# 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:** 30
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/581 "2012-08-10T15:42:01Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I doubt many Republicans are going to claim that Romney released forged tax returns. Do you recognize how ridiculous your claim sounds, or not? I’m sorry, I just can’t take it seriously when you call someone else’s claim ridiculous just two minutes after saying that “some leftwing nutcase” would forge Romney’s tax return to show contributions to NAMBLA. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/582 "2012-08-10T15:59:42Z")
> [@Oldeb](#): > > This scenario can not exist. Notice how nobody has been prosecuted for the fake Kenyan birth certificates? I assume that the intended meaning is “Mr. S. L. Nutcase has a criminal record that includes an arrest for forgery”, not that he got arrested for perpetrating the specific hypothetical dirty deed under discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/583 "2012-08-10T16:16:34Z")
Looks like Romney’s arrogance abiout what voters are allowed to care about has seeped into the RNC. [RNC Chair Reince Preibus says it is ridiculous that 63% of Americans think Romney should release his taxes](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/10/1118580/-RNC-Chair-63-percent-of-voters-are-ridiculous). The fact is that Romney is failing in two ways here: 1) Not releasing his taxes and 2) Acting like folks have no right to ask about them. ---
**Author:** ![Truman\_Burbank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@Truman\_Burbank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Truman_Burbank)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/584 "2012-08-10T16:18:13Z")
This thread (and by my own sometimes tortured logic, the issue at large) seems to me to be growing tedious. I find myself less compelled to check into it. This suggests to me that if Romney can keep his mouth shut he may weather the crisis without releasing his forms… ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/585 "2012-08-10T16:41:30Z")
Oh, what the hell … Reid’s source may well have been [Jon Huntsman Sr](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/09/1118428/-It-s-John-Huntsman-Sr-right-Harry). So maybe HE’s lying. :rolleyes: There’s only one to find out. ---
**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 10, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/586 "2012-08-10T16:43:25Z")
> [@Truman\_Burbank](#): > > This thread (and by my own sometimes tortured logic, the issue at large) seems to me to be growing tedious. I find myself less compelled to check into it. This suggests to me that if Romney can keep his mouth shut he may weather the crisis without releasing his forms… Yeah, I was thinking the same thing about the thread, especially in light of the fact that hypothetical forged documents seem to be the main topic of discussion at this point. Not that our Doper friends don’t have the right to talk about whatever they want, of course. ---
**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 10, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/587 "2012-08-10T16:51:06Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Oh, what the hell … Reid’s source may well have been [Jon Huntsman Sr](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/09/1118428/-It-s-John-Huntsman-Sr-right-Harry). > [@dailykos link above](#): > > Sure, the evidence is circumstantial, but still pretty solid, wouldn’t you say? No, I wouldn’t say that at all. It seems to me if you take a bunch of data points that don’t say much of anything on their own, when you add them up you haven’t proven anything. They’re both Mormon? Fine. He donated to Reid’s campaign? So what? The number of people who fit the description in that link must number in the thousands, if not more. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/588 "2012-08-10T16:56:11Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > Yeah, I was thinking the same thing about the thread, especially in light of the fact that hypothetical forged documents seem to be the main topic of discussion at this point. Not that our Doper friends don’t have the right to talk about whatever they want, of course. When the debates happen it will become an issue again. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/589 "2012-08-10T17:00:10Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Looks like Romney’s arrogance abiout what voters are allowed to care about has seeped into the RNC. [RNC Chair Reince Preibus says it is ridiculous that 63% of Americans think Romney should release his taxes](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/10/1118580/-RNC-Chair-63-percent-of-voters-are-ridiculous). > > The fact is that Romney is failing in two ways here: 1) Not releasing his taxes and 2) Acting like folks have no right to ask about them. He’s also trying to float the notion that wanting to see Romney’s tax returns is somehow equivalent to crackpot Birthers wanting to see Obama’s birth certificate. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/590 "2012-08-10T17:04:18Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > When the debates happen it will become an issue again. Geez, [he already had to deal with this during the GOP primary debates](http://www.mediaite.com/tv/republican-debate-audience-boos-mitt-romney-over-releasing-tax-returns/): > [@](#): > > …At this point, some jeering could be heard, as Romney concluded, “When I have our taxes ready for this year, I’ll release them.” > > After moving on to Rick Santorum (whose taxes are on his computer at home), King came back to Romney to ask him if he would follow his father’s example, and release 12 years worth of returns. > > “Maybe.” Romney said, with an uncomfortable laugh. “I don’t know how many years I’ll release. I’ll take a look at what our documents are.” > > His response was met with loud jeers from the crowd… Was he delusional enough to actually think the subject wouldn’t come up again during the general election? :smack::smack: ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/591 "2012-08-10T17:05:17Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > He was making a joke about Obama’s “long form birth certificate.” > > Also, out of genuine curiosity, what the heck goes into a two hundred page tax return? Mine’s, like, three pages iirc. Ours are over 60 pages (full Turbo Tax dump) and we are reasonably vanilla. Do some Schedule Cs with depreciation of office equipment, donating some stuff to charity, buy and sell some stocks, and it adds up, and more so with the worksheets that net out to 0. 