Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 08:18 AM Jul 2016

WaPo Editorial: Voters are still waiting on your tax returns, Mr. Trump

By Editorial Board July 19 at 8:32 PM

MELANIA TRUMP’S Monday night speech to the Republican National Convention was so platitudinous — a gauzy collection of assurances that her husband, Donald Trump, is “kind and fair and caring” and will “never, ever, let you down” — it could have been delivered by any spouse about any candidate. In fact, as has been widely reported, some of it had been delivered by a different spouse about a different candidate.

No matter. The information Americans lack about Mr. Trump concerns not his personality, which is all too evident, but his life’s work before entering politics — his business record and tax history. Mr. Trump constantly assures Americans that he built a “great company” and is worth $10 billion. He promises to bring his no-nonsense business sense to government, renegotiating trade deals, striking bargains with drug companies and streamlining the federal government. His gilded private jet has been a campaign prop. Yet his company, the Trump Organization, is a closely held private enterprise, with many of its dealings hidden from public view. Bits of information that have emerged suggest Mr. Trump has had some success licensing his name and starring on reality TV. But a variety of Mr. Trump’s business ventures, such as Trump University, appear to have been unethical, unprofitable or both. The story of his professional life is unacceptably incomplete.

Mr. Trump released a candidate financial disclosure form months ago. But it was thin on detail and, possibly, long on exaggerations of his wealth. He still has not released his “beautiful” tax returns despite promising to do so. Breaking a public commitment would be unsurprising for Mr. Trump. But refusing to release his tax returns would also break a long-standing bipartisan tradition. Every major-party presidential nominee submits to thorough public vetting, including of their private business dealings. This is even more important in Mr. Trump’s case because he has no record in public office on which voters can judge his suitability for higher office.

Mr. Trump has offered various excuses for breaking his promise of disclosure, often citing an ongoing Internal Revenue Service audit of his returns. But that does not prevent him from releasing those returns, which he swore to the government were accurate when he submitted them. Nor would it prevent him from releasing past returns.

more
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/voters-are-still-waiting-on-your-tax-returns-mr-trump/2016/07/19/c87c4054-4de1-11e6-a7d8-13d06b37f256_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines&wpmm=1

22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
WaPo Editorial: Voters are still waiting on your tax returns, Mr. Trump (Original Post) DonViejo Jul 2016 OP
BRAVO!!! Freaking BRAVO! Her Sister Jul 2016 #1
this whole Trump situation is giving me nightmares Fast Walker 52 Jul 2016 #2
Your last sentence PJMcK Jul 2016 #3
good point, fuck the GOP in general Fast Walker 52 Jul 2016 #6
Polls mean squat right now PJMcK Jul 2016 #7
Exactly. Mid summer is typically erratic poll time. Hortensis Jul 2016 #21
thanks, I have to think ultimately America would pick a sane choice Fast Walker 52 Jul 2016 #22
I hope one of the speakers in the first or second night talks about Ilsa Jul 2016 #12
I am losing sleep Johnny2X2X Jul 2016 #4
Exactly. I seriously woke up far too early this morning worrying about this Fast Walker 52 Jul 2016 #5
It's difficult for me to accept the fact that he has so much support. jalan48 Jul 2016 #8
Worse than the social and religious cons, and even more Hortensis Jul 2016 #13
That someone this unqualified is doing this well is disturbing. jalan48 Jul 2016 #14
I don't, really, Jalan48. Trump's too mentally disordered Hortensis Jul 2016 #17
I think Trump is proof the Fascist approach works with a large segment of the American public. jalan48 Jul 2016 #18
Agree. Fascism is a normal progression for the libertarianism Hortensis Jul 2016 #20
Selling America to Putin bucolic_frolic Jul 2016 #9
You can bet that this will come up during prime time at our convention. tonyt53 Jul 2016 #10
The media should be after him about this treestar Jul 2016 #11
He doesn't pay taxes. lonestarnot Jul 2016 #15
Well, I'm still waiting for Sanders' returns... Orsino Jul 2016 #16
Trump gets elected potus SheriffBob Jul 2016 #19
 

Her Sister

(6,444 posts)
1. BRAVO!!! Freaking BRAVO!
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 08:21 AM
Jul 2016

Was thinking of exactly that last night while sleeping & waking! What about this sleazy TRUMP'S TAXES!???

RELEASE YOUR TAXES TRUMP!

 

Fast Walker 52

(7,723 posts)
2. this whole Trump situation is giving me nightmares
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 08:27 AM
Jul 2016

it is beyond insanity.

FUCK THE GOP FOR NOMINATING THIS MONSTER!!!

PJMcK

(22,035 posts)
3. Your last sentence
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 08:35 AM
Jul 2016

The GOP deserves scorn for far more than just nominating Donald Trump.

For the past seven and a half years, Republicans have done everything they could to prevent President Obama from accomplishing his goals. The successes Mr. Obama has had are even more remarkable because of GOP obstructionism.

So, let me amend your sentence:

FUCK THE GOP.

