Contempt-
Great Article! Let's ALL put our money in off-shore accounts, that way no one pays taxes.
Then we can disband our standing military, and let's see what happens then.
It would go along great with Obama releasing -everything- to Hope&Chains up there, right? We could just open the floodgates. CIA and NSA can be outsourced to china, and privately run!
Grandma can starve!
AND we wouldn't have to pay for this big ole military engine we have now.
Man, your reasoning is pretty rock solid.
What about the money hidden outside the USA ...You have never paid "ANY TAXES" on that money ....
Seeing is believing Mitt. If I can see the returns, I will believe it. Your words are worth nothing. You have been the well oiled weathervane for so long. Do you expect anyone to believe your words? Mitt is for everything and against verything. Who is Mitt?
Caesar must have been thinking about Romney when he made is addled statement about lies. Here is a small sampler of Willard's falsehoods for the edification of the sorely confused Caesar:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/aug/07/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-barack-obamas-plan-abandons-tenet/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jan/18/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-us-navy-smallest-1917-air-force-s/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jan/08/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-once-again-says-us-inches-away-no-long/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jul/26/mitt-romney/putting-mitt-romneys-attacks-you-didnt-build-truth/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jun/28/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-obamacare-adds-trillions-deficit/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/21/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-said-he-actually-cut-spending-massachu/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/17/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-once-distanced-himself-ronald-reagan-n/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/mar/22/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-barack-obama-ending-medicare-we-k/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/mar/07/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-iran-released-hostages-1981-becau/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/mar/05/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-president-ignored-debt-problems-s/
Backstabbing - Contemptible never writes anything that is true. Most of us just go past her lies and read the post than actually say something. She makes it up as she goes along! She is a true regurgitator of the GOP lies - over and over again. Truth has no place in her posts!
Obama/Biden 2012
Hope and Chains,
But we are not talking about 75 years ago. So Ryan's plan to cut the taxes of the top 1% another 40% by lowing the taxes rate from 35% ( before loopholes) to 20% is fair.? If so where did you lose it?
Maybe it's just me, but I think most middle-class families would be thrilled to only pay 13% in taxes!
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3151
Fiesty, too bad you are wrong. Most middle income families pay far less than the 14% or 13% effective tax rate that Romeny paid. Too bad you cannot deny facts.
Democrats have been trying to change the tax codes, but republicans , teabuggers especially, have been trying to protect their benefactors of huge PAC funds. How to buy an election!
For all the Repub/Conserv's you are missing the point big time - it is not just about what tax percentage he paid. It is about does he walk the walk - does he do what he preaches? Can this man be trusted with the highest seat in our nation.
If Gov. Romeny is not willing to trust the American people with all the information about his finances how can we trust hime with America's financies. Why should I pay taxes to support this country if Gov. Romney doesn't.
Why should I keep my money in American financial institutions if Gov. Romney doesn't.
Why should I vote for this man, if he hasn't earned my trust!!!!
Man, I wish I could pay 13%, but remember now, McCain dropped him like a hot potato when he saw Romney's federal tax returns!!!
Here we go, Iran going nuclear, war monger, another "dubya" ready to commit YOUR sons/daughters to ANOTHER war while HIS 5 sons, who have never served one day in our Military sit at home and eat pie, on top of that, he calls Americans "small-minded."
"The republican hypocrites are getting nervous, John Boehner held a late-night conference call to soothe the nerves of his jittery republican members.
They voted for Paul Ryan's devastating budget that would end Medicare, and they're afraid that they'll lose their seats for repeatedly putting millionaire tax breaks before Medicare."
OBAMA/BIDEN/HOLDER....2012!!!!
poor sailcat and Tek. My world knows math, i had to convert to liberal math. you know fuzzy numbers. thanks for playing. Now little ostriches, heads back into the sand
Show me the Laser Obama
Hope and Chains,
Yes, spending is problem when you pour $5,000,000,000,000 down the toilet for two lost wars that bush started. Why aren't you complaining about that waste?
I keep telling you guys, and I do expect this to come to the front if he ever releases his tax returns - it is not the amount he paid or how much he paid, it is where he lived when he says he paid them. the good folks in MA don't think he lived there when he voted for himself for governor and neither do I, that is what will be the nail in his coffin (plus it is a federal offense, what a golden nuggett for those who claim to be fighting voter fraud!).
Hope&Chains
We have a talking points bulletin? Sweet. When do we get a talking points network, like Fox News?
Ever notice how their colors are red, white and black?
I keep expecting to see a swastika in the backdrop, as a unifying source of government and corporations. After all, victory-welfare, right?
In victory, all are taken care of by the corporate and business state?
Isn't that why the corporate state is currently sponsoring the republican party? Or is there another reason for that?
This tax issue is just more deflection to keep from talking about solutions to the tough issues facing this country.
If he committed a crime - fine, prosecute him - but there has been no indication of a crime from legitimate sources, and last time I checked, people are innocent until proven guilty in this country.
What FACTS?
You copied & pasted something which has NO income levels in it!
Talk about generic!
Nice try...
Cesar
Liberal math? Odd, since we have the 'liberal elite' who run those 'liberal colleges and universities' with a 'liberal faculty' of 'liberal professors', right? You'd think we'd know math.
So what about that Faith test? Still game for it?
Give it a shot.
Pray real hard, stick the gun in your mouth, pull the trigger, and tell us how angelic voices sound.
Or maybe god himself will talk to you, like he does republican presidential candidates, and convince you not to do it.
I still want Bachmann and Santorum to tell me what god sounds like, though. Was it in the form of a burning bush or what?
It's not just the percentage of tax Romney paid that should be questioned.
13% - 13% BASED ON EXACTLY WHAT? What loopholes, shelters, foreign accounts did - does, he use to keep money from being taxed?
And I'm sorry, Romney claiming his tithe to his church as "charity" and trying to use that number to boost his tax number in order to make himself APPEAR charitable is a crock of b-aloney!
I think Romney's ego is so massive he actually thinks he is above revealing the tax returns. His wife is also brainwashed stating when we release info there are always more and more questions so we leave it be.
There "lies" the issue, the more he shows the larger the landslide election beating he will take. He is Gordon Gecko in the flesh and has no business at the helm of this great country.............
THE LEAD ON THIS STORY IS MISLEADING & IRRESPONSIBLE. What the author of this story fails to disclose at the beginning of the article, is that this is not just earned income tax - which is what most of us ONLY pay. This includes capital gains tax - which is most of his income and which is taxed at a lower rate. Much of this income is from money that is invested in other businesses, businesses which, without outside investment, would fail to thrive. If you were to tax this money at the same rate as earned income, what would be the incentive to invest? NONE. So, on the surface, it sounds as though he is gaming the system and not paying his fair share, when in reality the tax rate on earned income that he pays is higher than most.
Reposting from another discussion.
I just have one question for those who downplay the importance of Romney releasing his returns. Don't you think it speaks volumes about the trustworthiness (or lack thereof) of a man who seeks the highest office in the land when he refuses to release his returns, FOR ANY REASON?
Oh, Caesar. You are not acquainted with the concepts of truth and honesty, though. That is why your posts are devoid of any hint of either of those two noble principles. Your posts also appear completely disassociated with any clear cognitive abilities, as well...which explains a lot, you know.
And when elected, Romney will make sure he - and his rich sponsors - do not pay more than 5% in taxes, while you and me pay 30% or more.
Hey Tek ask Obama "not show me the money but SHOW ME THE LASER"
Liberals defending the indefensible with mythical nazi references, horses, dogs, tax returns and beer.
there is liberal elite right there LOL. Da for mother russia
So how many of you donate 10% plus to charity. As a member of the LDS church Romney has contributed that and then some. If you were to remove his sizeable contributions to charity then his rate would have been considerably higher. Romney is able to reduce his tax rate by using legally authorized and congressionally created tax deductions. If you want the rich to pay more taxes simply eliminate the deductions (capital gains, mortgage, investments, child credits, educational expenses, etc)....and by the way, those same deductions help many in the middle class pay no taxes. Money in an off shore account is not illegal....and if I had a significant income I would also keep my money sheltered from a government that spends, spends, spends without any accountability. If you don't like off shore accounts then government should look to restrict them.....that won't happen....and why? Because rich people are Democrats as well. Romney's right, this obsession about his tax returns is just a distraction from talking about the issues facing us. Tell me how one job has been created, one home has been spared foreclosure, one dollar was taken off the debt, or a world crisis avoided talking about a tax return. We bought into Obama's promises without one specific element of proof so why do we hold Romney to a different standard? Even Obama said that if the economy was not better he would be a one term President.....I take him at his word.
And let's remember, it's not like he has any choice about tithing to the church, it's not charity.
This is not a trust issue - this is just dirty politics. I would call it a trust issue if Romney wouldn't release any tax returns - but he's done 2 years worth.
This whole tax issue is just another attempt by Obama to turn the campaign away from discussing real solutions to the economic issues facing our country. If Romney releases his returns, Obama will just find something to distort and turn into political talking points so he won't have to have a real discussion with voters on their different visions for the country.
Every president and nominee in recent history has shown their tax returns:
Obama and Biden have shown 12 years
Clinton showed 10
Kerry showed 20
Not just Democrats.
Bush Jr and Cheney showed 8 years
Reagan showed 6 years
Go back to FDR, he showed ALL his tax returns, over 40 years of them.
NO president in US history has been compelled to show his long form Birth certificate or college records. Romney has shown neither of those. Yet the GOP demands that of Obama?
Why dont we demand Romney do what everyone else seeking to become president has done, before we demand things of Obama that nobody before has ever had to do?
Clear thinking and honesty do not constitute elitism, Caesar, but among the denizens of your trailer park those are two qualities that are doubtlessly in desperately short supply.
Everyone has a choice.
cruzin -- Our 401K's are taxed at the at the regular income rates.
WHY the hell should people like Romney not pay that same amount on investment income as the rest of us?
Feisty -- MATH is not REPUBLICANS strong suit.
Viewing the tax returns will make this a Non-issue...
The inane liberals who soil these boards seem to be missing one very important fact in their unhealthy obsession with Mitt Romney's taxes, and that is, the IRS doesn't seem to have any issues with Mitt's returns, WHAT-SO-EVER! Nor did these same people have an issue with a wealthy person running for the office so long as his last name was Kerry. But just put the scarlet "R" in front of that name and OH MY GOD, its the devil!
Don't ya love how the Romney's parse their words? The new prediction is if they release their returns, finally, they will repeat earlier lies about not knowing what was in trust funds (what Mitt once referred to as "a ruse"):
And now, here we go again:
At this point, if they released their tax returns--especially if too close to the election date--I don't care. This poker game of bluffs and parsing words is enough to know they are not suited for the White House.
Neither is fellow flip-flopper Paul Ryan. What a team. Hey let's see Ryan's wife's' returns now that she just inherited a chunk of change, right Mitt?
@Ron-1861300
"This is not a trust issue"? How can you say that? You want someone you don't trust to run the country? You'd vote for someone in whom you have no trust? Really?
It's all about trust, no matter which side you're on. If you don't trust a candidate, you don't vote for him/her. Period.
That means he pays more in taxes each year, then the average American makes in a lifetime;
to pay in the teens, you must risk venture capital, in order to get the Capital deductions, and you will also lose at some ventures, risk=rewards.
Sailcat-2064101
drop the snob act sailcat, you dont even do it well. You posted a bunch of links about Romney and if i take the time (no need to) I could do the same. Hardly clear thinking on your part. You are trying to come off like a lot of your buddies as an elitist dooshbag.
The key word is FEDERAL INCOME TAX, Mr. Romoney. No one cares what you paid for taxes on you homes, cars, boats, jetskis, etc.
Ron-1861300
because the only person who could prove he didn't commit a felony is the person who will not release his tax returns.
Now, I personally do not think Romney is a felon in a prosecutable sense. But I do think he took advantage of all LEGAL loopholes, shelters, deferments, offshore accounts, etc., and paid zero or very little in taxes which would totally disprove Romney's claim that rich people pay too much.
The sad thing is, the really sad thing... nothing anyone says here, no argument being made, will change anyone's vote anymore. You either believe the lies presented by one side, or by the other. You check your facts selectivly, or not at all, and both sides become more convinced the other side is just plain nuts. The shootings have already started. America is in deep trouble, because nobody cares what the real truth is anymore, only the truth they are told.
If the IRS was okay with them, what the hell is Mitt afraid of? As I've said before, wealth is not the issue here -- many of us just feel there is something being hidden and that erodes trust.
Mitt needs prove he hasn't been pushing the cost of supporting this country on the backs of the poor and middle class..which he helped wreck with Bain....but is pulling his OWN weight.
Mitts tax returns must contain such damaging information that it would be impossible to win "any" election let alone President of the United States of America.
Kerry released 20 years of tax returns!!
Cesar,
Show me the laser?
Is that a bigger, or smaller, laser than the laser-like focus republicans have on jobs (uteruses), small government (more military spending) and less regulation (license to put mercury in your kids drinking water)?
Let's talk about that laser some more.
Is that the same 'laser' that the republicans authorized the F-35 with, which has yet to get successful tests and is 6 years late?
Or the 'laser' that they attack social security and medicare, so grandma can starve?
The 'laser' that they're going to take whatever amount you've given to the SS and Medicare trust fund and re-allocate it to private insurance companies?
Or the 'laser' of birth-certificates and wanting to open up government secrets to everyone?
Or the 'laser' that you're still deflecting with?
Yet to hear a rebuttal other than 'wah wah liberal wah wah.'
Must be a chemical-related laser, because you and those who'd agree with you sure ate some lead paint chips or something as a kid.
saxon
do you know what Romney's net, taxable income is? 13% of $1 is $0.13 cents. It's still 13%. Romney could have shown an income of $1 for all YOU know.
Your post is ignorant because YOU just like the rest of us have no clue what Romney actually paid in income tax in DOLLARS. Percentages tell you nothing.
If I tell you I paid 14% in taxes, does that mean I paid more than Romney?
Bayllie what do you do if you are filthy rich and have no income? taking advantage of legal loop holes means youre dishonest? what about taking advantage of executive orders?
spin and begin
Obama where oh where has your laser gone?
Ron-1861300 -- Stop repeating the Romney lies. Romney has only released 2010 so far, and even that is not complete. The two years returns he has promised will be sanitized, or as his father called it "a fluke." Even with sanitation he couldn't remove the off-shore information and other shenanigans like how he got so much money in the IRA. And all the years past, he can't show he paid a tax rate on par with his secretary, otherwise known as the Buffet Rule.
We know you and the other Righties who post your drivel in this forum know damn well this is NOT acceptable. But you are stuck with the Shyster and have to spin you arses off in hopes of squeaking out a victory with voter suppression.
Ron-1861300
And maybe Romney doesn't want his Church to find out that he CHOSE not to donate the 10% of his income even if he claims he did/does.
Caesar....keeps on Goose Stepping in Lock Step to every Sound Byte their 'Private Sector' Ministry of Propaganda (The FAUX NOIZE Network, Lush, Boortz, Fatbo and Beckerhead) spews out.....HAHAHAHAAAA!!!
Keep them boots shined and keep your kicks straight and high!!
bravo bayllie that's stupdendous, as stupendous as Tek talking about the F-35 and ignoring the fact from DAY 1 Obama said laser focus on the economy, hey look over there socialized healthcare, im on it
Goose stepping? Backstabbing, id rather do that then plug my ears and cry wee all the way to economic oblivion.
Backstabbing Tea Party
plus Kerry released his wife's as well which he didn't have to do
..........I know Mitt.....I know....."it was an accounting error".......I know
It wasn't "less than 13%" was it Mitt?......Maybe 1.3%...Hey! What the heck? What's a decimal point between the American People and their leaders........
Let's see the returns Mitt!....Whatta ya hide'n?
Mitt "Rob-me" and Paul "Ream-'em" Ryan the new face of Republican Politics!
I wish that my taxes were down at 13%... They are not...
But then again, I haven't made $50,000.00 a day for the last two decades from Bain Capitol, plus whatever else you have income coming from...
Stop looking like a crook/sneak and show at least as much tax reported as you own father did... Right now there is no way I would vote for you... Your giving a bad reputation to Salt Lake City...
Paint chips is on a roll, today.
If you're filthy rich and have no income, you're dead. A 'big boy' checking account has a dividend payment, as does any savings account. If you were a 'big boy' you'd know that. Or do they stick their money under their mattress?
Taking advantage of loop-holes means you're dishonest. At least you got that right, even if you used a '?' instead of a '.'
Ask Bush. who signed about 300 executive orders as opposed to Obama's 150 or so. He would have a much clearer answer about executive orders, seeing as how he was much more proficient with them.
Hey, what happened to that 1.3 Billion we tossed at that F-35 project, Caesar? That's repsonsible small-government at work, right?
Or the trillions in Iraq?
See, I've still yet to hear a rebuttal. More 'liberal liberal liberal' chanting.
And yes. I'd rather socialize healthcare :) See, socialized healthcare = 8% or so of GDP. Private healthcare = 18% of GDP.
You, obviously, do not understand math contrary to your claims above.
You're just another stool-pigeon, spouting and trying to defend politics you don't understand. You're a fall guy.
Sucker.
TruePatriot-445959
Romney is waiting until Nov. 7 to finalize his returns because after he loses, he can de-sanitize his returns and pay no or little income taxes like has been doing for years.
13% of WHAT AMOUNT? You know mitt, that's GROSS income. What were the deductions you claimed? Whom do you list as paying DEBTS to? Whom do you list paying COSTS to? Did you actually LIST ALL YOUR INCOME? Tax credits, rebates, allowances, etc? Since you won't show 'em to the country, you're lying. Did you actually pay any Federal taxes?
Gwaddamn!, I wish I could get away with paying only 13%.
Where's Waldo
no, it's "the blind trust made me do it"
RTFS,
Care to share how many dollars (excluding Social Security and Medicare) that you paid in taxes over the past 10 years. Perhaps all who complain about Romney's decision should post their dollars (not percents) paid in for the last 10 years (excluding Social Security and Medicare which are simply retirement accounts and not money used to pay for non-entitlement expenses paid by the Federal government). That would be very interesting. Any takers? I can hardly wait.
This is the classic story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, and the Righties defending Romney with the classic "poor little rich boy."
To the BS posted above -- Dude, we are not running for president, Commander in Chief, and leader of the free world. Don't you think the bar needs to be pretty high to run for the highest office in the land?
Romney IS that greedy and tight-arse about paying taxes.
there ya go Tek, dividends. Thanks. but you guys are talking about income taxes.
By the way i said taking advantage of EO's not using them. Thats right Fast and Furious is ok in Teks book, cuz bush did it? or witch hunt? whats the talking point today on it? By the way, the F-35 has what to do with OBAMA's LASER FOCUS?
I contribute 10% to my church and deduct it on my taxes as allowed by law.
I contribute to several other charities and deduct it on my taxes as allowed by law.
I invest and take an appropriate amount for my losses as allowed by law.
I pay taxes on my vehicles and home and deduct it on my taxes as allowed by law.
Am I rich? NO!!!!! Am I middle class? Yes. Do I deduct everything that I can legitimately deduct? Yes! Does that make me different from another American who does not want to pay Uncle Sugar any more than I have to? NO!!!!!
Why don't you folks get a life and concentrate those lazer beams on the economy or on the jobs market or on the educational system or on anything else that means something?
Sorry Mitt, but I don't really give a damn about charity contributions. I care about your taxes. If I have to release my private information just to work at a @!$%#ing McDonald's, YOU should have to release your tax info for the office of PRESIDENT.
