Comments about ‘Letter: Harry Reid descends to lowest form of politics’

The super rich have long been used to enjoying the services of the very craftiest tax lawyers and accountants to help them dodge every possible tax liability. Pretty sweet deal, as long as you have the good sense not to try to run for president or something.

@Blue:

"This is not that complicated an issue."

True. Obama could release his sealed papers and be done with it. What's he hiding, Americans wanna know?

"Looking at candidates' tax returns is a time-honored tool the public uses to measure candidates' statements about public financial policies against their personal financial behaviors."

The guy's tax returns are in order, otherwise the IRS would be on his tail. He followed tax law.

"Do they really 'walk the walk,' or are they 'Do as I say, not as I do?'"

We'd like to see if Obama's 'sealed' papers are in order... for exactly the same reason.

"Romney is the first presidential candidate in history to have a Swiss bank account. We are justified in asking why."

Why? Because American banks are prone to fail... such as Washington Mutual and Bear Stearns.

"Romney has a 401(k) retirement account valued at more than $100 million. We are justified in asking how a $100M 401k is possible."

You won't find your answer to his 401k on his tax returns. Perhaps his 401k grew becasue of brilliant investment strategies while yours languishes because of abject stupidity/disinterest re investments.

"Guilty until proven innocent" -lost in DC

Well, like Kimber already said, it was demanded of Obama to release his birth certificate, which he did. After, it was demanded of him to release his long-form certificate, which although rediculous, he also did.
One big difference is that releasing many years of tax records is customary, releasing birth certificates is not. It was a tradition started by candidate George Romney.
Ronmeys records are of particular interest because 1) he has money stashed away in foreign accounts. 2) the value of his 401k seems to exceed federal limits on contributions 3) he seems so intent on hiding that information.
I mean, he gave several years of returns to John McCain when being vetted for VP, and he went with Sarah Palin.

Please lets remember there is such a thing as "PRINCIPLES" Too many jump to the conclusion and believe Reid's accusation against Mitt Romney based on Reid's secret 'litle Bird' tweeting that Mitt Romney has not paid taxes in ten years and is hiding something bad by not opening 10 years of his taxes. There is such a thing as INTEGRITY, HONESTY, AND PRINCIPLES. Reid should and must prove his accusations or apologize to Romney and to the American people for wrongful, intentional, slander born on false malicious, intentional lies. The 'proof ball' is in Reid's court.

It's very simple to me; republicans claim to be overtaxed. Show me.

Romney was very careful not to say he paid federal taxes. He only said he pays lots of taxes.

This year I had heard the endless cries from republicans that half the country doesn't pay any federal income taxes.

I just want to see if Romney is a huge hypocrite or not. He doesn't want us to see his tax returns and that is the fact we know.

If voters want an interesting read, plow through Mitt and Ann Romney’s 2010 tax return, the only completed return released to the public. Romney’s effective tax rate was 13.9 percent on income of $21.6 million, and he has amassed an IRA estimated between $20 million and $101 million, despite limitations on contributions. Amazing return on investment. Remember when Republicans demanded every detail of how Hillary Clinton made a profit on a $1,000 commodities investment. Where now is their curiosity?

The Romneys have accounts and investments in Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Ireland, Luxembourg, Germany, Australia and Switzerland. Several of these locales are infamous for sheltering funds from U.S. taxes. When billionaire Warren Buffett was asked if he had a Swiss bank account, he replied, “No, there are plenty of good banks in the United States.”

grace rodgers/lubbock

@Blue:

"Mr. Romney, if you want to prove that Harry Reid is a terrible person... release several years of your tax returns."

We don't need Romney's tax returns to know that Reed is a terrible person... What Reed did could be considered unethical and possibly even felonious.

@liberal larry:

"We have seen the Cayman Islands accounts, the Swiss bank accounts, the Bahamian offshore accounts, and the huge tax breaks that Mitt claimed for his beloved olympic horse Rafalca, what could possibly be more embarrassing than what we had already learned?"

So, why do you need the returns if you know what's in them?

Besides, if you don't want politicians with Swiss bank accounts, etc., you need to fire Reed and Pelosi both of whom are reported as having foreign bank accounts.

@Esquire:

"Reid spoke based on a source he deems highly credible."

Regardless of source. The disclosure, without Romney's permission, is a felonious act.

@atl134:

"Reid never said Romney broke the law..."

Well, we know for sure that either Reed or his anonymous source broke the law since he/they disclosed Mitt's tax return without his permission.

@atl134:

"... half the point of all this is Democrats want to expose just how ridiculous the tax code is..."

