Article “Mitt Romney’s tax returns” concludes “Mitt Romney should put politics aside and release several years’ worth of his tax returns.
“From a political standpoint, it’s better to get the information out sooner rather than later, that way, the two candidates can turn the focus back to the economy.
“But more than that, it’s the right thing to do.”
WATCHDOG: A wag of the tail. However, earlier the editor(s) opines:
“Romney’s reluctance to fully share this information has led conservative columnist George Will to suggest that the likely GOP nominee for president has made the political calculation that it is better for him that voters not be given the true picture of his wealth.” That is patent nonsense.
The concern is far more likely that the returns will show a long history of multiple practices to avoid paying U. S. income taxes. It is even conceivable that, if published, a fire storm might result that might deprive Romney of the nomination at the national convention.
Romney has to weigh the risk that others (not necessarilly members of the Obama campaign) may have copies of Romney’s past tax returns and be waiting until after he receives the nomination and until a few weeks before election day to leak the information.
Romney’s tax returns are a red herring. Until all high level political leaders and their senior staff provide full financial disclosure we should not expect a hand picked few to do so.
If Romney has done something illegal let the IRS and the courts deal with it, and if somehow someone’s private information comes out I hope the media, not to mention the justice department, demands a full investigation of the source of the material; no matter what political party.