Actually, it will help make the tax code more progressive and will reduce economic inequality.
Yea, tell that to the $380 billion we lose every year thanks to the Bush tax cuts and the $1.1 trillion in tax expenditures in the tax code every year. Just let rates go back to Clinton era levels while keeping marriage, child, and earned income deductions, add 6 more brackets (2 lower, 4 higher), and put a top rate of 76% on $15 million a year. You raise hundreds of billions of dollars, reduce income inequality, and strengthen the middle class. Then we can focus on spending cuts.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
In your sad world, Caeser, the proper use of English is considered a snob act. Thoughtful and well-reasoned arguments are regarded as elitism in your nasty fantasy land, too. On the other hand, your comments are pretty much confined to snide cracks and ignorant remarks that are easily crushed. That is exactly why you get no respect from people here. You are merely a post-adolescent clown.
Don't let your lower lip quiver, Caesar. You're pretty fragile, from what I've seen.
A story about Romney's taxes and all the trolls come out, the story Headlined: More Americans Seek Jobless Aid and not one of you had anything to post there.
This is why Americans should not and will not vote for democrats, you don't care about the economy and have nothing to say about the complete failure that has been The Obama recovery (or lack thereof). No, you idiots care about tax returns. Did he do anything illegal? The IRS who can look at his returns didn't find anything (and I'm sure Obama has them looking) so STFU, nobody cares but you liberals who hate wealth and success.
Illegal Leaks from the White House, do democrats care? - No
Economy still in not improving, do democrats care? - No
Fast and furious cover up with executive privilege (thank you mister open administration) do democrats care - No
Gunman tries to shot up conservative group, do democrats care - No
Face it losers, your talking about Romney's tax returns with all the crap in the world today because you have been total failures and criminals and want to deflect your $h!t record of increased poverty.
BS. Big time BS! If you are you need to quit filing the 1040-EZ.
I'll take Romney at his word.
He seems to be looking to the future when Republican candidates, who keep getting sleazier and sleazier, will need this precedent not to release more than 2 years worth of returns when they really do need to hide incredibly low effective rates.
With a precedent of only releasing 2 years, they will only need 3 years lead time of shunning all the loopholes to run safely for President.
He's taking it on the chin for all future candidates who pay little tax on megabucks income, and against transparency for voters.
WHERE'S THE REAL TAX RETURN???
well reasoned arguments sail. Sure, let me know when you have one. Oh posting links, you know that individual thought process you have. Oh having your head so far Obama's backside makes you reasoned. Respect from people here? What people? Respect from the far left militia wing, no thank you Sail. You keep thinking you're an intellectual powerhouse if it gets you through day.
Now LogicReguired on the other hand makes sense. But not to Sailcat, no sir. Logic isn't using well reasoned arguments .
Romney pays less taxes because of the capital gains tax. Didn't Bill Clinton cut Capital Gains tax when he was president? Oh yea, that's right he did.
Caesar:
Obviously, you know nothing about ANY KIND of math. Let me help you "conservatives" out. You seem to have forgotten that a self-employed businessperson will pay a GREATER RATE than Romney BEFORE he even thinks about his income tax rate.
Pay attention, alleged "conservatives". FICA! FICA! FICA! That rate alone is greater than what Romney pays.
hardtostarboard:
You have no way of knowing whether the IRS has issues with Romney's returns. The IRS is forbidden by law from releasing that kind of information. Further, it is quite possible that Romney had broken the law in the past and took advantage of the tax amnesty for those who had evaded taxes. That is not a matter of public record.
There may be some, but not many, liberals who are concerned that Romney is wealthy. True liberals do not begrudge the wealthy simply because they have money. Good for them. However, if they have evaded taxes, if they have destroyed the lives of others in the pursuit of that wealth....Well, that's a bit of a problem.
The unequivocal truth about Mitt Romey is that he is a proven liar. There is no reason to believe a word he says. That you would defend this liar says your moral character isn't worth spit.
teknishan
I can only guess that the troll you are quoting is little ceasar because the silly post fits him perfectly. I have him on 'ignore' so I'm guessing that it was him who wrote:
see, little ceasar claims something you say but cannot ever prove it - can he prove that Romney had/has no income? Of course not - none of us can. That's the beauty of Romney's strategy.
and when little ceasar cannot prove anything - which is always - he finds another irrelevant point to change the subject like:
I wonder how these trolls would spin this because they always seem to ignore it:
in 1994, Romney vigorously called for then Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) to release his tax returns, in order to prove that he had “nothing to hide”:
‘It’s time the biggest-taxing senator in Washington shows the people of Massachusetts how much he pays in taxes,” said Romney
spin spin spin little ceasar
Tom the whatever - If I choose to run for President, I WILL release at least 5 years of my tax returns - as every Presidential candidate in our lifetime has done - except Mitts who hasn't even released 1 full year!
Obama/Biden 2012
The Audacity of Dopes and Shame -- Go back to FOX Nation or TheBlaze. Enough!
True,
I agree, and I also don't think Romney gives away the promised 10% to his Church either. I think Romney loves money more than he loves himself.
Republicans
We are NOT vilifying him for being successful. We are not upset that he is successful. We do not even blame him for using deductions and write-offs.
Do you really want to know the issue? Ok, here it is:
YOU, Republicans, have spent the last 3 years crying about people who "do not pay their fair share". YOU have spent 3 years screaming about the 50% who do not pay income tax. YOU put taxes front and center as the main issue. YOU called attention to different tax rates. YOU started this.
And now, after 3 god damn years of YOU crying about taxes... now that same issue has come around to bite you in the a**. YOU have picked a candidate that pays a very low tax rate. YOU picked a candidate that probably applied his 2008 investment losses to his income (which is legal), and that probably removed almost all of his owed taxes for 2008 and 2009. I don't blame him, I would do that same thing. But remember, YOU made an issue of tax rates for 3 f***ing years.
So when you spend 3 years complaining about people who "do not pay their fair share", and 50% who do not pay taxes... why would you pick a candidate who falls into that category? You brought this on yourself.
If YOU had never complained about taxes... if YOU did not cry about the 50%... if YOU did not spend 3 years screaming about "fair share"... then none of this would matter. No one would bring it up. But you DID talk about it, you DID cry and complain about it, you DID start the tax conversation.
So WHY are we focusing on this? Because YOU started the conversation in the first place. YOU brought this on yourself... and the worst part is that you are not even smart enough to realize it. You want to blame someone for this tax return focus? Look in the mirror. If you had kept your god damn mouth shut, no one would be talking about this. The blame falls solely on YOU.
Show me one red blooded American who isn't tight a$$ed about paying taxes. Do you file a 1040-A? Didn't think so.
myguy,
Well spoken !! You really drove home the point. Romney and Co have brought in on themselves.
Sorry I can only give you one well-deserved vote.
You people are sad.
The issues lies in policy, not Romney's legally paid tax rate. If there was a smoking gun, the IRS would be all over him. I'm not a Romney fan but getting tired of the liberal left to the point I'd lean towards voting for a 3rd party President and Republican's for the House/Senate.
@Mguy,
Really??? It is the Democrats that are complaining about not paying their fair share. It is a political ploy that was started under Gore taking about the upper 1% not paying their fair share. One question I would have is: What is a fair share? Can you put a number to it?
Deputy National Security Adviser John Brennan said Wednesday that some recent leaks of national security secrets have done serious damage, but he also lashed back at critics who have charged that President Barack Obama's White House staff is responsible for the breaches. (John Brennan worked in the Bush administration by appointment before coming to work in the present administration)
PRINCETON, NJ -- Gallup's key U.S. economic indicators tell a consistent story of improving economic and behavioral conditions. Americans' self-reported employment status, personal spending, and workplace hiring trends were all better in March than in February, and were improved over March 2011, although still below pre-recession levels. In addition, Americans' ratings of the U.S. economy were at a four-year high.
There is no evidence that White House officials were involved in withholding information related to a congressional inquiry into the botched gun-trafficking operation known as Operation "Fast and Furious," the Republican lawmaker leading the investigation said Sunday.
When asked Sunday whether he had any evidence to back up claims of a cover-up, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) said "No we don't."
There has been no political affiliation attributed to the shooters in any of the recent attacks.
poor bayllie who has me on ignore yet quotes me never answered the question. Liberal wins argument cuz liberal said so, only in Oz
Let's see....a Billionaire "Gordon Gecko" bragging he never paid less than 13.9% in taxes......PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHERE TO SIGN UP FOR THIS TAX RATE!!! I'm just a middle class woman in a family of four who my husband and i spent our careers in law enforcement for over 32 and 34 years, raised two sons, live in a modest home and pay a tax rate of 24.6%. Tell me Mr. Romney, how do I get to shuffle off my income to an offshore account under a corporate name and pay no taxes on it under the "capitol gains tax laws" and get the same tax benefits as you and other multi-billionaires in your good old boys club? I'd love to know how you and your wife can look the American people right in the face on camera and even admit that to Americans. My son and his wife with a baby who struggle paycheck to paycheck, trying to finish his degree, and paying high health insurance premiums, rent, drive a 15 yr old car and make a combined income of $43K per year paid more than 13% in taxes.
Shame on you Mr. Ronmey for even having the audacity to think the American People are so stupid, uninformed, and uneducated that they would buy your line of BS. Good thing you deferred (requested an extension) on your 2011 taxes until the end of November.....how convenient for you. That way....you don't have a return to show the people you are courting votes from. And it is wonderful that you include saying "that doesn't include the money you give in charitable contributions". Mr. Romney...you are so out of touch with America it is sickening! And before I get slammed for being a raging liberal....I'm a registered Republican folks.....and this man WILL NOT Get my vote....EVER!!!
cruzin596 Really? That is an extremely interesting question. The incentive to invest in a company SHOULD be to profit when that company makes money. Why should it be the responsibility of the tax payer to subsidize those profits through a lower tax rate. If you don't want to risk, don't invest. It is not MY responsibility to make it more attractive for millionaires to invest in a company. I mean hey, if we're going to bitch and moan about giving money away, let's bitch about all of it! If government should "stay out" of private sector business, then let's stay out of it. Let them pay exactly the same tax rate on ALL of it and if they don't like it, well tough @!$%#. No more protecting your oil fields or other interests over seas, no more free land, no more having your offices here but keeping your money elsewhere. Screw you. You want tax breaks? Bring the jobs back FIRST, then we'll give you tax breaks. Otherwise piss off!
Talk to the Hand, you say
The only one I can think of right off hand whom you and I have both heard of would be George Romney, Mitt's dad, who did not take all the deductions to which he was entitled. (There's that word - entitled. Yeah, imagine that: entitlements for the wealthy. who would've thunk it?)
Some folks believe that America works well when standing united. Others think that America thrives only by everybody getting as much as possible at no cost.
bayllie -- I believe the Romney's pay their tithing. The reason why, just like donating earned income like speaking fees to charity, etc. is they need the write offs. That is the main reason why, and also ego and wanting to be Big Man in the church. But it has nothing to do with being charitable -- Nothing even close to Bill and Melinda Gates for example.
The Romney's aren't even liked by other Mormons who know them (Huntsman, Reid, etc.)--except other Shysters like the Marriotts. I believe David Kay Johnston is a member of the church, and he advises the Romney's to remember the teachings that you don't just do the minimum, you choose the right.
Romoney and Queen Ann just need to show tax returns for the 8 years prior to 2010 and this all goes away, right. How difficult would that be? What could they possibly have to hide? And please, stop referring to us as "you people", were not your dog.
Tommy-499410
but he is not..that's why Romney is careful not to use the word "INCOME"
Thank god because the current CIC would eat us. Whew.
Obama and his laser stumps economists
You know what I find interesting, that this issue of tax returns stuck its head up out of its fox hole better than a month ago and it is only now that Mitt has assured himself of what was in them. That apparently required a trusted accounting firm to go over them to make sure Harry Reid's prediction wasn't true. The bottom line, at least a 14% minimum effective tax rate. I cranked my taxes and child support through excel a decade ago while I was still working... 57% Fed tax + State Tax + Property Tax + Child Support. This my buddies is why we liberals have fought for progressive rather than flat tax rates. Paying more taxes than your food, clothing and shelter bills is just wrong. So what part of Mitt's remaining %86 percent goes for life's necessities? Even with a lavish life style and a dancing horse, I doubt that it even gets close to that celebrated 14%.
H&C,
Had this administration been allowed to do what prior presidents have done following recessions during their terms, things would be very different.
Public sector job growth under G.W. Bush rose 4.2% while he maintained an overall growth rate of 01%. Public sector job loss under B. Obama has been at approximately 2.9% with an overall loss rate of 3.0%. This indicates that the Bush administrations job growth record was solely based on government jobs while at the same time loosing private sector jobs. The same rates of public sector job growth occurred under Presidents Reagan and G.H.W. Bush for 54 months following recessions during their administrations, the same time period shown for the Obama administration. Were the Obama administration to add similar public sector jobs the unemployment rate would be around 7.5%. (Source- BLS)
The public sector jobs highlighted are those dreaded GOVERNMENT JOBS.
If the GOP would get out of the way or at least have the betterment of the country in mind instead of this blatant power grab they're involved in now, things would be considerably better.
TruePatriot-445959
even though we are forced to speculate, we could both be right. I think Romney would donate as much as 10% as long as it benefits him financially(tax deduction) but he could also be donating 10% of his net income which in Romney's world (and on paper only) could be not much. So whether he donates an amount that would give him a higher deduction or donates based on his lowest net income, he is still not donating out of the kindness of his heart. It's a calculated transaction.
Sorry Ron and the rest of you like him - a lot of you "middle class" people don't pay ONE CENT in federal income taxes. You whiners and complainers are in the almost 50% that don't pay ONE CENT in federal income taxes. If the IRS is okay with his tax returns, and they were prepared within the current tax code structure - it's not your concern or business!
Get a life you jealous, envious people. Use all your obvious extra energy on this to better yourself so you can make a lot of money and pay less in taxes on your investment money!
LogicRequired...No, Clinton did not cut capital gains tax, Congress did. For someone who claims that logic is required, you appear to have lack of understanding on how government works ie. separation of powers.
You know what's really sad? There's not a single liberal or progressive in this thread that has any idea how taxes work. Not one of them acknowledges that the income Mitt makes has already been taxed before. He's paying an ADDITIONAL 15% capital gains tax on top of the standard income tax he already paid on all that money years ago.
How would you like it if you got your salary, got it taxed, then put money aside for your retirement, or your child's education, or simply to provide and additional revenue stream, and people demanded you paid more than 15% on that invested money?
Just because Romney made a lot of money before and has the luxury of living off of investments doesn't give your greedy, jealous arse the right to demand he pay even more in taxes.
You're all propaganda sheep who actually think Mitt has only paid 15% in taxes. If you are that ill-educated, can you even imagine what else you have wrong?
Maybe if you progressives like Feisty spent more time learning how the world works and less time blaming others who worked harder and smarter than you, you might be better off than you are.
Hey Mitt -- this reminds me of Nixon and the tapes back in 1974. He refused to release the tapes and assured HE was telling the truth. But -- when the tapes were released -- we found out he was lying.
Giver the way you lie about welfare reform, what President Obama says in his speeches, and your ability to take 4 sides on a 2 sided issue, I have no doubt you're lying now.
Only distraction here... For all the whining on both sides of the fence...
Go start your own company/corporation like lots of Americans have and put the work in to make it successful and perhaps you would be in the same tax laws that lots of Americans, both Liberal and Conservative, take advantage of.
If you want real change, then the whole tax laws need to to reformed. That means the tax structure for all needs to be change. That would be the only meaningful discussion, instead of pointing to misleading and dubious ideas here.
Wow, I read the first 30 posts and all I could see was one of those Subway commercials where there are adults on the screen, but they are have kids voices, and a kids mentality. This thread is just like that. A new low.
Now back to adult commentary.....
True, true.... They said he paid 14% on his 2011 taxes. That's $2.8 MILLION dollars. Add in the money given to charity, now we are at $4 million. How many of you can pay that much tax and give away that much in a year? (chirping crickets...) thought so. It is so tiresome your envy of a man who worked hard and made smart decisions with HIS money. Grow up.
He is under no legal or moral rules to show his returns...like he said, concentrate on what's really important....like the economy.
"Given the challenges that America faces -- 23 million people out of work, Iran about to become nuclear, one out of six Americans in poverty, the fascination with the taxes I paid I find to be very small-minded compared to the broad issues we face," Romney told reporters.
So quit with all of the obfuscation, release more of your prior-year tax returns, and in so doing, make your effective tax rates a non-issue. Unless, of course, you have something to hide in the forms of smoking guns embedded in said returns that would make those rates bigger issues than they already are.
Hey Willowbrook have you seen Obama's laser, I think he stopped looking for it on day 1.
Reality is a fearful place for liberals right now. that is why they are finding anything to focus on instead of it. and its depressing
You are either a liar or an idiot. The top marginal federal income tax rate is 35% and you have have to make about $380k to hit that level and it isn't applied to your entire AGI.
Looks like that tax returns issue is still front and center. Romney said he never paid less that 14%. I wish I could have paid 14%. That is the difference between Romney and the middle class.
Fiesty wants tax brackets so here you go hun Source: Congressinal Budge Office, 2009
Top 1% -- 28.9%
Top 20% -- 23.2%
Fourth Quintile -- 15.1%
Third Quintile -- 11.1%
Second Quintile -- 6.8%
Bottom 20% -- 1%
Middle Class earners in 3rd quintile 40-60% = 11.1%
Romney should release his tax returns as soon as Obama releases all the Fast & Furious documents and his college records. What are you hiding Obummer ?
" I'll take a Mormon over a moron anyday" !!!!!!
Caesar Augustus- true, true....(I don't think Obama knows what a laser really is....)
This is the kind of problem I see from the right: no compromise, no understanding of a position that isn't theirs. This, I believe, is why the right is having an impossible time trying to find a viable candidate: you're all so wrapped up in your ideological "right" world, that you dismiss anyone who doesn't say just what you want them to say. Meaning that anyone who doesn't want the same thing is you always ends up simply being regarded as a liar - or stupid. Maybe that's why conservatives frequently come across to the rest of us as arrogant @!$%#ing @!$%#s.
Annie stated "we pay our taxes". I believe her that they pay their real estate taxes on their mansions, they pay gas tax, they pay liscensing fees on their cars, but she never used the word "income". Her lawyer has schooled her well to never use the term "income taxes".
I tell you what... let's have Mitt's father answer that one...
Presidential candidates are not required by law to release their tax forms. But it has become a tradition. And who started it? Why, none other than George Romney, Mitt Romney's father. In his runup to the 1968 presidential election, George Romney released no less than 12 years of his tax forms.
His biographer, T. George Harris, wrote about it in his authorized biography of George Romney:
"He balked when I badgered him for a copy of his latest Form 1040, the Federal Individual Income Tax Return," Harris wrote. "Release of the document, while it might serve a political purpose, would not prove very much, he argued. One year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show, and what mattered in personal finance was how a man conducted himself over the long haul."
"Stumped by this argument, I was not prepared for the move that it eventually led him to make: He ordered up all the Form 1040's that he and Mrs. Rome had filed over the past twelve years — including those profitable ones from when he saved the American Motors Company from bankruptcy and became a millionaire on the company's stock options."
Palidan said:
Therein lies the problem. The tax code is written by, and for, the rich and the ultra-rich. They have their deductions while the rest of us (i.e. the middle class) pay a disproportionate share of providing the basic services, defence and infrastructure that we all need. If Romney is elected, expect even more of the cost of running the country to be shifted from those best able to afford it to the rest of us.
