WASHINGTON -- Democrats have entered the go-for-the-jugular stage of the presidential race, with President Barack Obama's campaign, the Democratic National Committee and an allied opposition research group all releasing videos Tuesday attacking Mitt Romney for his refusal to release more tax returns.
The videos are distinct. The Obama campaign clip will air on television in Pennsylvania, where Mitt Romney is campaigning today. The DNC's version craftily uses Sarah Palin to suggest that John McCain was so nervous about Romney's taxes that he made a historic roll of the dice with his running mate pick in 2008. The video put together by American Bridge 21st Century is a sharp edit job of clips of all the prominent GOP officials and pundits who have begun groaning about Romney's handling of the matter.
All three videos hit at the same theme: Romney's obstinacy on tax returns has become a crippling problem for his campaign and one that Democrats are intent on compounding. Romney has released his completed return for 2010 and his estimated return for 2011, showing an effective 2010 tax rate of 13.9 percent and financial accounts in Switzerland, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands.
"Until he releases additional years of tax returns, the American people won't know why he kept his finances offshore in the Cayman Islands and set up a shell corporation in Bermuda," emailed Ben LaBolt, Obama's campaign press secretary. "Romney would be the first nominee in decades to release only one full year of tax returns. He recently said that his campaign has “put out as much as we’re going to put out” -– which makes you wonder: What is Mitt Romney hiding?"
The use of Palin by the DNC seems designed specifically to get the web video some cable news attention and free publicity. But the suggestion that the 23 years of tax returns that Romney provided to McCain campaign doomed his prospects as a potential 2008 VP pick was disputed by the Arizona Republican's campaign manager, Steve Schmidt.
WATCH THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN VIDEO
WATCH THE DNC VIDEO
WATCH THE AMERICAN BRIDGE VIDEO
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Birth Certificate -- "Born In The USA"
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/27/obama-birth-certificate-r_n_854248.html" target="_hplink"><strong>(April 27, 2011) --</strong></a> The White House <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/04/27/president-obamas-long-form-birth-certificate" target="_hplink">released</a> President Barack Obama's "long form" birth certificate, adding documentation to a longstanding discussion over his ability to serve as commander in chief. "We do not have time for this kind of silliness," Obama said. "We have better stuff to do. I have got better stuff to do. We have got big problems to solve." (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
Osama Bin Laden Killed -- "Tonight, Tonight"
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/01/osama-bin-laden-dead-killed_n_856091.html" target="_hplink"><strong>(May 1, 2011)</strong></a> -- In a televised address to the nation, Obama announces that Osama bin Laden is dead. His death was the result of a U.S. operation launched today in Abbottabad, Pakistan, against a compound where bin Laden was believed to be hiding. "[T]oday's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people," Obama proclaimed. (Photo by Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images)
Debt Ceiling Deal -- "Gold On The Ceiling"
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/02/obama-debt-ceiling-deal-jobs_n_916285.html" target="_hplink"><strong>(Aug. 2, 2011) --</strong></a> After the Senate passed a bill to raise the debt limit, Obama pleaded with Congress to shift their attention to jobs. "I will urge them to immediately take some steps -- bipartisan, common-sense steps -- that will make a difference; that will create a climate where businesses can hire, where folks have more money in their pockets to spend, where people who are out of work can find good jobs," he said. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
Don't Ask Don't Tell -- "Don't Stop Believin'"
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/20/barack-obama-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-statement_n_971662.html" target="_hplink"><strong>(Sept. 20, 2011) --</strong></a> As the ban on gays serving in the military came to an end, Obama hailed the fresh start, celebrating the fact that "patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love." (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
Iraq War To End -- "Homeward Bound"
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/21/obama-iraq-troop-withdrawal_n_1024108.html" target="_hplink"><strong>(Oct. 21, 2011) --</strong></a> Obama announced that all U.S. troops will be out of Iraq by 2011, fulfilling a promise that dated back to his campaign. "As a candidate for president, I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end," Obama said. "So today I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year." (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Singing Al Green's "Let's Stay Together"
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/20/obama-al-green-apollo-theater_n_1218070.html" target="_hplink"><strong>(Jan. 20, 2012) --</strong></a> During a fundraiser at Harlem's historic Apollo Theater, Obama delivered a memorable musical message to his donors. With Rev. Al Green in attendance, Obama sang part of Green's hit song "Let's Stay Together," drawing strong applause from the crowd.
