Mitt Romney Tax Returns: White House Suggests GOP Candidate Should Release Them

WASHINGTON -- The White House is suggesting GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney should release his tax returns, saying it's "established tradition" for presidential candidates to do so.

Responding to a question about Romney's failure so far to release his returns, White House press secretary Jay Carney stopped short of directly calling on the former Massachusetts governor to make them public. But he noted that when Barack Obama was a presidential candidate he released multiple years of his returns.

Carney said making tax records public has been a standard practice for presidential candidates, though it's not a law.

On Monday night, Romney said that while he might be willing to release his tax returns, he wouldn't do so until tax filing time.

Carney made his comments Tuesday at a White House press briefing.

Comments

[KeepumHonest]

07:09 PM on 01/18/2012

Romney's return will reflect a lot of charity and church givings.......Republicans will be happy to see how that compares with Obama gifts to the poor and J. Wrights' church. Be careful....this time around, Republicans are not going to allow a one-sided conversation.

[Davwbaird]

06:11 PM on 01/18/2012

OFF SHORE ACCOUNTS

[Dale Birmingham]

11:24 AM on 01/18/2012

Wouldn't it be kind of strange if Obama release his college transcirpts and find out Bush had a better grade average?

[lavarocker]

04:19 PM on 01/18/2012

Not possible.

[tttt9erfan]

07:57 PM on 01/21/2012

I wouldn't be suprised. What else could he be hiding? Already a fan!

[Dale Birmingham]

11:19 AM on 01/18/2012

LOL. Wait until Mitt does release them and all the money given to charity and his church. Oh this is going be good and to silence the "elites" on Obama's administration. I can't wait.

[None of the Above 0]

11:28 AM on 01/18/2012

There is an opportunity to turn this into a positive for the Romney campaign.

Romney hasn't had a "Yes We Can" moment for independents to coalesce around. If he doesn't control the narrative soon, as Gov Christie suggests, the moment for Romney will be "Yes You're Envious" or something of that nature.

[TexasTreader]

10:51 AM on 01/18/2012

If someone SELLS a company and the new owners cut labor, do you really blame the seller? 2nd question: If cutting 25% of a company's workforce save the jobs of the other 75%, isn't that a smart choice? Final question: If you're not an owner or shareholder of a company, how is it any of your business what choices are made in keeping it afloat?

The non-job creators are now free to respond.

[mc81360]

11:15 AM on 01/18/2012

They don't do that they come in sell off the companies assets get monster loans then they lay everybody off and raid the retirement accounts then go belly up .How else do you think he got 250 million in his bank account .

[None of the Above 0]

11:34 AM on 01/18/2012

I agree. But you can see how difficult this is to sell to general populace. All of the reasons, while fair, will take an enormous amount of repetition to sell.

For instance "Saving 75%" = "Laying off 25%"... or "Investor makes money" = "Bankrupts company".

It's pure demagoguery, but very difficult to defend to the public.

[TexasTreader]

10:45 AM on 01/18/2012

How about releasing Obama's transcripts and thesis? D much?

[mc81360]

11:16 AM on 01/18/2012

If he did you would just ask to see something else .Give it up .

[KeepumHonest]

07:14 PM on 01/18/2012

And Michele's thesis........even more interesting

[MacQ]

09:32 AM on 01/18/2012

There's a reason that GOVERNMENT set cap gains taxes at 15%. That's different than tax on ordinary income. It's tax on investment income--in other words, money that's already been taxed once that is put via investment BACK INTO THE ECONOMY.
They wanted to encourage that.For all our sakes.

Some of the poor idiots posting here do not understand that when someone invests money, they put it at risk (because they could also LOSE money).
Raising cap gains taxes would simply draw more capital OUT of the economy (including pension funds).

That would be a classic liberal mistake--do something that hurts everyone because it sounds fair to someone beating a bongo in the park.

