Live by the rules the rest of us do.

Actually you're one who is to follow the rules, he's rich enough to be one that makes them up.

Get it? ;)

Yeah, we want Romney's tax returns. How could a tax-evader (Mitt) run for President? How can he convince anybody to follow rules while Mitt hasn't?

Romney not only needs to live by the rules the rest of us do, but he needs to live by the rules he applied to Ryan. He needed more than two years of tax returns to vet Ryan, we need more than two years of tax returns to vet Romney. He is nothing but a hypocritical coward.

The Romney's said only little people pay taxes !!!!!!!!!

And yet, remember when the republicons found that John Kerry was docking his yacht in Rhode Island instead of Massachusetts, to avoid state taxes?

The republicon fallout was deafening. So much so that Kerry wrote a check.

R-money won't release his tax forms and has admitted to Swiss and Carribean tax havens???

So what do the republicons do? Defend R-money to the teeth.

Republicon hypocrisy is bottomless.

What we want is Mitt the Tax Evader's tax returns, not really Ryan's tax returns

So...Mitt definitely has something to hide.

The hypocrisy.

Great, so now Romney has strapped Ryan with the two year release as well.

Release your taxes Mitt, this isn't going away because you have a running mate.

Do as I say not as I Do.......

What is Romney hiding overseas ???????????????

Money.....lots of money.....

This is one of the reasons people don't trust Romney -- it's not his level of wealth -- it's that gut feeling he is hiding something. Even if he was audited and had to pay a fine -- lots of folks have been in that position -- man up and put it on the table ! What a wimp!

This is one independent in a battleground state who is not voting for these goons.

Two privileged, white boys who view everything and everybody outside of their own skin as an object and all life is a frat house party.

I am an Independent and agree that we should see Romney's returns for at the least the minimum 2 yrs that I believe is customary. That being said, I challenge anyone on this vine to honestly state that they do not try to take advantage of each and every deduction allowed by our current tax code. Why do you think that HR Block has the commercials about getting thousands more back on what you paid in on your taxes? The problem is our tax code! A tax loaded with "legalese" that necessitates that you have a lawyer or tax accountant file your taxes for you is ridiculous. A fair and simple sliding scale flat tax code based on your total income would solve the problem of everyone paying their "fair share". But, this also includes anyone receiving any type of income, whether it be earned or given to them by the government (welfare). After all, if unemployment benefits are taxable, they why not welfare and food stamp payments?. We now have more than 50% of our citizens not putting anything into the "kitty". How is that fair??? Now I can already hear the rebuttals stating that the "poor" shouldn't have to pay anything. Well, there are plenty of hard working middle class people unemployed right now that can be classified as "poor" yet they still have their benefits taxed, and then we have the "professional poor" who for generations have lived off of everyone elses tax dollars with no intention on ever working for a living.

They could not take the cut in pay.

Interesting how Pubis says ignore Romney's tax returns because...well it is not about that...IT IS ABOUT VETTING. Idiot

Mitt is legally a tax cheat that the IRS

Only a few people think Mitt's doing anything illegal and wrongly so if they do think that.

It's not about being legal; I'm quite sure he is, it's about being honest, which I am quite sure he isn't.

What I expect to see is a large amount of holdings overseas which shows he bets against American interests in favor for money and power.

That is what your worried about? My gawd, we have companies and jobs scrambling to China escaping the highest corporate tax rate on the planet, the Roman Legion EPA, Unions, and aboave Obamacare.

Yes, we have jobs scrambling overseas due to a broken tax system that allows rewards companies to stay here and export jobs. We have a broken tax system that allows Mitt to stash his mound of American dollars overseas instead of letting it trickle through the American economy. You know...... creating jobs and commerce? But he earned that! Yes he did, through hostile takeovers where blue collar workers had no idea of their fate. Meanwhile, your boy Flip added ZERO value to the economy through his vulture capitalism. ZERO VALUE ADDED. Most definitely not worth the millions of dollars he was compensated for his efforts.

But I guess you see some kind of BIGGER picture than we all do, right? An American Dream where everyone has the chance to pull $250,000,000 out of circulation and stash it in shady, secretive overseas accounts?

If it's not good for the gander, why even give it to the goose?

Cough up those returns Mitt! We know it will make you look bad, but the American Public deserves to see how bad it's being fleeced these days!

Firstly, do you really think- in this current administration's wealth envy and persecute the opponants/rich state, that IF Mitt is legally a tax cheat that the IRS wouldn't have audited him thoroughly based on his wealth alone? Wouldn't the IRS (and the administration) have strung him up for tax fraud by now? Do you really think it's a case of "well, until he shows us we can't be sure that he did anything wrong"? Come on people, you know better than that on principal alone.

Are you that misunderstood on this topic? I can see why you have settled in the Republican camp. You inability to comprehend what the debate is about portrays your susceptibility to silly right wing talking points, and more so, their talking head origins like Rush and Hannity.

It's not about whether he cheated on his returns or not, it's about how much he is gaming the system. Gaming a system that has been rigged by his elbow-rubbing rich boy frat brothers who have paid for and bought the best of the best in congress. Don't you see the glaring conflict of interest that exists between our tax system and the elected public officials that set the rules?

Do we really need to explain this debate to you? Probably not, because even if for a minute you considered the issue with an open mind, you would run back to Bill O'Reilly for reassurance that everything is in fact still ok, and that it was still Obama's fault that a bird shi+ on your car yesterday. The sky is not falling, just you.