Willowbrook- Flashlights, lasers what's the difference right?
Obama: "America, you didn't build that!"
vglance
and what you don't understand is that you don't know how much and on what Romney pays. You only know what he tells you.
So until you have Romney's tax returns, you are trying to disprove our speculation with your own speculation. And that is the point.
I post actual information sourced by the BLS and H&C gives us Oh yeah neener neener. Kind of like arguing with a carrot.
"YOU PEOPLE" are NOT getting any more tax returns. We Romney's would like a life for a while in the White House to entertain us. Signing on the dotted line for Grover Norquist will NOT be denied. Now shooo.........
Randy-840072
according to your own post, we can conclude that Romney pays less in taxes (assuming Romney pays income taxes) than the Fourth Quintile and a little more than the Middle Class?
Thanks for proving to us that Romney is a deadbeat!
Romney: Why don't poor people just buy more money?
Have all you Rasmussen lovers looked at the new numbers? It seem your boy Mitt has dropped another 3 points. The other Day Rasmussen had him up by 4%. Today it's down to 1%. Fox still has Romney trailing by 9%. It seems selecting Ryan as his VP didn't produce much of a bump and this tax deal just won't go away.
Hmm, he's saying he never paid less than 13%... This bazillionaire paid 13% taxes?!?!?!? Holy F!@#!!!! Screws this guy, this is the damn problem! I paid almost 40% last year!!!!!
Cruzin said:
The incentive to invest is to make more money. There is no reason to believe that people who have money to invest would be less inclined to do so if they paid the same tax rate on their profits as people who actually have to work for a living pay on their earnings.
Cruzin, you are impressively unintelligent. your statement is roughly the same as saying if you boss offered you a raise at work, you wouldn't take it because you'd have to pay taxes on it. Investors make money off their investments. It is income. It's always been considered income, until starting with Clinton, then followed up by Bush, capital gains was slashed and slashed again. Now it's how the rich milk the system. It's ridiculous.
Trickle Down My Leg
From the article above:
Govenor Romney only pays 13% in Taxes? Why, that sounds downright SOCIALIST! Govenor, if you are elected President, will you make it so ALL Americans only pay 13%? Or even NONE at all?
Doubt it.
And I was getting a ll excited this would finally be the trickle-down ecomomics coming to the Middle Class I've been hearing about for the last 30 years.
I was thinking "This is my time".
Salud.
WHATEVER.....Romney 2012
Ha!
Hey girl, I know you're middle class and I love you, really I do. But if you need money, why don't you just ask your parents? XO Paul Ryan.
TomasGrande -- Or instead of raising taxes (which he did in MA), Romney can just increase fees on mentally retarded and blind folk.
Travis-1944 -- That's correct. And worse, tax cuts on capital gains are incentive to stash it instead of investing it. That is why we haven't seen jobs created the last 12 years.
The Democrats are the liars. I love their campaign commercial where they say that Romney only paid 14% on income of $20 million. "probably less than you" is what the announcer claims. If you check the facts, a 14% tax rate is more than the effective tax rate of more than 90% of all taxpayers. The truth is that 48% of citizens pay no income tax. So how can Romneys tax rate be "probably less than you"? If you look at it another way, 14% of $20 million is $2.8 million. How many of us contributed that much to the federal government? I say thanks, Mr. Romney for your contribution and for your charitable giving. Screw all the Democrats who want to make lower class citizens of all of us.
How does the Democratic base continue to swallow this garbage every day? Are they stupid, gullible, or just too lazy to check the facts on the lies that Obama tells them to get their votes?
Lets make all the deadbeats who pay no income taxes pay something rather than be freeloaders. A flat rate of 10% for income above $40,000 sounds fair to me.
Myth Romney-
Taxes! Taxes! We don't pay no stinkin' taxes!
If there is another war rest assured my 5 boys won't be in, yours might, because only the little people fight our wars!!
Mitt keeps saying "He's paid taxes." Yes but what tax have you paid on your INCOME?
We all pay taxes, house/mortgage taxes, car licence tax, gasoline tax, but it's the amount that you and your wall street dealers pay that some of us are asking you about...
Mitt's going to lose if he doesn't come clear with the voter...
I have a great idea - IGNORE CAESAR, pay no attention to his mindless, venomous attacks and perhaps he will go away. He is on here for one reason, attention and by responding to the crap and ignorance he spews, we are giving him what he wants and he is enjoying every minute of it. I wonder if his nurses know he is off his meds, out of his room and on the computer???
LOL, keep getting distracted by these media stories mindless pawns. Next the republicans will create a distraction, the the democrats. If any of you care about this country and still have free thought (not controlled by liberal media and fox news) maybe you can ignore these mudslingings from both sides and can focus on the actual issues that are pressing this country.
I could not care less about what Romney paid in taxes and since when it is a requirement to publish your yearly tax returns? I don’t have to do it so why does he?
And let’s not forget that for the last 3 years he paid his taxes under the “Obama” tax regime. I can’t recall any wrongful behavior on his part in this regard, can you?
Furthermore, if he has done something underhanded and has broken the tax law, jail him!! Otherwise, go and find yourself something useful to do and don’t waste time letting steam off on this “non issue”.
BTW anyone who is not trying to minimize his tax payments, within the tax rules, is a fool!
For me this issue about Romney's taxes is one of respect. This man wants us to elect him to make decisions that will have a profound effect on our lives. I would like to think he has enough respect for the American voter to want us to know as much about him as we know about his opponent in order for us to make an informed decision between the two. If he has done nothing wrong, this should be no problem for him. I'm afraid I have not seen much evidence that Romney has much respect for the American voter. Acting as if he should not be held to the same standards as every other candidate for President for the last 30 years indicates a level of arrogance that I find frightening.
But! Did he pay any Federal Income tax??
ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!
I see the limp-wristed Liberal bobbleheads are all out demonizing the successful.
It's a shame their expectations in life have been lowered so much that their only means of survival is off the backs of those still willing to work or take a chance to create commerce.
It's must be so embarrassing to go through life being envious of others instead of planning your life based on proven principles rather than depending on the "Life of Julia". As much as Liberals/Progressives self-aggrandize themselves about being so much more intelligent than everyone else, they certainly are very dependent on those same people. This is typical of the alleged "intelligentsia" of the Liberal cabal.
Now the meme has become centered on Romneys taxes. This is most amusing because it is based upon the same criminal progressive tax system Liberals/Progressives resoundingly embrace. No other system is as "fair" or creates a more "level playing field" as our convoluted dysfunctional tax system according to the Libbies.
Of course they keep embracing the same tax system that we have micromanaged for a century, and of course it STILL ISN'T RIGHT according to them. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result was clearly defined by Einstein and the Liberals cling to it like a blanket. Of course there are different systems that could easily replace the current tax mess but the advocates of "Hope & Change" never want to change anything. They just keep hoping everything will someday become fair. This is the typical wet dream of the indoctrinated masses who believe in the nonsense of social and economic justice for the collective.
Romney has agreed to the prerequisite 2 years fo returns. Of course the Obama chair sniffers only want to demonize him for what THEIR own tax system allows.
Our Federal tax Code is over 72,000 pages long. There are over 1,100 different tax forms to prepare your returns with. How many different pages of the tax code does the average citizen use? How many forms do most of us use?
Between 1986 and 2005 Congress passed over 14,400 amendments to the tax code, this equates to almost 3 changes every day for 19 straight years. There have been about 4,400 tax code changes in the last 10 years. There were approximately 580 changes in 2010 alone. Have any of you used most of all these tax changes in preparing your returns?
Our tax system is monitored by one of the most feared auditing and collection agencies in the world, the IRS. When Romney sends in his greater than 500 pages long tax return I can guarantee you there is an army of agents assigned to it to make sure everything is in order. Of course this isn’t enough for the party of envy. All they want to do is use their childish, irrational, dysfunctional argument that he makes so much money and it’s not FAIR! Even though Romney must file them according to the Liberals revered progressive system, that’s not enough.
Why?
Because it has nothing to do with how much he pays. It’s about how much he has left AFTER he pays. In the adolescent mind of the Liberals/Progressives, Romney should give more based on their ethical or moral standard. This is amusing in itself because Liberals don’t have any ethics or morals to speak of. Because Romney uses all the LEGAL deductions, withholds, transfers, write-offs and other options available contained in the tax code is acceptable to most real Americans, not the Liberals. I can care less how much anyone pays or doesn’t pay for his or her taxes. As long as it’s done legally it’s NONE OF MY BUSINESS!
Liberals/Progressives look at taxes as a system of rewards and punishments. They want all these dysfunctional and unsustainable entitlements and social programs yet they don’t want to pay for them. Almost 50% of Americans don’t pay any income taxes, yet they want more and more of their sacrosanct government Bread and Circuses. Taxes should be strictly based on running our Federal, State and local governments according to the respective Constitutions and Charters. When Progressivism began its incessant intrusion into our governments Constitutionally mandated Enumerated Powers and became the circus barkers for more and more freebies is when our economy and Republic began collapsing. We see the results of this pathetic mentality in the European Union yet Liberals always believe someone has a better version that will magically work.
IT WON’T!
Our economy is a shambles, millions of Americans are jobless, homeless and hopeless. Of course we know Barrack Hussein has no plan. Hell he can’t even create a reasonable budget, even his own party summarily voted it down unanimously. Of course only in the delusional mind of Liberals can the largest economy in history NOT NEED a budget. I’m sure most successful economies in history have just run on a series of continuing resolutions. Our trade policies are an outrage, yet Barrack Hussein doesn’t need to address them. Our tax system is a legal morass of avoidance and abuse, yet Barrack Hussein decides to sue States who want to protect themselves from the horrors of illegal aliens. Our regulations are a joke. We have 144,000 pages of regulations, our Congress found enough offenses against Goldman Sachs to pursue a Department of Justice investigation and, Friday our criminal Attorney General decided NOT to prosecute. Gas prices are rising, manufacturing is declining, consumer confidence is falling and uncertainty in the greatest Republic in history grips our nation.
Trillions of dollars have been wasted on bailouts, stimulus gimmicks and other Keynesian nonsense, yet the mythical car is still stuck in the ditch. GDP growth is pathetic at 1.5% yet our presidents only solution is to spend more money on infrastructure. Our trade deficit is on course to reach $600 billion. His jobs bill allegedly creates $85 billion annually in increased revenue which pays for 8.5 days of current spending. What about the other 356.5 days?
Yes, I can see why the Liberals/Progressives dwell on Romney and his taxes. Here we have a man who has really created jobs and understands what it takes to create commerce. In Barrack Hussein we have continuing failure. Deflection and avoidance is the only thing the Obama supporters have left after almost 4 years. Even his convoluted health care bill is being exposed for the fraud we all knew it was.
It’s time. Time to let this failed inexperienced junior senator go back to Chicago and organize a few community picnics. He’s obviously incapable of doing anything on our White House.
Romney/Ryan 2012 for real Americans
JimSpence = Gasbag.
Speaking of Gasbags, did you hear the Romney campaign got hit with a cease and desist order from a musician? Seems Romney was using the rock band Silversun Pickups' song "Panic Switch" without permission:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/16/politics/music-in-campaigns/index.html?hpt=hp_c1
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/15/band-demands-that-romney-campaign-stop-using-its-song/
GOP= TAKE TAKE TAKE
Hope and Chains,
Paying 13% has nothing to do with intelligence you fool. It has to do with loopholes that only benefit a small part of the society. The rich! Not intelligent! Your responses make you a sure republican't.
You are right there Jim Spence, "Here we have a man who has really created jobs and understands what it takes to create commerce".
Romney is a man that has created jobs all over the world except in America, where the tax rates are too high to keep much of his money, and I will admit that Romney has a good understanding of the commerce principle, since he has offshored so many US jobs and now has to have those products shipped back here from China in order to try to undercut other American's jobs here!!!
I was a semi driver for 30 years. During that time I averaged about $55K in 2008 dollars and I never paid an effective tax rate of less than 20% including my charity deductions, my medical deductions, my homeowner deductions, and my business expenses too!!! Why should anyone who earns more than $55K pay an effective tax rate that is 1/3rd less than I pay???
Anyone besides me remember those good old days between 1960 and 1980, when our top tax rate was 70% and our economy was stronger than it has ever been since then? High income tax rates encourage both charity donation as well as both individual and business investment within the US trying to mitigate high tax rates, whereas low income tax rates encourage reckless investment strategies on Wall St plus the history of the last 18 years has also shown that low income tax rates "create" plenty of jobs everywhere else but here at home where we need them most.
The absolute last thing that our wealthiest citizens need is another cut in their income taxes, which will only create more jobs in China, and more banking jobs in the Cayman Islands and Switzerland, where the Mittster keeps most of his money so that he doesn't have to pay income taxes on it!!!
Jim Spence,
Successful at the expense of others. How can paying 13% in income taxes leave you anything but successful when the rest of us in the middle class pay 21 and 27%?????
.
What's the problem? When Romney earned mega-millions of income he originally paid income tax at the then ordinary income tax rate. He now apparently has invested his mega-millions in tax favored investments such as, tax-free municipal bonds, which are exempt from federal income taxes, qualified dividends, which are subject to a 15% federal income tax rate, and investments which generate long-term capital gains, which are likewise subject to a 15% federal income tax rate.
As long as he paid all income tax due on the money he has earned over the years and is paying all income tax currently due on the income his investments are now generating, he's done nothing wrong. Why should he be subject to criticism because of his legally low federal income tax rate?
Judge Learned Hand, who was a U.S. District judge in the early decades of the 1900's, held in a case before him, "any one may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the Treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase one's taxes." If that is what Romney has done, what's the problem?
Hmmm, like jobs?
...the numbers for Bush's last three months. Between October and November, 597,000 jobs were lost; between November and December, 681,000 were lost; and between December and January, 741,000 were lost.
April 2012 marks the 26th straight month of gains in private-sector employment, for a total of 4.2 million private-sector jobs.
or the stock market (you know, where Romney makes his money!)
DJIA Dec 1, 2008 = 8149
DJIA Aug 16, 2012 = 13250
or, Romney and Ryan's favorite, corporations...
Dec 29, 2008 U.S. corporate earnings probably fell for a sixth-straight quarter, the longest streak in at least 20 years, as consumer spending on automobiles, homes and retailers collapsed.
May 11, 2012 Fortune magazine released its ranking of the 500 biggest US corporations Monday, which showed that they received a record-breaking $824 billion in combined profits in 2011, up 16 percent from 2010.
Engineer,
The problem is the off shore accounts that he pays little or nothing on.
Sorry, that was for Socialcapitalist not engineer!
JimSpence
What commerce did Mitt Romney ever create? Do you even understand what the company Bain Capitol was and is? Mitt's father started Bain Capitol and when his father retired, Mitt Romney took over as CEO. Bain Capitol is a ventures company that looks for businesses with little debt, sufficient net worth, then ventures with it's stock-holders and promises if Bain takes it over, they, as investors will make more money off the backs of the original business owner and workers. The investors and stock-holders buy the theory, hence, Bain now does a take over of shares of the company and actually bets against the company losses. They take over the company, over extend it's debt, wipe out the pension funds, eventually over inflate the company, sell more shares and just when the company is ready to tank....they sell it off (usually to off shore manufacturing) and screw the workers and leave them with nothing. Mr. Romney (BAIN CAPITOL) in the mean time made an insurance bet that the company would fail and gets paid again.....in this process, Bain makes money, Romney makes money, investors and stock holders make money, China, Vietnam, and Mexico get jobs in manufacturing what the company used to make and the workers get to live without a job, money, insurance, and the pension gone.
Did you ever see the movie "Other People's Money". Although it was supposedly a comedy....that is what Bain Capitol is. A ventures company. And this is the man who pays 13% taxes and because he has visited the countries where he has shipped American jobs off to through Bain Capitol....thinks that gives him diplomatic experience. He is a joke, and a candidate the Republican party did not want on the ticket....he thought by picking Paul Ryan would make him seem more "Republican-Like" and a fiscal conservative. The only fiscal conservatism Mr. Romney has ever believed in was his own. How to keep as many billions in off shore accounts as investment income as possible to avoid paying his percentages to the Mormon church and pay income tax on.
Ah, to have not just Mitt Romney's bottomless wealth, but also his very clever tax accountants.
However, any one of us could claim that we paid 13% taxes, or 2% taxes, or 98% taxes. Any one of us could also claim that we are also emperors of the galaxy, secret agents, or beauty queens, but that does not make it so unless we can provide material proof.
Ergo, why should we not think that Princess Mitzi is lying through his well-maintained teeth?
As a former Republican -- who hasn't done too badly in life, has made a certain number of charitable donations, and certainly has no desire to embrace the collective farming and other invasive policies of communism -- I can only look at Mitzi as just another babbling sleazewad, not nearly as intelligent or interesting as Nixon or charming and inspiring as Reagan (whose economic policies lay the groundwork for today's mess).
Here's a clue, Mitzi: Even the unemployed have to pay taxes on their unemployment checks. Americans only have so much patience with smug rich turds. And your running mate looks like a child molester. Good luck!
JimSpence is Mitt Romney, ain't foolin anyone. So you want the White House for your entertainment. Willing to sign on the Norquist dotted line too.
Old Timer-88224
Hmmmm, all good points but (there’s always a but isn’t there?),
Romney created thousands of jobs at Staples, Domino's Pizza, Sealy, Brookstone, The Sports Authority and others. How many did Barrack Hussein create as a private citizen?
So, where is your outrage when Barrack Hussein appointed Jeff Immelt to Chairman of the Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, our “Jobs Czar”? Have we heard about GE touting themselves as champions of the factory worker? Of course we have. GE has also recently closed more than 20 factories, shifted avionics and radiology businesses to China according to Reuters, and pushed for public policies that will allow them to continue that course. GE is self-identifying "core" manufacturing interests, as though its other manufacturing interests simply vanished from the books. The truth is, they closed many of those plants here in America. According to GE's own records and statements, it had 125,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs in 2000 compared to 50,000 in 2010. Government records show at least 38 events since 2001 in which workers at GE plants in the U.S. were made eligible for trade adjustment assistance due to outsourcing or import competition. Immelt has referred to China as GE's "second home market". Of the over 300,000 employees GE uses 2/3 on them are offshore.
Please stop with your incessant nonsense about outsourcing jobs unless you’re willing to be as spiteful about this as you are about Romney who can’t even come close to these numbers. I’m sure you and all your other Liberal friends are just as outraged about your iPods, iPads and Apple computers being built by the 230,000 Chinese. . These workers are subjected to long hours, coerced overtime, improperly disposed of hazardous waste, falsified records and harsh working conditions at the plants that build the bulk of iPhones, iPads, Macs and other Apple products. More than half of the factories had violated at least one of the company’s codes of conduct and in some instances violated the law. Last year, two explosions at iPad factories killed four people and injured 77. Apples total overseas presence including contractors is estimated to be over 700,000 jobs.
I think your outrage is biased, don’t you?
So, are you just as outraged about Barrack Husseins effective tax rate of 20.5% on his $789,674 income in his 2011 returns? Or how about Warren Buffett? Did he pay more taxes this year like he said he would? Or is he still fighting to keep that billion dollars he owes from 2001-2004?
Hmmm I hope you don’t include those “Malaise days” of your boy Jimmy Carter in that time frame.