Singing Robert Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago"
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/21/obama-sings-sweet-home-chicago_n_1292576.html" target="_hplink"><strong>(Feb. 21, 2012) --</strong></a> Days after his Al Green rendition, Obama flexed his vocal chords again with a hometown favorite. The East Room of the White House had its blues fix filled when the president started swinging "Sweet Home Chicago."
Gay Marriage -- "Can't Fight This Feeling"
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/obama-gay-marriage_n_1503245.html" target="_hplink"><strong>(May 9, 2012) --</strong></a> In a sit-down interview with ABC's Robin Roberts, Obama explained his evolution on the issue, affirming his support for gay marriage. "[A]t a certain point I've just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married," he said.
Immigration -- "With Arms Wide Open"
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/15/obama-immigration-order-deportation-dream-act_n_1599658.html
" target="_hplink"><strong>(June 15, 2012) --</strong></a> The Obama administration addressed America's immigration issue, announcing that it will halt deportations and grant work permits to young individuals eligible for Dream-Act benefits. "They pledge allegiance to our flag," Obama said. "They are Americans in their hearts, in their minds, in every single way but one: on paper."(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Health Care Reform -- "Beautiful Day"
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/28/supreme-court-health-care-decision_n_1585131.html" target="_hplink"><strong>(June 28, 2012) --</strong></a> After weeks of speculation that Obama's signature piece of legislation could be overturned, the Supreme Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate is constitutional. "It should be pretty clear that I didn't do this because it's good politics," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/28/obama-health-care-ruling_n_1632953.html" target="_hplink">Obama said</a>. "I did it because it's good for the country." (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON -- Democrats have entered the go-for-the-jugular stage of the presidential race, with President Barack Obama's campaign, the Democratic National Committee and an allied opposition research ...
WASHINGTON -- Democrats have entered the go-for-the-jugular stage of the presidential race, with President Barack Obama's campaign, the Democratic National Committee and an allied opposition research ...
Republicans on this thread have an important objection: we should be talking about jobs and the economy, instead of Romney's job at Bain Capital and his tax returns!
I think that they're right. So WHY are we talking about Bain Capital and Romney's refusal to release his tax returns?
Unfortunately, because each time America talks about jobs, Romney simply responds by referring to his own
Read More... job at Bain Capital. According to him, he doesn't need to come up with concrete, serious jobs bills, that according to independent studies would add millions of jobs (such as for instance Obama's American Jobs Act, that would lower the unemployment rate to 6% by the end of the year, without adding to the deficit). People should simply "trust" him as he was the CEO of Bain Capital.
That means that IF we want to know what Romney's experience with jobs is, we HAVE to look at what he did at Bain Capital, because it's what he himself tells us should make us trust him.
Problem: if we just listen to Romney himself on his past at Bain Capital, he's offering different versions, which contradict each other.
In that case, the ONLY way to know which version is true and which version has been invented because "he's running for office for Pete's sake", is to take a look at his tax returns.
But ... contrary to a long tradition, all of a sudden Romney REFUSES to release his tax returns.
Which doesn't create a lot of "trust"...
And it do means that the Dems and Republicans who are really interested in jobs will have to continue to push him to clear this issue up.
So no, it's not a "distraction" at all, it's precisely because Romney built his entire jobs policy on a vague referral to his own job at Bain Capital that today, unfortunately, IF you want to talk jobs with Romney, you HAVE to talk about Bain and his tax returns (unfortunately because by this time we should actually be comparing Obama's American Jobs Act to Romney's (non existent) concrete job bills, instead of being distracted by Romney's past as a CEO ...!).
Beatriz09: Republicans on this thread have an important objection: we should
The IMPORTANT part that was NOT included.... or maybe it will be the next commercial ad is this..............
Mitt Romney paid 13.9% taxes on 42 million in 2010...................that tax rate was based on ALL INVESTMENT, Capitol Gains Tax Rate of 15%........ and Romney is documented on tape as promising, or at least saying, that he will ELIMINATE the CAPITOL GAINS TAX....
So, in other words, Romney would have paid NO TAXES in 2010 on 42 million profit, based on it was an investment.
