Mitt Romney is obviously committed to keeping his tax returns hidden, despite calls from members of his own party to disclose more materials. Even Bill Kristol has called Romney's position "crazy."
But some in the GOP are backing Romney's secrecy.
"Let's say Mitt Romney released 100 years of tax returns tonight," said Alex Castellanos, a Republican media consultant who advised Romney in 2008. "What do you think the odds are that the Obama campaign would say, 'Oh great Mitt. Thank you! Now we can put that behind us and move on to more substantive issues like entitlement reform!' Zero."
Added Castellanos: "I'd advise Mitt to release 10 years of tax returns when Obama releases 10 years of birth certificates."
Castellanos liked this line so much, he put it on Twitter.
There are a couple of angles to this to keep in mind. The first is that really are legitimate questions that voters deserve answers to, and those answers are only available in the documents Romney is inexplicably keeping secret. No one is characterizing this as some kind of procedural hurdle that must be cleared; it's about resolving lingering, relevant questions about Romney's background.
Indeed, Romney publicly gave his word, on camera, that he would "go back and look" to let us know what tax rates he paid over the last decade, and it now appears the candidate will break that commitment without explanation.
Second, I'm not sure if Castellanos understands this, but when someone is born, they get one birth certificate. Since humans are only born once, and we don't get new birth certificates every year on our birthday, there's no such thing as "10 years of birth certificates."
Leave a Comment:
Castellanos ya stupid dick.
You make it so easy for us to put it on the front burner again. Please keep talking about it , we would love to discuss it.
The campaign for High School president ain't going too well is it Mitt?
Exactly. :D
Willard - show us the long-form worth-certificates!
;-)
Castellanos, speaking in the vegetable section of a local supermarket, said, "My fellow Republicans! Just because Obama has produced- ha ha, I made a pun, friends!-a birth certificate does NOT mean he is human! Why, my dog has a pedigree, and his sire and bitch- sorry, mom!-are on it. We ask- no, we demand- to see Obama's DNA! 10 year's worth. . .
Derp
Steve!! the guy is birther what more proof do you want?
President Obama should just copy ten copies of his birth certificate and then hand them to him.
The stupidity is amazing.
I'm surprised he can string 2 sentences together
"The wonder is not that he does it well, but that he can even do it."
That's cool. As long as we keep talking about Mitt's refusal to release his tax returns, they can say whatever crap they want.
How is this not race baiting? 10 years of birth certificates? Are you implying he has 10 years or fake birth certificates or was born 10 times. Also, was Mitt paying taxes in 1912? What?
It is just word salad meets a leaf blower.
I do kind of get it, though. Even in a best-case scenario for Romney, he releases ten years of tax returns that show he paid a 13% rate or so, with countless write-offs and such. The Dems will run an attack ad that says, "Romney only paid 13%!" No different than "Romney won't release his tax returns!" And certainly better than the worst-case scenario: "Romney paid no taxes in Year..."
The Romney campaign's probably made the calculation that the current level of attack is something they can withstand and get over, or at least is the least damaging of the possibilities. so if they don't have to release those taxes, they won't.
Honestly, this is kind of a "meh" as political issues go; we already know that rich people evade taxes, and we know Romney's rich. Now, a debate and discussion of Romney's tax PLANS, however, is a much bigger and more important debate in the long run.
Here's the thing, though, dudenextdoor, I may know that rich people in general are tax dodgers - but do I want one as POTUS? The president is supposed to exemplify what being American is all about - do I want a secretive tax dodger as president? No.
do I want a secretive tax dodger as president?
There's a bumper sticker in there somewhere. . .
Wow! We already know the rich cheat on their taxes so we should vote for the guy we know that about?
We know people go 10 miles over the speed limit and we know folks smoke pot and we know people shoplift. Do we just look over the top of that, too, and vote for the next tax evading, speeding, pot head thief who applies for the job?
If we could at least START with an honest president, it'd be a good thing....
@JanH: I'm not saying we should vote for him. Face it, most of us here have already long ago decided we're voting for Obama. I'm saying, from a swing voter's perspective, or a Republican one for that matter, "Romney's shifty" is already a part of the calculation. If it hasn't already dissuaded people from voting for him, neither is his persistence on not releasing the tax forms at this point. Hell, some Republicans probably actually like that he's dishonest, if they think he can weasel his way into winning and then immediately strike out on an extremist's agenda.
