if romney paid no tax for any period of years...

[WalterMitty]

yes.

that would be an absolute death knell.  an eagleton moment x1000

[Yank2133]

No.

They will just throw this election away.....or hope for the economy to sink.

[Governor Maxwell]

Buyers Remorse for buying Romney's steady stream of bullsh**t.

[Jayhawker]

I'm puzzled as to what exactly is going on here. Romney has been planning a Presidential run for many, many years, even I can admit that. I don't see him doing something on his returns that could cause a lot of controversy, however, I'm mystified why he remains to hesitant to release his returns.

[Ѕenator Αverroës]

We already know that his effective rate is far lower than that paid by most Americans - isn't that enough? I don't understand the obsession with zero.

[JulioMadrid]

LoL, Romney is going to make the election all about him. You know how that worked with Sharron Angle. Ron Johnson talked about economy, and defeated a popular senator. Angle couldn't defeat  a very unpopular senator... So, Romney'd better learn about this. He can't win the election if he doesn't solve his "tax problem" quickly. He can 1) release his tax returns, if he's paid any taxes or 2) drop out of the race if he hasn't, and let another republican try to win the election. Independents are hating this story of Bain and taxes.

[Torie]

We already know that his effective rate is far lower than that paid by most Americans - isn't that enough? I don't understand the obsession with zero.

 

Assuming that is so, isn't that primarily due to the large contributions to charity (10% to the LDS plus other charitable contributions)?

[LINCOLN REPUBLICAN]

Let's see proof instead of wild speculation.

[IDS Legislator Alfred F. Jones]

Let's see proof instead of wild speculation.

We don't have that, because Romney won't release his tax returns. I can't make him do that.

[A dog on every car, a car in every elevator]

Let's see proof instead of wild speculation.

We don't have that, because Romney won't release his tax returns. I can't make him do that.

Yep. Let's see proof Romney paid taxes.

[Secretary Polnut]

yes.

that would be an absolute death knell.  an eagleton moment x1000

No, because the alternative would be too terrifying for words.

[mondale84]

Romney must clearly be hiding something BIG, otherwise we wouldn't be hearing these rumors that he would never have run/would rather drop out than release his returns. There is something in them so damaging that it would cost him the election.

[Secretary Polnut]

Romney must clearly be hiding something BIG, otherwise we wouldn't be hearing these rumors that he would never have run/would rather drop out than release his returns. There is something in them so damaging that it would cost him the election.

I think the fact that he gave McCain 23 YEARS of tax returns when he was being vetted for VP... yet he's only willing to show 2 years publicly tells you something.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

Something must have happened in 2009.

[memphis]

I'm puzzled as to what exactly is going on here. Romney has been planning a Presidential run for many, many years, even I can admit that. I don't see him doing something on his returns that could cause a lot of controversy, however, I'm mystified why he remains to hesitant to release his returns.

He'd obviously have more money than be President. Which isn't all that surprising.

[Rooney]

The answer is probably "yes" because it has been set up that paying taxes is a good thing by the complacent media. I, for one, would like Romney more if he did not pay taxes. In fact I would thank Galt for it.

[mondale84]

The answer is probably "yes" because it has been set up that paying taxes is a good thing by the complacent media. I, for one, would like Romney more if he did not pay taxes. In fact I would thank Galt for it.

Because being immoral and unethical is a good in your book?

[Rooney]

The answer is probably "yes" because it has been set up that paying taxes is a good thing by the complacent media. I, for one, would like Romney more if he did not pay taxes. In fact I would thank Galt for it.

Because being immoral and unethical is a good in your book?

Well no those things are not good in my book I would just not think that Romney would be that tricky to pay no taxes and get away with it for so long. It would be out of his character to do something so tricky as to not pay his taxes. That is why it would increase my opinion of him. 

[mondale84]

The answer is probably "yes" because it has been set up that paying taxes is a good thing by the complacent media. I, for one, would like Romney more if he did not pay taxes. In fact I would thank Galt for it.

Because being immoral and unethical is a good in your book?

Well no those things are not good in my book I would just not think that Romney would be that tricky to pay no taxes and get away with it for so long. It would be out of his character to do something so tricky as to not pay his taxes. That is why it would increase my opinion of him. 

So Romney being a sleazebag and being able to avoid taxes would increase your opinion of him? (Not trying to attack you, just asking because I think Romney wholly capable of being a complete sleaze and thus I think him not paying taxes would be in keeping with his character as I see it)

Anyway, I do think there is a section of the electorate that would probably admire Romney for evading taxes (or at least his accountant making sure he was able to evade taxes). I think however, that this admiration and increased support (if it materialized) would be cancelled out - and then some - by the anger and frustration of most Americans who pay a higher tax rate than Willard "Job Creator" Romney.

[krazen1211]

If Romney made no income in a period of years it would stand to say that he paid no tax.

[mondale84]

If Romney made no income in a period of years it would stand to say that he paid no tax.

Yes, but Willard has had income every year for the past decade.

[True Federalist]

Dumb hypothetical.  While it is likely Romney is hiding something, that he paid zero tax in any year he had to file a return is so improbable as to not be worth considering.

[mondale84]

Dumb hypothetical.  While it is likely Romney is hiding something, that he paid zero tax in any year he had to file a return is so improbable as to not be worth considering.

I don't know...what else could he be hiding that would be sooo big??? Or his he just a proud dumbass who doesn't wan't the peons looking at his returns?

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

If in response, Obama spent called for a "Romney tax" to raise taxes on the rich, I might actually vote for Obama.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

We already know that his effective rate is far lower than that paid by most Americans - isn't that enough? I don't understand the obsession with zero.

 

Assuming that is so, isn't that primarily due to the large contributions to charity (10% to the LDS plus other charitable contributions)?

No, it's because capital gains get taxed only at a maximum of 15%.