ROmney believes that HE should have to pay NO TAXES, based on the FACT, that he does NOT do the little work, and only the little workers should pay taxes.
This is filmed and documented.........
Papi-Chullo: The IMPORTANT part that was NOT included.... or maybe it
No wonder Obama is dropping in the polls and trailing Romney now. He still doesn't get that American people are focused on the poor economy and lost jobs, something Barry hasn't focused on while he's been playing golf.
icethebest: No wonder Obama is dropping in the polls and trailing
So the GOP led by Mitt Romney does not want to pay a very modest capped tax to decrease health care costs and fund universal health that would make us more competitive in the world economy. And it does not want to impose penalties on "freeloaders" who by refusing to pay those taxes for universal health care greatly increase the health care costs of the great majority of Americans who pay for their health care. No surprise here given that the Republican Party and Mitt Romney only serve to protect the "freeloading" and “entitlement grabbing” wealthy and corporate elite (of which Romney is a member) who take more than $500 billion per year of government welfare in the form of subsidies and tax credits and more than $200 billion per year of DOD waste and fraud paid for on the backs of working families and small businesses in the $50,000 to $100,000 income group (the “middle class”) who pay an effective rate of total taxes on their relatively meager incomes at least 2 or 3 times greater than these wealthy "freeloaders" that are the Romneys of our nation who prefer to offshore our jobs and their wealth rather than pay a proportionate total tax rate that would eliminate our federal debt in about a decade or two and promptly fund the needed investments in education, job training, infrastructure, and the national security of a jobs and clean air and water creating independent domestic natural gas, wind, and solar energy economy.
CenTexDem: So the GOP led by Mitt Romney does not want
When a Federal regulator took over a failing New England bank, why did it allegedly forgive several million dollars in loans that Bain had received from the bank?
2. Why in the case of Bain’s takeover of Dade International, did Mitt Romney and his associates allegedly invest $30 million in Dade but charge Dade $100 million in management fees?
3. Why is Bain allegedly allowed to charge the money they borrowed on the books of Dade with the alleged result being that Dade was burdened with $1.5 billion in debt including Bain’s $100 million management fee?
4. Did the above cause Dade to go bankrupt causing about 2000 people to lose their jobs?
5. Did Bain receive $242 million in stock sales that Dade had allegedly “borrowed” under Romney’s management?
6. Did the repeal of Glass-Steagall allow banks to lend millions of dollars to companies like Bain Capital to buy companies like Dade?
7. Did taxpayers have to bail out any of these over-leveraged banks that failed?
8. How much money did Romney make from Dade International’s demise and how much in taxes did he pay on that money?
9. What is the effective tax rate Romney paid on that money, if any, and how does that compare to the proportionate total tax bill (sales, property, excise, payroll, social security, plus income taxes a small business owner has to pay making less than $100,000 per year in pre-tax net income.
CenTexDem: Nine questions to ask Romney: When a Federal regulator took
looks like a shell game..... here, we will invest 30 million, then charge you 100 million in return for advice, and that advice brought them into bankruptcy.............. but I'm guessing Bain got their 100 million long before the BK paperwork ink was dry........
Papi-Chullo: looks like a shell game..... here, we will invest 30
American households and small businesses that make pre-tax net incomes of more than $50,000 per year but less than $110,000 per year often pay about half of that income in total taxes such as income at rates from 15% to 30%, and in addition thereto, sales, social security, property taxes, and, in the case of small businesses, payroll taxes, while the top 10% and especially the top 1% of the very rich like the Mitt Romneys of this nation often pay less than 15% on their dividend, capital gain, and hedge fund compensation income and then offshore most of their wealth to pay no income tax. It is the lower 80% of families and small businesses that create consumer demand and jobs. The present lack of shared sacrifice on the part of the rich who are grabbing all of our nation's wealth and income through legalized scams is fast destroying that consumer demand and job creation. Electing Obama and a Super Majority of Democrats to the Congress this November is the only way to stop this destruction of our nation by the very rich and for all Americans not just the top 10% to be prosperous.