It's like when Christian fundies "lie for Jesus," only it's the rich person's version. He doesn't release his tax returns, he tells us to trust him on what's in them, few people on either side believe him, but some people think, "He probably evaded taxes big time and wants to lower taxes even further... If I vote for him, I probably won't have to pay as much in taxes!" It's not necessarily a smart calculation, but it's there nonetheless: he's betting that people will vote their pocketbook before they vote their conscience.
Personally I think Obama should walk over to Romney at the first debate and hand him a huge stack of paperwork--his birth certificate, every tax return he's ever filed, academic transcripts going all the way back to kindergarten, all his insurance policies, every job application he's ever filled out, just everything. That would be awesome.
Acadamec transcripts? Ha, never happen.
Not for nothing, Joe's response is rich given his spelling of "academic."
Always nice to have one of the droolers come along and give us our daily demonstration of how stupid stupid has to be to be stupid enough to be one of them. Thanks, Joe. Did you learn reedin' an' rytin' through the Whole Language program?
Now, now stupid is as stupid does. I think that's how it goes. Not sure.
Hell, I'm impressed that Joe didn't write 'macadamia transcripts'.
Castellanos has a reputation for being more temperate. The man sounds not only desperate, but totally drunk.
Remember him practically patting Rachel on the head and saying "calm down, little girl" on Meet the Press? He's also a blowhard.
@JanH, I don't watch MTP, but I've seen Castellanos on CNN. He certainly was partisan, but he didn't seem outrageous. I didn't remember hearing about his being a pig with Rachel. Apparently he can't handle pressure.
Does he actually think he can win by saying absolutely nothing and just running on The Republican ticket, which means absolutely nothing? Democrats are way more conservative than Republicans are at the present moment. Alot more intellegient too. Does he think he can win on his good looks and charisma, alone? If people actually vote for him, it'll be like driving your car with blind folds on. How long can he run on false premises and rubber and glue tactics? He's a copy cat who thinks he is one step ahead of President Obama, especially when he thinks people won't notice that he's being very negative towards the President. All they have are leftover Republican tricks that no longer work. The only way he will win this race is if he cheats, which is exactly what he has reverted to. And everyone sees what he is doing. Especially The God he doesn't believe in.
I'd say 10 years of Romneys Tax records for Obama's college transcripts is fair. But then again, theres probably some valid reason why Obama spent millions locking up his college transcripts.
I thought the right slogan was he spent millions locking up birth certificate?why transcripts now?
You know he was president of Harvard law review,the most prestigious student governing office in the country---How do you think,he got there?
Oh boy, the right wing's rationalization will always amaze the gallery.
ah, show that Obama spent millions locking up his college transcripts, Joe Smith. I'm waiting. Please do show that every teacher who had him is lying, etc.
But as all liars, you can't. You lie thinking that it is somehow your right to deny other people the chance to make a informed decision by passing along such stupidity when you haven't even taken the time to find out the truth yourself. You are so very scared of Obama that you have decided to believe anything at all that supports your ignorant position.
Really, this transcript thing is getting old. He has spent nothing; there is no "lockup". His records, as well as every college student and alumnus in the nation, are protected by federal privacy laws. He doesn't have to spend a dime to keep them private.
Thank you for marking the hydrant for us, the drool is about to hit the pavement.
All you got is the transcripts, that's all you got? What happened to the word academic?
Has Romney released his college transcripts? Maybe he has, but I haven't heard about it if he did. I know he's never been asked for his birth certificate. WHY is Obama continually asked for more records than anyone else? Could it be because he's the first *gasp* President born in Hawaii? I can't IMAGINE what else might be different from him.... /sarcasm
I don't, when he discloses the same number of years Obama did for taxes, then they can discuss disclosing transcripts. Apples to Apples.
For Romney, the presidency seems to be all about getting there. Like finishing a Mario Brothers video game & rescuing the princess. What about his agenda for AFTER he gets there? The calendar for January 21 does not say "Game Over, you win," more like "You won, now work your butt off for the next 4 years."
This game is terrifying to all of us who are barely hanging on & struggling to make ends meet. Even more terrifying for those of us who will be reaching retirement age in the next 10-20 years. Will my retirement home be a cardboard box on the sidewalk?
He plans to rubber and glue Bush. He's out shopping for the cowboy hat right now.
If there is nothing wrong in the tax returns then they will say, that's great, lets move on. Obama (and everyone else's) returns have been disclosed without much fanfare.
This is about equity, didn't Romney say 'sauce for the goose, sauce for the gander?' Why is this any different?
