Just this morning, I noted that Mitt 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. The good news is, Romney really did "go back and look," and elaborated on the findings today.
The bad news is, his answer was horrible.
For those who can't watch clips online:
"...I did go back and look at my taxes and over the past 10 years I never paid less than 13 percent. I think the most recent year is 13.6 or something like that. So I paid taxes every single year. Harry Reid's charge is totally false. I'm sure waiting for Harry to put up who it was that told him what he says they told him. I don't believe it for a minute, by the way. But every year I've paid at least 13 percent and if you add in addition the amount that goes to charity, why the number gets well above 20 percent."
Let's walk through the top five reasons this answer is woefully unacceptable.
1. Romney can prove this claim is accurate, and also prove that Reid is wrong, by releasing his tax returns (the tax returns he already turned over to John McCain). For reasons he can't explain, Romney still refuses. Today's response, at its root, comes down to, "trust me."
2. Romney isn't in a position to say "trust me" since he has a track record of making similar claims that turned out to be completely wrong.
3. Romney's answer only leads to more questions. He claims, without proof, to have paid "at least 13 percent" every year. But 13 percent of what? Does that cover total or taxable income? Maybe Romney would be happy to "go back and look" again?
4. Romney may not understand this, but 13 percent isn't a tax burden worth bragging about. Most of the middle class are not, by definition, multi multi-millionaires with car elevators, and they're paying a higher percentage of their incomes in taxes than Romney is. (Romney, if elected, intends to make sure he and his wealthy buddies continue to pay less than working people.)
And 5. Romney, by addressing the story in detail again today, keeps the story alive and steps on every other part of his message.
Bonus! 6. If you watch the clip, Romney describes interest in this issue as "very small-minded." He just insulted nearly two-thirds of the country.
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Going into his convention the questions continue about his wealth and Medicare. Neither have been answered and Romney's credibility as both a honest person and a conservative are at stake.
This is not the behavior of a "successful" business person. Voters are now going to be forced to look at how Romney said he made his money at Bain...again. It wasn't be because he was smart for sure.
This continuing doubt about Mitt and his qualifications are going to drag the rest of the people who are listed below his name on the ticket into question, too. How could they have nominated this person and be competent?
Ryan's Medicare voucher and proposed budget that raises taxes on the middle class while lowering them on the wealthy complicate matters even more. There just isn't anything Independents can find encouraging about either Romney or Ryan.
Why isn't network/anybody bringing out clips of Ronald Regan saying "Trust, but verify" in response to Mitt Romney wanting us to just trust him regarding his tax returns.
I can see the Obama commercials juxtaposing Mitt Romney and Regan
Romney's statement that his tax rate was more like 20% when you count his charitable contributions is outrageous.
You never add your charitable contributions to the amount of taxes paid. EVER. That statement was patently dishonest and Romney knows it.
He had absolutely no reason to lie - a 13% rate might be low, but as an effective tax rate, it's really not that low. I am not saying that I believe him, but he was in a scenario where he was telling us something we can in no way prove to be false.
But then he added the comment about adding the charitable contributions to the amount he paid. It was a cheap attempt to misdirect voters to associate him with a 20% tax rate, which is a rate far higher than what he pays, and that can only be derived by using some incredibly creative accounting. This statement proves what kind of campaign Romney is running and what kind of president he would be - completely and utterly dishonest.
The people that have the most to gain from a strong federal government pays the least in taxes. The U.S. protects their money, property and life style. Using every loop hole may be legal but is it the right thing to do. Last year his taxes were $4,000,000 but only paid $10,000 after the loop holes. People in the upper middle class paid as much in taxes as he did.
Romney, stinks, He is a baffling liar, And a backstabber to the presidential nominations!!!
He will ruin everything, anything, anyone & everywhere!!!
He will be our worst president, On everyone befits!!!
He has no right to cover-up, Or lie about the money, Or rigged the campaign, He has lied too much about everything!!!
He has been Too much, On being smug, Over speeches and statements.
I will never serve under, Mean, Cruel and Unpunished Madman!!!! That is all!!!! Peace!!!!
I’m not troubled about a Presidential Candidate who shows what he has. What troubles me is the Presidential Candidate who refuses to show something that all other Presidential Candidate’s have willingly shown the public since the 1967 Presidential Campaign by Governor George Romney showing 12 years of his tax returns.
The RNC is trying to spin the tale that the Democrats are trying to misdirect the people by continually asking for Mitt Romney’s 5 to 10 Years of Tax Returns, by taking the focus off the real issue which is “Jobs.” Just because the Republican’s say that Job’s are the main issue in the campaign doesn’t mean that Job’s are. To me and all of the people I know which are not Democrat’s, feel the primary concern is, why Mitt Romney refuses to show 5 to 10 years of past Tax Returns. Romney talks as if paying 13% or a tad more in taxes every year is what people should be focusing on. I for one could care less if Romney paid 13% taxes or not. My big question is, what will 5 to 10 years of past tax returns as well as his money placed in Grand Cayman, Bermuda, and Swiss secret bank accounts, “Uncover, Expose, and Disclose” in Mitt Romney’s “Secret Financial Life.”
It is felt that Romney has something to hide and unless he shows those tax returns, he is continuing to hide something that just may be illegal, thus encouraging more and more people demanding he show those tax returns or they will definitely show their voting ticket stamped for Barack Obama on Election Day.