Remember, regardless of the tax rate, our revenues from total tax receipts as a percentage of GDP has been about 18%. The reason our economy was stronger than ever back then was because we had a vibrant domestic exportable manufacturing industry driving 25-50% of our economy. Today it is about 9%. The main things we export today are Boeing jets, Caterpillar bulldozers and MRI machines. Try to buy a pair of tennis shoes, a toaster or a pair of socks "Made in the USA" at WalMart, Target or other big-box retailer. Then go ask jeff Immelt and Barrack hussein why we keep losing jobs offshore. Romney has been out of Bain for over a decade. Don’t blame him.
Finally. Nothing Romney has done is illegal.
If you Liberals don’t like the tax system,,,CHANGE IT!!!!!
Whwn you pay several $Million in taxes each year, like Romney apparently did, perhaps then youn have cause to complain.
By the way - if you want to raise the tax rates on investment income (which has to be long term to qualify for the lower rate), then have your Congressman change the law/ I don't see Obama paying more than he's required to pay.
PS - Since many European countries have a 0% capital gains tax rate, and essentially none have a rate over 20%, where do you think the investors who make the needed investments for long term growth and jobs are going to shift their money if you increase the rate to 30%+ that Obama wants? Even his Democratic controlled Senate won't agree with Obama.
One last point - About 50% of the people in this country pay a 0% income tax rate, so who's REALLY 'not paying their fair share'.
Roy,
Are you suggesting that we should move towards the European rate you mention?
As to your last point: Are you saying that you would rather switch places with those that pay "0%". That's a bogus argument that never ceases to amaze me.
Assuming he is telling the truth, I pay more than double the rate Romney does for standard pay, and 38% on my bonus. I make a good living, but I work for that money, not just invest and then stash the profits offshore. That hardly seems "fair" in my book.
All of that said: Mitt needs to show the proof. He can do himself a huge service by proving to the people that the left is lying about him. Until he does so, most independents will be skeptical.
Do you ever get tired of advertising the wealthy as job creating gods???
Funny how red states tend to rely more on the federal dole...
Since when is asking those that make more pay more in taxes being envious??? Everyone should pay taxes according to his own ability; THAT is being fair.
EVERY TAX CODE can be convoluted, even your beloved flat tax or the fair tax. The progressive tax is the ONLY fair tax in existence; the flat and fair taxes merely help the wealthy even more.
The progressive tax system WORKS; under it we have had great prosperity that is shared among all Americans. EVERY tax code will be stuffed with loopholes; I personally say reform it every 10 years. I don't know of any tax system that will be fair; the flat tax and the fair tax simply help the rich and stick it to the poor. And America is as collectivist as it is individualist. We have banded together time and again, during the Revolution, the World Wars, the Depression, and the Civil Rights Movement. We may be a nation of individuals seeking their own fortunes, but we are also a nation of communities that seek fairness and equality for all.
How come every other candidate has followed the precedent of releasing tax returns, including Mitt Romney's own father??? Is Mitt Romney ABOVE all other candidates, including his own father??? Why should a man of wealth be excluded from showing their tax returns????
Yes, it is complex. That is why we need to REFORM it. Not destroy it, not replace it, but REFORM IT.
The IRS is a NECESSARY evil; live with it. And our tax code has become LESS progressive because of supply-siders like Ronald Reagan. THAT is why we say it is unfair.
Legal shmegal. I am not arguing whether Romney did something illegal; I am arguing whether Romney's tax rate is FAIR, which I don't think it is. This is a matter of trust; why should I elect a guy for president who doesn't think I deserve to see his personal record??? Most employers require personal records; why not We the People???
BULL@!$%#. Every tax code rewards and punishes people; the flat tax punishes those at the lower end of the economic ladder; the "fair tax" punishes those who spend more money on consumption, aka the poor and the middle class. And only 18.1% of Americans don't pay federal income or payroll taxes; 6.9% are poor, 10.3% are seniors, and only 0.9% are eligible to pay but don't, which includes many of the "almighty job creators" that you are defending. And our social programs HAVE WORKED; we are in trouble because of wackos like you who want to tell the poor, the sick, the disabled, and the elderly to go @!$%# themselves and to tear down the safety net and send us back to the Dark Ages.
Are you freaking kidding me??? The Constitution is 230+ years old!!! How the hell can we lead in the 21st century with an 18th century mindset on the role of government???? What idiot would follow a centuries-old document word for word??? The interpretation of the Constitution must expand as society evolves; we cannot move backward as the rest of the world moves forward. And the EU is collapsing because of CONSERVATISM; the policy that supported the deregulation that caused the financial crisis and sent these countries into a mountain of debt, NOT the other way around. For God's sake, have you no understanding of economics???
THIS is why we need a clear plan. I say establish a manufacturing policy nationwide, invest more in education, infrastructure, and clean energy, reform and go through the regulatory framework, and stop promoting free trade while other nations snub us with protectionist barriers. And yes, we need a budget that both raises revenues AND cuts spending.
Keynesian economics WORKS; we need to spend our way out of the recession. That is how we got out of the Great Depression via World War II. Our economy runs on CONSUMPTION; that means that we need to spend money to fix the economy, hence the phrase "spend money to make money." We also need to balance the budget in a FAIR way; I say repeal the Bush tax cuts, which would halve the budget. Then we can reform (not destroy, not replace) the tax code, entitlements, and cut spending. Demand, not supply, creates jobs. So we need to spend more to create more jobs, not cut taxes. And we have done VERY FEW stimulus efforts; the deficit is because of the Bush taxes and the recession.
Mitt Romney has NO IDEA on how to create jobs. For the past 30 years, we have cut taxes and deregulated the economy in the hopes that the "almighty job creators" would create jobs. What we got was a stagnant economy, massive wealth redistribution to the wealthiest Americans, low GDP growth, and an economy that imploded. The Bush tax cuts did SQUAT to help us in the 21st century. And guess what: THAT IS ROMNEY'S plan!!!! Romney's plan will lead to the BIGGEST redistribution of wealth toward the rich in the HISTORY of the world!!! We might as well re-elect George Bush and put him on steroids!! I thought you were against wealth redistribution???
And elect a corporate shill who will cut taxes for the wealthy, cut spending for education and the safety net, deregulate the economy, and send the nation (except the wealthy) to HELL.
Yes, by all means elect the pair that will ruin America and turn us into a plutocratic society where the rich have all the power and prosperity and everyone else toils and barely gets by.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012 for all reasonable Americans.
LorraineH
Please stop with the indoctrinated meme from the White House, DNC and Debbie Whatsername Slutz.
Your delusion about venture capital companies is embarrassing.
Most venture capital firms raise their "funds' from institutional investors, such as pension funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, family offices, and high net worth individuals. The investors who invest in venture capital funds are referred to as "limited partners." Venture capitalists, who manage the fund, are referred to as "general partners." The general partners have a fiduciary responsibility to their limited partners.
In 2010, there were 462 active US venture capital firms, defined as investing at least $5 million in companies. This compares with 1,022 such firms at the height of the tech bubble in 2000. If you define the universe of US venture capital firms as those raising money in any of the last 8 years, the 2010 count was 791. These firms managed $176.7 billion in committed capital. In 2010, the average venture fund size was $149 million.
In 2010, venture capitalists invested approximately $22 billion into nearly 2,749 companies. Of these, 1,001 companies received funding for the first time. Venture capitalists invest mostly in young, private companies that have great potential for innovation and growth. Venture capitalists have been instrumental in developing sectors such as the computer, biotechnology and the communications industries. Today, the majority of venture capital is invested in high technology companies including software, biotechnology, medical devices, media and entertainment, wireless communications, Internet, and networking. In the last five years, the venture industry has also committed itself to investing in the clean technology sectors which include renewable energy, environmental and sustainability technologies and power management. However, venture capitalists also invest in innovative companies within more traditional industries such as consumer products, manufacturing, financial services, and healthcare services and business products and services.
Venture capital activity has a significant impact on the U.S and global economies. Venture capital is a catalyst for job creation, innovation, technology advancement, international competitiveness and increased tax revenues. According to the 2011 Venture Impact study, produced by IHS Global Insight, originally venture-backed companies accounted for 11.87 million jobs and over $3.1 trillion in revenue in the United States (based on 2010 data). Those totals compare to 21% of GDP and 11% of private sector employment.
You Liberals should all be very happy these VC’s are helping prop up Barrack Hussein’s failing economic policy
Chances are the company you work for or any number of them in your community have received assistance from a venture capital company.
You Liberals who have never created a business or even tried to have no idea how valuable these companies are in creating commerce. I know you think government should do everything and we’d just end up with more Solyndra, Fiskers, Ener1’s, Beacon Power, Abound solar, Terragen’s, Evergreen Solar, SpectraWatt’s, A123 Systems,,, and on and on.
Please stop your incessant pity-party. Your envy of the successful people that make Barrack Hussein look like the true failure he has turned out to be is your fault.
We all know you voted for Barrack Hussein because it was historic, please don’t do it again to prove your ignorance.
Romney/Ryan 2012 for real Americans.
Uh, Mike - this is why people get confused and vote GOP.
See, the Brookings Institute was comparing middle-class families' taxes to their GROSS income.
Mr. Romney never said he paid 13% taxes on his GROSS income - that's his rate on his TAXABLE income - after all those millions in deductions for important things like stock depreciation and Ann's horse expenses.
Add in the overseas $$ that he doesn't pay a dime on, and I guarantee you he pays a far lower percentage of his GROSS income than the median middle-class family.
Oh, and he also said that "including my charitable contributions, I pay over 20%". Since when was money given to the Mormon Church "taxes"?
JimSpence
You ask if people are outraged that Pres. Obama paid 20% tax rate and what Warren Buffet paid.....the answer is YES....that is the whole point. People are outraged and when the budget crisis in Washington developed last year, it was the REPUBLICAN PARTY who led the charge to continue the Bush tax cuts that crippled our nation in the first place.
Please take a moment sometime to really check your facts in your posts. First of all, the Obama's did not pay 20%, they paid 26.3% Federal income taxes plus an additional $51,568 in Illinois State tax and gave 14% of their income in charitable donations and the majority of those charitable donations were all for Military oriented charities for our troops returning and their families. Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden paid 23% in Federal income tax on an income reported at approx $370,000 and paid another nearly $20,000 in State taxes to both Delaware and Virginia.
And when you speak of the fact that only 18.1% of individual income tax revenue goes toward the GDP, you are absolutely correct. But do you also realize that in 2006 that percentage prior to the change in corporate tax structures and the Bush tax cuts to the rich, that percentage was 49.1%. That is where the nations problem began. Then tack on two wars, drop revenue from income taxes from 49.1% to 18.1% and what would any rational thinking person think would happen - BINGO ....A LARGE DEFICIT. A non-balanced budget. Oddly, people forget that prior to 2006 our country had a surplus. A whopping surplus and a balanced budget. You think maybe the idea of the "trickle down effect" and deregulation of Wall Street and two wars along with the biggest tax cut in our nations history had anything to do with where we are digging out from now. And one more fact check for you, of the 47% of Americans who pay no Federal income tax (33% are Billionaires). People on social security who make under the poverty level pay no income tax or a family of 4 with an AGI 20% under the poverty level pay no Federal income tax. So now I'll ask you
who's REALLY not paying their fair share?
SactoJD
My nephew graduated 2 years ago from college with a business management degree and can’t find a decent job. He’s probably not making half of what you’re making and he thinks you’re not paying enough in taxes because it’s not “fair” in his book.
Now what?
JimSpence
Just for the record. I am not a liberal, I am not a Democrat, what I am is a concerned, educated American who knows what BS smells like and what BS looks like. How dare you assume I have never "created anything". What have you created? And your rhetorical rant about venture capitol simply made my point about Bain Capitol. It stated exactly what i said. Bain wiped out more small companies in this country than it created. Mitt Romney is the wrong candidate for the Republican party and he will not win the election. I have nothing against President Obama and I only voted for him because I would not cast a vote for a ticket which included Sarah Palin. Unfortunately....many main stream Republicans like myself will not vote for Mitt Romney because of who he is. He is a liar....he is hiding his tax returns, he is out of touch with the vast majority of American people and if you think for one moment you are even qualified to judge me and call me a liberal....you are just as wrong on that fact as the others you quote. And a word of advice....when you're trying to engage in a discussion board and try to take a stance in an informative intellectual role, proper use of grammar and spelling might help make the case for readers that you are actually intelligent enough to know what you are talking about.
This Presidential election is not about Democrats or Republicans winning. It is about the American People winning. As I see it, in 3 1/2 yrs, the Automobile Industry was saved in this country, everyday people like you and I can now buy health insurance without being denied because we broke our leg 5 years ago. I, as a woman pay the same insurance rate as a man and I'm not penalized anymore for being female on the payment scale, young college students accross this country can stay on their parents health insurance until the age of 25 without losing benefits. Our troops are out of Iraq and 10,000 Marines are coming home in two weeks from Afghanistan and the stock market is back in the high 12,000 range. Not a bad job for Obama is it?
Teaparty Low IQ
But, but, but he does have a job. One of those 4.4 million low paying no benefit jobs your boy-toy Barrack Hussein created. This should be good enough according to you limp-wristed Liberals, right? I mean, Barrack created it, my nephw should be thrilled with it shouldn't he?
But he still thinks all you other better wage earning people don't pay enough in taxes. Should we raise YOUR taxes too?
It's only fair, right?
Teaparty Low IQ
Good advice for Spence's nephew. Maybe that Tax cut for the rich on the hypothesis of the "trickle down effect" to create jobs doesn't work as well as it was intended. His nephew is probably stuck in a low paying job like most college graduates right now, being burdoned with student loans and paying the same income tax rate that the man who wants to be president, Mitt Romney pays. Die hard Republicans, even when it affects their own family do not see the unfairness of what the Bush tax cuts have done to people and they never will. And if the Republican House would have voted for the "Jobs bill", maybe more young people would be able to get jobs out of college, but Republicans voted that down too. Keep the tax cuts for the rich and don't vote for a jobs bill.......great party the Republicans in politics have become.
SactoJD "Roy, Are you suggesting that we should move towards the European rate you mention?"
Not at all - I would like to see capital gains taxed at the average rate of other industrialized countries so we don't have an incentive for our investors to invest in growth and jobs in other countries.
But I would also like to see the tax rate on long term investments indexed to account for inflation so that investors are not paying taxes on inflation. That's actually why we tax capital gains at a lower rate - For examplem if someone incested $1 million in 1970, the asset value would have to increase to over $2 million just to break even when adjusted for inflation. Even paying a rate of 15% on that 'phantom $1 million gain' would result in them losing money.
Spence,
Offshoring is a b, isn't it? Perhaps your nephew is learning what most folks already know: Offshore good jobs and bust unions, then the options become limited and pay decreases. That said, nice job changing the subject. Now what?
Roy,
I wouldn't necessarily disagree, however that's only a slice of the pie. Having sustainable industry and new tech jobs in the US is a big part of why investors would want to move money to those companies. We also need to look at how investors leverage the benefits without giving them responsibility to the society that helps create those benefits.
Willard, if you want to be believed, release the documents, like your father did.
But you will not do that because now, if you did, you would look week. But that is the quandary, if you don't, you appear to have something to hide and indeed you do.
Willard, you have allowed yourself to be painted into a corner by the left. Not very smart. Not very smart at all.
Apparently, it's doesn't take brains to make a lot of money.
Percentage wise I paid about 50% more than Mitt. His 10% to charity went to the cult religion that he belongs to the Latter Day Saints. That % is required by them to be paid each year!
Jim S and Roy W. Are you brothers or borthers-in-law?
You know everyone, maybe the Democrats are right! What are you hiding sir? If you weren't hiding something you would have released all of the documents immediately! There must be something pretty damned incriminating in that information! How can you be president if you hide pertinent information from the public? Maybe you should just release your college transcripts, your Master's Thesis and your Party affiliation since the 1980's, eh Mr Obama!
How about the republicans coming clean and admitting they belong to the new National Socialist republican Party!
LorraineH.........I do windows, I leave the seat up.......I agree with you...Marry me?
Wow, good for you Mitt! You never paid less than 13%. While people that made a small fraction of you income paid taxes at a rate of 33%. Good for you, ripping off the rest of us.
You should be saying you paid 39% every year, because that was the law. If you had probably the deficit and a crumbling infrastructure would not be a problem.
Jon
For informed people, your post loses all credibility. You know that Romney is talking federal income tax paid as a percent of total income and your 33% includes payroll tax or is the marginal rate that some pay.
The 39% that you throw out is the marginal rate that you'd like to see. You throw numbers around irresponsibly without any context.
Both Romneys always say "taxes" never "income taxes". Won't some reporter please ask the simple question about income taxes, not taxes.
AntiX
If you think, you'll know why. Only a small portion of Romney's AGI is wages earned. The majority of the money he earns comes from distributions from the businesses that he owns, so almost all the taxes he pays is income tax.
@LorraineH - I would love to see where you get your "facts".
Based on the numbers you provided, 47% of our country has an effective federal tax liability of 0%. According to the US Census Bureau, the projected US population is 314,180,003 as of 8/17/2012. If you take that number times the % of the population that has 0% federal tax liability (the 47% you quote), you get 147,664,601.41. That means that over 147M people had no federal tax liability. If 33% of those people are billionaires like you say, then that would mean that 48,729,318.4653 billionaires didn't have a federal tax liabilty last year (147,664,601.41 * .33).
Therefore, as a concerned, educated American that can smell BS a mile away....please clarify for the rest of us how more than 48,000,000 billionaires did not have a federal tax liability last year when, according to Forbes, there are only 1,210 billionaires in the US?
I guess your nose for BS isn't quite as strong as you thought it was!
Rational, of course I realize that 33% is the total taxes paid. The average for people in Romney's class is 17% for a percentage of income paid in total taxes. Now since you're rational, do you think that all of the taxes paid by Romney will come any where near the 20% of his income that would bring him in line with true middlee-class tax rates? Come on, SSI stops at something like $100K, which is two days of income for Romney.
The bulk of Romney's income will not be wages. SS is paid on wages. Most of Romney's income will be some form of dividends which have never been subject to SS. Yes, I am sure that he will max out on SS and he will get the same SS benefit that you will probably.
As for Individual Federal Income Tax, the Top 5% will pay roughly 60% of the individual taxes collected and the Top 10% will pay 71%. How much do you want them to pay? I am sure Romney has paid a huge amount in actual dollars.
http://ntu.org/tax-basics/who-pays-income-taxes.html
How dumb can you be to claim the rich pay a large share of the total federal income tax. Especially when you admit they pay at a lower rate on their personal income. Since it is acknowledged the rich pay at half the rate of the middle class, when you claim they pay 60% of total income tax it is only because they have way more than 60% of the nations total income! I'm not doing the math at the moment, but your figures will give the richest 5% something like 90% of the yearly income. Does that sound fair to you? Do they do 90% of the work? When a car comes off the assembly line at GM, is it really 90% because of the rich that bought stock long after the company was created? Or was it because there are a lot of normal people on the line putting the bolts in?
I took Obama at his word when he promised hope and change.
I'll take Romney at his word.
He cannot do any worse job than the current administration.
-Paladin
That hope and change was blocked by the Repukes! Of course we know that followers of the "Do-nothing GOP" has a bad case of "Selective memory, hearing and listening". BTW the rich don't don't give a crap about you. Wake UP! Please!
_Paladin - you are not stupid enough to believe what you wrote, are you?
Romney/Ryan don't give a damn about the country. All they're interested in is winning!
