# Why won't Romney release his tax returns? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 1, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085 "2012-08-01T18:35:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/181 "2012-08-04T17:50:28Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Remember the Swift Boaters? Yes, quite well. That way the incident that you shrugged off as unimportant - just standard Presidential politics. Oh, wait - I misremembered. You did blow a gasket. I must be wrong, and you get upset whenever dirty politics happen. So you blew a gasket when CBS tried to use forged documents to influence the election. Yeah, that’s probably it. > [@](#): > > Kerry provided plenty of evidence about what really happened. If he had stonewalled on that, or if Obama did it on the birth certificate, I’d have no big problem with the spreading of rumors. Don’t even bother with this crap - no one in their right mind believes you, and neither do I. 😉 > [@](#): > > All Romney has to do is release his returns like his father and so many others have. Why do you think he refuses? DNFTT, obviously. > [@Mark Twain](#): > > A lie can travel all the way around the world while the truth is still getting its boots on. Reid thinks he can spread a nasty lie and get away with it. If Romney shows it to be a lie, so what? Reid is just going to go on to the next lie without skipping a beat. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/182 "2012-08-04T17:55:00Z")
Reid is not the candidate. Romney is. Maybe you hadn`t noticed. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/183 "2012-08-04T18:15:37Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Reid is not the candidate. Romney is. Maybe you hadn`t noticed. Or he has and that’s why he’s spinning so furiously. I just wanted to note that complaining that Reid is lying about Romney is ironically hilarious, given how much Romney is hiding and lying about. He has every right to privacy. More power to him. As long as he’s not auditioning for the most powerful position in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/184 "2012-08-04T18:17:31Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Reid thinks he can spread a nasty lie and get away with it. If Romney shows it to be a lie, so what? Reid is just going to go on to the next lie without skipping a beat. It’s only a lie if Reid knows that it is untrue. Are you saying that Reid has access to Romney’s tax records? ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/185 "2012-08-04T19:30:36Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Reid is just going to go on to the next lie without skipping a beat. Reid doesn’t have the history of lying Romney has. If I have to take one person on their word, it isn’t going to be Romney. If Romney wants to keep telling us what we’ll find by looking at his tax records maybe he should back up his claims by showing them. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/186 "2012-08-04T19:49:43Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Think about that story for a sec. How would a Bain Investor know whether or not Romney paid taxes? Because this is exactly the kind of thing Mitt would brag about to one of his fellow Masters of the Universe. ---
**Author:** ![rogerbox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@rogerbox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rogerbox)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/187 "2012-08-04T21:09:11Z")
> [@Farmer\_Jane](#): > > It’s his accountants’ job to make sure he pays as less as possible in the most legal way possible. We’d all do the same thing if we had a billion dollars. Hell, we do it without a billion dollars…this is what TurboTax is for. You _DO_ realize that it’s possible he used the tax amnesty program to return money to the U.S. that he was storing offshore ILLEGALLY right? I mean, you do know that is part of the reason people want to see his tax returns? Or is this news to you? And no, I wouldn’t use shell games and hide my money overseas to pay as little tax as humanly possible if I was a billionaire. I know it’s hard for conservatives/capitalists to picture this, but your greed is not universal. > [@](#): > > edit: If Obama had a billion dollars, you guys would be citing his right to privacy. No, I wouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/188 "2012-08-04T21:34:55Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s only a lie if Reid knows that it is untrue. Are you saying that Reid has access to Romney’s tax records? It’s also a lie if no one told Reid anything and he just made it up. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/189 "2012-08-04T21:42:55Z")
Reid has “evidence” that a citizen didn’t pay taxes for ten years. And a rich citizen at that! That’s unAmerican, especially since the government could really use that money. so the question is, why is Obama, Holder, and the head of the IRS not doing their job and launching an investigation into Romney’s ten year period of paying no taxes? Not doing so is dereliction of duty. It also send the message that none of us really have to pay our taxes. What the hell is wrong with Obama and his head of the IRS? Why don’t they do their jobs?!!! ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/190 "2012-08-04T21:49:33Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Reid has “evidence” that a citizen didn’t pay taxes for ten years. And a rich citizen at that! That’s unAmerican, especially since the government could really use that money. so the question is, why is Obama, Holder, and the head of the IRS not doing their job and launching an investigation into Romney’s ten year period of paying no taxes? Not doing so is dereliction of duty. It also send the message that none of us really have to pay our taxes. What the hell is wrong with Obama and his head of the IRS? Why don’t they do their jobs?!!! There is ample evidence GE didn’t pay any taxes. They didn’t investigate that either! ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/191 "2012-08-04T21:54:55Z")