As far as Romney's foreign accounts....or course they are legal. Mitt is not a criminal. What he is, is a very wealthy person who takes advantage of channels only open to very wealty people, to legally avoid paying taxes in the US. He also likely keeps substantial assets abroad in case something happens to the US financial system - it's not secret that it almost collapsed a couple of years back - it would not be surprising if Mitt's documents showed him sending assets overseas to avoid possible disaster here at home. All of this is 100% legal and is common practice among the very wealthy. I am sure Mitt never even questioned the morality of what he was doing - it's just prudent diversification. But it is definitely not a good idea for someone wanting to be president of the United States to hold assets overseas or engage in tax sheltering behaviors. It shows a lack of confidence in the country he wants to lead, and a level of selfish arrogance that indicates he may be tone-deaf to the needs of the average American. I think Mitt is actually not a bad guy at all - he's just a much better private equity investor than he would be a president. His world view is just too out of step with the reality of the rest of us, something he can't overcome.

Steve - What you are saying makes no sense. 'Exchange students' are not eligible for government financial aid. Foreign students have to prove the ability to pay tuition and living expenses before they are allowed to enroll at American universities.

Nobody is suggesting that Romney did anything illegal with his tax returns, but that he and his high-roller buddies are able to hire the best tax accountants and money managers so that they don't have to play by the same rules as the rest of us. Like Harry Reid suggested I don't think Romney even has 1040's for many years following his stint as governor of Massachusetts while he was running for Senate and finally President and he was not earning wages or taking a regular salary. Or if he does it shows no income and therefor no income tax liabilities and as such may be highly embarrassing.

ALL of this is just conjecture until we actually see Mitt's tax returns.

If he's paying only 15%, that's fine because the law allows him to. If he isn't paying anything, it probably is fine because he's used legal loopholes. Does he have stock in areas that are considered anti-conservative?

How that will play to the middle class is another story.

Every terrible scenario will go through people's minds unless Mitt actually releases his taxes. The longer he waits, the worse it looks.

Pawlenty said "I don't remember the number of tax returns submitted." It was probably a question on his VP final exam and he blew it! LMAO

Sooo, he releases 2 years of tax returned (not really because 2011's still are not done), but he requested more than that while vetting VP candidates!

Hmmm interesting, proably didn't want anymore skeletons in the closest if he were to release more.

Um, Marriott Romney used an illegally obtained uniform and gear to illegally detain and harrass people in college. Do I think it likely that he stills conducts illegal activities, definitely possible based on the facts in evidence......

Easily cured- Enact the FairTax whereby everybody pays the same percentage (with the IRS changing it's funciton to refund checks being paid proportionately by income for daily use items). It's a consumption tax based system that easily could offset millions of pages of current tax laws, raise the federal government's income, and maintain taxation that represents the poor fairly.

You make a million and want that high end car- fine, go buy it and pay the tax. You can't afford a new car or like to keep yours for 10+ years- you save money for later. You like to spend on expensive clothes, great- you'll pay the tax. You like to spend less on your clothes- you'll pay less in taxes. It's just that simple.

Not fair to the poor? No. The FairTax has an offset statute that gets calculated based on the number of people in the household and by income, so if you make $30,000 and have a 4 person family you pay "x" through your purchases but the FarTax credits you "y" as the average expenditures for daily living for 4 people earning $30k. So at the end of every month you'd get a credit back to offset your taxation fairly. You have a 4 person family and make $150k, you pay your actual taxes per your purchases and you only get that "y" back, so more of your tax dollars stay with the government. Pretty simple. So it's good for the poor, the elderly, minorities, big families, etc. etc. and it restructures the IRS so that they don't spend billions on staffing, review, and persuing you for back taxes (they get them upfront).

Viet Vet - 1.13. - I agree and I also challenge all the other quarter billionaires on this thread to be honest about whether they're trying to evade any taxes they should be paying.
Seriously, Viet Vet, you're trying to compare melons to raisins. I'll go out on a limb and say that nobody on this thread is even remotely in the same financial league as Romney. Certainly I would have better things to do if I had that kind of money.

Mitt Romney released two years of his own tax returns to the public but that didn't appear to be enough when he vetted running mate Paul Ryan and other vice presidential candidates.

Two years? Really?

All I've seen so far is 2010. And a promise to "someday" release 2011.

Romney (and NBC) believe the public can't count.

If his tax returns are so "legal" and "fine"--why doesn't Mitt release them? It would shut everyone up.

This from the guy who took all the state government hard drives out of the computers when he left.

You still think Romney has "nothing to hide"?

I wonder if Mitt is part of the "50% of the people pay no federal taxes" crowd. That sure would change the meaning of that talking point.

SactoJD, I think you are on to something, they call it the 1% game, Reaganomics at it's Best !!!!!!!!!!!

Mitt Romney released two years of his own tax returns to the public but that didn't appear to be enough when he vetted running mate Paul Ryan and other vice presidential candidates.

No, Romney has not released TWO YEARS. He's not fully released his 2011 returns to the public even yet.

Try again...

The last time I checked you can have off shore accounts too and federal law does not prohibit him or any president from having them. The only Rule that needs to be followed here is no dual Citizenship. Romney complies with that one too!

BOGUS ISSUE.

BOGUS REPLY.

DB,

You're purposely missing/avoiding the point on 2 counts:

First, we don't know if this is a "bogus issue", as we don't know what he has done with his money.

Second, assuming he has followed the letter of the laws, the details are likely to highlight the shady nature of how ultra-rich people deal with taxes. Rigging the game is not the American way... and we all want a POTUS to learn how to be American, right?

The last time I checked you can have off shore accounts too and federal law does not prohibit him or any president from having them. The only Rule that needs to be followed here is no dual Citizenship. Romney complies with that one too!

I don't care if he has offshore accounts. I care IF THE MAN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT has offshore accounts.

