Mittens: Sure I asked Ted Kennedy to release his tax returns in 1994 — but you shouldn’t expect me to live by my standard
(The Hill) — Mitt Romney said he will not release his tax returns if he wins the Republican nomination for president, a rare move for a candidate.
When asked if he would, Romney, in an unaired segment of an interview with MSNBC’s Chuck Todd, said that he doesn’t “intend to” release the returns.
“I doubt it. I will provide all the financial info, which is an extraordinary pile of documents which show investments and so forth,” he said, according to video provided by NBC.
When Todd pointed out that Romney had asked Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) to release his returns during their 1994 race, Romney reiterated his remarks.
“Never say never but I don’t intend to do so,” he said.
President Obama’s campaign blasted Romney’s statement.
“By declaring that, if nominated, he would not release his income tax returns, Mitt Romney is defying a practice to which every party nominee, Republican and Democrat, has adhered for decades,” said Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt. “Even his father, George Romney, disclosed his tax returns when he ran for president in 1968. Why does Gov. Romney feel like he can play by a different set of rules? What is it that he doesn’t want the American people to see?”
Nearly every presidential candidate in modern history has released his or her tax returns.
Posted by WM on Thursday, December 22, 2011, at 7:46 pm | 
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What a schmuck.
Come ON Romney! Jesus God man you are making it SO Goddamned tough to get behind you in any way!
Christ I keep hoping Newt makes it so I don’t have to hold my nose when I pull the lever next November…
Obama has changed the rules for everyone and I would make that clear to everyone.
He should immediately call for Obama to release his college records and a bonafide birth certificate.
“Nearly every presidential candidate in modern history has released his or her tax returns.”
Every presidential person has also released their college records, etc, why the hell won’t the media go after Barry for that.
Oh right, I forgot, scrutiny is only there when repubs or conservatives (independent, or republican) are running.
AMERICA’S MEDIA –> A JOKE!
@a former dem:
You do have a point there…
Wow,how just a W-2 from the cocksucker in chief?I am sure everyone on this site has had at least ten to fifteen different employers since high school days.I always thought that was a part of growing up.
If Romney doesn’t jump on this with Obama then he hasn’t got the spine to be president. Hell, they just handed him a gift!
I am not voting Romneycare.
Ever.
Romney ought to say he’ll release required documents (whatever) WHEN Obama releases his academic, adoption and passport records.
I think Obama’s “retort” there is far more outrageous and problematic than anything Romney’s doing or not doing.
Now reading the earlier comments, I see a lot of people think Obama’s got no leg to stand on as to his mysteriously absent (and “forbidden”) records.
Is there a legal requirement for a Presidential candidate to release their tax returns to the public? If not, then, well, anyone can simply decline to do so.
But what Obama has done approaches fraud, certainly is a con-game as to his “legitimacy” in regards his self boasts vs. reality, a reality he refuses to document.
Is this the “best” we’ve got? He’s playing in like McCain and just laying it on a platter for the Demonics. Jeez, will someone step up and kick his ass?
Obummer should be required to provide his medical records. A one-page “note” from his doctor is not sufficient.
.
A favor. Please. I know Romney is far from our top-choice, but let’s just pretend he’s someone more attractive, like a guy with an ugly wife does when having sex.
Newt ain’t gonna be our guy. Perry would be worse. Bachmann and Santorum, as tempted as I am…they don’t have a chance.
Romney has a few things going for him, he’s been thoroughly vetted because he’s been running so long. He is a pretty decent campaigner and debater because he’s been running so long. He polls best among independents, swing-states etc.. I don’t know. I just think we shouldn’t be finding every reason to hate this guy when we might have to have his sign in our yard soon, because I WILL be enthusiastic for whoever our nominee is. We may have to pretend to love him in order to match the voter enthusiasm of the Obamabots.
If you’re not willing to do that, at least don’t attack him so much. I believe you asked us that in a poll about a month ago and we agreed on it.
@ Defender of the West -
Are you f-ing serious?
No way, bro.
Four more years of Hussein…who gives a shit ! He has all but destroyed America with the help of the media looking the other way on most issues and singing his praises for the continued destruction. If Romney is the nominee he will NOT get a HUGE percentage of the conservative vote. There will be no more holding the nose for these IDIOTS! Someone name one conservative thing about Romney, besides the clothes he wears!
Defender:
I will not vote for Romneycare.