[msm859]

11:05 AM on 01/18/2012

NO. The reason cap gains taxes are so low is because that is generally how the super rich make their money and they control the government. It has NOT necessarily already been taxed. If my uncle bought $10K of Apple stock 20 years ago and dies and I inherit it now worth $1 million I pay zero tax. I now take that $1 million and "invest" it and my "income" is now taxed at this "special - for rich people rate". Also, that capital gains rate was 20% under Clinton -- investments were doing just fine. This is an unnecessary tax give away to the rich. Finally, hedge fund managers get this rate for the work they do investing OTHER people's money -- no risk to them. Keeping this system is a classic Republican steal from the poor and give to the rich mistake.

[MacQ]

11:42 AM on 01/18/2012

Well, the reason they haven't raised it is that they want to stimulate investment--money that goes back into the economy (as opposed to safely stached under the mattress). Which it did.
You can argue that it should be raised back to 20%, but the fact of WHY it is taxed less than ordinary income is the same.
I think it'd be great if your uncle leaves you that stock. Then perhaps you could be content and not worried about what someone else has. Or maybe you'd just change your focus to the guys whose uncle left him 2 million?

[None of the Above 0]

11:39 AM on 01/18/2012

"There's a reason that GOVERNMENT set cap gains taxes at 15%. That's different than tax on ordinary income. It's tax on investment income--in other words, money that's already been taxed once that is put via investment BACK INTO THE ECONOMY. "

This is all true, but think how does this fit into any message during the general election season. How do you craft a three to four sentence message that resonates with independents that *overrides* the general feeling of income immobility and inequality?

If Romney can overcome this, he will reverse the downward trend with independent voters.

[MacQ]

12:10 PM on 01/18/2012

Your point is well taken.
I think it's going to be very difficult to run against a president whose campaign strategy is to set people against each other in the way that he is doing--by appealing to childish and base instincts (someone else has more than you do--it's not fair).

On the one hand, I don't think that most Americans like that kind of thing. I certainly don't. It appalls me.
It also is pretty frightening, as it is the same strategy that has been employed by tyrants throughout history to gain control of the people. Frightening when I read posts here that indicate people are falling for it.
It appears they're morphing from blaming Bush to blaming Romney for the ills of the economy, as if the past 3 years hadn't happened.
I do not envy the task of anyone who has to run against this machine. Will a well crafted message be heard? it remains to be seen whether Americans see the path to their own wellbeing to be one in which a thriving economy is restored, or whether they will buy into the idea that this president will boost their incomes by taking someone else's down.
Liberals seem to believe that if you make the rich poorer, somehow (they don't explain how), others will have more. It doesn't work that way, unfortunately.
I'd like to see us decrease the number of poor by enabling them to become wealthier.

[Ralph Boyd]

08:17 AM on 01/18/2012

And if Romney filed taxes last year why on Earth can't he release those?

Warning: You've got another Herman Cain. Discard candidate and wash at least a week with righteous indignation. If. Staining persists consult Karl Rove and blame Obama.

[tin soldier]

09:22 AM on 01/18/2012

Funny thing about Herman Caine ,When he dropped out of the race,all those alleged poor,hurt,abused women just diappeared . I guess the Democrat smear machine was finished with them. Now the same tactics are in play with Romney only using a different issue.

[Ralph Boyd]

10:31 AM on 01/18/2012

"Democrat Smear Machine"?
LOL
Republicans don't need no help from Democrats my friend.

[Ron Maede]

07:53 AM on 01/18/2012

We don't dislike him because he is rich.

We dislike him because he is a job cremator.

[MacQ]

09:27 AM on 01/18/2012

N o, you dislike him because he's rich.

[tttt9erfan]

08:09 PM on 01/21/2012

At least be honest about it.; You dislike him because he's rich!

[joecjr]

07:48 AM on 01/18/2012

Do like the White House did, release them when Obama actually releases his college transcripts and a real birth certificate that didn't take 2 years to plant. I mean after all aren't they the "most transparent administration" ever?

[JSDKoeln]

08:15 AM on 01/18/2012

back under the bridge with ya! Same 'ol tired ol' rhetoric from the tealibangelical loonies.

[mydangself]

09:16 AM on 01/18/2012

President Obama release his very legal and valid COLB while running for office, now find me any other President who did the same....I won't hold my breath.