Got that? :)

Viet Vet -- the question isn't whether Mitt took advantage of every legal loophole ( at least not in my mind ), it's whether he took advantage of the 2009 IRS amnesty program for unpaid taxes on off shore accounts. If he did then in essence he committed tax fraud and was given amesty as long as he fessed up and paid the taxes. He then closed the accounts in 2010. That's a hell of a coincidence.

And what are you worried about? Tax returns?

Hmmm, I think Mitt's father said it best. You know, George Romney. The man who started this whole tradition. In 1966, when George Romney started his bid for president, it was NOT normal for presidential candidates to release their tax returns. George Romney released 12 years of his tax returns, starting a trdition that remains to this day. The process of how this happened was documented by his biographer, T. George Harris:

"He balked when I badgered him for a copy of his latest Form 1040, the Federal Individual Income Tax Return," Harris wrote. "Release of the document, while it might serve a political purpose, would not prove very much, he argued. One year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show, and what mattered in personal finance was how a man conducted himself over the long haul."

"Stumped by this argument, I was not prepared for the move that it eventually led him to make: He ordered up all the Form 1040's that he and Mrs. Romney had filed over the past twelve years — including those profitable ones from when he saved the American Motors Company from bankruptcy and became a millionaire on the company's stock options."

One year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show, and what mattered in personal finance was how a man conducted himself over the long haul."

Precisely, George. And I guarantee you Romney's 2010 tax return is a very carefully-prepared show-document - just like his 2011 return will be (when he finally finishes it).

What we need to see are Romney's returns that he didn't think anyone would be looking at. Say, 2000 to 2009.

Romney showed 23 years of tax returns to McCain in 2008, then McCain picked Palin. McMain recently advised Romney to not show them.. What can you deduce from that?

Here is the thing, IF the Romneys were being audited right now, we would never know it. That's the thing with the IRS, they don't reveal if someone is being audited, or has been audited in the past, unless matters go to court.

Some people can go for their whole lives, pay virtually nothing in taxes and never get audited. Others get audited every few years.

Usually if you get audited once on a random basis, if they find something, the IRS comes back again and again, making sure you changed your ways. If they find nothing, they go away.

The IRS used to have a program which would target high income, low tax taxpayers, I don't know if they still do or if they stopped that program because it yielded too many battles which the IRS would lose against the top K street firms.

MITT HAS NOT RELEASED TWO YEARS OF RETURNS. THAT IS A LIE!

He released PART of 2010 - it is missing several IMPORTANT PIECES. He released an ESTIMATE of his 2011 return that his accountants haven't finished OBFUSCATING yet.

Mitt is a LIAR and a THIEF. We MUST ASSUME THAT until he RELEASES HIS TAX RETURNS.

Well since Ryan would actually be the POTUS if Romney wins perhaps the tax reveal is a good thing. Romney is just a Rubber Stamp for the 1% ers and the T-baggers

Typical Republican application... Rules are there for others, not me.

Publius,

America's 10 Largest Corporations Paid 9 Percent Average Tax Rate Last Year | NationofChange <--link

ALL battle ground state citizens. DEMAND that Romney release his tax returns. Use Twitter or Facebook to mobilize this demand.

WE as TRUE AMERICANS have the responsibility to vet our leaders no matter whom it is. It is not the choice of the candidate. It is the responsibility of the people.

Independent voters, it's in your hands.

We hear about balanced budgets and deficits all the time. Spending is a problem of course but a generally neglected but completely major part of this is that the powers that be (Romney types, large corporations, etc) set the rules including tax loopholes. One of our major issues is that Romney and his ilk have slowly and carefully re-written all the tax laws to a point that most corporations now can pay barely any taxes to the US and the wealthiest 1% can dodge enormous obligations as well. The GOP has worked hard to make it look like Obama wants to go after small business people and average wealthy people when in fact it is the major tax loopholes for corporations and extremely wealthy that are keeping the deficit wide open. HERE IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO. OUR CORP TAX RATE IS 35% BUT FEW CORPORATIONS PAY EVEN A 1/3 OF THAT. THE WEALTHY LIKE ROMNEY HAVE HIDDEN ALL THEIR MONEY AND HAVE $100K IRA ACCOUNTS DESPITE RULES THAT LIMIT THE REST OF US TO $4000 OR SO A YEAR IN CONTRIBUTIONS. THERE IS A REASON WHY HE WON'T RELEASE HIS TAXES AND IT IS VERY OBVIOUS. HE HASN'T CHEATED. HE HAS PLAYED BY THE RULES THAT HE AND HIS BUDDIES HAVE PUT IN PLACE. SURE, THE RULES WOULD BE OPEN TO US IF WE EARNED MULTI-MILLIONS BUT UNTIL YOU CAN JOIN THAT CLUB YOU ARE SCREWED. THAT IS WHY HE DOES NOT WANT THE PUBLIC TO SEE HIS ENTITLED STATUS.

Viet Vet-981266, Your point is quite valid but the problem is this: while we do use every loophole we can find, the serious dodges and savings do not occur until you get WAY above what the average tax payer earns and the corporations have their own set of special rules as well. Notice that the corporations who have spent all this money as "individuals" have no problem with government regulation and laws as long as they are allowed to make up those rules and have their elected stooges pass them into law. No one is accusing (well maybe some are but I am certainly not) Romney of cheating but he has his own special set of rules and he is absolutely right, as are his advisors, to believe we would be really pissed when we saw whatever tricks he is allowed to use to squirrel away $100M in an IRA (sorry, wrote $100K above...it is actually $100M) which further shields an enormous amount of money from taxes when it is paid out later. "Right wingers" get so upset when our elected morons in the house and senate pass health care for the poulation and have their own special plans which are much better but seem to have no issue with a special set of tax rules which literally allow the top 1% (including corporations) to pay literally nothing in % comparison to the rest of the population.