**Tony Sinclair’s** last post has solidified my position on this. I am voting for Mr. Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/192 "2012-08-04T22:41:16Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > …why is Obama, Holder, and the head of the IRS not doing their job and launching an investigation into Romney’s ten year period of paying no taxes? This is a serious question, right? I’m not being a smart-aleck here, I just want to be sure. While I cannot know for sure why no one you mentioned is investigtating the possibility of wrongdoing on Romney’s part, I can undoubtedly say that a legitimate reason for not doing so is no credible evidence has been presented by Reid or anyone else that would justify it. If one wants to criticize Reid, I’m all for it. He ought to be able to back up what he said with _something_. But trying to bring Obama or Holder into this is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/193 "2012-08-04T23:49:46Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > There is ample evidence GE didn’t pay any taxes. They didn’t investigate that either! Why do you think that is? Oh—maybe because the IRS is satisfied that they paid what they owed? Hmmm, now who else might fall into that category… ::drums fingers:: ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/194 "2012-08-04T23:51:32Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > You are mistaken. Rich people are not all the same. Warren Buffet wants to help the country by raising taxes for the rich. Mitt Romney wants to cut taxes for the rich, and pay for it by eliminating several popular deductions for the middle class. > > I honestly don’t understand how people can think it’s more important that they have $101 million in the bank instead of $100 million, than that poor Americans can have decent health care. There is not a chance in hell that Romney will ever be down to his last million. There is an excellent chance that being able to get some simple screening tests will save many lives. Well, why don’t we just tax wealthy people 95% or so. Just think of the lives _their_ money could save…think of the good _their_ money could do. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/195 "2012-08-04T23:56:13Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > This is a serious question, right? I’m not being a smart-aleck here, I just want to be sure. > > While I cannot know for sure why no one you mentioned is investigtating the possibility of wrongdoing on Romney’s part, I can undoubtedly say that a legitimate reason for not doing so is no credible evidence has been presented by Reid or anyone else that would justify it. If one wants to criticize Reid, I’m all for it. He ought to be able to back up what he said with _something_. But trying to bring Obama or Holder into this is ridiculous. Why? I don’t know who the head of the IRS is, but his name should be first, and those other two have the responsibility to make sure people follow the law. If Romney cheated on his taxes, which is the implication, then he should have been prosecuted 6 or 7 years ago. Why didn’t this happen? The obvious reason is that the IRS is satisfied that his return was fine. No? So, either we need to look into why the IRS guy, Obama and Holder haven’t done anything with the tax cheat Romney, or we need to assume that he paid all the taxes he owed. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/196 "2012-08-05T00:31:01Z")
I don’t really expect that there’s anything ILLEGAL in those tax returns. I just think there’s a lot of stuff that’s going to look REALLY bad to the average person, even if it is legal. So “why doesn’t the IRS look into it?” doesn’t really scan here. Even if there were, the IRS looking into it NOW would look Nixonian. Bad optics for our side. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/197 "2012-08-05T00:32:37Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > …or we need to assume that he paid all the taxes he owed. Which is essentially what I’m saying. Despite what Harry Reid has said, no actual evidence has been presented to support any wrongdoing on Romney’s part, therefore there is no reason that we know of for Obama, the IRS, Holder, or anyone else to open an investigation. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/198 "2012-08-05T00:43:44Z")
magellan01, the thought of creating strawmen and attacking them is what gets you up in the morning every day, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/199 "2012-08-05T01:02:16Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Well, why don’t we just tax wealthy people 95% or so. Just think of the lives _their_ money could save…think of the good _their_ money could do. 94% was the tax for the wealthy during ww2. their money did do a lot of good, and did save lives. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/200 "2012-08-05T01:30:38Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > If Reid wants to make allegations it is up to him to back them up. > [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > You want Harry Reid to release Mitt Romney’s tax returns? > [@Marley23](#): > > He wants Reid to substantiate the allegation. > [@TonySinclair](#): > > But the only way to do that is to produce Romney’s tax returns, and legally, only Romney can do that. Nonsense. The allegation Reid made was NOT about Romney’s tax payments; it was about a conversation he claims to have had with a Bain investor. **Iggy** wants Reid to give up the name of that investor. To tell you the truth, I also want him to do that. If Reid’s is prevented by his “scruples” from revealing who spoke with him about Mitt Romney’s behavior, I expect him to be prevented by those “scruples” from repeating what he was (allegedly) told. The kind of crap Reid has pulled is something I feel is better left in the karmic ledger of the Republicans. We are _supposed_ to be better than the Republicans. If we can’t manage that, we could at leas strive to be “not as bad.” It is no secret, nor is it controversial, that his being a member of the Republican Party renders Mitt Romney unsuitable for the Presidency. I would be happier if Senator Reid could confine his message to that fact, and if he feels that he MUST add information to the argument, that he could be completely aboveboard wrt to the sources of that information. ETA: > [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > Remember back in the early 2000’s when we almost elected Mitt Romney? That is, until we found out he had a child with erectile dysfunction? > > Dodged a bullet there. 😕 Don’t pretty much ALL children have erectile dysfunction (well, all MALE children)? I know I did. Didn’t get over it until I was about eleven or twelve. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085.md?page=11)