Disclaimer: I am not American, I am just really interested in American politics, so I have no 'skin in the game.' Just like to see fair play.
Fair play and the Romney machine have zero in common.
They never have played fair, they think they have every right to tackle people pin them down and cut their hair off. They still are walking around believing that they are entitled to sell The American people down the river and make them work for nothing, and have nothing to show for it, and lose everything they ever worked for. They believe because they have lots of money that they can somehow treat the rest of us like rubbish and not even take the time to talk to us. It's worked in the past but, it may never work again.
I say Romney release 3 years more of tax returns and Obama and his admin release a yearly budget and discuss why he hasn't in 3 years.
What does a budget have to do with anything? And do you really think that anything Obama presents to congress has a fair chance at getting enacted?
You do realize that all the government spending on social programs - welfare, etc., combined, is not even a drop in the bucket compared to corporate welfare, and pork barrel defense spending?
Why don't you @!$%#s quit spewing out all this bull@!$%# about the deficit, and gubmint, and blah blah blah.
Step up and be a man, tell us the real reason you hate Obama. Because if you were actually serious about fiscal conservatism, you'd have said and done the same things you are doing now during the Bu$h years.
You are a fraud of the highest order.
Because, a budget is a heck a lot more important, than tax returns. You cant spend and spend without a budget; a business or government will fail with that kind of fiscal irresponsibility. Please respond maturely.
Aris More, this one's easy - ask, and you shall receive:
Fiscal Year 2013, Budget of the U.S. Government:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2013/assets/budget.pdf
Fiscal Year 2012, Budget of the U.S. Government:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BUDGET-2012-BUD/pdf/BUDGET-2012-BUD.pdf
Fiscal Year 2011, Budget of the U.S. Government:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BUDGET-2011-BUD/pdf/BUDGET-2011-BUD.pdf
Fiscal Year 2010, Budget of the U.S. Government:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BUDGET-2010-BUD/pdf/BUDGET-2010-BUD.pdf
Read more on budget issues - Office of Management and Budget:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
Okay, now it's Mitt's turn to release his tax returns.
And another idiot who slept through "How A Bill Becomes A Law" back in high school comes to the party, intellectually disarmed. Knocking down hapless idiots like you is getting boring, but perhaps if I put it in simple words, even a moron like you will understand: The President Does Not Pass A Budget. The Congress Passes A Budget. And Then After That The President Signs It.
Perhaps you should ask that drooler you sent to Congress why he hasn't done what the rules require.
Oh, and thanks for the daily demonstration that there isn't one of you fools with the brains to find the zipper on your fly with both hands on a clear day. Not that you'd know what to do with it if you could find it.
Republicans have actually turned into the big spenders, it's not easy playing war and trying to take other Countrys' oil. The Republicans have cost us alot of money and they want to keep increasing the deficit with more wars. Plus all those big bonuses they keep giving themselves are making them the richest people on Earth. I don't own an indoor car elevator, do you? Wake up and open your eyes and see who the big spenders really are. They have outsourced all our jobs to put more money in their pockets. They are not sharing their wealth, and they don't pay as much in taxes as The Middle Class. Of Course they're gonna lie, they are used to The american taxpayers paying for their salaries, while they go on vacations for another month. Must be nice. Meanwhile there are people who aren't going to the doctor because they have to put food on their table for their children. The budget and the deficit are just words, to distract us, what are words for? When noone listens at all. Do you hear me, do you care?
Yes, Aris More, as if government and business finance is the same. I bet you really did believe Bu$h when he said he was going to be a CEO president. Your straw man arguments and false equivalencies are the immature aspect of this conversation.
Again, surprise me and do something no conservative has yet to do: Step up and be a man, admit your real reason you hate Obama.
And one more thing: Please explain to me why you think the economic philosophy you espouse, supply-side, trickle down economics, which has been an abject and dismal failure for 90+% of the population since the 80s, is somehow going to start magically working?
"10 years of birth certificates."
Was meant as snark. They have no connection to reality so it always comes out as sounding really stupid and or pathetic. Like but not limited to this example of stupid.
Remember that grand old month of March when elementary school authorities would allow the possession of marbles, from cateyes to clearies, to play the sportsman game of agates?
Well, usually there were one or two in the circuit of marblers who just couldn't shoot straight or bring competitive skills to the proceedings no matter what exotic collection of marbles they possessed. Usually as a result of their skill deficiency they would wreck confusion upon the game and mash-up the sportsman spirit!