And Barry isn't hiding his ENTIRE LIFE from the American people?

Steve-446003 -- Seriously? Gawd, are you rightwingers really this brainwashed? Don't you find it "disconcerting" that Romney is unwilling to prove to voters that he is not lying about his taxes AGAIN? It's not like we have any reason to trust him because of his past record of lying about his taxes, residency, and questionable activity seen in just the 2010 return released in part so far.

Jeff-1592116

Actually you're one who is to follow the rules, he's rich enough to be one that makes them up.

This is why the Romney/Ryan plan(s) are so important. Romney picked Ryan for his VP. Because Romney really likes Ryan's plan in which Romney and their crony capitalists would pay ZERO taxes -- Not even a measly 13.9% but .082% (e.g., capital gains, carried interest, and not earned income).

And also lowering the top income tax rate 10 points from 35% down to 25%, and lowering corporate rates too -- And all this is being done without paying for the tax cuts. This is why Ryan's plan doesn't balance the budget for 23 years, and this is based on the assumption that tax cuts pay for themselves so even this is questionable.

It is the old "tax cuts pay for themselves" and "trickle down" lies, and bait and switch of getting more breaks for the rich and then gauging the rest of Americans by making them pick up the tab. What does it take to get voters to realize we are already teetering on becoming an Oligarchy, and these plutocrats would make it official.

Bain Inequity Romney/Kill Medicare Ryan --- Just say NO!

....and dangerous. He goes against his own church who called his cuts to Medicaid "immoral".

Talk about "trickle down" economics on steroids.

Romney & Ryan are having a celebration with a Parade down ( "Two Losers La" )

Your a numbskull if you think for one minute that this election should be about some ones tax returns.

Your a numbskull...

:)

All enjoyment aside it does come down to an old saying. "If you have nothing to hide why hide nothing?" :)

The IRS and the slack ass Atty.General should take control of this.

The IRS and the slack ass Atty.General should take control of this.

Don't go down that path. There's no law against his not being upfront about his tax returns. He's legally filed everything he needs. This issue is not about legalities, it's about honesty. Something Mitt can't be to the American people.

Anyone who votes for Mitt knowing he refuses to show past history of himself is a fool.

Hey Bob Hall, Where is the Dept., of Justice or the IRS on the Romney tax returns ?????????????

This election is about far more than tax returns. The tax return issue deals only with honesty, transparency and integrity. Romney is grossly lacking in all of those things. I guess it's perfectly ok to lie like a dog if you're a Mormon because Romney lies without conscience and continues the same lies even when he's caught and everyone knows he's lying. If anyone thinks Romney would be calling the shots as president they are delusional. Romney lies, flip-flops and changes his mind everytime the wind blows. The White House will be run by his handlers and Ryan is one of those handlers. Ryan has made it clear that, like Romney he cares only about the wealthy. He wants to gut all social safety programs and higher education funding while giving even more tax cuts to the super rich. Our only hope is to keep Obama in the White House and kick as many republicans out of Washington as possible

Based on Romney's history of bullying at school, vampire capitalism afterwards where he willfully cleaned out pension plans knowing full well we the taxpayers are legally obligated to pay them back, where he willfully broke Massachusetts tax law by claiming to be living in his son's basement, the retroactive retirement when his signatures are all over legal documents including one for exporting American jobs, the only conclusion is that Rmoney is a mean little man.

If he got into the Oval Office and sat down behind that desk, his feet would not touch the floor.

Yeah these two are dangerous, they might have held hands with a girl in grade school too!

Anyone who thinks the release about Mitt's tax returns is the core issue is naive.

I don't give a damn about his tax returns. I give a damn that it gives us a picture of who he is as a person. Here is what we assume right now: Mitt Romney has paid little to no tax in the past 12 years. He knows if he releases those tax returns - he is toast. Period. He is asking for tax cuts for the 'job creators' (aka - another tax break he could take advantage of) while paying little to no tax of his own. I mean, if you can't do it while keeping 85% of what you make...what makes me think that you could do it if we let you keep 90%?

When I was a kid - I wanted a pet really badly. I promised I'd take care of it. So, my parents gave me a fish to take care of. That really wasn't what I wanted...I wanted a cat. But, I had the fish - so, I had to feed it, clean the tank - basically, try to keep it alive. And I killed the first one and the second one. But once my parents explained to me that if I can't take care of a fish, what makes me think I can take care of a cat or a dog?

My point? For most of the wealthy - they already get to keep 85% of what they make where I get to keep around 73-74% of what I make. IF they can't make more jobs with what they get to keep now - what makes you think that another 5% will make a difference? I'm sorry - but I can't feel sorry for someone who took home 10 million last year and complains that he can't afford to hire anyone new.

Economics are complicated - but, the basis of it is very simple. Supply and Demand. The higher the demand there is for something - the more of something a company will try to create to capitalize on that demand. The higher the supply and the lower the demand - prices fall. The lower the supply and the higher the demand - prices climb (look at the Wii or PS3 at Christmas a few years back - selling for 1000's of dollars on e-bay). Without demand - you don't need new employees. How is demand created? By having customers that come to your business, cash in hand, to purchase your goods or services. Therefore - to create more jobs (and more demand) you need to put money in the hands of the people that spend money - and that is the middle class. You cut taxes on the middle class and/or raise minimum wage or overall incomes - and you create more demand for goods/services that previously were not in demand because the money to purchase them wasn't there.

Trickle down works on paper - but not in reality. The rich just keep the profits and/or hide them in tax shelters like Mitt Romney has done.

Ryan is another OLD PERSON KILLER. Really. Give VOUCHERS that are not enough to cover insurance. Make MIDDLE CLASS people save ANOTHER $100k for HEALTH INSURANCE.

