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ALL DAY today I’ve been listening to talking heads on cable regurgitate the insider media talking point that “faux outrage has turned to real outrage,” especially where Mitt Romney is concerned. For the first time we get an example of what the media was talking about, but it’s neither Mitt Romney or Barack Obama we’re seeing display the anger.
In the “Rock Center” interview, which will be aired in full tomorrow night on NBC, Ann Romney is clearly pissed and it’s not pretty. It never is when a woman digs in and gets defensive for her husband, no matter who the woman may be.
The other point that should be noted is that she’s correct. No matter what the Romneys release they’ll never be able to win the argument.
But as Mitt Romney said himself earlier this year when he was filleting fellow Republicans, there’s no whining in politics, or at least there shouldn’t be. Everyone knows the game in the new media age, so accept it or don’t play.
What I’ve found curious about the Romney tax return issue is that they decided to make an argument against transparency and releasing more tax returns, choosing the defensive posture of offering what’s required by law, but nothing else. Add in Mrs. Romney’s new excuse, which is the more they release, the more they’re attacked, so no more returns, and it doesn’t settle anything and makes them both look worse.
The Romneys had a positive way to pursue the course they chose.
If I was Mitt Romney and didn’t want to share more financial information, I’d argue privacy for not offering anything beyond the legal requirements. Those requirements for candidates are set, to which the Romneys have complied. Just because other candidates have chosen fuller disclosure doesn’t mean it should be the standard. Where is the zone of financial privacy for a political candidate? They’re not elected yet, plus the Romney’s are rich, with most wealthy people very close to the vest on what they earn. It’s a private citizen’s prerogative and a presidential nominee shouldn’t be excluded, as long as he (or she) complies with the law.
The Romneys have made a real error in choosing defense instead of an offensive posture based on privacy. There is a powerful argument to be made that the American public nor anyone else is entitled to anything more from a presidential nominee than what’s required by law.
It may not make everyone happy, but it at least has a grain of principle that some people could understand and even appreciate, even if the real reason is something else.
The won’t release them because they have something to hide. I hope the American people don’t let them get away with it.
Based on the “clarification” Romney issued today, my guess is that what he has to hide is that he made a huge amount of money and paid a much smaller percentage in taxes than your average schoolteacher, janitor or construction worker. My bet is that he was very careful not to break any laws, but took full use of a system he wants to make even more friendly to fabulously rich people like him. And he knows that’s damning enough.
On this I agree with you fully. Romney (and those around him) have shown almost no aptitude for modern political message and media management. Lacking the personal aptitude to handle it on your own with smooth bs’ing like Clinton, clever retorting like Reagan or aggressive counters like Christie, one would think Romney would just turn the messaging over to the professional PR gang like Obama or the run of the mill CEO.
Offense works as the best defense only if you play strong offense right from the kick-off. If you find yourself in third and long all the time, either the game plan or the execution is weak. Romney’s best hope now is that Ryan proves to be an effective substitution.
Like everything else in politics the release of the tax return has become a contest. By dragging this out and by being so adamant about not releasing more than two years Romney has made it one. No matter what is in his taxes, if he discloses more than two years now, he loses. It will infuriate his base. To this extent it is up to the Romney opposition, w/o Obama getting involved of course, to bring enough pressure to bear to force him to do so. Failure is NOT an option — he must release.
The fallout and the detail therein are another story.
IMO, the Democrats have been too laid back about this whole thing. They do not realize what they have here.
As Jim DeMint once said: “This will break him.”
As a Vermont friend would say, Ramsgate. A-Yup.
It’s either/or. Releasing the tax returns or not releasing the tax returns will not make any diffierence come November.
His tax return means nothing to me. He has nothing to hide. Points to Romney for not falling for this ploy. You’re right, Taylor, they’re damned if they do, damned if they don’t, so I would say screw it, you’re not getting what you’re salivating for.
Poor Mitt,, Poor Ann – people are attacking them.
The cover up is always worse than the “crime” – unless of course you didn’t pay any taxes.
Taylor, this just reeks of more of the conservative victim syndrome. I would think this would turn even more voters off from Romney. I had actually thought Anne would be an asset to him until now.
As long as the US media insists on treating elections like reality shows, we deserve the pitiful candidates that we get and all of the stupid political games. What someone does with their income/free time/family etc. etc. is not only none of my business, but it really has nothing to do with the JOB of POTUS. We are “hiring” (choosing) someone to do that job, not to be our best friend, our idol, or our mentor.
Two ads, that’s all they need.
The first they already have on hand. It shows a slew of prominent Republicans all calling for him to immediately release his taxes if he has nothing to hide.
The second ad should should depict past Presidential candidates and the taxes they disclosed to the public, ending with Geo Romney — twelve years. Don’t know the exact numbers but by way of example: — Eisenhower (photo) — he released ten years of his taxes; Kennedy — 7 years; Nixon — fifteen years; Ford — eleven — years; Carter — eight years; Mondale– 12 years; Geo W. Bush — 8 years; Geo Romney Sr, 12 years. And so on.
V.O. If Mitt Romney paid his income taxes as he claims he has and he has nothing to hide why not follow the time-honored tradition of past Presidential candidates and come clean with the American people.
These two ads should be rotated until he yields.
I see you didn’t mention Reagan. Didn’t he release any of his?
I’m sure he did. Every candidate does. Beats me why Romney feels so damned entitled.