And those malcontent, got nothing to bring to the game, mad-marblers my folks are emblematic of today' Republican brand!
Watch as these Republican political desperadoes keep throwing their marbles at everyone they perceive as better players, while bringing down the value of that grand old month of yore!
People like the dear Mr. Castellanos have lost their marbles because they are maliciously throwing them at others! -Kevo
If he releases more tax returns, then liberals, obama, and Maddow will pounce on him for taking advantage of the tax code. This is not illegal but the Maddow uses language on her daily show that will make it "sound" illegal or a valid argument. Let us stick to real issues Maddow. She mentions how Romney should not run on his governor or Olympic record, yet she never gives the viewers information about Obama's record. Obama's record is undeniably poor. She discusses in great length about Romney but never mentions the foul, deceptive, and hateful things Obama has done or said. Example, Obama said, Back in May, during a televised speech that Goldman Sachs will be made accountable. But, the DOJ dropped it last week. Why Maddow? TEll us Why?? that is your job! Maddow please be a responsible journalist but not a biased, irresponsible host. Thank you though, some of us independent have decided not to vote for Obama or watch your unjust show. The American people want the truth about both sides!!
I'm forced to doubt that you are in pursuit of truth or justice. You sound rather like another self absorbed POS, the sooner you can admit that the better off you'll be!
Im in pursuit of shared justice, not shared prosperity. Can you honestly explain why or feel good about Obama and his admin not going after the Goldman Sachs executives?
No, I don't feel good about it and I wrote to the President this morning and said the decision should be changed. Matt Taibbi may be right or there may not be evidence that would hold. Not sure which I want more...the Justice Dept to protect voter rights for this election and the future or to charge Goldman Sachs. Who else can bring charges against GS? Which other WS fiancier groups is under investigation? So, if you really are an independent, you ought to know this isn't a decision to be made on one issue. I hope you will reconsider your choice and realize the President must be re-elected or whatever Goldman Sachs did or didn't do will just be repeated without any challenge by Romney and your vote may be the next to be disallowed.
if Romney's tax forms are all in order and only take advantage of the tax code, there will be no problems. It is cute when you want to make strawman claims, dear Aris. The debate woudl then be what is wrong with the tax code. YOu make claims that "obama's record is undeniably poor" with as usual, no evidence whatsoever to support your baseless claims. IF you think Obama's record is undeniably poor, then you surely have some evidence supporting tht right? So where is it? No more vague accusations, Aris, put up or shut up. Can you show that it was Obama who directly said drop the case against GS? No? Then why lay it on his doorstep? OH yes, because you have nothing else. And it's very cute to see you are not for "shared prosperity". Oh my, it's just you who will for the health research you use, for the infrastructure that allows you to get to work, that allows goods and services to reach you, etc. The selfishness is not unexpected at all. If you are indeed for justice, then explain why you lie and accept lies from people like Romney?
*Maybe* not illegal, but what about unethical? Do you want an unethical person in the White House, poised to send nukes anywhere in the world?
You're not even good enough a troll to be in charge of wiping up Shooter's drool. Go back to troll pre-school, where your moron stupidity won't be so blindingly obvious.
Aris more (or less) - maybe you could explain how you can be so certain that all there is in those missing tax records is evidence of "taking advantage of the tax code" and not something illegal?
After all, and I've been hammering this often lately, the significant item missing from the INCOMPLETE tax year he's already released (and when, exactly, is he going to release the "other" one - the day before the election?) is a form called the FBAR, which relates the details of his foreign account holdings. My suspicion is that he was cheating on his taxes by hiding money in foreign (Swiss, Cayman, etc.) accounts, and perhaps took advantage of the IRS amnesty program for tax cheats (which would be shown in the returns for prior years WHICH HE'S HIDING... hmmm). Or maybe, at best, he paid his taxes "retroactively"?
Who knows (besides Willard, the IRS, and Sen. McCain's vetting staff)? Maybe he's the majority stockholder in Shanghai Puppy and Kitten Skins, Ltd.? Maybe there's really nothing wrong, but in that case, why's he hiding them?
It would be so simple, so demonstrably quick and easy for him to put all our suspicions to rest. That's the part that's so obviously suspect - he's not really standing on any particular principle here - nobody's asking him to do anything that any modern Presidential candidate hasn't already done.