This just gives the BANKS 30% of it and then the INSURANCE COMPANIES 20% of it.

Jeepers. Thanks MITTENS and PAUL "KILL THE OLD FOLKS" RYAN; give a bunch of money to your RICH DONORS.

It would be OK if it came from that BIG STASH OF DADDY'S MONEY that YOU TWO have. It SUCKS when it comes from MY RETIREMENT.

The GOP has NO SCRUPLES. THEY HATE AMERICA and ALL AMERICANS - or at least 99% of all AMERICANS!

You are just ignorant SRS. Ryans plan, which isnt even Romneys plan, leaves alone Medicare for anyone over 55. Then there would be vouchers if you wanted, if not you could keep exactly what they have now. So stop listening to other idiots, and actually find out the truth.

As the brother of a NumbSkull I take offense at your randy treatment of those so afflicted ! ! ! ! !

YOU should have to walk a mile in the shoes of a half-Brained egomaniac ! ! ! ! ! !

Bush taught us repeatedly, "fool me once with half a brain", dint you loyne anyting from dat ?

Publius * are you really that dumb? I feel stupid even addressing this. Clearly its more than the tax returns. Its is what his tax returns would illustrate about the entire system in this country and how it SIGNIFICANTLY contributes to our problems

Exactly! Release your taxes Mitt this isn't going away because you have a running mate.

What Americans deserve is some one in office who can fix the problem.

Well that leaves Mitt out. McCain anyone??? :)

Obama is fixing the problem. Google GDP graph, jobless claim graph, unemployment graph, and the DOW.

They are all better......

Are you tired of Republican lies? Vote Obama/Biden 2012.

"I don't remember the exact number..."

Ah, another practiced liar joins the GOTea ticket.

Pedestrian - It always kills me when politicians give answers like that. That makes them either ignorant (of what's going on with their own campaigns) or it makes them dishonest. Either one should disqualify them from even running for office.

Romney has that footinmouth disease, does he qualify as a good Pedestrian ???????

Mitt gave 18 years to the McCain campaign.

The only thing you are going to see is a some things to make more false stories about. I hope they don't release them because of the insincereity of those asking.

And I hope he loses because of it.

Mitt gave 18 years to the McCain campaign.

No he didn't. lolz

DB Akron -- It is not insincere to want to see Romney's tax returns. Tax policy is central to everything this election is about. I think Romney doesn't want to release the returns because -- whether he wins or loses -- it would do the worst possible thing he can imagine: It would educate the American people as to just how rigged the system is for the privileged few. There would be calls for fairness nationwide. The middle and lower class people could hold their heads high, knowing, for once without any reasonable doubt, that the current crisis is not all their fault, as they have been told.

Yeah. Romney's taxes are PART AND PARCEL of his background, given that he wants us to believe that he is such a SMART BUSINESSMAN. It also is TOTALLY RELEVANT if he paid his fair share. It looks NEARLY CERTAIN that he took advantage of AMNESTY for those that had ILLEGAL OVERSEAS ACCOUNTS. That would make him COMPLETELY UNQUALIFIED to run for POTUS.

That would make him a LIAR AND A THIEF.

DB Akron:

Mitt gave 18 years to the McCain campaign.

And then they picked Palin.

How explosive could Willard's tax info have been to make him look less attractive as a running mate than Palin?

Palin!

Nevada, Palin also had a bit more "personality" than Mitt does - she had what some considered "executive experience" and she looked better in a skirt. Frisky always wins out over Boring when you're trying to sell something.

Romney is the least transparent and least experienced Presidential candidate in decades.

What are you hiding Romney!

he is hiding more than we know...

romney running from his taxes...

yawn...

And again our country is an international laughing stock that is being taken less and less seriously. Those abroad who even think it matters anymore who is president here think Romney is unfit and Ryan is a right-wing radical. Everyone else just thinks America is now a shadow of its former self and caught in a downward spiral. China is laughing.

Yep, How do you tell when Karl Rove is lying. His lips are moving.

Hey Hi, Are the TeaWackos Water-boarding you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

hjfromtx,

Yeah, R&R help out Americans - well, themselves, anyway. In thirteen years in the House, Paul Ryan had only two of his bills pass into law. One renamed a post office, the other lowered taxes on the purchase of arrows used for bowhunting. Ryan is a bowhunter.

Also, on Sept 18, 2008, right after a closed door meeting with Bush's Treasury Secretary, Paul Ryan sold shares he held in troubled banks and bought stock in Goldman Sachs, who he'd just heard was NOT in trouble. Did his personal insider trade help Alericans?

Joe Soptic tell ya that?

Mormon = Moron !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ryan = Worm !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOP adopted two Clown's !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Not to mention college records, etc."

Try to stay on topic please. This is about MITT's tax returns--not Obama. Now after we see Mitt's tax returns, then we can discuss college records (actually I could care less about any stupid college records)--

BTW have we seen Mitt's college records? Are they any good?

BTW have we seen Mitt's college records? Are they any good?

Good? Just about as good as it gets!

Anyone can find out that Mitt Romney graduated as a Baker Scholar (top 5% of the Class) while obtaining both a JD in Law and and MBA.

This is more education and a higher GPA than Obama obtained.

"Anyone can find out that Mitt Romney graduated as a Baker Scholar"

Seriously? How tasty are his muffins?

"This is more education and a higher GPA than Obama obtained."

How do you know that if you haven't seen Obamas's records?

High Texan:

Socialist libtard? Ooooh, that's really creative. I've never heard that one before except the last time some other troll posted it. I bet you saw it somewhere too and thought to yourself: "Self, that's perrty darn goooo-ooood -- I'm gonna use that one my own self next chance I done git."

