FROM THE press pool, Mitt Romney finally finds an offensive message on taxes.
“I just have to say, given the challenges that America faces – 23 million people out of work, Iran about to become nuclear, one out of six Americans in poverty – the fascination with taxes I’ve paid I find to be very small-minded compared to the broad issues that we face. But I did go back and look at my taxes and over the past 10 years I never paid less than 13 percent. …” – Mitt Romney [Buzzfeed]
We’ll have to take his word on the 13%, because the Romneys are not going to offer any further returns, that much seems clear.
It should be noted that when a candidate gives an exact number, it’s like holding a red flag in front of a bull, because reporters will want to verify it. Trouble is without the Romneys help they can’t.
The case Romney made today, shifting to substantive challenges the country faces, is a lot better than what they said previously. If this had been their line all along, though I still contend claiming privacy as well would have helped, the questions would still have been asked, but the public would have heard a different answer from both Romneys that put them on offense instead of defense, which made the both look like they were hiding something, instead of having real principle for keep their returns private.
File this story under developing, because we’ll have to see how this plays out and whether his new offense sticks.
13% is not hard at all to believe just on easy math……15 on qualified dividends and cap gains reduced for charitable contributions………might actually be a simpler return than the average 1040.
And Obama himself gave him the last two years out of ten………….On December 17, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. The legislation extends for two additional years the changes enacted to the taxation of qualified dividends in the JGTRRA and TIPRA.
“File this story under developing, because we’ll have to see how this plays out and whether his new offense sticks.” -Taylor
It’s a little to late in the game. Romney has already been defined by Team Obama. If Romney had been honest from the get go and just released all his taxes, while still in the republican primaries…this would have been all old news by now.
I don’t know if the unanswered tax questions will hurt him come election day. However, I do know that Romney has been full defined has a “guy hiding something from the public.” Obama was defined in the same way by the right for three years…so now, Romney has been bought down to his level.
Basically, Mitt Romney has become a lost cause. The Republican right now has put all their hopes in Paul Ryan aka the new White hope…to save what is left of Romney campaign. Unlike Romney, Paul Ryan is not a well known commodity to the public. Hence, the right wing focusing on every Joe Biden gaffes…to use as a distraction so no one fully vets Ryan.
Look for Joe Biden status to raise even higher in the media…as we get closer to November. The right has given up on Romney to sale their conservative message…and will go all out in protecting Paul Ryan from any criticism.
It’s amazing he didn’t just say this from the start. Really puzzling, this whole handling of the issue.
I can just see someone viewing the Ann Romney clip circulating yesterday, deciding it was time Mr. Romney stood up and it needed to be done before tonight.
Wonder if Brian Williams will add tape to “30 Rock” tonight?
Why would anyone think this is good news for Romney, that he always paid at least a rate of 13%? Small, cold comfort to the middle class in higher tax brackets. This is laughable low for someone with his income level.
That was my thought after reading that, but it probably says more about how our tax laws have changed. If Romney was able to describe most of his income as being capital gains, he’d pay a lower rate (more than 13%, though, IIRC).
I’ve certainly been wondering whether there’s anything substantive that all these folks want to talk about. Of course, when you’d be hard-pressed to jam a piece of paper in between their positions on the economy and the wars, it’s understandable that they’d rather fling poo at each other.
I keep remembering 2004, though, when Kerry released all his war records. That issue didn’t go away. The birthers didn’t go away after the “long form” birth certificate was released, and people dug up the old newspaper clippings. So I suppose this is some karma finally coming home to roost for the GOP.
Still, it’s pretty depressing to watch.
” though I still contend claiming privacy as well would have helped”
If they want privacy…they probably shouldn’t run for President of the United States.