The Congress is well aware of accounting tricks. Congressional members use them themselves. If Romney is pulling 'accounting tricks' he is only following Congress' example.

@Furry1993:

"No -- this is coming up because Mitt is trying to hide something. If he has nothing to hide, he should release his (complete) tax returns..."

If Obama has nothing to hide he can release his 'sealed' papers.

@Eric Samuelsen:

"Was Harry Reid out of line?"

He's not only out of line... His action is reported as being felonious.

"So how about we make this deal? Harry Reid tells everyone who his source was.
And Mitt Romney releases his tax returns."

How about this... Harry Reed resigns as Senator for his misdeeds and Ann Romney runs over his with her horse?

@Eric Samuelsen:

"As for the college transcript thing... First... there's no information relevant to this election in his college transcripts."

Transcripts are but one of several 'sealed' documents that have been requested.

"No such equivalency exists..."

The equivalency is the unsealing and release of documents.

@freedomingood:

"If voters want an interesting read, plow through Mitt and Ann Romney’s 2010 tax return, the only completed return released to the public."

You have one return and will get another as soon as it's filed with the IRS. Why could you possibly want more?

"Romney’s effective tax rate was 13.9 percent on income of $21.6 million, and he has amassed an IRA estimated between $20 million and $101 million, despite limitations on contributions. Amazing return on investment."

IRA's are meant to be invested. Why do you fault Romney for being an astute investor? You must be raging with jealousy.

He will pay taxes on the IRA account when he is old enough to be required to make distributions.

"Remember when Republicans demanded every detail of how Hillary Clinton made a profit on a $1,000 commodities investment. Where now is their curiosity?"

Did Republicans get what they requested? No.

"... there are plenty of good banks in the United States."

Yeah, sure. And there are many of those good banks that have gone belly up. Looks like Romney was smart to put his money elsewhere.

Mr. Bean, I'm not sure I've ever seen so many rationalizations....

Seems like if team Obama had something better they could talk about they would.

Geeez George,, Your ashamed of harry reid? What about All of the trash thrown at Obama the last 3 and a half years. Marxist, socialist, He wants to destroy the country, Muslem, birth certificate. You dont know what your talking about. Im glad some democrats are finally beating down the GOP at their own game. Name calling, and inuendo, and maybe outright lies. Where do you draw the line?? The GOP has been crossing it for Obama's whole term. Does it bother you cause the shoe is on the other foot??? WAAAHHHH!!!

I have read tons of comments complaining about how fifty percent of people do not have to pay taxes. I guess they were complaining about Romney too!

We talking about the same ABC news that mistakenly identified the wrong Holmes in the Colorado shooting and said it was "tea party" related...I'm not saying Fox News doesn't have its issues but all our news is jaded. The days of Murrow and Cronkite are long gone...

my brother is LDS and lives in Vegas and there is no surprise here at all with what Harry has stooped to...

Eric,
How do we KNOW he got good grades without the transcript?

I would disagree that the All Barak Channel is a news organization. Just like ANY media outlet, Fox included, ABC is a ratings chaser. And it was during one of their supposed NEWS broadcasts that they said harry was irresponsible, not one of their op-ed shows.

Omni-scent
Yeah, BO released something akin to birth certificate – 3 years after he was elected. Would you be happy of Romney released his tax returns in the same time frame? and please tell me when I have called for his birth certificate – I never have.

Esquire,
Not seen so many rationalizations? You NEVER read any of the comments defending BO’s record?

But as to the headline – ‘Harry Reid descends to lowest form of politics’ – what do you expect from the lowest form of politician?

Why won't Romney open the tax records like the other Presidential candidates have? What is he hiding? Reid can only tell what he was told and Mitt can blow him out of the water by showing the returns - IF they show Reid's informant was wrong.

It appears obvious that Mitt is hiding something in those tax returns. He hasn't necessarily done anything illegal, as I imagine he has the best lawyers and tax accountants money can buy. But he's done something with his finances that he knows will be very damaging to his candidacy and he's willing to take the heat for hiding his tax returns over the heat from releasing them. Whatever it is he's hiding, it's got to be something very very damaging.

Goodbye Romney. Either you're planning your timing for releasing the taxes or betting on the 'anybody but Obama' votes. Bottom line is you don't have the integrity to release your tax returns like your father ... and why is that? LOL

I'm sorry I got to this so late.
I wish people would stop considering this matter as a political one. Those of us who are members of the church know the seriousness of "Baring False Witness" and the penalties that accompany it. A U.S. Senator, a member in good standing and attacking another member. I hope the church publishes a comment soon, if it hasn't already or get ready for a mass church exit.
We should expect better of our leaders...be it political or evangelical.