Do you even have a clue what the definition of socialist is? When you call someone retarded, are you comparing them to Sarah Palin's baby, because she finds that totally offensive and you wouldn't want to have the Mama Grizzly mad at you!

I wouldn't mind seeing the president's college records. I bet it would be another moment like the Press Club Dinner when he showed what a fool Donald Trump is. One thing's for sure, President Obama's GPA was way better than Duby'as and the Republicans didn't mind voting for someone with a low C average. We all know the only reason he got passing grades at all was because his daddy made sure he got his degree.

Heck. If Obama's grades weren't that good, it wouldn't prove he was a LIAR and THIEF like MITTEN'S TAXES will.

Mitt Romney is a LIAR and THIEF. The ONLY WAY to prove me wrong is to see his tax returns.

AND THAT probably won't work because the LITTLE BIT he did release ALEADY show he is a LIAR AND A THIEF. I had some tax guy say that he didn't deduct his DRESSAGE HORSE as a MEDICAL EXPENSE but as a BUSINESS EXPENSE.

SO THAT MAKES IT BETTER?

What a SLIMEY THIEF THAT GUY IS! Steal people's retirements and health care all the while he was at Bain THEN take on Paul "kill the old folk" Ryan as a running mate?

MITT HAS NO SHAME!!!!!!

Mitt & Annie's horse beats IRS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well said Alain..romney can run but he won't win..

Rats travel in pairs.

Willard & Ryan and their TeaWackos will go down in History as the Plague !!!

lol...lol... romneyhood steals from the poor to give to the rich..

His motto No Billionaire left behind.

how do these CREEPS sleep at night?

o that's right romney has had plenty of "experience" in cutting jobs, cutting benefits, gutting companies, ruining people's lives with his greed, arrogance and ignorance.

He has lied, cheated, stole and has done a tremendous diservice to American AND Foreign companies as well. His "experience at bain" That is romneys idea of leadership?

American does not need or want that kind of leadership!

Obama/Biden 2012 Americas Choice for President

Is it possible that the Romney's paid no taxes in the last eight years, Tax experts say he likely pay nothing !!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it possible that Obama beats his wife, kids and dogs and the neighbors cat, police experts say it could be likely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is likely that Romney paid no Payroll Tax (social security) which is what the Dems really want to jump on. But unless he had a capital loss from stock investment, he did pay capital gains.

steve - 50% of the population is at or near the poverty level, meaning they make 21,000 a year on average with a family of four. How much would you want them to pay toward income tax? And if they do pay it, are you willing to feed their kids? Let me guess, you're a christian right?

STEVE:

50%+ people don't pay fed inc taxes because of the BUSH TAX CUTS. Why don't you ask the repubs why this makes sense? The REPUBS DID IT.

Business leaders WANT the US to be like China. They want slave labor and no regulations to protect investors or the environment. That's what business does - it uses the cheapest labor to maximize profit and it does the absolute minimal to run its operations.

If that's what you want - then vote republican-TeaParty. If you want govt to protect the environment and protect its citizens from vulture capitalism - vote democrat.

Next, Ten percent of the people in this country pay more than seventy percent of all taxes! Fifty percent of the populace pays nothing in taxes! Now explain about fair share! One hundred million people on welfare and all writing blogs about someone needing to pay their fair share!

From Wiki:

the top 20% of Americans owned 85% of the country's wealth and the bottom 80% of the population owned 15%.

Maybe the top twenty % should be paying more seeing that they control so much of the wealth, don't you think? I wonder how much more of the wealth they have tucked overseas in shady, tax dodging accounts that we don't know about.

Wouldn't money such as that serve a much better purpose trickling through our economy? Creating jobs? Hiring Americans so they too can have the privilege to pay taxes?

tea: To add to that Wiki article, the bottom 50% owns just 2.5% of America's wealth. The bottom 50%, over 150 Million of us, make $26,364 a year or less. The poverty level is $22,000 for a family of 4.

This talk of taxes paid is lying by omission. Half of Americans are too poor to qualify for paying income taxes. But income taxes only make up 42% of the federal government's income. 40% comes from payroll taxes, which every one of us working poor do pay.

Oh, and only 9% of the feds income comes from business taxes. You know, Halliburton, Bain, etc.

Miklkit:

It's so sad how the Tea Poopies continue to decry class warfare when even FACTS get in the way of their arguments. The middle class has been under fire for thirty years now. Conservatives continue to find themselves back to this red herring talking point of the rich pay all the taxes, like a lost dog will continue to return to the same doorstep it received a free meal from weeks ago.

They do not get it, and I can say with conviction, people like this will never get the point that wealth inequality is a huge issue in our country. It is getting worse, and something needs to be done about it. Obama is the person to address it, and definitely not Mitt Romney and friends.

The Willard camp is parting with Ryan for the moment. Just wait until the newness wears off.

Gateway Bill you are correct!

Can't wait til the DEBATES!!!!!!!!~~!!

Obama/Biden 2012 The Thinking Persons President!

hifromtx... truly you are an idiot!!!!

hifromtx

Wow, did you think that up all by yourself? How does that teabag feel on your forehead?

Romney is a pathetic excuse- Yet he is still ten time better then Obama!

You might have had a case if you did not have that baggage you call the president. Every word a lie! Every effort seeking to destroy this nation!

Hope and change-You might have hoped for a person to destroy this country! I did not! You might have wanted to change this Republic into a Socialist nation, I did not!

Hey! Earn my vote- I am a member of the Tea Party! You are a member of the Teabaggers! It sounds like you and your boyfriend are having fun but keep your pet names to yourselves!

steve - let me say what you really mean. Romney is a pathetic excuse, but at least he is white.

