New Bain questions to dog Romney

[ProSense]

New Bain questions to dog Romney

By Steve Benen

Though much of the nation's attention has shifted to the tragic overnight violence in Aurora, Colorado, the political world will apparently move forward. Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney had already scheduled a campaign event in New Hampshire, and his staff alerted reporters this morning that their plans have not changed.

With that in mind, there are new questions about the candidate's controversial private-sector background that deserve answers. The Boston Globe has this new report, for example, noting Romney's ongoing ties to Bain Capital after his departure in February 1999.

Interviews with a half-dozen of Romney's former partners and associates, as well as public records, show that he was not merely an absentee owner during this period. He signed dozens of company documents, including filings with regulators on a vast array of Bain's investment entities. And he drove the complex negotiations over his own large severance package, a deal that was critical to the firm's future without him, according to his former associates.

Indeed, by remaining CEO and sole shareholder, Romney held on to his leverage in the talks that resulted in his generous 10-year retirement package, according to former associates.

"The elephant in the room was not whether Mitt was involved in investment decisions but Mitt's retention of control of the firm and therefore his ability to extract a huge economic benefit by delaying his giving up of that control," said one former associate.

So, on the one hand, we see Mitt Romney telling voters, "I was in Utah full time. I had no responsibility for management at Bain Capital." On the other hand, we see evidence that Romney was not in Utah full time and had quite a few responsibilities for management of Bain Capital.

In the meantime, David Corn has a new report on Bain, during Romney's tenure, investing millions in a pair of companies that specialized in outsourcing high-tech manufacturing.

- more -

http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/20/12855194-new-bain-questions-to-dog-romney

Yes, Romney Perjured Himself
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002960206

[Fawke Em]

1. "Dog" Romney?

Unintentional irony.

[DCKit]

2. Totally intentional, and funny, too. nt

[flamingdem]

3. "Tax return issue continues to dog Romney" - the journalists are having fun

Mitt Romney isn't bowing to pressure to release more than two years' worth of tax returns, but the debate over the matter isn't going away. If anything, the dialogue is heating up as Romney's defenders push back and his opponents find new ways to keep the issue alive.

On Wednesday, Democratic Rep. Sandy Levin of Michigan announced that he is preparing legislation that would require presidential candidates to make public 10 years of tax returns and disclose overseas accounts. In a statement, Levin said he would introduce the bill in the coming weeks in response to Romney's refusal to release more than two years of returns.

"The stunning lack of transparency from someone in pursuit of the highest office in the country highlights the need to change the law to require fuller disclosure," Levin said.

[nichomachus]

4. And new dog questions will be Romney's bane n/t

[ProSense]

5. Kick! n/t

[SoCalDem]

6. Arf !