CenTexDem: American households and small businesses that make pre-tax net incomes
THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS OBAMA HIDING??? Why has he continually lied to us when he told us he was going to have the most transparent administration ever? Why are we not shown his college transcripts? Why does he appoint Czars to avoid Congress? I have totally lost faith in him as an honest person.
rls2882: THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS OBAMA HIDING??? Why has he
So do you have a college degree? When was the last time you shared your transcripts? I have 2 degrees and no one has ever asked and I have never shared my transcripts with anybody. I could have made just plain 2.0 or I could have a 4.0. You just do not know do you? And why should Obama share transcripts? No one else has ever shared them. You make a point that is really not needed and not even pertinent to the point. And I certainly have not seen Mitt share his transcripts either. Why are you not asking for them? And this article was about Mitt sharing his tax returns. How about sticking to the point, ASK MITT TO SHARE HIS TAX RETURNS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE THAT RUNS FOR PRESIDENT HAS.
nitridr: So do you have a college degree? When was the
You gave your feelings on one of the items. How about the others. I, and many others have lost trust in him. The "most transparent administration ever" is a myth. Czars to avoid Congress is nothing more than attempting to circumvent the process knowing full well that they would not clear vetting. Guess you wont be voting for Romney, but many who voted for Obama in the past will be now voting for Romney.
rls2882: You gave your feelings on one of the items. How
Tax returns tell you nothing about the person. What's Mr. Obama hiding in his relationship with Rev. Wright and the other sleazy characters along with what'shis relationship with Soros?
rls2882: Tax returns tell you nothing about the person. What's Mr.
The real concern should be that Romney pays less than 15% on his millions of dollars of income before making non-deductible contributions to an IRA while hard working families and small businesses in the comparatively meagre 50K to 100K income category pay almost half of that pre-tax income in all kinds of taxes and then 15% to 30% in income taxes before money is available to them to contribute small sums to their IRA.
CenTexDem: The real concern should be that Romney pays less than
When you can never let people know who you really are, you're fatally flawed. Maybe even billions of secret dollars from a couple dozen billionaires looking to buy a government won't help. Maybe.
EricProgDem: When you can never let people know who you really
So I'm guessing in their defense Republicans are still going to complain about Obama's birth certificate... news flash that is nothing in comparison to this...
nicoleriley: So I'm guessing in their defense Republicans are still going
Obama goes populist, as he should. It's time someone fights for bottom 95%. The GOP has done the bidding of their masters the greedy third of the top 5%.
Obama victory in November with coat-tails. Dems retain the Senate and regain the House .. Filibuster rules changed .. A Supreme Court in line with America's values .. Campaign finance reform .. The GOP (and the greedy wing of the wealthy elites who are their masters) permanently discredited, even among social conservatives and TEA party adherents .. The Fair Share Tax reform (google it).
PeteG2: Obama goes populist, as he should. It's time someone fights
He is not vilified for being wealthy he is being vilified for not paying AMERICA its taxes and helping the AMER economy as he should
The question is not his money or wealth they all are millionnaires the question is why hide, why cover up, why put your funds overseas and complain about POTUS ? Why support countrys outside of you nation?This is not about Hillary Bill or Barry as i stated they are all millionnaires (who pay taxes) its about Mittens his calculating manuevers, his subtle greed and his in ya face "i don't care about the poor they have safety nets" arrogant attitude of i got mine u get yours. And his" if i can stop women from rizing i will cut off all of it? Noone cares about mittens money, its okay its how he is doing what he is doing..Yes, we all cry when we lose Its painful but FALSEHOOD runs from truth and those who support lies never win..hint hint Peace and love
stillstandingkickingbutt: He is not vilified for being wealthy he is being
RobMe has no viable record on which to run, which is why his campaign does nothing but lie, distort and wholesale fabricate. He's running away from his dismal public sector record as MA governor, to include his poor job-creation and outsourcing of U.S. jobs while he was there. Weirdly enough, he's also fleeing his major accomplishment - the implementation of "RomneyCare" - even though he should be PROUD of having covered nearly 100% of the denizens.
He's running AWAY from his so-called "business" career at Bain, in large part, because it was a failure for everyone EXCEPT Romney and his rich buddies. He was great at SELF-enrichment and swelling the net worth of his peers, but not at all for the working-class and middle-class employees whose livelihoods were largely decimated by Bain. This is the same type of thing that RobMe would do, if we are so moronic as to place him in the White House.
BooTay: RobMe has no viable record on which to run, which
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Posted: 07/17/2012 6:04 am Updated: 07/17/2012 10:29 am