The guy makes me sick.
I have no idea what poll you are talking about but as long as can I will criticize everyone who is shaking me and my country down.
I think for myself, too.
No shit, I’d rather have Barry destroy things in one fell swoop rather than suffer the death by a thousand cuts of a Willard administration.
Same result.
Dead f-ing serious. You don’t seem to grasp what four more years of Obama would do to this country. And don’t tell me Romney would be the same. He was a legit businessman who knows how the economy works, wants to cut taxes, cut spending, most of that core conservative stuff. He won’t be perfect obviously but compared to Obama he looks amazing. He has promised a million times to immediately give waivers to Obamacare, he is on the record, so I don’t think he can easily go back on it.
I get where you’re coming from, but we really need to be more strategic with this kind of thing. We can be purists and watch Obama destroy the greatest country on earth while saying, “See! I knew those policies would fail!” or we can take the only candidate we’ve got, a moderate conservative, and see some improvement. In the future when we have Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, Nikki Haley, all the great people that aren’t quite ready, we won’t have to compromise as much. But for now, let’s pick our best chance to get this socialist out of the White House! I can’t believe I’m saying this but Romney/Rubio 2012
From your comments it looks like you are willing to sacrifice this country just to garner more evidence that “I’m right and they’re wrong.” That pisses me off. That is a juvenile way of looking at politics. It’s not about your ego, it’s about picking the best person. If we are left between Romney and Obama, not voting would be consciously sabotaging this country.
Oh come on Defender… thats the same old “vote for the lesser evil” schtick. Its tired, lame and should be taken out and shot behind the shed. I don’t expect the perfect candidate but mittens is a joke and in the end neither party wants to really fix things, they’d lose too much power.
@Defender of the West,
If the Republicans put forth Romney as the nominee it is basically telling us that they don’t give a shit about winning the election anyway. They would be just as happy for Obama to finish the power grab what they started under Bush. I’m going to vote alright, and I’m going to be writing in Sarah Palin. The gentrified elites of Washington on both sides of the aisle don’t think their shit stinks and they are so corrupt they cheer on the opposite side as they both look to grow government and get rich off of us peons when it gets to be their turn in charge. I’m sick of it, and it pisses me off that you can’t see how bad it is. Your naivete is sabotaging this country.
Like so many other comments above – it would be an excellent strategic move if Mitt’s got a big plan here and is ultimately planning on flushing out all Zero’s missing documents, in trade.
But, pigs may fly, too.
Defender: Nope. I REFUSE to settle anymore. Screw the GOP.
I’m writing in Palin.
Write in’s are just as bad as not voting at all and they give a vote to barry.
The masses have to get behind Newt if Romney is get the boot. Personally I think it’s all a done deal no matter what.
Defender, did someone from the Romney camp pay you?
Who cares if he doesn’t release them? The democrats? We still haven’t seen Oblahblah’s college transcripts and, quite arguably, his BIRTH CERTIFICATE. Apparently you don’t have to show shit. Maybe, just MAYBE, Romney’s hoping for an explosion of the left over his refusal and is posturing to use it to challenge Oblahblah to release his hitherto unreleased materials. I doubt it, but just maybe…
@Defender of the West
The majority of the people on this site will pull the lever for Mittens if that is the only option they have left. They’re just angry over the concerted efforts to make Romney the only option available.
We’re tired of ending up with moderates who do nothing to actually change the political landscape. We tired of ending up with ‘reach across the isle’ compromisers, when we know that the word means giving the Left what they want. We’re tired of those candidates that don’t call a spade a spade for fear of the PC police. We’re tired of Washington growing in power and reach.
We all know that the first step is getting rid of Obama, but the man who takes his place better understand that the status quo needs to go out the window.
@Cliff says:
I agree. And this POS LIER IN CHIEF has a lot of balls making the statement that showing tax returns and all has been a sacred practice for both Rep and Dems. Blow it out your friken ass oboma. Like O showed his SEALED records RIGHT. POS.
And, I can tell you right now that if we do not get behined the Republican nominee we will be dealing with this MUSLIM ASS for another four years.
STOP with the THIRD PARTY or WRITE INS. That will only assure BO winning.
Getting behind the Republican nominee just because he’s not “Obama” (or whomever the current Dem might be) is aiding and abetting the corruption. I will not do that any more until they actually start doing something to excise the corruption rampant in the government.