200 pages would be surprisingly small for Mitt. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/592 "2012-08-10T17:08:46Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I doubt many Republicans are going to claim that Romney released forged tax returns. Do you recognize how ridiculous your claim sounds, or not? > > Regards, > Shodan You misunderestimate the sleaze of your side. If Rove were running things, the course of action would be clear. 1. Create some returns with plausible numbers but a big hole which could be easily shown to be impossible if you know where to look. 2. Arrange for some not very smart left wing radical type to get it. 3. Make sure it gets leaked to the news media, who will, as usual, jump on it without checking. 4. Release just enough of the real returns to discredit the forgery, and the media. 5. Profit. It worked for Bush’s National Guard disservice. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/593 "2012-08-10T17:13:58Z")
Romney’s 2010 return (the one he has actually released) is [203 pages long](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/romney-2010-tax-return.html). ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/594 "2012-08-11T00:26:43Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Ours are over 60 pages (full Turbo Tax dump) and we are reasonably vanilla. > Do some Schedule Cs with depreciation of office equipment, donating some stuff to charity, buy and sell some stocks, and it adds up, and more so with the worksheets that net out to 0. 200 pages would be surprisingly small for Mitt. Mine is also the full Turbo Tax dump - so it includes the worksheets and state stuff that aren’t in Mitt’s 203 pages because they aren’t officially part of the federal filing. I have a few pages of oil depletion spreadsheets and partnership forms. I own a little stock in a oil partnership that involves filing a schedule K. Every year I think “I need to sell this, the gain isn’t worth the tax time.” ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/595 "2012-08-11T00:57:23Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Romney’s 2010 return (the one he has actually released) is [203 pages long](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/romney-2010-tax-return.html). And that isn’t even the full return. He omitted the attachment required to show his interest in foreign financial accounts. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/596 "2012-08-11T16:10:24Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > So, Mitt using sheep for sexual pleasure is just as believable as Mitt legally avoiding taxes for ten years? Was there some other point you were trying to make?/ Of course it’s not equally believable. That’s why all political lies are construed to be believable at first blush so they catch on. You don’t come out with a false rumor that Obama is a member of the Ku Klux Klan or that G.W. Bush is a secret Muslim. Those rumors are dismissed outright. The key to a successful lie is crafting one that just might be true. But just because you’ve created a good lie doesn’t mean that people should believe it because a “source” told you. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/597 "2012-08-11T23:37:36Z")
That Romney refuses to release his returns is a _fact_. I don’t know why this keeps needing to be repeated, but here it is again: \*Romney \*is the candidate. Romney. Not Reid, _Romney_. Romney’s motives and attitudes are what we voters need to assess. Not Reid’s, Romney’s. Got it yet? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/598 "2012-08-12T00:36:31Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > That Romney refuses to release his returns is a _fact_. > > I don’t know why this keeps needing to be repeated, but here it is again: \*Romney \*is the candidate. Romney. Not Reid, _Romney_. Romney’s motives and attitudes are what we voters need to assess. Not Reid’s, Romney’s. > > Got it yet? If Romney has committed any tax crimes, I would hope that Obama’s Justice Department has investigated and pursued criminal charges per the Constitution. Since they haven’t, I will assume that Romney has managed his finances in compliance with the law. That’s good enough for me. Now you wish to have a gloved hand up the ass examination for a candidate, and that is your right as a voter. But in any event, if an accusation is leveled at anyone, me, you, Romney, or Obama, the burden is on the accuser to verify his statement. An unnamed source is bullshit. I don’t, and should not have to, refute any statement made against me by someone with a political ax to grind. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/599 "2012-08-12T00:41:27Z")
The 2009 amnesty would have made his foreign transactions retroactively legal. I’m glad you’re satisfied with that. About this accusation that has you far more worked up than _the actual candidate’s ethics_, one can only wonder why you give a damn. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085/600 "2012-08-12T00:44:42Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > But in any event, if an accusation is leveled at anyone, me, you, Romney, or Obama, the burden is on the accuser to verify his statement. So what is Romney going to do if Reid refuses? Just let the accusation float out there, repeated endlessly as conservatives demand satisfaction? Some of that shit is going to stick with people wondering what Romney is hiding. On the other hand, what is the worst that will happen to Reid by refusung to name his source? Conservatives will think poorly of him? Romney is the one with everything to lose. Reid is a fucking genius. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085.md?page=29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wont-romney-release-his-tax-returns/630085.md?page=31)