My Favorite Wingnut emailed me about Pelosi's hypocrisy in calling on Romney to release his tax info

[Jackpine Radical]

when she hasn't done so herself. Here is my reply:

Most Senators haven't disclosed their finances. There is nothing requiring them to do so, just as there is nothing other than custom requiring that Presidential candidates release their tax information.

I have no problem with developing a tradition of Senators releasing their financial data--whether Pelosi or anyone else--in fact, I think it would be a good idea, an excellent idea. I have no illusions that individual Democrats are any paragons of virtue.

But that doesn't address the issue f Presidential candidates and their tax reports. The tradition already exists there. Obama released his. Bush released his. Reagan released his. George Romney started the tradition 40 years ago when he ran in the primary against Nixon.

Mitt isn't legally required to release his, but if he doesn't, that is a legitimate campaign issue, particularly because there are strong hints of improprieties in his financial dealings.

1) When did he leave Bain? In 1999 as he now says, or in 2002, which is what he claimed when running for MA Gov.? He either lied to the public or filed a false SEC document, which would be a felony.

2) There is reason to believe that he had committed at least one felony with regard to hiding taxable income in Swiss accounts, & then took advantage of an amnesty program to clean the slate.

3) People were upset that he only paid 13% according to his 2010 tax return. There are indications in that form that he may have paid NOTHING in 2009.

I think these things should be cleared up now, unless you want a repeat of Whitewater, with disenchanted Democrats forever nipping at his heels over financial improprieties in the earlier years.

And remember that a lot of REPUBLICANS are now calling upon him to release the information. They understand the potential problems that could arise from some hidden bombshells in Romney's financial history.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. A well-composed response. :^)

[DURHAM D]

2. Last night Lawrence O'Donnell pointed out that

two very important pages had been purged from his 2010 return.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. Thanks for reminding me. I added that to a later version of the text

that I will probably submit to one of the local papers.

Here's how that part now reads:


2) There is reason to believe that he had committed at least one felony with regard to hiding taxable income in Swiss accounts, and then took advantage of an amnesty program to clean the slate. Two pages in his 2010 return—the only one he has released so far—are missing. These are the only pages in the 2010 return that would shed light whether he had taken advantage of the amnesty program for people who had used their Swiss accounts to cheat on their taxes.

[Nevernose]

3. Also

She's not running for president. Mitt Romney is.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. a) That doesn't stop the right-wingers from suggesting hypocrisy because she hasn't.

b) I think it would be an excellent idea for all national-level politicians to disclose their finances & those of their immediate families.

Running for political office is a voluntary activity, and we do have an interest in knowing about the conflicts that may exist in each case.

[Scuba]

5. Great response Jackpine, thanks.