Obama/Biden 2012
I'll bet you anything that after 8 years of Obama we'll be in WAY better shape than after 8 years of the Cheney/W debacle. Sore losers.
Romney only tells the truth 29% of the time, if you do the math at politifact.com.
Why should we believe you Romney?
@Paladin -- Great observation!!!!! That alone will give this election to Romney/Ryan.
Paladin, have you been sitting in a hole for the past 2 years, the do nothings do nothing except block and filibuster and talk a bad game. McConnell called it in the beginning of the Presidents term. Get wise, stop buying fox fair and balanced rhetoric.
there is seeking again pointing out how dumb people are and how superior intellectually it is. too bad you dont understand you really arent all that bright. thats a liberal charteristic, a bad one too
I see all of the comments, but we have to get past both sides of this and get down to the issues. I am ready for the debates and want to see how both sides plan to build the USA back up.
No matter what either side promises, they have to be able to deliver.
Another right wing lunatic fabricating noisy and poisonous distractions from the GOP's unsatisfactory record on the real issues of the economy and employment...and Romney's tax avoidance schemes.
No you didn't you're FOS.
Well this is how Romney will deal with employer insurance:
So now, Ryan wants to do away with employer based health insurance, and make the person responsible for the cost.
What's next?
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/15/us-usa-campaign-ryan-healthtax-idUSBRE87E12320120815
"Most working Americans today get their health insurance through their employers and pay no taxes on the benefits. But self-employed people have to get healthcare on the open market, a situation that Romney has framed as unfair."
So instead we would get "capped payments".......welcome to another voucher program.
_Paladin if you are taking Rmoney on his word, I would advise you to keep one hand on your wallet at all times.
is the ecomony where we hoped it would be at this time. No, I am blaming anyone, but we need someone to get us out of this crap we call the economy of 2012. I am willing to listen to each side and then vote. I have been a republican all my life, not a repuke, not a Tpublican, a republican who votes for the man.
I would vote democrat if I like the candidate. We will see if November. But in honesty, I am not very happy with the current economy.
Just like most democrats give credit for killing bin Laden to Obama, I have to give his administration credit for the ecomony. Whether it is because of Republicans or not.
WOW!
Apparently Jeff knows Paladin better than Paladin does!
HAIL, ALL KNOWING JEFF!
You see, that's the problem with these lib-tards... they think they know everything and what is best for everyone!
(now show me the clown nose, fisty!)
@Paladin...
Just remember this:
The GOP the obstructionist party of NO is at it again, if it’s not threatening to obstruct unemployment benefits for people out of work caused by their economic policies during the Bush debacle, it's their opposition to the Economic Recovery Act, or Health Insurance Reform, or Cash for Clunkers or the Credit Card Holders Bill of Rights than it’s their desire TO DESTROY Social Security and Medicare all the while giving their rich, corporate, puppet masters obscene tax breaks.
If the GOP gets its way there will be a rich 1% and the once middle class will look like refugees in a third world country.
Nah.
Time to take a page from the Republicans AND Joe B.
Paladin-
You took Obama at his word? then I take Romney at his word. He wants to let your family starve, your parents die and send your children to die in Iran. He wants to turn you back into the serfs your family was before they came to the US.
And not let your wife take birth control so she can have a small army of fodder for Romney to throw at places he can't find on a map.
He wants to turn you back into a slave of the rich aristocracy.
If Romney can prove, prove mind you, that he is the man for the job, then ok, so be it.
We hear about all of the tax return this and birth certificate that, well I liken it to a surgeon who has questionable issues, if He or she is the person who can save my life then I will go to them to do it.
Show me the laser Obama
I do not care if it is a repub. or a dem. or a indep. or anyone who has millions and millions of dollars who has so much money that their children, grandchildren,great grandchildren, great great grandchildren would not have to work a single day and still have more money than I could earn in a lifetime. This has gone to far, the laborers and the blue collar workers slave for anywhere from 8-16 hours a day for wages that these weathy slobs earn in a second, and even then these slave owners try to get laws past that would take away that. I personally believe that it is time for the 1% ers to give it up by sharing the money with those who gave their all so they could be weathy, and I mean all of them in the world not just in America. I do not care if you inherited or earned it, you received it from the beginning by cheating the workers. The Waltons are the biggest examples I can think of, their father started a small business and by not paying his employees a decent wage while they slaved to make him a rich man and he never did. On top of that he devised away to not have to provide any benefits accorded by the labor act by hiring double the people needed and forcing them to work under the hourly minimum needed to provide any benefits. His children have inherited his wealth and have been even worst than him. As far as I am concerned they along with all rich people should be forced to share with their employees by profit sharing and it should be calculated on the gross profit not the net. Their taxes should be no less than 50% of all earnings no matter how they get it. I do not believe that rich people should exist because they got that way by cheating the poor. There is something inhumane about some having anything and everything while others cannot even feed themselves. There is something inhumane when some have access to the best medical care while others lose everything they have slaved for years to get because of a sickness. I do not believe Romney nor Obama gives a crap about the have nots, they will do anything it takes to look after what they already have and attempt to move things in the direction that will benefit them.
He can't? How do you know this? The Tea Party people claim Obama is the worst president ever and thus we should vote for anyone but Obama. Romney claims Obama is the worst president ever and thus we should vote for Romney. TRouble is none of these people can back up thier claim with hard data. Facts are Romney can do worse than the current adminisration.
So far Romney is a big Question mark. He has only a couple months left to fill in the blanks.
Paladin - you might want to check with the good folks in MA before you think mitt can't do worse than we already have. He is not going to carry MA, and probably not any state in New England. The working/middle class in MA think he is a joke and freely tell you the best thing they ever did for them was to be awol 2 years on the job - actually out of the state for 2 full years running for another office, hence, he was not there to mess anything else up! (had a wonderful vacation up there this year and made it a point to talk to as many working/middle class people as I could find while there, strangers who were quite ready to talk about mitt and his term in MA).
Apparently you're fooled by him. Try looking at his others posts from other threads then get back to me. :) He's slammed liberals from day one of his postings so if you wish to believe his lies by all means do.
A liar is a liar, a fool is one who takes his lies at face value.
Romney is guilty. Guilty of obeying the same tax laws that Barack Obama, filthy rich Bill Clinton, filthy rich Al gore and hoard of other filthy rich liberal democrats obey.
but thats different 321, they are democrats. nyuck nyuck nyuck.
Comes down to do you Trust this person, have they given me reason to trust them.
So far Obama Yes - Positive Job Growth since stopping the mass job lost that was started by the last Administration.
Gov. Romney No - Has not provided any evidence that his policies are any differrent than the last Administration. So why go back????
Liberals have their collective panties all in a bunch over the so-called do nothing republicans in the House, who are by the way, anything but do nothing as everything of substance they've passed, doesn't make it off Harry Reid's desk in the Senate. He's too chicken $hit to even debate the issues. No, as usual the liberals have identified the wrong villain, its not the House but the Democratically controlled Senate thats the problem, but not for much longer.
ELECTILE DYSFUNCTION
Doesn't have to be a Game Changer in a new Relationship.
http://zardoz8238.newsvine.com/_news/2012/08/07/13169807-the-many-faces-of-mitt-the-twit-romney-my-cut-and-pastes
You do know that the "Do-Nothing" Congress has a 14% job approval rating right?
Me thinks you need to stop sniffing glue.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/congressional_job_approval-903.html
No, the issue just ain't gonna go away simply because you say, once again, "Trust me."
Mr. Romney, where are your tax returns...but in particular, where is 2009?
Since you already released 2010 and are busy finalizing 2011, which you've promised to release by election day, that places 2009 next in queue.
2009. There just seems to be something about THAT PARTICULAR YEAR.
I agree that it makes no sense to release 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, and 2002, EVEN IF THEY'RE SQUEAKY CLEAN, if that pesky little 2009 remains your TRUE ACHILLES HEEL.
So you stand in defense of them ALL when you're probably standing in defense of JUST ONE: 2009.
Ann has done you in, Mitt. I had grown weary of the debate until her interview with Natalie Morales. So too, I suspect, had quite a few people.
Now I'm in it for the long haul.
You can thank your wife for that.
"Fast and Furious" or Obama's transcripts have NOTHING to do with the economy, therefore, asking for them is irrelevant. As for Mitten's tax returns, well, those are VERY important, considering taxes are a HUGE part of our economy.
Rebarficans hate Obama because Obama wants the wealthy to pay their fair share. I make less than $30k and get 12% for state and federal deducted from my paycheck every pay period. Yet Romney makes millions in investments and he gets AT LEAST 14% deducted in taxes???? He should be getting at least 40% deducted in taxes!!! Aren't people going WTF???!!
Paladin...well put. If more of us (democrats) and them (republicans) had your kind of attitude then maybe we could actually work together. Unfortunately this country, due to both sides encouraging it, will continue to snipe at one another and refuse to work together simply because Americans absolutely cannot admit they were wrong about anything.
As far as him slamming liberals from day, which one of us hasn't slammed the other side? Does this behavior bring us any closer to rebuilding the country? Nope, it just means we got to say some nasty @!$%# to someone who doesn't even really exist in our minds...after all...none of us human beings, right? We're just names on a screen.
Thank you.
Bill Clinton
1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999
President Barack H. Obama
2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011
Ah, is this a new tactic for Right Wingers? Say you're a Democrat so you can somehow make people feel like your opinion has more weight, then when you're looked into by someone like myself we have a hard time finding any evidence that you're nothing but a dishonest Republican? :)
reapermjones.newsvine.com/_more/users/comments
You want to work together start by being honest. It was at onetime a good policy.
This reminds me of that State Farm Commercial.
This is my date, he's French... :D
And my apologies for wording the above as a caveman would...attempting to multi-task and failing. Sorry.
WHERE'S THE REAL TAX RETURNS???
Truthmachine
next to Obama's Laser
Union Baby, Tennessee
even Faux News doesn't believe that Romney has a chance in Massachusetts. Now, if Romney was so good as the righties claim (even though Romney will not talk about Mass), why do we, Mass residents, just don't want Romney?
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/05/16/romney-giving-up-on-home-state-massachusetts/#ixzz23elkKEQF
Where's the college records? Liberal morons are more interested in what Romney does with HIS money than they are with what doughbama does with OUR money.
Backstabbing tea party is another left wing lunatic fabricating noisy and poisonous distractions from Obama's unsatisfactory record on the real issues of the economy and employment...and Obama's utter and complete failure!
After seeing this most recent interview of Ann about not releasing tax returns, I believe her that there is ammunition in those returns, ammunition from a smoking gun, ammunition that would draw such serious attack they can't release those returns...Did Romney go for the amnesty?
Don't ya love how the Romney's parse their words? The new prediction is if they release their returns, finally, they will repeat earlier lies about not knowing what was in trust funds (what Mitt once referred to as "a ruse"):
And now, here we go again:
At this point, if they released their tax returns--especially if too close to the election date--I don't care. This poker game of bluffs and parsing words is enough to know they are not suited for the White House.
Neither is fellow flip-flopper Paul Ryan. What a team. Hey let's see Ryan's wife's' returns now that she just inherited a chunk of change, right Mitt?
He can't? How do you know this? The Tea Party people claim Obama is the worst president ever and thus we should vote for anyone but Obama. Romney claims Obama is the worst president ever and thus we should vote for Romney. TRouble is none of these people can back up thier claim with hard data. Facts are Romney can do worse than the current adminisration.
So far Romney is a big Question mark. He has only a couple months left to fill in the blanks.
The Republicans have all the facts in the world to back up their claim. They just can't find a fact that the libs won't immediately and blindly ignore, since that's how they treat all facts that come their way.
Im going to throw out some income levels.. I would like to know what these Obama useful idiots who buy into this "fair share" crap consider what percent should be paid in taxes.. please respond with what percentage on each income level as what should be taxed..
$10,000; $45,000; $75,000; $150,000; $250,000; $500,000; $1,000,000+
I'm still trying to figure out where it looks like I'm a dishonest republican...even with my previous statements.
After you're done with Newsvine check YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Google, IMDB...I think it's fairly clear that I'm not a conservative.
So we should just get past this and get to the real issues? Trust in a candidate's honesty is as fundamental and elemental as issues get. All other politcal issues come after. Romney says to trust him on his truthfulness and integrity on this matter because he's not going to show us the proofs? I say "NO!, show us the proofs!" I believe Romney is a liar and a cheat until he proves me wrong by showing us all many years of his tax returns.
Trust: this is THE fundamental issue for ALL candidates.
I'm with Romney! He's my man! If he can't help us, no one can!
In the last 10 years I have never paid less than 30% in taxes!
How can that not be fair??
I believe the Romney's pay their tithing. The reason why, just like donating earned income like speaking fees to charity, etc. is they need the write offs. That is the main reason why, and also ego and wanting to be Big Man in the church. But it has nothing to do with being charitable -- Nothing even close to Bill and Melinda Gates for example.
The Romney's aren't even liked by other Mormons who know them (Huntsman, Reid, etc.)--except other Shysters like the Marriotts and the "Son of Boss' scandal. I believe David Kay Johnston is a member of the church, and he advises the Romney's to remember the teachings that you don't just do the minimum, you choose the right.
Then the topic just turns to Ryan and killing Medicare -- Let's have at it!
And we should take Romney's word...why ? So far he has used ads that misquoted Obama..lied about what was done or not done..yet he wants everyone to believe him on this...??? Why? With todays politics as they are..there are no real honest politicans. Our government today is run by the wealthy and big business. Politicans do whatever for votes...
Mr. Romney, where are your tax returns...but in particular, where is 2009?
Sounds a whole lot like Nixon and the Watergate tapes.
At first Nixon hemmed and hawed about the threat to presidential authority,
claiming executive privilege. Still, the press was unrelenting.
Then, after releasing heavily redacted transcripts of most of the tapes, Nixon posited that releasing any more would pose a threat to national security. Now Congress became curious.
Nixon’s next move was to release a few more of the tapes, but not that of June 23. Why NOT June 23? The Supreme Court intervened, requiring that he do so, post haste.
After all was said and done, it ALL came down to the June 23 tape, the now infamous “smoking gun”.
Is the 2009 tax return your “smoking gun,” Mitt?
Andrew Witkowskivia Facebook
let's use Romney's paid income taxes as the benchmark to determine what "fair share" is but before we can determine that, you have to tell us what Romney paid in income tax, what his gross and net income was.
NO president in US history has been compelled to show his long form Birth certificate or college records. Romney has shown neither of those. Yet you demand that of Obama??
Why dont we demand Romney do what everyone else seeking to become president has done, before we demand things of Obama that nobody before has ever had to do?
Wait a minute, I get it!!! Dubya Bush barely got through college with a C grade point average....and his incompetence led to the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression!!!
Every president and nominee in recent history has shown their tax returns:
Obama and Biden have shown 12 years
Clinton showed 10
Kerry showed 20
Not just Democrats.
Bush Jr and Cheney showed 8 years
Reagan showed 6 years
Go back to FDR, he showed ALL his tax returns, over 40 years of them.
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If the IRS was okay with Romney's tax returns, what the hell is Mitt afraid of?
Mitts tax returns must contain such damaging information that it would be impossible to win "any" election let alone President of the United States of America.
teknishan- Since you are so well versed in politics you will know that Obama has signed close to 1,000 executive orders not 150. If Romney has the ability to write off his taxes to the degree that he only pays 13 or 14 percent, what's the problem? If you had the ability to write off ALL of your taxes, are you saying that you would not do that? Of course you would. Romney runs a business and employs people that pay taxes. Romney put his wealth at risk to create more wealth. Why do we want to punish people who create jobs and wealth for themselves and others? Why are people so taken with Obama, when by any measure he has done a terrible job running this country? Obama has been secretive about his college years and his personal history and about half of his cabinet has had tax problems of their own or other illegal behavior that has caused them to resign or be fired.
The republicans have filibustered President Obama over 100 times the first year he was in Office!!
The GOP/Tea Bangers have filibustered Obama more in the in the past 4 years, than all of the past 50 yrs combined!!!
The GOP is the Party, that for "some" reason, has a personal, not political hatred for the President, which is stronger than their love for America or Americans!
Reagan: Trust and Verify
Romney: Trust and Stop Bothering Me!
Romney brags about his business success, but the vast majority of his money comes from predatory and unethical business pillaging.
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Mitt’s fortune was amassed during his tenure at Bain Capital. With Mitt at the helm, Bain bought out struggling companies, fired the workers, sold the assets, and pocketed the millions.
Mitt’s ‘profits before people’ mindset is exactly what got us in the mess we’re in. He drove companies into bankruptcy and tossed 10s of thousands of middle class workers into the unemployment line.
That's not job creation. It’s vulture capitalism. And it’s the last thing America needs.
Did Romney pay 13% in INCOME TAXES? Bet not.
Willard says 13%. What he DIDN'T say was Federal Income Tax--just "taxes." That includes all his deductions for various taxes like: sales tax, property tax, excise taxes, taxes to foreign jurisdictions, state income taxes, automobile taxes, etc. etc. Hell's bells! Even unemployed people with no earned income pay more than 13%!! He is a lying, sniveling, deceptive sack of sh1t. Anybody who even considers voting for him is dumber than a sack of rocks.
This one is so easy. Mitt Romney, PROVE IT.
Trust but verify That's what Reagan said. I wonder if he tithes before or after deductions or even from the real tax returns. I think repubs won't let him show the documents because it is a blueprint for the dems as to what loopholes to close up. Just sayin!
Who CARES what he paid? He doesn't make tax law. If he's guilty of not paying taxes, then let the IRS go after him, but if the issue is just that you don't think he's paid enough taxes, why is that HIS fault? Again, he doesn't write tax law. And I'm sure he doesn't do his own taxes. Just like all the rest of us, they figure out how to pay as little as possible. And why, again, is that somehow evil? The bottom line is that democrats don't really CARE how much taxes Romney paid, because as long as the media and all of us are talking about it, we are talking about something OTHER than high unemployment, a spiraling debt, and all the other administration's failings. It's all a big red herring to keep us from focusing on REAL issues, none of which look good for Mr Obama.
If the IRS is okay with Romney's taxes, then what the hell is Mitt afraid of? As I've said before, wealth is not the issue here -- many of us just feel there is something being hidden and that erodes trust.
Mitt needs prove he hasn't been pushing the cost of supporting this country on the backs of the poor and middle class..which he helped wreck with Bain....but is pulling his OWN weight.
From the court of public opinion......Mitts tax returns must contain such damaging information that it would be impossible to win "any" election let alone President of the United States of America.
BackstabingTea Party-- Perhaps Obama could release all of his documents relating to his college years and explain why his publisher thought he was born in Kenya, since we all know he was born in Hawaii. Why do his college papers indicate that Obama was attending college as a foreign exchange student? When Obama became Barack Otero and a citizen of Indonesia, how exactly did he become an American citizen again since Indonesia does not allow dual citizenship? If Obama was naturalised as an American citizen after his years in Indonesia, how was he able to run for president since naturalised citizens are barred from that office by the Constitution of the United States of America? How did Obama visit Indonesia when travel to that country was blocked by the state dept.? Oh,, and Romneys tax returns, I'd like to see those as well. These are all resonable questions that should be answered and millions of Americans want those answers.
_Paladin, you have obviously forgotton about the last administation under Bush. It was awful, it was much, much worse than the current administation and I don't see much difference and belief or policy between Bush and Romney. Romney could be much, much worse than what we have now.
Where do you get your talking points from??
Faux Noize, Beckerhead, Fatbo, Boortz and Lush????
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This is why the republican voters are losing any respect they had left.