That you can't understand that an abstract from the records certified by the DoH of Hawaii and the Registrar meets every legal requirement in all 50 states isn't the Presidents problem it's yours.

[billregalado]

07:45 AM on 01/18/2012

I ALSO SUGGEST ROMNEY RELEASES HIS TAX RETURN DOCUMENTS. IN EXCHANGE FOR OBAMA'S SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS.
THIS WILL SHOW WHO IS THE BIGGER LIAR. ONE WILL SHOW REGISTRATION AS A FOREIGN STUDENT. THE OTHER WILL SHOW A MAN MAKING MONEY BY WORKING. SOMETHING OBAMA HAS NO IDEA WHAT THAT IS.

[RonK Michigan]

08:45 AM on 01/18/2012

Are you REALLY suggesting that what Romney & Co. did to all of those peoples retirement funds is "working"????????

REALLY????????

Ronk’s Steven Wright Quote Du-Jour:
“Everyone has a photographic memory, some of us just don’t have any film”

[mydangself]

09:17 AM on 01/18/2012

Hitting capslock doesn't help disguise the stupid...just sayin

[drillsgtmark]

07:36 AM on 01/18/2012

Envy: A feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another"
This is the word Romney has accused us of. But in his myopic view of the world where
only money brings one legitmacy as a person and self worth as an individual he is grounded by a very sad linear philosophy of the world. In our alternate universe where privlege is not bestowed on us as Romney had from day one we want a level playing field and the chance for jobs that bring a good quality of life. We don't care how rich you are, how many houses you own, or how many companies you took apart for your own personal gain. And we certainly don't envy a person like you Mitt who is completely self absorbed and selfish with stunted compassion for anything or anyone but yourself. Your failure as a human being will never be absolved no matter how much money you make or what political offices you can buy, because your
soul, your very being is penurious of any thoughtful emotion to help your fellow man

[billregalado]

07:49 AM on 01/18/2012

OBVIOUSLY, YOU ARE A LEFTIST DEMOCRAT. OR, MAYBE BY MISTAKE YOU WROTE ROMNEY'S NAME INSTEAD OF OBAMA'S ?
EVERYTHING YOU MENTION FITS OBAMA'S DESCRIPTION.

[drillsgtmark]

08:06 AM on 01/18/2012

WTF?! Do you like making accusations about someone without knowing the first bloody thing about the person? And why the caps? Did I scare you? If you feel it fits Obama, wonderful, if you think it fits Romney, wonderful. The boogie man is coming to get you

[MacQ]

09:34 AM on 01/18/2012

Envy is the president's campaign strategy. It's all he has left. Personally I think Hope and Change sounds better.

[SagesseBleu]

07:16 AM on 01/18/2012

Mitt ought to release his tax returns and his concession speech the same day and be done with it.

[RonK Michigan]

08:47 AM on 01/18/2012

Naaaahhhh! The concession speech will come the day after the first debate with President Obama........

[tttt9erfan]

08:12 PM on 01/21/2012

Will there be telepromters asking the questions?

[williams74ra]

07:14 AM on 01/18/2012

Off topic, but in the photo above what exactly is Jay Carney measuring?

[MacQ]

09:34 AM on 01/18/2012

The size of the intellect of those he's trying to con?

[aFtersootdamP]

07:07 AM on 01/18/2012

obama, the food stamp president, should work on his own regime's transparency.

[lwilkerson50]

07:30 AM on 01/18/2012

Let's hope that you nor any of your family members never need assistance.
The program has only been around for 50 years.
There are more white people collecitng it than minorities.
This helps to feed children and the elderly.
There are lot's of people who have worked and are entitled to the benefits.

[billregalado]

07:51 AM on 01/18/2012

More white people ? Really ?

Another missinformed democrat.

[RonK Michigan]

08:50 AM on 01/18/2012

Now now, you're spouting facts to a person with a pic of Alfred E. Newman for an avatar - - - "What Me Worry"

[Von Bismark]

07:46 AM on 01/18/2012

These stereotypes will lead you to nowhere.