DEAR MITT…
I am writing to ask again that the Governor release multiple years of tax returns, but also to make an offer that should address his concerns about the additional disclosures. Governor Romney apparently fears that the more he offers, the more our campaign will demand that he provide. So I am prepared to provide assurances on just that point: if the Governor will release five years of returns, I commit in turn that we will not criticize him for not releasing more–neither in ads nor in other public communications or commentary for the rest of the campaign. [...] – Letter from Jim Messina to Matt Rhoades
No negative ads from Team Obama, no criticism, just transparency.
They’re answering Ann Romney’s biggest fears.
How Mitt Romney got himself in this position is truly one for the books. It’s not enough to say you paid 13%, because everyone knows that most middle class workers and their families pay a lot more and the unfairness of it just seems wrong.
So, the question as to whether Mitt Romney’s new offense on his taxes had worked is answered. The answer it yes, that is if you wanted to open up the subject again for Democrats.
Photo: Official White House photo by Pete Souza
This post has been updated.
They know that they’ve lost an issue to club Mitt with and, since they can’t run on their record, are desperate.
I don’t think there’s any evidence in polling that the tax issue is “lost.”
Yes, it is right there in between jobs and the economy in level of importance for voters. As was said yesterday, you don’t hear much about it outside the ‘univese of the left blogs’.
I am so glad you come grace us with your little disconnected from reality spewing. PLEASE advise your lords and masters to keep up this approach and strategy, PLEASE!
Brilliant!
Any reason why anyone should believe Messina? Ha!
It’s obviously a plus for the anti-Romney forces simply because it deflects the news cycle away from Obama. Any incumbent mired in a 45-50% disapproval rating for the entire calendar year leading up to an election needs all the help he can get from any distraction his support troops can keep on writing about.
Take a writer who writes this…because everyone knows that most middle class workers and their families pay a lot more. These writers are counting on their readers to take that at face value because, if you actually look up the IRS data…..or eve just calculate the effective tax rate on 100K AGI less SD and 2 exemptions……”everyone” will see that the statement is a falsehood.
And those same writers have the audacity to say things to others like Contrary to pulling facts out of thin air…….
IMO, this was an asinine move on Messina’s part. Now the Obama campaign OWNS the opposition to the tax issue. They should NEVER have gone begging to Romney. Of course they rejected it.
Any offer should have been presented by way of an onslaught of TV ads as a time honored tradition which should be upheld by every Presidential candidate including Romney. Soon enough the Romney camp would make THEM AN OFFER.
Obama and his people know absolutely nothing about negotiating. They always negotiate from a position of weakness. They are ALWAYS playing defense. First they compromise, then they cave in completely. How sad.
Transparency? I will support that when Obama releases all of his college records and all the other records sealed when he took office under an executive order. The hypocrisy is staggering.
All Mitt has to say is “I will show you mine if you show me yours” and Obama campaign will shut up.
What do you expect to find if Obama releases his college transcripts? That he was a poor student? That he benefited from Affirmative Action programs? Neither is illegal. A Romney challenge for Obama to “swap” information might be politically successful, but it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense logically.
President SOLELY on his image as a successful businessman and entrepreneur. How can we judge his success without knowing if he became rich and maintained his wealth by paying his fair share? It’s not hard to become wealthy by stealing and cheating- aren’t we justified in wanting to know how Romney got his?
And if Romney wants to hide the fact that he paid a far smaller percentage in taxes than we did- well, doesn’t that suggest that he recognizes the inherent unfairness in that? We are told that he donated “millions” to charity- how can we know this isn’t just another assertion, without evidence?
This is the pathetic whimpering from the same crowd that wanted to see his “LONG FORM” Birth Certificate.
Stupid. A letter with emphasis on first person singular. ‘I am’. If Romney would release his tax returns because of this letter, something would be seriously wrong with the guy.
Obama’s campaign keeps it front and center….great. And to those who say the public doesn’t care and for his own good Obama should move on….just like the Bain capital adds didn’t work huh?