Destroying the country? Lets see. Healthcare for all. Dow up from 7k to 13K. 22 straight months of private sector job growth. Bin Laden dead. Corp taxes lowest in 50 years, profits highest in 70 years.

If it wasnt for the pathetic GOP blocking every single attempt to get people back to work, the unemployment rate would be down too. So wouldn't it be safe to say that those destroying the country are those that are delibertaley from day 1 saying no to anything the POTUS proposes, simply to make him fail and be a one term president. I would call that treason.

steve - nice. a bigot, racist and homophobe. wow your parents must be so proud of what they raised.

steve- hard to believe that you beat out 100 million other sperm.

and his b****

The Grover's day in Hell is coming, Satan at best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The GOP lost my Vote, the TeaWackos destroyed my Party !!!!!!

Doctor Logic,

You failed to mention the two Ryan bills that actually passed into law - renaming one post office and lowering the excise taxes on arrows used in one of Ryan's favorite sports, bowhunting.

Let's not forget Paul Ryan's quick thinking following a closed meeting with Bush's Treasury Secretary, Hank Paulson. Immediately after the meeting Ryan dumped shares he held in several troubled banks and purchased stock in the secure Goldman Sachs. He couldn't do that today since the insider-trading bill was signed into law.

The Ryan pick was the Worse choice, Ryan wants to fashion Medicare and Social Security into a plan more like a 401 K, steering retirees into private insurance plans with a Voucher !!!!!!!!!!

I think this Empty Suit is having Seizures on Mitt's Elevator !!!!!!!!!!!

You wouldn't know what a socialist was if it bit you on the a**.

hjfr...

Two things....

First, please explain HOW Obama is responsible for high gas prices when he has increased domestic production over 9% than what it was under Bush? Give details to HOW Obama is causing the high gas prices.....

Second, Obama tried to pass the infrastructure, state-aid, and small business tax credit bills in the last 6 months.....the CBO stated it would add 3 million jobs....who killed all three bills? The Republicans.

Obama knows what to do...but the legislative branch of government is a mess thanks to the tea party whack jobs that came onto the scene in 2010.

hjfr...

One more thing....you mentioned that she should be "kicked out of America". Could you please explain the parameters for which someone should be "kicked out"?

Or is it you really don't "get" the whole democracy thing, do you.......

Looks like "Hi" took the Grover Norquist Pledge !!!!!!!!!!

The only socialist here is the GOP. Socializing RISK while they PRIVATIZE PROFIT.

The GOP is a bunch of traitors. That is NOT too strong a word. It is TOTALLY ACCURATE.

Really. Trying to DESTROY AMERICA during WARTIME to make Obama a one term president.

Fairy Tale??? Really??? Not according to the SEC filings that Bain had to release. He was the head until 2002 not 1999 as he claims according to them so are you saying the SEC is lying???? I bet this is one of the reasons he doesn't want those pesky tax returns as public knowledge.....

cgent, Instead of frothing at the mouth why not provide us some facts to back up your accusations. Do yourself a favor and take a look at what the administration has accomplished before making even more false accusations.

Re; Illegals... This administration has deported multiple times more than the previous administration. Instead of anecdotal detail provide us some valid statistics.

And $4.00 gas? Explain how that's the Presidents fault.

All I see in that post are lies, half truths and ad hominums...

Don't you think the recent California refinery fire and the fact that the lower portion of the Keystone pipeline from Cushing to Louisiana, the part that didn't require Federal approval, has been finished recently and has started pumping allowing the oil companies to start shipping some of that Bakken fracking oil to overseas buyers instead of having to refine and sell it here in the U. S. just might have something to do with the recent run up in gas prices?

Next time the Rightwing Teabaggers will try to run Glen Beck and Slickhead Hannity.

Bush ran on $5.00 per gallon. Mr cagent.

Your first statement is a lie. From there it gets worse. Obama is planning on SAVING BILLIONS FROM MEDICARE by having every one on insurance. That does NOT STEAL IT, it SAVES it.

You GOP people don't know the difference between STEALING and SAVING.

there was 1 imcomplete tax return and the "others" aren't done yet...

if romney was applying for a mortgage he would be denied...due to insufficent

documentation.

romney/ryan the road to ruin = same bush polices = same failed results

Obama/Biden the Thinking Americans Choice! 2012

LB-

I think Mitt the Evader knows that a poor "tax release" showing can be harmful to ones VP chances, as some have said he learned when he was vetted by McCain.

Ok lefties, please explain why 5 years later, there are still requests for this Presidents explaination on his personal books that he wrote, his close ties with Communist professors, his college transits, his college application, etc. - - - -

Remember the IRS???? Wouldn't they be asking questions and audits if someone wasn't paying their legal amount??

How about the birth certificate Cox, don't forget about that, and why won't the president admit that he's a muslim??

Ahh the insanity runs deep in this one. Is he a paid propagandist? It is hard to believe he is actually a real thinking human being.

Where I grew up there was a registered Communist living 4 houses down the street. Does that make me a Communist? No. It means I got to find out what the American Communist Party really thinks. They are too extreme to suit me. Also, none of his sons are Communists. One is a Wall Street type, one is deeply religious, and two are republicons.

Coxforusa

Ok lefties, please explain why 5 years later, there are still requests for this Presidents explaination on his personal books that he wrote, his close ties with Communist professors, his college transits, his college application, etc. - - - -

Remember the IRS???? Wouldn't they be asking questions and audits if someone wasn't paying their legal amount??

Ahhhh, good old fashioned Right Wing Deflection.

Why answer the original question when you can point over someones shoulder, scream "FIRE" and run the other way?

Typical tactics employed by the right wing fanatics who just can't get over the FACT (often avoided by rwnj's) that Obama WILL be getting four more years..... no matter how much funny money Slick Romney and Ryan throw at this campaign. And they will throw a lot......