And if you get the chance, check out this post from babylonsister:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028030001

Republicans are un-American scum.

 

Fast Walker 52

(7,723 posts)
6. good point, fuck the GOP in general
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 08:42 AM
Jul 2016

they really need to go away for good...

and then I see polls with Trump and Hillary tied and it drives me insane that people support this party and their latest monster.

PJMcK

(22,035 posts)
7. Polls mean squat right now
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 08:45 AM
Jul 2016

Don't let the MSM fool you. And don't let "concerned" posters get you worried. The polls are almost entirely random at this point because there is too much noise. Wait until after Labor Day. Then the polls will start to make sense and a clearer picture will emerge.

Optimism!

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
21. Exactly. Mid summer is typically erratic poll time.
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 10:45 AM
Jul 2016

Note that although the gap between the two widens and narrows, Hillary has been ahead on every important indicator from the beginning. It would take a political earthquake for Trump to win, and the faults are all under his feet.

REGARDING TAX RETURNS, if he doesn't produce them before the election (and he probably won't since so much support is based on his supposed great business success), Cohen v Trump begins November 28 (after the election), and he will be required to reveal his net worth during that trial.

Btw, SIX of Trump's enterprises have ended in bankruptcy, not just four. The other two disasters Trump created were bought out by others, who put them into bankruptcy. Maybe make your conservative friends aware of your "concern"...?


 

Fast Walker 52

(7,723 posts)
22. thanks, I have to think ultimately America would pick a sane choice
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 11:18 AM
Jul 2016

just still I know too many Trump supporters and Hillary haters.

Ilsa

(61,695 posts)
12. I hope one of the speakers in the first or second night talks about
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 09:53 AM
Jul 2016

The meeting the gop had on Inauguration Day evening where they all swore that taking down the new president was more important than healing an economy with one foot in the grave, stopping an endless, deadly, expensive war, and healing a nation that was fearful and convulsing with hatred for people who are different.

Johnny2X2X

(19,060 posts)
4. I am losing sleep
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 08:38 AM
Jul 2016

I still don't think most people understand the gravity of the situation. This guy is a monster who would fundamentally change America and the World.

We're facing the rise of a dictatorship in the most powerful country in the world and most Americans are sitting on the sidelines like this is not real.

 

Fast Walker 52

(7,723 posts)
5. Exactly. I seriously woke up far too early this morning worrying about this
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 08:40 AM
Jul 2016

and could not get back to sleep.

jalan48

(13,863 posts)
8. It's difficult for me to accept the fact that he has so much support.
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 09:18 AM
Jul 2016

It doesn't bode well for the future.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
13. Worse than the social and religious cons, and even more
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 09:54 AM
Jul 2016

dangerous than Trump himself, are the dark money anti-government forces who want Mike Pence in power. The social con mob are merely being used by these people to gain power.

The dark money forces may or may not have maneuvered Pence forward, but the choice of him for VP has to be extremely satisfactory to them. Pence exemplifies the moral marriage of conservative religion and business power. Pence was slightly ahead in his governor's race when he abandoned it to try for a highly unlikely win for what traditionally in GOP administrations is a powerless position. He was not quite a nothing-to-lose candidate like the others.

Btw, note that Don Jr. is a genuine strong conservative and presumably one of "the children" who pushed Sr. into a VP choice he didn't want.

jalan48

(13,863 posts)
14. That someone this unqualified is doing this well is disturbing.
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 10:11 AM
Jul 2016

What are our future elections going to look like? I have a feeling Trump is just the beginning.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
17. I don't, really, Jalan48. Trump's too mentally disordered
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 10:21 AM
Jul 2016

to be of good use to the powers pulling strings on the right. Once he's lost, yet another GOP "autopsy" will take place, yada-yada.



jalan48

(13,863 posts)
18. I think Trump is proof the Fascist approach works with a large segment of the American public.
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 10:22 AM
Jul 2016

I look for more in the future.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
20. Agree. Fascism is a normal progression for the libertarianism
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 10:31 AM
Jul 2016

many people like the Kochs claim to espouse. Koch insists he wants to dissolve the American state to almost nothing, but most wealthy conservatives would not agree. A fascistic democracy, with more power in the hands of the wealthy, would protect their money, position and power far more securely, and of course a business oriented and controlled fascistic government wouldn't be bothering them overly with regulation.

treestar

(82,383 posts)
11. The media should be after him about this
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 09:49 AM
Jul 2016

It is a real scandal. The what does he have to hide thing should be coming out of all of them.

Orsino

(37,428 posts)
16. Well, I'm still waiting for Sanders' returns...
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 10:19 AM
Jul 2016

...and for Clinton's transcripts. Clearly, transparency and I can go piss up a rope.

Trump's going to get away with this, too.

SheriffBob

(552 posts)
19. Trump gets elected potus
Wed Jul 20, 2016, 10:23 AM
Jul 2016

The democrats take control of both houses and impeach him and the vice prez. the democrat speaker of the house becomes president. Hillary winds up as a supreme court justice.

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»WaPo Editorial: Voters a...