The Tea Baggers/Birthers/GOP are so consumed with hate that they will entertain absolute silliness about Obama which really hints at their racism and then they are so blinded by their hatred for a black President that they now share that same hate for anyone, republican or Democrat, who even slightly works with Obama on issues.
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NO president in US history has been compelled to show his long form Birth certificate or college records. Yet, Romney has shown neither of those. Yet you demand that of Obama?
Trump spent untold 100s of thousands of dollars on private investigators to travel the globe, andinterview people and search records to prove Obama was a fraud....he FAILED.
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Why dont we demand Romney do what everyone else seeking to become President has done (release several years of tax returns), before we demand things of Obama that nobody before has ever had to do?
The Buffet Rule was an attempt to enforce at least a minimum tax paid by 1%ers like Romney, but the Teapublicans blocked it. Tax policies are really at the basis of all this. An uber rich candidate who evades taxes like Romney brings the issue to the forefront.
The $700 billion in the Cayman Islands could pay for a lot of things -- This is on par with the stimulus, making Medicare solvent for eight years, or the cuts Ryan wants to make to Medicaid.
We don't need to ask the middle class and working poor to wait until age 67 to get a measly voucher for health care. And we sure as heck don't need to demand this sacrifice for more defense spending or even worse for more tax cuts for the rich.
Paul Ryan, a .082% tax rate on capital gains/carried interest, really? Lowering the highest income tax rate a full 10 points from 35% to 25% -- or even Romney's down to 28% -- Seriously?
It's WAY past time to throw the obstructionist DO NOTHING Teapublicans out, and put Congress' feet to the fire to make our tax code so that we all play be the same rules. And it's time to pass an amendment requiring presidential candidates to release 10 years of tax returns.
Mitt Romney will go down in history, not as a president, but as the new Agnew Spiro who caused precedence to become LAW.
If a wealthy person like Romney is able to legally avoid paying federal or state taxes altogether, like Governor Reagan did in 1971, it means that the rest of taxpaying Americans are going to have to pick up the slack and shoulder the extra burden of supporting our troops, keeping our military strong, paying for veterans benefits, funding the war in Afghanistan, etc.
Just like healthcare, those who DO pay have to pay for those who DON'T.
Romney: "I never paid less than 13 percent' in taxes."
Okay, now
And to do that, since he said "never" we need to see ALL his Tax Returns from the very first one he ever filed.
dan-282760 & Co. -- Stop with the feeble-minded false equivalency to shut down free speech. Run along aback to TheBlaze or what ever rock you people live under.
Romney's wife is right when she says the only reason they want to see the tax returns is so they can start picking through them and find more things to whine about. He has released what he was required by law to release, EXACTLY has Obama has done with regard to medical records, college transcipts, etc. It's just a red herring to keep from talking about the economy.
13% of Romney's income is a WHOLE BUNCH more than Barry & Joe even earn.....
I want to listen to the man that BUILT HIS COMPANY.......
If the IRS is okay with them, then other than idle curiosity, or rather blatant nosiness, what the heck difference does it make?
We all know Romney is rich. There's no question of fraud. It will just highlight more of the issues that our tax laws are broken. We know this already. Skip ahead to the part where REAL issues get discussed not National Enquirer fodder.
Yes Romney's taxes are important but let us all NOT FORGET his Norqist pledge!, this is a Politican that has made a pledge to an outside organization along with his other REPUBLICAN counter parts, I would never vote for someone that our country comes second in his priority !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The offshore accounts. Did he take advantage of the amnesty for TAX CHEATS?
THAT is what he is hiding.
Unless he can PROVE he didn't, and everything points to that he DID, I assume he had ILLEGAL OFFSHORE ACCOUNTS. Show the returns!
Romney is a LIAR and a TAX CHEAT. He LIED about the offshore accounts on his taxes and, by virtue of that, he is a TAX CHEAT. Stealing money from EACH AND EVERY one of us so that HE got richer.
Disgusting. It ABSOLUTELY DISQUALIFIES HIM for the office of President.
If Mitt's tax returns were enough to eliminate his chances of being McCain's running mate, there's something else in there.
While we're at it, where's Mitt's long birth certificate form?
Paladin takes that steaming pile of Mitt at his word?
Romneyhood lies 71% of the time.
Paladin must have a single digit IQ.
TruePatriot-- You tell me to leave this commet forum, and in the same breath say that I am against free speech?? Do you even read your own comments before posting them?
Also you might want to research Vice President Agnew's correct name, since you clearly have no idea.
All of those posting FOR Obama: Are all of you on welfare of some form of state or federal aid? I can't imagine how anyone who actually works for a living could support this incompetent fraud of a president. Obama gives away citizenship to criminal foreigners like it does not matter and he creates a debt so staggering that we may never recover from it. Obama is truly the enemy within.
Doubter222
it makes you wonder why Romney avoids the 'Federal Income Tax' phrase like the plague...
Romney, the Omission King.
$10,000: 0% (below poverty level).
$45,000: 7.2%.
$75,000: 13.5%.
$150,000: 21.2%.
$250,000: 29.7%.
$500,000: 40.0%.
$1 million: 45.5%.
OBAMA BIDEN 2012
Simply calling people names instead of offering something useful is the same as having nothing useful to say.
So, Romney has actually only released ONE year's worth of tax returns and the other one may - or may not - come out before the election?
I guess it's been a long time since Romney applied for a job - generally, a job applicant doesn't get to say whether they will comply with requested information, or not. It is customary for Presidential candidates to release at least two, and generally, more than two year's worth of returns. If he didn't want to do that, why is he running for the office?
Next time you have a job interview, and you are asked for references, try this: "I have given all your people everything you are going to get." and let me know if you get the job.
Prove it Mitt !!!
Did you hear that many CEO's earned more than their companies paid in taxes during 2011?
Romney/Ryan remind me a lot of the 2002 elections where Republicans motto was "trust us, but please don't verify"
In 2002, Republicans said they would absolutely pay for everything (just like Romney/Ryan are today).
Once in office (2003), Republicans (including Ryan) voted for unfunded Medicare D (reducing the solvency for the program), unfunded Iraq, unfunded Afghanistan, told Americans to deficits don't matter, buy houses and become part of the "Great Ownership Society".
The result was Americans followed Republicans leadership, driving up debts, just like Ryan voted for. It resulted in a housing bubble that started popping in 2006. We are still digging out of the crash caused by the Republican parties decisions in 2003, which shortened Medicare.
After 2003, no American should take Republicans at their word.
Trust, but verify!
How much is tax sheltered overseas Mitt?
You mean besides the huge funds he has stashed in Bermuda and in assorted shady Caribbean accounts? And on top of the money he has squirreled away in Swiss bank accounts? It would be good to know where Mitt is hiding his money and whether he is paying taxes on it.
Show us your taxes, Willard!
When you have a "man" running for President who doesn't love this country enough to keep his money here - why should we trust him to lead the country?
Obama/Biden 2012
Amy---I like how Mitt recalculates his effective rate by saying it would have been higher if he hadn't given so much to charity. Well---Mitt, your church requires you to give that much and the tax law gives you a break for doing so. You weren't obligated to take those deductions but you did, in order to lower your effective rate.
Mitt seems to think these things he says will put the issue to rest and now he is turning on the media by saying we should all focus on more important issues. Like maybe how his ads lie about things the President says.
Sailcat-2064101
You mean well reasoned arguments like this? Nothing snide there. Let's say for "arguments" sake, he's going to release his tax returns and you're going to complain he has lots of money and didnt give it all to the government. Then you're going to complain about the legalities of how he made his money and why didn't he pay his 'fair share' whatever that is. Then you'll have some other sniveling and driveling about how he rapes his dog, tithings, horses and a bunch other inane bullshlt. Conclussion, no win situation for Romney and you'll still whine er reasonably argue. pfft.
Obama=economy sucks which means free pass from the leftwing militia aka Libsrus
Romney should tell liberals to go to hell. They are the whiningest, crying, unhappy people you will ever meet. Go shoot yourselves. Just stop your fricking whining. Get off your ass and go to work. Nobody owes you anything.
And Republicans are mean-spirited, angry, and act like the playground bully.
And, I was basing my previous statement on the fact that a Republican audience cheered when it was suggested that a sick person without insurance and the means to pay for medical care should be allowed to die during a primary debate.
And the fact that during another debate, a soldier was booed because he was gay.
So, forever parsing your words, the latest protestation is that you "never paid less than 13% in taxes."
Ah, Mitt, that still leaves the "smoking gun" of 2009.
You got caught in 2009, didn't you! Caught under-reporting or even failing to report earned income in 2008 from oversas investment accounts, a felony violation of the United States Tax Code. But the IRS offered you amnesty, as they did so many that year, if only to avoid the expense of protracted litigation...and you jumped at the chance.
Having been caught and having no recourse but to file an amended 2009 tax return in which you accepted penalties in exchange for relief from criminal prosecution, your amended return miraculously brought you back into that 13% effective range, upon which you now seek to hang your hat.
You paid 13% in 2009, but only AFTER you were threatened with criminal prosecution for felony tax evasion. You received amnesty, but the fact is your actions were felonious nonetheless.
You don't deserve to be our President. Heck, you don't deserve to be much of anything at all.
More left wing diversion as usual from Obama's failed record. This will be the norm until after the election. As long as you can keep people talking about tax returns, dancing horses, dogs on car roofs, banks putting you in chains, offshore bank accounts available to everyone, you can avoid having to talk about a trillion dollar a year deficit, entitlement programs heading toward bancruptcy, national security leaks, circumventing the congress on illegal immigration, welfare work requirement, 42 months of unemployment over 8%, a boondogle stimulus program that produced no jobs of consequence but several Solyndra's, a health care boondoggle with 21 taxes embedded in it that takes from Medicare to pay for Obamacare.
kenva -- Romney has already told all Americans to go to hell, including you.
Lost in Wonderland -- One thing for sure, in that interview Ann Romney was one angry and desperate white woman.
TruePatriot - that's a true statement if ever I saw one. I was actually a bit surprised when I saw that interview.
Starderup--Obama still has not released most of his college papers and kept his family history locked away. So Obama effectively said that's all you are gonna get from me, give me the job. Every deadbeat stoner and loser without any future voted for Obama along with everyone else who wanted a free ride. We have close to 20% unemployment ( numbers that include everyone that can't find a job or just ran out of benefits ), we have about 14 Trillion in debt. I know Obama got left with a lot of Bushes garbage but he hasn't cleaned any of it up, he just added to it.
Lost in Wonderland- How did anyone know the soilder was gay? Was he wearing a pink uniform? Why was it necessary for the soilder to mention that he was gay or did he? Who cares who the soilder sleeps with, do you? That should be a private matter and we have no need to know what sexual preference is. Were you looking to date him?
Amy, could you please tell me the name which employer you most recently applied for a job at who had the audacity to ask you to provide IRS records?
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But you think it's perfectly normal to DEMAND that a candidate releases more than he has to just because you want to gaze at zeroes in income you'll never see?
I swear this country has lost its mind for the most part. The right focuses on the insanity of whether Obama was born here and what his College grades were, the left focuses on the income of a candidate. Both sides are just playing everyone for fools because nobody is questioning either side about real issues.
And why this IRS issue is so important is beyond me, particularly seeing as it's emanating from "liberals". I thought you all were for freedom? You know the freedom that voters don't have to prove who they are because of "freedom", but you think you can demand to see private info?
Unless the IRS comes forth and says there is or was an issue (other than normal questioning of deductions maybe because I hate to tell you when you earn more than a McJob salary that WILL happen) then this whole topic should be a dead issue.
Yes Romney's taxes are important but let us all NOT FORGET his Norqist pledge!, this is a Politican that has made a pledge to an outside organization along with his other REPUBLICAN counter parts, I would never vote for someone that our country comes second in his priority !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAKE UP AMERICA !!!!!!!!!!!!
No one cares about Obama's college records, which is why they didn't even come up until Trump lost the stupid birth certificate battle.
Presidential candidates (including EVERY OTHER REPUBLICAN ONE THIS YEAR) has released numerous years of tax forms.
Mitt is running on being a successful businessman. Prove it.
Dan - the soldier stated that he was gay right out of his own mouth and it was relevant at the time because his comment/question was specifically about the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
Dan 282760:
None of Obama's documentation that Faux news talks about would cover FELONY TAX FRAUD. That is what MITT IS HIDING.
Obama has done a GREAT JOB with the TRASH he was handed. Now Mittens and Pauly-bear want to SET THE BANKERS FREE so they can ruin everything again. That is NOT a personal attack, it is a direct quote. THEN he wants to hand 20% of our social security to the bankers and 30% of our medicare funds to the insurance companies. THAT IS RYAN'S BUDGET PLAN.
Obama hasn't turned over his pre-school lunch menues either but what in H#LL does that have to do with ANYTHING! Not eating his snacks before nap time IS NOT A FELONY!
Lost...your name describes your true intellect!
So it's ok to critisize President Obama for not releasing his long form birth certificate even though no other President has had to do that, but when we ask Romney to release what every other President has in the past he says no. Then tries to tell us he has never gone below 13%, ya right, do what President Obama did and prove it.
Sorry Mitt, if you're serious about running for POTUS, then you need to cough up those returns. Your privacy goes out the window once you won the nomination...Your reluctance to disclose the returns speaks volumes about your integrity, honesty, and success.
And personally, you pay less tax than me but then again, I'm not a millionaire....
Mittsy,
The biggest issue in the election is your tax returns. It will remain the biggest issue until you disclose, at least, 6years of tax returns.
Once you do that, we can move on to the next big issue.
All you fools do is give lip service to the whole class warfare strategy, when it comes down to it liberals and the democrats in power do even worse more criminal things and get away with it. How many democrats got caught not paying taxes (Tom Daschle, Geithner, Charlie Rangel, John Kerry, ect...) You complain about Romney not paying enough, at least he paid the legal amount and didn't cheat people out of billions and then have Obama and Holder look the other way because the money makes its way to them.
Lip service b!tche$ are all you are, take your fake anger to Eric Holders door step if you are truly about the rich not getting away with these types of crimes.
What world are you living in? For most of Americans the economy is the biggest issue according to most polls. I don't even think Romney's return show up in the top ten. The fact this is the lefts biggest issue says a lot about how out of touch you people and your leader are. "It's the Economy Stupid."
LogicRequired - too funny, more like LogicAbsent. If you vote for Romney then your logic escapes you. I kinda feel sorry for you. No, i really do feel sorry for you.
Wow brenda1964 great argument????
Don't feel sorry for me I didn't have any money in MF Global, nor has Holder let off anyone who has robbed me. But thanks sweety.
Starderup
hahahha, my bet is on "NO"!
Seriously does anybody actually believe this serial liar?
Amnesty Mitt,
What is the next lie that you expect us to believe?
Logic, given that some form of tax bill will be passed in the next four years (regardless of who wins), and that tax bill could have huge implications for the economy and the deficit, I'd really like to know what Mitt is hiding.
He has said that he wants to increase military spending by a fairly wide margin (he calls for over 100 new vessels for the Navy, for one). He also says he's going to cut taxes for everyone by 20%.
To make up for the increase in the deficit that more spending and less revenue will mean, he has said he will "reduce government spending in other areas" (without saying where) and "close tax loopholes".
If Mitt were to release five years worth of records, and, using his own returns, illustrate exactly which loopholes he used to get such a low effective overall rate that he would close, I'd certainly be a lot more willing to listen to some of the other things he has to say. But until then, to me, he is Bush III - another rich white Yankee RINO faux-Conservative who is only going to do the things that benefit "his people", who are the wealthiest among us.
When the "Conservatives" are proposing a budget that isn't balanced until 2040, and assumes the rosiest possible scenarios, it's time for the Conservatives to get some new leadership. I'd suggest Gary Johnson.
wow you dems are insane. you didnt give a damn about tim geithner and his failure to pay taxes or the other numerous obama appointees who has had tax issues but damn for sure if any republican has any perceived tax issues than all you sheep do is yell at the top of your lungs while at the same time completely ignoring the same on your side.
obama ran on transparency but before day one he was never transparent and to this day his has lied constantly about the stupidest things but yet you obama sheep cant seem to break away from the cycle. obama has been a complete failure, a very divisive president and a weak and ineffectual leader.
i dont not like romney but obama had proven to be weak and corrupted so why re-elect a known failure when we can at least vote someone new. at least romney actually has verifiable job experience, something which obama has never had.
Voter-in-LA
Could you prove to me how applying for the Executive Office aka President of the United States of America compares to applying for any other job in America?
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Swagganaut
THIS JUST IN: Tim Geithner is not running for president
ahh so its okay for a president to surround himself and elect known criminals and people with questionable actions. didnt obama say that you will know him by the people he surrounds himself with?
so is it only the president who cant break the law? your telling me that a person the president appoints does not need to follow the law or that when question arise, does not have to answer?
i see you bias very easy
And you know what, they aren't required to do so! This is not required by law! But it has become a tradition. And who started that tradition? Why, none other than Mitt Romney's father, George Romney. Why? well, let's let George Romney tell it...
T. George Harris, George Romney's authorized biographer, remembers:
"He balked when I badgered him for a copy of his latest Form 1040, the Federal Individual Income Tax Return," Harris wrote. "Release of the document, while it might serve a political purpose, would not prove very much, he argued. One year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show, and what mattered in personal finance was how a man conducted himself over the long haul."
"Stumped by this argument, I was not prepared for the move that it eventually led him to make: He ordered up all the Form 1040's that he and Mrs. Romney had filed over the past twelve years — including those profitable ones from when he saved the American Motors Company from bankruptcy and became a millionaire on the company's stock options."
I like how you put "nut" at the end of your name, although we didn't need that cue to know this already. Obama has not elected anybody. Also, I challenge you to name one person he appointed who was a horrible criminal.
You're a pretty lame troll. He broke no laws.
The truth is non-partisan.
This is how the rich get out of paying the amount they should.
They have professional tax cheats figure out a way they can take as much as possible of their income as capital gains which is only taxed at the maximum at 15%.
During the 1950's with a Republican administration the top income bracket paid 90%.
They should go back to that considering how much of their current wealth is due to swindling in the stock market.
America is NOT going bankrupt. America is being robbed. Corporations are holding back two TRILLION and not hiring in order to get their suit elected.
Forty percent of America's wealth has been extracted from the economy and is being held in offshore accounts--more than 31 trillion dollars--by the top oh, maybe 120 people. If Romney/Ryan wins, these are the people who will have put him in office, and he and his team will dance like puppets to their tune.
Romney is one who's regularly taken his money to offshore accounts to evade taxes. In Italy, which is unbelievably corrupt, he's persona non grata for buying the government's phone book system, privatizing it, selling it two years later for 25 times what he bought it for--and then manipulating the laws of both the USA & Italy to launder the $$$$$ through Luxembourg, a tiny country whch pretty much only exists for this reason.
As long as government is forced smaller & only pays far less in salaries than private investments and being a corporate mouthpiece, our nation will continue barely to survive on life support. The Supreme Court and all aspects of our government have been corrupted by multinational corporate money--these corporations aren't American anymore.
We've been warned throughout our history about the corrupting influence of corporations destroying democracy. Jefferson told us democracy would fail when monied corporations seized control of government. Lincoln fretted that his need for the railroad corporations to move the troops would eventually result in corporate takeover of America. Eisenhower warned us of the military industrial complex--And these Republicans are telling us we can't afford to feed our kids because we need to pay defense contractors!
We must pay attention now; this may be our last chance.