I am an independent too, and I think Romney's tax returns are totally relevant. His policies are to cut the top tax rates down to almost nothing, for godssake. We deserve to know how he will benefit and if he even paid any over the last decade. Taxes are a huge part of his issues and just because you don't care doesn't mean the rest of us don't. If this were reversed, you'd be all over Obama as would every republican, and you know it.

There's one big difference between birthers and those asking for Romney's tax returns: President Obama was born in Hawaii and Romney's tax returns will prove he doesn't pay his fair share and he doesn't want the evidence to be used against him.

The tax returns of Romney's running mate were an important part of the vetting process for Mr. Romney, why shouldn't it be an important part of the vetting process for the American people when we consider hiring Mr. Romney to be the most powerful man (after the Pope) in the world?

No. It is totally different. Obama RELEASED HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE. Romney has not even release ONE COMPLETE TAX RETURN. NOT ONE!

Romney is a LIAR and a THIEF. Ryan is a DISGUSTING LITTLE WORM that would KILL YOUR MOTHER to get elected.

The only non American I see here is calling himself "working man1" -- where are you from, Pluto?

romney doesn't know how to tell the Truth.

The only question is about his return being legal. Only a fool would not take deductions that are allowed and not shelter money in mortgages , 401k or IRA. If you have a problem with tax law. Take it up with Congress.

The real question is did Romney pay taxes at all over the last decade? Since he wants to lower his rates even more, we need to know how it would affect him personally.

Take it up with Congress.

You're so misinformed, it's sad.

For anyone to think that an individual constituent will make a difference to their elected official is simply naive.

In today's political climate with lobbyists throwing money at anybody who will "deal", it's a game of $$.

Add into that the Citizens United ruling, and it's no wonder there resides so much disdain towards Washington.

Mitt Romney prefers the way things are structured. A system that enables the wealthy, powerful elite to enhance their standard of living through back scratching and elbow rubbing back room deals.

An election system that favors $$ and misinformation. A tax code that permits huge tax write offs for an extremely small portion of society (guess who?). Government contracts that are awarded to the highest campaign financiers. An economy that rewards Corporate Executive (and shareholders) who oversee companies that offshore jobs and import poverty. And we wonder why so many people are utilizing social safety nets? How about a higher education industry that not only has raised tuition well above inflation rates for years, but has made attaining that education a guaranteed debt laden start into society. Or how about a privatized health care system that favors companies that DENY coverage. Or a financial industry that has run amok, inventing niches inside the market that allow shady, undefined products that crashed the economy. Not to mention these shysters don't add value to the American economy. And they especially do not add the value in relation to the amount of $$ they siphon out of the economy.

Need I go on? Mitt Romney has not addressed any of these issues in his stump speeches. It is obvious that he wants to remain in the current stagnant format we have been stewing in for decades now. He shows this by not addressing any of these issues. The only thing he does say is that we need jobs. Well Mr. Flopney..... how do you propose we create those jobs? I have a guess....

Pres. Obama HAS addressed these issues in his various speeches. I feel he WILL continue to fight for reform and justice in these areas of concern.

To say "Go tell Congress" is an naive, underwhelming suggestion by anyone. We need a leader who can restore the value of Democracy. Not someone who will further our shift to an Oligarchy.

I'd love to take this up with my Congressman, but since RobMe rented him for the duration, it's going to be difficult. I tried to attend several of his town halls to voice my opinion and hear what he had to say - I did pay for his infrequent flight back home, his rental of the hall, and advertising - but since his town halls are by invitation only to a select few, it's going to be difficult. I wrote him some professional letters and he responded with a survey on "Obama's socialist health care law" - seriously; that phrase was in 10 of the questions (the survey person and I were laughing half way through at how ridiculously biased this farce was). So, thank you Tea Party Twits for your brand of "open government" - obviously, I'm not impressed.

The law doesn't require a candidate to release tax returns; the public demands it.

Romney has released no complete tax return. His 2010 form is missing several mandatory attachments, including the FBAR (Foreign Bank Accounts Report) He's said he will release his 2011 form when the amended return has been filed, probably sometime in Oct. Don't hold your breath!

You Tea-Partiers are pathetic.

McCain is a senator and has been for over 10 years - that means his tax returns for the last 10 years are available.

Doesn't it worry you that McCain took a look at Mitt's returns and then picked Palin?

.

Looks like Romney is going to jail for Tax fraud !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@blearyeyed: you said it - just how bad do M.T. Suit's tax returns have to be that you would pick Palin for anything except for a reality show about a dysfunctional family? Even then that half-governor / half-wit couldn't finish the job. It makes me wonder if what he's really got socked away in Switzerland is his 1040's because they would be declared too toxic for this country - certainly to his campaign.

This article said that Ryan gave RobMe several years of tax returns; what he really gave him is 15 minutes of fame, but that's about to be over.

Bob in Texas-1241996:

You liberals are pathetic. Romney gave McCain several years of tax returns when he was being vetted for the VP position.

And immediately after McCain picked Palin.

A smart, politically savvy guy like McCain thought his chances were better with Palin once he saw Romney's financial records.

How, how bad must the information be for his chances to be better with a loser like Palin?

You can thank the TeaWackos in Congress for that, Sabotaging your Country is not Cool !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't even know where to start with "Working Man1." You're a bigot, an idiot, obviously a tea sipper, and not so obviously a paranoid jacka$$!

Willard's tax returns are Toxic, this Clown is a Criminal !!!!!!!!!!!

workingman, among many things, you are a first rate FOOOOOOOL!!!

You need to do your own search and stop watching fox, sounds like you see nothing but fox.