Clinton Will Release Tax Info At Least Three Days Before PA Primary

An aide to Hillary Clinton pledged on Monday to release the senator's tax returns at least three days prior to the Pennsylvania primary.

On a conference call with reporters, Howard Wolfson offered a "categorical yes" when asked if the New York Democrat would make public this information with enough time to spare so that voters in the Keystone State could review it.

Prior to Monday, the Clinton camp had pledged that they would release the senator's tax returns which has not been made public since she and her husband left the White House in 2000, only before the Pennsylvania primary on April 20.

Several watchdog groups and Clinton critics have pressed the matter as evidence that the senator has been less than transparent about her record.

Wolfson, pivoting off his pledge to get the tax returns public three days before voters went to the polls, hit Sen. Barack Obama for not making this a "two-way street."

"We have a 20 to 1 advantage in terms of tax returns in the public record," he said. "If the Obama campaign is truly interested in disclosure they will offer their tax returns for every year that Senator Obama was in public office."

Comments

[DukeFan]

I will believe it when I see it! I can understand not releasing 2007 tax records until April 15, but the previous 8 years? Come on....all you need is a copier Hilary. It 'smells' of secrecy and deceit. With the Clinton's record of conspiracy and corruption this just looks beyond suspicious when they have tried to forestall releasing them time and again.

[AndrewInToronto]

...but she has been very busy, barely enough time to sleep. Remember? (Cleveland debate) Surely it is entirely coincidental that there will be little time to reflect upon what is in them and do the background research prior to the PA primary upon which she is banking.

SEN. CLINTON: ... And I will release my tax returns. I have consistently said that. And I will --

MR. RUSSERT: Why not now?

SEN. CLINTON: Well, I will do it as others have done it: upon becoming the nominee, or even earlier, Tim, because I have been as open as I can be.

You have -- the public has 20 years of records for me, and I have very extensive filings with the Senate where --

MR. RUSSERT: So, before next Tuesday's primary?

SEN. CLINTON: Well, I can't get it together by then, but I will certainly work to get it together. I'm a little busy right now; I hardly have time to sleep. But I will certainly work toward releasing, and we will get that done and in the public domain.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/politics/26text-debate.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

[elad065]

THREE DAYS TO GO OVER A TAX RETURN THAT HAS SEEN THE LIGHT OF DAY FOR HOW LONG?

[elad065]

VERY DIRTY!

[Opinionater]

The date keeps getting pushed back. Why not release them now?? I will believe it when I see it. And then we will see how complete it is. As it stands, she still has not provided them, so the question remains, where are your tax returns, Hillary?

[veteran1964]

I think that a part of the $32 million she earned in February has been given to a SUPER ACCOUNTANT to redo her tax return and cover every gray area WITH RED. Where did all that money go? Maybe it was spent to pick the bullets out of her dress or pansuit from the Bosnia trip. She will end up being exposed for covering it up....If it is real, it will show Bill's millions from outside sources and a lot of shenanigans behind it.

[debwarot]

3 days prior to the election..and over a weekend. So.......if questions come up or what they release is redacted there really won't be time for this information to be reviewed thoroughly, will there?

If they had released this information earlier and it was on the up and up this whole issue would have been less of a distraction, wouldn't it? They are releasing EVERYTHING, right? Certainly there aren't any transparency issues here!

By the way, it is my understanding that Senator Obama has already released all of his tax records so why is Mr. Wolfson still asking for them?

[PragmaticProgressive]

On April 20th? Why not the 15th? Why not now? Why not last week? Why isn't this a bigger Obama talking point? The only reason they would be delaying is that they think it will hurt their chances in PA with low-middle income voters. What do they have to hide?

They know it will not filter into the public discussion until after the primary.

This move is both weak and telling. After all, the release of the tax records only requires about 5 minutes and xerox technology, which I know they are familiar with.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

this isn't a bigger Obama talking point because he has only release ONE year of his tax returns himself. Where are all of his returns for the years he spent in the ILL state senate? Obama always uses those years to claim he has more time in elected office thanm Clinton. So, Obama, let's see your tax records for EVERY year you have been in elected office.

[joeyp404]

If you ask me, this is Barry's only talking point.

[PragmaticProgressive]

OK, how about since each of them has come to the Senate?

[TekTami78]

You're missing the point. The ONLY reason she is releasing them is because she's convinced that she has such a lead in PA that it won't make a difference to the voters there.

[2008andbeyond]

Why not before the Pennsylvania debate? Take away a talking point and question of criticism from the panel, plus allow the press and public some time to access and sift through the information. That would allow her to focus on how clean her record is... I guess the answer is contained within the question.


Who wants to bet they get released Saturday evening, preventing the Sunday morning shows from dissecting and by the time all questions are asked and answered, it'll be past Tuesday the 22nd. Pennsylvania voters will be informed too later, like Ohioans and NAFTA.

[standforpeace]

Did he say while he was engaged in double speak, why she doesn't just take 2 minutes to call her accountant and have him fax over her past returns for release this afternoon. Why are the Democratic primary voters still putting up with this bull shit?

[moda31]

so they'll release the bare minimum tax info over the weekend when nobody is paying attention, i sure hope the voters are grateful for this great attempt at transparency.

[JBelbute]

I suppose they will redact all of the figures and names of companies

[MrGill]

That seems odd, why 3 days and over a weekend? If I had to bet, there will be a 'glitch' at the last minute and they won't be able to release them before the primary in PA. Why not 7 days prior?

Greasy.....very greasy.....

[Grunty1]

Simple: 7 days would give pundits the time to READ it. 3 days on a weekend? Not likely.

[cinnysmom]

yes just like her schedules, something or alot of somethings will be blacked out. Yes, wait until 3 days before the primary so like someone earlier mentioned that the press won't pick up on it.
Slick I say slick!!!!!!

[DoAsISay]

Three days? It will probably be a few minutes before polls open. That way they keep their promise of releasing them before the primary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It6JN7ALF7Y

[coonce]

They should be required (demanded) to release them at least a full week before the primary. This primary as everyone knows, is very important. It could finish Hillary off if all the facts are known before voters go to vote there.

I say commercials should be made and ran everywhere asking voters call in or email the Senator and demand she release her taxes a full week before the primary.

[FreedomLoverX]

First, I doubt it. Second, Bill's should be included - they work together, right?

I would not trust Hillary if she told me it was daytime.

[bhobo]

why don't they release the years from 2000 through 2006 now as part of the "most vetted" person in politics?
Three days before the Pennsylvania primary actually means Clinton will release the returns (and probably only the 2007 ones under an amended tax filing) after the Friday evening news cycle. The weekend will have minimum coverage of the taxes as it is going to take a few days to vet them.
First potential negative coverage is Monday evening, way too late, as the primary is Tuesday morning.
It is impossible for the Clintons to do anything above board. There is always some stigma attached to everything they do or some kind of political angle.
Even when they actually win a state like Ohio (the lies about NAFTA) or Texas (the 3:am telephone call), the CLinton manage to come up smelling like horse shit
bhobo