Mitt Romney has released one complete tax return, (2010), and one estimated return, (2011). He is adamant about not releasing additional tax returns. When his father ran for president in 1968, he released twelve years of his tax returns. At that time, George Romney explained “One year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show.”
what eye thynk: “…perhaps done for show.“ How prophetic. Can there be any question that, prior to this run for president, George’s son kept a substantial portion of his money in tax protected foreign accounts? Can there be any question that, in 2010, when Mitt decided on another try for the White House, some of that money was moved to U.S. accounts in order to make his tax return “show” ready?
His campaign keeps saying that prior to 2010 Mitt paid all the taxes that were legally required. What he and his campaign fail to grasp, but what is painfully obvious to the average American, is that there is a vast difference between legally required and morally just. The average American doesn’t get to choose how much of his income will be taxed.
When Lindsey Graham, Republican Senator from South Carolina, attempted to explain that shielding money from the I.R.S. was praise worthy, (“It’s really American to avoid paying taxes legally”), his explanation only served to highlight the “other-liness” of Mitt Romney and his ilk.
It is possible that we’re wrong in chasing this issue. It is possible that Mr. Romney's older tax returns would show a higher tax rate, fewer off shore accounts and millions of dollars invested in American companies; but, if so, why keep them hidden? This is not an issue that is going to die, not while Mitt’s recalcitrance is keeping it fed and watered.
As for myself, I believe the 13.9% tax rate he paid in 2010 was probably a high watermark rate for him and Mitt is refusing to release more tax returns because they would expose a man who, while he wants to run the country, does not want to have to pay for its maintenance.
You are exactly write. Another reason why Mitt might not want to release his tax returns are because he is already not relatable to the American people and if it shows that some years he didn't pay any taxes or he payed a really low rate, bye bye to the Willard for President campaign.
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