People trying to buy a house have to show more - complete - tax returns than Willard has, and he's trying to buy the White House, "for Pete's sake"! It's not like he couldn't do it, or doesn't have the information - he already released them to Sen. McCain when the McCain campaign was considering Vice Presidential candidates. They saw Willard's returns, and they picked... oh, right. :D
Come on, Willard - I say your money's all foreign! Show us your long-form worth-certificates!
;-)
Aris More - the SEC may have dropped this case against Goldman, however, under the Obama administration, Goldman Sachs has paid a $500,000,000 fine. And there have been several enforcement actions brought against financial firms:
SEC - Financial Crisis Enforcement Actions:
http://sec.gov/spotlight/enf-actions-fc.shtml
But seriously, what about Romney/Ryan makes you think that ticket will be better, not worse, on this issue? Romney has stated he supports repealing Dodd-Frank and wants to loosen regulations across the board. Do you really believe that Romney - who won't even release his tax returns, and who made his stash through brutal corporate practices, is going to get in and make SEC enformcement a priority? Romney has pledged to roll back regulations, not strengthen them.
I wish all those involved in that 2008 crash would be severely fined.
I wish there could be a specific point made besides "everyone knows the president is a failure" Well, what would happen if we bailed out foreclosure with some forgiveness ( fro Bible folks-isn't it Biblical to forgive debt every 7 years or something?) of whatever amount the interest rate adjustment, just apply for that. If we can bailout those that gambled on lending, then how about a bone to the borrowers?
Jamie Dimon keeps taking his money after tanking investments. And he kept his job? http://www.forbes.com/sites/thestreet/2012/07/18/jpmorgan-fire-jamie-dimon/ the site takes a few seconds, for some reason, excerpt:
I wish we could admit that we all got carried away with flipping houses and driving up prices, so much that the next generation has to wait as the price was astronomical.
How about admitting that Congress is NOT doing anything for jobs? How about admitting huge businesses and Execs are sitting on piles of capital, untaxed and just "waiting" it out? Are they waiting for a guarantee of a bailout if they f up again?
And Rmoney will do it all over again… but with lower tax rates for capital gains, repeal ACA and hand Granny a coupon.
But we're supposed to just trust what he wants to tell us about his taxes. And trust that his plan is not Ryan's plan, but it's the same/close to identical.
Yes. Every seventh year is a sabbath year in which debts are to be forgiven (Deuteronomy 15:1-3), land is to lie fallow (Exodus 23:10-11), and slaves are to be freed (Deuteronomy 15:12). And to the seventh sabbath year was added the return of lands to their ancestral owners (Leviticus 25:13-17).
I don't really see our right-wing ultra-capitalists ever going for a scheme like that. Much too leveling for their tastes. But what's the old saying? "When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?"
Yeah, the birth certificate was released, the tax returns? Not so much..
Fail!
Simple way to keep your financial info private: Don't run for office. Otherwise, yes, it's fair game, or "ammunition." Don't the voters need to know how you manage your personal finances to judge whether you would be a good manager of our country's finances? Why should we take your word for it? Did Ted Bundy's victims take his word for it that he was a nice guy?
Obama releases 10 yrs. of birth certificate? He probably thinks the president have so many forge BC we may have to sort through the real one.
And another graduate of Whole Language larnin' to reed 'n' ryt comes along. But thanks for the daily demonstration of how stupid stupid has to be to be an airheaded bimbo like you. I take it your "avatar' is the car you'd like to drive if you had the brains to pass the driving test?
Do you know how dam stupid that sounds, ten years of birth certificates. Everyday Mitt Romney hides his tax returns, it only is saying to people "What is he hiding"?. Can Mitt Romney be trusted?
I'm calling my Mom for my other nine birth certificates.
If 'stupid' could fund campaigns, the GOP would have saved its billionaire donors boatloads of money.
The guy or gal who comes up with a 'mute stupidity and lies' button for remotes - before it gets heard - will make a fortune.
And to add to the blog:
Third, this statement surely broadcasts and confirms, without any more doubt, that screaming for birth certificates and transcripts was clearly, and undeniably, the GOP's way of engaging us all in the most dishonest line of discourse any of us have encountered in our lifetimes.
(If any public resources of any kind, any where, were used in this defamatory process, those using them should have to pay back every penny to the public - straight out of the pockets of those who did it.)
I bet right now Alex Castellanos is looking for a way to delete his tweet.
What a dope. 10 years of birth certificates… ugh… sad, just sad.
Well, to be fair, he hangs around people who like to talk a lot about being born again (and again and again and again, apparently).