It's very, very sad to read posts here from non-college educated, elderly white men of limited income who fail to understand the hatchet's held right over their own heads-- because they are blinded by racial prejudice.
Romney's taxes are crucial--which is why he's refusing to show them. Nor will he tell us what his policies would be if elected president. He's attempting to be as opaque as possible.
Did you see his whiteboard explanation of the difference between Medicare under Obama vs. Romney/Ryan? He put two numbers under Obama's ACA, none under his--because he has no numbers. (The Republican party has been trying to eliminate Medicare since it came into existence! Your kids would essentially get coupons like supermarket coupons, and their healthcare costs would increase from $6,000 a year (at first) to an eventual $14,000 a year.)
Under his plan, he wrote "no change," hoping seniors won't care their kids and grandkids will get shafted so long as they're covered (because their plan extends out to start in 28 years)
Finally, he wrote "bankrupt" under Obama, and "solvent" under Romney. Two numbers and four words, and that, as his wife has said, "is all you people need to know about our finances and way of life."
He couldn't write the dollar sign properly and didn't know how to erase the whiteboard, so he smeared it with his hand and left a huge ugly smudge.
His taxes are critical. The super rich are draining the rest of us dry.
You can call us any names you want; it doesn't change the facts. The rich are after YOU. We're just trying to show you the obvious.
Why does Romney sound like he's telling us a misleading, white lie?
White lie? White lie? Harry Reid told a whopper on national tv about "knowing somebody who told him" that Romney doesn't pay any taxes, and that is perfectly alright with you.
If I were Mitt Romney I would do the exact same thing. You people don't care how much he paid in taxes. You're just fishing for an issue. Let's say he released his tax returns. Would any one of you vote for him? Would you even ease up on your incessant complaining? No! You'd complain about how he gave money to the Mormon Church and whine about how contributions to churches shouldn't be tax deductible. Then you'd rattle on about his horse. You'd complain that he didn't show enough detail to support some of his itemized deductions, and on and on and on. Mitt Romney is not obligated to fuel your attack machine.
Personally, I think Romney hit the nail on the head when he said that this is a very small issue for a country that faces the problems that we have.
In any case, Romney has said that he is not going to release his tax returns, and no, I don't think that he's saying "trust me." I think that he's saying that if people like you and Harry Reid don't like it, tough.
Bob-1104279
there is nothing to find unless there is something to find! And if there is nothing to find, Mitt would have shown them and said "I told you so" long time ago.
This is why, President Reagan raised taxes on the wealthy and American business. He saw an unfair tax burden placed on the middle class and the poor, and the wealthy and business' not paying their fair share. This was all erased by the Bush tax cuts. This is also why simply cutting loopholes in tax code will not work. They can reinstated at any time by congress.
Bob, it's plain and simple why most of the country want Romney to show us his tax returns....we want to know if he had tried to skirt paying taxes on assets hidden in offshore bank accounts. That's all! We already know he's bloody rich, which makes him out of touch with 95% of America right there. We already know he plans on raising taxes on the middle class while his rich cronies in the millionaire club have their taxes reduced even further.
The issue is really two things....can we trust him? And, was taking advantage of the tax amnesty offering in 2009 the only thing that may have saved him from being brought up on charges of tax evasion? Here's the deal....if all of these accusations are NOT true about his trying to evade paying taxes, then show the returns!! Geez, how hard can that be? We're looking to make sure a presidential candidate is not someone who would try to break federal law for his own greed. It stands to reason that if he would do something like this, that he would try to pass laws to make it legally possible for people of his wealth to legally not pay taxes on assets.
Now, with him refusing to show us the returns, it makes him appear guilty.
The unbelievable number of comments on this recent article proves that this just does not sit well with the public. Look Mitt, it may not be a law but you know it is what candidates are expected to do and it is clear, no matter how much you try to act like it is an outrageous request, that you have a reason not to pony up. And the gaul to sit there and act like he has been vindicated by telling us he never paid LESS than 13%. Oooooo! Wow Mitt, what were we thinking? That's fine that someone making the top 1% of 1% of this countries income should pay a lower percentage than hard working people making $80K a year. Are you kidding me? And this is how pathetic GOP supporters now are, especially because most of them do not make Mitt's money or anything close to it, that they must swallow this and worse, act like it really doesn't matter. Obama supporters have had some disappointments to swallow but nothing like this. I think tax cheats should not be in office (Geitner) but I REALLY think that people like Mitt and his cronies who have played for years with tax law and installed loopholes to evade more and more taxes are a double no-no. I have no doubt Mitt has obeyed the law on taxes. But his feigned indignation at having to show us his returns is not about the percentage. As his wife says..."the more we release, the more we are attacked"......did you people get that? Read that again. Yes, because that is why Mitt is not releasing his taxes. Yes, it is about the top not paying and/or hiding millions and billions offshore, but more than the low percentage, they don't want you to see the tricks and games he is allowed to play to get his money shielded from taxes while the rest of us earning $50K to $250K a year shoulder the lion's share of the tax bill and then are told year after year that the deficit is due to "overspending". No folks, its a huge country with lots of roads, airports, ports, people, infrastructure and 300M people, most of whom sometimes need some sort of help. That's reality and it won't change because you think Ayn Rand had a great vision. It costs a lot to take care of it all and when your major corporations and Mitt and his boys are running everything and finding ways to pay little of their income to the US...you bet there is a deficit. What I would like to know...from a Mitt supporter...how can you seriously think this is OK?
Besides this disgusting bragging about paying an underwhelming 13% in taxes we have Paul Ryan now admitting he lied about taking Stimulus money. What a perfect pair of hypocrites from the right who should be tarred and feathered, not elected!
Boy, what a bunch of left-wing extreamists here.
All of us should be focusing on real issues like the records of the two candidates. What I really hate is the hypocrisy coming out of either side and all of the diversionary tactics and you people are just lapping it up like the pawns that you are. Another thing I take issue with is throwing out something like it is a fact when it is not. Someone above said Romney was caught cheating on his 2009 return, well show us the proof. And Harry Reid is just a lying idiot, he an Biden go well together.
Apparently, I trust the Obama controlled IRS more than the rest of you because I trust that they would have dealt with Romney if he had done anything illegal on his tax returns. If he has not done anything illegal then it should be a non-issue and all of you are just showing class envy and trying to divert us from the real issues.
So do you realize that it is possible for someone to have income of millions of dollars from investing 100% in the U.S. and legally have a zero federal tax liability? All one has to do is invest all of their money in municipal bonds that are not taxed by the U.S. government.
Frankly I'd rather talk about the candidates' records than all of this crap that doesn't amount to anything.
Mark, It is better than a bunch of right wing liars!
Romneys 13% Tax each year is probably more money then you will see in your life time. So Romney should support all you losers that want the government to take care of you. Go out and create your own wealth you bunch of liberal pathetic retarded losers. If you can all hear yourselves you would know you are mentally challenged
Steeler Fan-380417
#4.7 - "Amy---I like how Mitt recalculates his effective rate by saying it would have been higher if he hadn't given so much to charity. Well---Mitt, your church requires you to give that much and the tax law gives you a break for doing so. You weren't obligated to take those deductions but you did, in order to lower your effective rate.
Mitt seems to think these things he says will put the issue to rest and now he is turning on the media by saying we should all focus on more important issues. Like maybe how his ads lie about things the President says."
Steeler Fan,
'you did, in order to lower your effective tax rate'?
Let's assume for the sake of simplicity that Romney gets taxed, on his net taxable income, at 25%. If his net taxable income, without making any charitable contributions, is $100,000,000 (a nice, big, round number), his tax bill would be $25,000,000. He decides to make charitable contributions of, say, $10,000,000. His net taxable income is then $90 million, and his tax bill becomes $22.5 million. He 'gained' a reduction in taxes of $2.5 million by contributing $10 million. Not exactly to his financial advantage. You can play around with the numbers I used, as well as with the assumed tax rate, but you'll get the same result: Romney's choice to make charitable contributions does not provide him a financial advantage. Perhaps you or some tax accountants on this site can show otherwise. I'm not an expert on this, but I think I'm on the correct track.
F&B666
Amy B. Portland, ME - #4
Exactly the way I see it Amy, ☺
Pburg Bill,
Nice that I'm a college graduate with a Master's Degree and since I'm saying paying 13% for income tax compared to my hard working 21% that I have to pay, because I don't qualify for the loopholes that republicans have gotten into the tax codes, along with Ryan calling for a 40% cut in income taxes for the top1% makes me a looser or those who need help losers. You sound FOX Dead! A disgrace man!
Rixart13 and Amy B.
Romney's 2011 return is not yet released because (I posted one of probably numerous sources) it isn't ready yet. Perfectly legal to file requests for extensions, by the way. Whether you, or others want to intuit something from that, is clearly your choice.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/mitt-romneys-tax-return-problem/2012/04/16/gIQA3gQyLT_blog.html
F&B666
Gee KENVA,
The liberals are a bunch of lazy whining people trying to not work and have the government support them?
MRS. ROMNEY went on national TV and whined because the press was picking on her and mitt about taxes, which is the normal vetting process for presidential candidates.
Mrs Romney was a stay at home mom, no job, and had nannies and servants take care of the kids. Mitt deducted the cost of her DANCING HORSE from his taxes.
Mitt NEVER said INCOME TAXES, he just said TAXES, which could mean, sales tax, property tax, excise tax, blah,blah,blah.
If the main issue is the economy, then this is incredibly important. Where do we get our economy if not from taxes?
Mitt has been running for President for at least 8 years. He didn't think this would come up? What arrogance. Go back to the private sector, where everyone will bow down to you and let you do whatever you like. If you can't handle the scrutiny, you'll never hack it as President anyway.
By my count Mr. Romey does not tell the truth 7 out of 10 times.
Why would I believe him when he says I paid my taxes?
The ONLY reason for an American to have off shore accounts is to avoid paying United States Federal/State Income Taxes. Period.
It may be perfectly legal but I don't want a President who is a TAX and Draft dodger.
clwyd-2621393,
#4.55 - "Pburg Bill, Nice that I'm a college graduate with a Master's Degree and since I'm saying paying 13% for income tax compared to my hard working 21% that I have to pay, because I don't qualify for the loopholes that republicans have gotten into the tax codes, along with Ryan calling for a 40% cut in income taxes for the top1% makes me a looser or those who need help losers. You sound FOX Dead! A disgrace man!"
The post you referenced is typical of uncalled for content, as are many on this site. For what that's worth.
That said, 'loopholes that republicans have gotten into the tax codes' is not exactly what I would consider as knowledgably premised. My understanding is that, generally speaking, the Romneys and some, or many, other very wealthy people can see lower tax rates is because of capital gains taxes, which I think are currently 15%. I'm guessing the 13% number might refer to Romney's FIT rate based on AGI, as opposed to his rate based on net taxable inocme. But I don't know that; just guessing, as stated. The thing about republican loopholes, as you put it, is that that phrase is incorrect. This particular aspect of the tax code, capital gains, is available to anyone. That includes senators John Kerry and John Rockefeller, and others, or it could include them, if they had such investment income. The code is political affiliation-blind. It also includes many of the rest of us who, as we can afford to, or get loder, and then afford to, invest some of our savings in such financial vehicles. It just so happens that wealthier individuals may garner more, or most, of their income from such practices. By the way, 'FOX dead' is also uncalled for, and could be a leap on your part. And, no, we are not in the '(financially) rich' category, and at this stage of our lives, don't see getting close to it, in case you were wondering. But we are satisfied with our place in life.
Have a nice weekend.
F&B666
Does the average middle income american know they only pay about 5.6% in taxes? Does the average middle income american know that Mitt Romney donates millions to charity every year?
I'm not a huge fan of the guy but this type of class warfare can only lead to one outcome and it involves guns and bad things happening to alot of people, americans better wake up quick.
When Obama unseals the dozens of records we all have a right to see......maybe then Romney can show his taxes. Hypocracy is an ugly trait. Our president has paid millions to attorneys to have ALL his records sealed..The most secretive person in the country.
"I can show you, but i don't want to.. so you're gonna have to take my word for it... Trust Me"
The gist of what he was saying.
"We are not hiding anything, but we refuse to show you." Makes sense.
In an upside down Rob-me world.
No he is basically saying I am only required to show 2 years and if the left doesn't like it tough sh$t! Bite me...wow a man with stones.
The Mrs. looked a bit angry, I have a feeling the romneys' don't like to be questioned about anything that pertains to their wealth. Ask herself anything about the horse and she gush forth. Show me the money mitt.
watt75 - considering he hasn't shown a full year - that says everything. And as for stones, he's sinking like a big boulder!
He lacks integrity and, from what I've read of his father, he isn't fit to carry the Romney name!
Obama/Biden 2012
watt75
So why did Romney request more than two years of tax returns from his VP candidates? He's allowed to vet, but the American people aren't?
I'd like to ask her about the huge tax deduction she received from her Olympic horse by claiming it was for therapy. I wonder if she would throw a hissy fit if she were asked that question?
The pampered princess sure can stare a mean set of daggers when asked something she doesn't approve of!
The MSM keeps calling little Annie a valuable tool for the Willard campaign, when in reality she's a FOOL who needs to keep on talking!
Annie's the gift which keeps on giving to Democrats!
Obama has stones the size of baseballs.....Mitt's are somewhere in Ann's purse.
Feisty - she is really a witchy little woman, isn't she? I don't recall ever seeing a candidate's wife act so nasty! But, she's dealing with the "little people" and she really hates that.
Do you think, if they DID win, they'd dig a moat around the White House to keep the commoners out?
The funny thing is - neither of them has any class and it shows over and over again - daily!
Obama/Biden 2012
The pampered princess makes Cindy McCain come off as warm & fuzzy!
4 MORE FOR 44!
She and Cindy are like Stepford wives - that same demented look and sound!
Based on what I have seen of Mitt and Annie Romney, I can tell who wears the pants in that family.
Rod_Father - one of the other wives???
Y'know, I've never paid less than 13% either. In fact, I don't think I've ever paid less than 28%. And, believe me 28% out of my pay is a heckuva lot more than 13% out of his. Does he think he's going to take it with him????
I think that she is angry that they are being pushed to reveal their secrets. I also believed that everything she said was scripted and she had to memorize lines, which made her very unhappy. She is not a good actress as she wasn't very convincing. What are they hiding?
The media needs to continue to ask Annie about releasing the Romney taxes. Eventually she will break. She is not an experienced liar like Mutt. Annie can lie to her friends, it angers her to have to repeat a lie to strangers. She expects people that do not know her to accept her answer and move on.
Psssssttt Annie, your friends know you lie too.
Yes Romney's taxes are important but let us all NOT FORGET his Norqist pledge!, this is a Politician that has made a pledge to an outside organization along with his other REPUBLICAN counter parts, I would never vote for someone that our country comes second in his priority !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAKE UP AMERICA !!!!!!!!!!!! IS THIS A SECRET GOVERNMENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is this the best Rmoney can do? "Trust me." That's it? But but but he lies 71% of the time!
Dirty Harry Reid wins again!
lol omg all you are doing is talking smack about his wife and somehow that is relevant to this topic? when you cant argue facts you throw name-calling and accusations lol typical.
rainlady2
you do know that 13% of 1 million IS more than 28% of 50K? if your just talking about proportional then yeah your right but if you want to reduce your effective tax rate then you have the SAME opportunities as romney does, just because you dont take advantage and romney does, does not mean he is cheating.
all you people do understand that the earned money is owned by the earner and not the government right?
And Mutt says that we should believe him? Yep, when I can pick up and toss a two-ton bull. I couldn't do it 50 years ago, and I for sure couldn't do it now.
Wrong! He isn't required by law to show any tax returns! But it has become a tradition. And who started that tradition? Why, none other than Mitt Romney's father, George Romney. Why? well, let's let George Romney tell it...
T. George Harris, George Romney's authorized biographer, remembers:
"He balked when I badgered him for a copy of his latest Form 1040, the Federal Individual Income Tax Return," Harris wrote. "Release of the document, while it might serve a political purpose, would not prove very much, he argued. One year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show, and what mattered in personal finance was how a man conducted himself over the long haul."
"Stumped by this argument, I was not prepared for the move that it eventually led him to make: He ordered up all the Form 1040's that he and Mrs. Romney had filed over the past twelve years — including those profitable ones from when he saved the American Motors Company from bankruptcy and became a millionaire on the company's stock options."
But, then, George Romney didn't have anything to hide!
seeking sanity...
Sure hope you never get on the bad side of hillary. Bet even fiesty could learn a thing or to about bitchiness from her. Of course, one would have to believe what was said about her from an airman formerly serving on board air force one. Glowing admiration for husband bill but hillary was such a bitch.
What needs to be checked is if some of Willardo's maids arent a 2nd, 3rd, or even a 4th wife.
He sure pays a lot lower percent in "taxes" than I do.
I'm going by my federal income tax rates. Who knows what he's including in his 13%.
Ben: you are embarrassing yourself. This puts you over the line, into the birther camp, and makes you look ridiculous. Do get some help.
Dear Mitty: Presidential candidates have released up to 10 years (or more, in the case of your daddy.) in modern times.
The problem you are having is that you are used to having people defer to you as the "Great I AM." Since a great many of us are not impressed with your bluster, and Queen Ann's arrogance, I guess you are going to have to release those taxes.
After all, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to hide.
That is, unless you do.
So Willard has released the estimate for 2011.....
By now, his accountants and lawyers are trying to massage/manipulate that estimate so that it will be more palatable.....whenever they're done with it!
But, any movement will be suspect!
Newday -- There is nothing embarrassing and standing up over and over again for our brave soldiers. You make yourself look pathetic and ridiculous by blindly following this piece of sh!t in the WH. You are the person who needs help and you nor anyone will shame me or anyone else for supporting our troops who put their lives on the line. Take your leftist, socialist garbage and disrespect for following the law and stick it.
No I am not angry nor unhinged. I will fight back and fight back hard.
ben, and you support a draft dodger and ryan's plan slashes 13% out of the Veterans Affairs budget. You've been ingesting too many fox nuggets.
Show me the money mitt.
Mitt Romney supported the American involvement Vietnam War and showed it by going to France for two years of missionary work. What a "leader!"
Yeah, go ahead and keep putting up that post Ben, really, those Glenn Beck delusions are all you have left. In fact, post it on this thread a few more times, not many people saw it.
Does it occur to you Ben, is the people you denigrate are the people who serve?
Nah, that would be a RATIONAL thought.
Obama released 12 years of tax returns and why not Romney? Where there some years in which Romney didn't pay any taxes due to write offs?
Come on Willard is hiding something and we the American People are giving him the job interview in which he better start answering questions.
We also have to remember the IRS doesn't always catch information they should.
We also have to remember the IRS doesn't always catch information as they should. It is a known fact that they don't have the resources to go after someone as rich as Willard. His accountants and lawyers can tie audits up for years.
Also, Mitt and Ann may fall under theIRS amnesty program. In this case releasing more taxes will show this.
Another problem Mitt may have is voter fraud, in Mass.
"Seems to me if there were any logic to our language...Trust would be a FOUR letter word." -Joel Goodsen (played by Tom Cruise in Risky Business)
Nothing could be more true in THIS case!
Where are the tax returns, scam artist?
Bishop Willard GAVE more to McCain than he is willing to give THE NATION
and Johnny DUMPED HIM
Bishop Willard DEMANDED more from Paul Ryan than he is willing to give America
Bishop Willard has TITHED more to the CoLDS than he has paid in US TAXES
Bishop Willard HID IN FRANCE forcing someone else to serve the country in HIS PLACE & by avoid the Military he AVOIDED the TAXES a soldier pays
Bishop WIllard is DECEIVING AMERICA & will LOSE the election unless he puts the tax returns on the table.
AMERICANS do NOT take TAX EQUIVOCATION lightly & they do NOT tolerate TAX CHEATS .
GOP/REAGAN MANTRA Trust but VERIFY !
Yes Romney's taxes are important but let us all NOT FORGET his Norqist pledge!, this is a Politican that has made a pledge to an outside organization along with his other REPUBLICAN counter parts, I would never vote for someone that our country comes second in his priority !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAKE UP AMERICA !!!!!!!!!!!! IS THIS A SECRET GOVERNMENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANYONE THAT SIGNED SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM OUR GOVERNMENT !!!!!!!!!!!!
Emperor Norquist has said that all he needs in a President is someone with a working right hand to sign his bills. Is that Mittwit right handed?
lol it never ceases to amaze me the repetitiveness of the left and the blatant ignorance of their own party. obama and the dems have proven to be corrupt and ineffectual at governorship, not like the repubs are better but until we have a true party of the people, we can just keep going back and forth until we become slaves again.
This is from "The Atlantic"
A new study by Tulane's James Alm and Janet Rogers of Nevada's Department of Budget and Planning (h/t Ryan Avent, whose deadpan tweet noted that it was likely to spark a "lively discussion") takes a close look at the effects of tax and spending policies at the state level. Entitled "Do State Fiscal Policies Affect State Economic Growth?", it examines 50 years of data (from 1947 to 1997), tracking the effects of state tax policies, spending policies, and political orientation on economic growth. Looking at the different policy approaches and strategies that have been pursued at the level of states and cities and comparing their results provides a useful lens through which to examine pressing national issues. Alm's and Rogers' main findings are certainly interesting; "lively" is quite likely an understatement for the sort of debate their findings should inspire.
There are two major take-aways. First, a "state's fiscal policies have a measurable relationship with per capita income growth, although not always in the expected direction." Tax impacts, they report, are "quite variable"; "expenditure impacts are more consistent."
Second, they find "moderately strong evidence" that a "state's political orientation, as indicated by whether the governor is Republican or Democrat, whether the state has enacted tax and expenditure limitation legislation, and whether the state frequently elects a governor of the same party as the incumbent, have consistent, measurable, and significant effects on economic growth." And then they drop their bombshell: "Having a Republican governor," they conclude, "is associated with lower rates of growth." They qualify their conclusions slightly--but only slightly--noting that past measurement errors may have introduced some distortions into the record.
Taken together, these findings seem to support the spending orientation favored by liberals and pose a rather stark challenge to Republican governors who are embracing austerity.
That is correct. This is a 50 year study that shows that Democrats are better at handling economies at the state and federal level.
Reality has a liberal bias.
Mikkit: One would expect these results. Throughout our history, whenever the Republicans are in office, we tank. When Democrats control Congress and sit in the White House, our circumstances and general economy improve. This can be tracked quite readily and is easily explained.
The Democratic party's platform, and their governance, supports growth for everybody. The Republican party wants less government. They really want no government at all. So whenever they get into power, they spend, spend, spend and deregulate, to force austerity and weaken government.
Finally, a small government completely deregulated allows monied corporations in to destroy democracy in favor of a simplistic dog-eat-dog system of "winner takes all." Rule by the biggest bullies eventually causes economic collapse.
You can't keep doing exactly the same thing and expect different results. Chaos is the government system they want, until the house burns down & they start complaining about poor firefighter service.
Unseal our president's college records, previous addresses, the source of the 6 different SS#s he has used, his application for US citizenship upon returning from Indonesia, the reason why he and Michelle relinguished their law licenses, what passport he used to travel to Pakistan. All you worshippers.....aren't you even a little bit curious why he has sealed all his records?
It's hard to understand how this guy, who thinks its fair and equitable that he makes gazzillions of dollars but pays a smaller marginal tax rate than a factory worker, could be seen as some one who will champion the middle class.
What the hell don't you understand about tax rates on income and tax rates on capital gains?
I understand that buying and selling stocks is no different than buying and selling any other commodity, yet every other commodity doesn't get preferential tax treatment.
ben, I certainly understand it, however, has nothing to do with capital gains and everything to do with trustworthiness. Hidden money with no explanation is a moral crime.
Show me the money mitt.
Funny how Willard views the annual 10% extortion payment that he makes to his cult as part of the "taxes" that he pays.
Ben, can you give me a good reason why capital gains should be taxed at a lower rate than wages?
Hidden money?? Moral crime??? Explain please why the IRS has not discovered any wrong doing? Isn't that their job???? Don't you think multi-millionaires get scrutiny?
Following the letter of the law is a crime now? Would you allow some to take advantage of the tax code and not allow some others?
@Al -- Is that question for real? It's the law. Don't like it change then start a grassroots campaign to change it. The left should be screaming for tax reform but oops I forgot there are more rich democrats than there are republicans.
Dodging and not answering the question noted Ben. Have a nice day!
Here are some of my ideas for tax reform:
Eliminate the lower tax rate for corporate dividends for individuals and instead allow the corporation to deduct the dividends and make them fully tasxable to the recipient. That way coproations hoarding cash will have a tax incentive to distribute the cash.
Allow the lower Bush capital gains rate to expire, keeping the 20% Clinton rates. That is still a deduction over regular tax rates.
Allow an above the line deduction for FICA taxes paid on wages. It is payments an individual makes for retirement, why shouldn't it get the same tax treatment as an IRA.
Allow all cars to be normally depreciated over 5 years just like any other 5 year asset. Let's get rid of that stupid incentive to buy gas guzzling SUV's and level the playing field for more economical cars.
There happy?
Come on Ben, don't be so naive. The IRS are tackling offshore accounts of people avoiding taxes, but its not like others don't slip passed them. Mittens has been doing this for years. IRS needs a good reason to audit.
There will be tax reform once the Bush tax cuts are done.
And can you prove that there are more rich DEMs than GOP? House has been controlled by the GOP so its not like any bills for tax reform are going to be approved in the HOR.
kimposibl - me thinks the IRS NOW has a good reason to audit the Mitts!
Amy B. Portland, ME
Mitt Romney supported the American involvement Vietnam War and showed it by going to France for two years of missionary work. What a "leader!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where did the jackass in the WH serve? Please tell us Amy. Was he a spear chucker in the Kenyan army? I don't think so, I believe he never served at all. He was a community organizer, big mouth!! But he has no problems sending boys to die in Afghanistan and Iraq. You believe his bull@!$%#. Cause you're stupid.
I can't understand why so many think "taxes on capital gains" allows the income to be taxed twice. That's just a gwaddamned lie. If I buy a "Bulldozer" with my own money I can write it off. Once my purchase amount is written off, then the money I earn, after valid expenses, is taxed as normal income. Several years ago, before everything financial went to hell, I bought a prime piece of property at a ridiculously low price. Spent a relative small amount in improvements and held It. After some time I sold It at a ridiculously high price. After I deducted the original amount, plus the improvements, and realtor fees, I only had to pay, about 14 or 14.5% in capital gains taxes. I damn sure have to pay much more on income earned with my equipment. What the hell is the difference? Yes; I could have lost all or part of my property investment. Also I could loose all, or part of the money I paid for the Dozer. Where the hell is the difference? There isn't any. Those that claim there is, are either dumb to the subject, or lying in order to gain more by trumped up special privilege. Capital gains should be taxed as normal income, which it is, that is, unless It's people like Willard Romney, who have stolen it, then those must be tried and jailed.
kenva - Our President, unlike Mitts, wasn't of draftable age when the war in Vietnam was going on. He DIDN'T vote for the war. He voted AGAINST the war in Iraq.
He has gotten us out of Iraq and is getting us out of Afghanistan - on a schedule that helps protect our troops and the people of Afghanistan.
The Spear Chucker comment show you to be the FILTH you are!
Obama/Biden 2012
Ben,,, I've read your posts. Are you a troll?
Yes Romney's taxes are important but let us all NOT FORGET his Norqist pledge!, this is a Politican that has made a pledge to an outside organization along with his other REPUBLICAN counter parts, I would never vote for someone that our country comes second in his priority !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAKE UP AMERICA !!!!!!!!!!!! IS THIS A SECRET GOVERNMENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANYONE THAT SIGNED SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM OUR GOVERNMENT !!!!!!!!!!!! SHOULD SOMEONE THAT WE KNOW HAS HIDEN HIS INCOME BE ALLOWED TO RUN OUR COUNTRY ???????????
how about he didnt vote at all! most of his time as a freshman senator was a waste as he didnt vote very much because at that time he was already being prepared for the presidency so if he was to vote that might look bad when he became president.
he didnt do nothing for iraq, they already had time limits before obama stepped in the door and i think we are still in afganistan and pakistan and we went to libya and yemem and now were probably going to syria next. so hows your warmonger boy obama doing now? im sure you will say bush lied us into iraq but at the same time say obama didnt lie us into libya, right?
Hmmm, time limits...
George W. Bush (May 1, 2003):
"Mission accomplished"
you do realize that that 'mission accomplished' photo op had nothing to do with winning the battle in iraq right? it was for a specific mission that carrier had and they completed the mission with success and so a huge photo op for bush. if you bothered to actually listen to his speech he made it clear why he was there and he didnt say anything about the iraq battle being won but i guess its easier for you to just repeat the lies.
I have never payed less than 15% and that was decades ago. Then Rush Lamo got a tax cut and my taxes tripled. We were all told that wasn't going to happen under the new " tax reform " law but oh well...
I love the way the Republicans here are all about following the letter of the law and not one inch more.
Where were they when people were screaming for Obama to show his birth certificate, or when talk radio hosts call for Obama to release his college transcripts, despite neither being legally required?
Oh right, it's the same people!
I shall now use their same argument against them: just show it to end the controversy, otherwise it's clear you're hiding something.
I see you're still trolling. No matter, it's only a matter of time until you're banned.
Your comment is false. If you had been old enough to watch the speech live, or clever enough to know that the speech's transcript is available online, you could see that. Here are some quotes from his speech that day:
Perhaps you just dropped out of school and don't understand English. "Prevailed" means that we won.
I just thought of a drinking game (for you): the next time you post a comment that is false, take a drink. You'll quickly die of alcohol poisoning.
Why doesn't anyone qualified to be president run? What a piece of sh_t
For the simple reason that if you're financially successful the left will drag you through the mud. If you're not the right will.
MV-skeptic: Have you seen Obama age to silver hair in three years? Many people run from the notion of public office because it pays poorly, is utterly thankless and extremely stressful.
I think only two kinds of people run for public office: 1) those who crave power, and 2) those who want to serve.
Romney is one of the former; Obama is one of the latter, and there are few like him left. Just look how viciously he's been attacked since 2008, and how Republicans in Congress on the day he was inaugurated agreed to just say no to every proposal he's made.
Would YOU want the job?
Romney is still hiding something! An honest, law abiding citizen would not have a problem showing his tax returns for the past 10 years.
I think he has obeyed the law, but does not want to reveal the ways he avoided taxes because it would be political suicide. Therefore, he is going to take the hit from the independents and true conservatives that understand that if you have nothing to hide, you don't try to hide anything. Romney is hiding something, and we all know it.
I'm an independent and Romney is getting my vote. How did Barack Obama, a person of limited resources, pay for college? Do you think, having a father that is not a U.S. citizen, that he signed up as a foreign student to get foreign aid?
What on earth could be more benign than a college admission paper?
I'll borrow your words, "if you have nothing to hide, you don't try to hide anything."
lol hs321.... He paid for college like all middle class citizens: taking out student loans. He and Michelle JUST finished paying off their student loans like a month ago. How stupid are you? You think that the fed gov't gives out free rides to college?? Come on, this isn't Europe or Canada. As for foreign aid... well, I'm not sure where to begin with that. I'm just going to assume you're spouting out nonsense.
Why in the heck would he need to present a college admissions letter????!!!! WTF does that have to do with the economy?? You're an Independent because you're stupid and can't decide which grounds to stand on. Just like Flip Flop Mittens.
hs321 - President Obama got student loans which he paid off in their entirety about a year after he became President.
Again you idiot - college admission papers are shredded shortly after you enter school. His transcripts - like everyone's, including mine, are sealed.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND NOW?????
kimposibl - don't go knocking Independents. I'm one. I just don't believe any one party has all the answers. However, I certainly KNOW the GOP - at this point - has NONE of the answers!
Obama/Biden 2012
kimposibl and SpeekingInsanity need to get their stories together ..... one says Obama just finished paying off his student loans and the other says he did it in one year.
Who's lying ? Is kimposibl lying ? Is SeekingSanity lying ?? Could it be that neither one is really telling the truth ???
Show us his college records ! What is Obama hiding ? Did he lie on his application for admission ?? Was he presented as being from Kenya like the original introduction to his book once claimed ? Who is lying about that ??
Jim-1455434 I think you should go back and reread their posts and then rethink your comments. Reading without comprehension is a dangerous thing.
Yes Romney's taxes are important but let us all NOT FORGET his Norqist pledge!, this is a Politician that has made a pledge to an outside organization along with his other REPUBLICAN counter parts, I would never vote for someone that our country comes second in his priority !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAKE UP AMERICA !!!!!!!!!!!! IS THIS A SECRET GOVERNMENT !!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANYONE THAT SIGNED SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM OUR GOVERNMENT !!!!!!!!!!!! WHY HAS THAT PLEDGE BEEN SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET, HAVE THESE REPUBLICANS POLITICIANS GOT THAT MUCH POWER !!!!!!!!!!
lmao. my bad. SeekingSanity and I both lied. An article in April 2012 was published with Obama saying that he only finished paying off student loans 8 years ago.... So 8 years ago from 2012. So he was 43 when he and Michelle finished paying off their loans....
#.UC1mcHkTPTo
also, sorry SeekingSanity for calling Independents stupid. I guess its better to vote by platform and NOT partisan lines.....
how did obama get loans with no job? i far as i know he has never held a private job and was not terribly wealthy. so where did the backing come from for him to be approved for loans? you cant just get a loan with no collateral and/or verified work experience, co-signer, i sure couldnt.
there was never much talk about the 'real' obama during the election and he was a nobody before then. all i heard was 'pie in the sky' talk from both him and the media. so who is obama?
i can't post links for proof of story. just google "Obama pays off student loans"
swagganaut, he was a senator before he became president. lots of students have no job and take out loans. private lenders will give it to ANYONE because they'll be jumping up and down when repayment comes along. as for cosigner, idk who he put down and frankly don't care.
kinda weak there kim, when i applied for federal student loans i had to have a job and needed my parents financials to back me. i had to hop through hoops and i still got diddly squat cause my parents made too much even though they really didnt. where did obama get his backing from? simple questions that deserve straight answers but obama cant answer alot of questions and the ones he does answer are kinda not really an answer but the usual double speak.
i dont trust someone who cant answer truthfully and as i dont trust obama i also dont trust romney but obama has already proven to be incompetent at the job, so i guess our alternative is romney or just give up already.
Actually Swagganaut, your argument is the weak one. I put myself through both college and law school with federal student loans and didn't have a "real" job until after school. I did work study in college and you're not even allowed to have a job first year of law school (you can second and third years). So your argument that you needed to have a job and your parent's financials shows what a privileged kid you were. Many people don't have their parents to help them, and only if your parents can help you do you have to show that.
Perhaps you need to learn more about how these things work before you proclaim yourself to be an expert. If you don't trust someone who can't answer truthfully I guess that means you'll never vote for Romney. He flip flops on every issue. But somehow I figure that when it comes to Romney you're ok with it even though your not ok with Obama. Hypocrite.
I had no job when I got my first $5,000 loan check to attend law school. In that moment, it sure felt like manna from heaven, free money, freedom for the rest of my life!
Eventually i had three loans--one per year-- and Congress neglected to renew legislation to merge them into one payment the year I graduated.
For the next 10 years as a lower paid government deputy district attorney, I made three payments on my law school loans every month. I was 43 when they were finally paid off, so Obama and I tracked much the same.
Only once you started law school then, banks started throwing credit cards at me--literally two dozen. Those--as word of warning to those who recklessly accept credit--I am still paying! So the Obamas prove to be a lot smarter.
Considering that the one year he did release was not complete leads me to wonder also what is he hiding. My bet is he received amnesty for lying about his foreign holdings not reported on his taxes.
So Mr. Romney says that he went back and looked at his tax returns and that's how he knows he didn't pay less than 13%? Keep talking! You're adding more fuel to the fire!
He is simply not a very bright person, or he would have gotten this out of the way a long time ago. Both he and his stupid wife keep bringing it up, taking them off message, and compounding the (correct) perception that Willard Romney is privileged. He doesn't have to follow the same rules as ordinary Americans, nor does he have to pay the same rates. He doesn't understand why working folks do not believe his attempts to portray himself as a regular guy. He's a fake.
You are right Starderup. Romney is very bad at politics and his advisers apparently aren't much better. The only people that matter here are the independents, and most of them have their minds made up already. Many are going to vote for Obama no matter what and many are going to vote for Romney, regardless of how much taxes he paid.
The Romney campaign should completely ignore the issue and instead focus on Obama's record.
FAKE ?
no, Bishop Willard is a FRAUD & the proof lies at his own feet .
The"man" is a cheater, liar, thief & sociopath AND a BISHOP in the MORMON "Church"
he is a pillar of mush & equivocation .
He is so full of SLIME he shines !
What's wrong with paying an effective rate of 13%? As the article states, much of his income was investments which are taxed at a lower rate. If you add in all the deductions such as children, mortgage, donations, etc. then it's really no surprise. Why the fuss? Romney hit the nail on the head though when he listed the bigger issues. His effective tax rate means absolutely nothing as long as he didn't break the law. He's said in the past that his taxes had been audited. I don't recall any issues coming out of that. Also, the dig about being a bishop only adds to his positive character. He's a good and honest man if you really look at the facts and are not blinded by the media.
From the "Understanding Mitt Meme":
"I know how hard it is to put food on the table.... That's why I have servants to do it for me."
yeah whats between those periods kim? are you sure you didnt take that out of context.
Yeah. I think Harry knew just what he was doing.
Kimposibl- I swear that is just the kind of thing he would say and pretend he was joking.
John McCain, after seeing twenty years of Romney's taxes, dropped Romney for Sarah Palin...
So Romney just want us to trust him on his taxes... OK, like Reagan said, "Trust but verify."
This from a guy who wants to eliminate the capital gains tax, the mortgage deduction tax and the employee health insurance exemption. A huge tax cut for him so he can pay even less than that and an increase for me when I already pay nearly twice the rate he pays. This guy is scary.
dodiny
oh, but you aren't a "job creator," which is why investors pay less tax, because they create jobs, or, they used to create jobs...so that's why they need tax cuts, so they will feel like creating jobs again. See, I pay attention when Republicans explain their policies.
Amy - I started and own my own business with 71 current employees. And you?
amy- you mean "trickle down economics"? that's great. so when they move productions overseas, is that considered "trickle down economics"? I'd support less tax on capital gains if it meant keeping jobs in the US, but guess what the reality is, sweethart, companies are outsourcing and keeping their pockets full with their tax breaks.
Ignorance is truly bliss.
kimposibl - President Obama's jobs bill proposal - which the GOP refuses to bring up for a vote - proposes raising taxes on those sending jobs overseas and giving tax breaks to those who bring jobs back from overseas!
Obama/Biden 2012