Mr. Romney has few topics about which he can now speak. One by one, the substantive topics for debate are disappearing, deemed too problematic for the Romney campaign to address. Business acumen, experience as governor, US Olympics, Romney budget, women's issues, immigration reform, all toxic. Mr. Romney is reduced to dragging out the birther baggage to pad his stump speeches and give his base a few crumbs. And to call attention away from his flip-flopping on all important issues.

But what is the single issue on which Mr. Romney has never flip-flopped? He stands doggedly firm on never, under any circumstances, releasing his tax returns.

Why?

It is not just liberals who want to see Romney's tax returns.
It is 63% of American voters who do.

The longer Mr. Romney delays, the more suspicious it appears.

Obama released 8 years of tax returns
GW Bush 10 years
Clinton 12 years
GHW Bush 14 years
George Romney 12 years.

What is there to hide?
Release the tax returns, Mr. Romney.

Oh. Stop. Whimpering about tax returns. If he's done something illegal, than why isn't the IRS investigating!? Obama has brought this country to its knees- economically, politically and internationally. The US cannot help the rest of the world, or even our own people, if we are weak and struggling. Obama has surrounded himself with political cronies that don't understand one thing about what is needed to bring this economy back. Romney is a real life example of the American Dream. Give me one example, in the history of the world, where a person has become successful on welfare... gov't subsidies... gov't managing and controlling private industry... and the list goes on. Wake up and stop enslaving the poor and give the able a chance to become successful and control their destiny. Stop with the nonsense and let's save our country. Obama gave it his best shot and failed. Let's move on with a better plan to run this country more like a successful business than a political payback to every crooked crony Obama encountered on his way to becoming a political millionaire.

I personally agree with most of Mitt Romney's "Toxic" topic views. I don't believe marriage rights should be extended to gay or lesbians. I don't believe abortion should be legal. I believe his success in business will translate well to the current economic issues. I agree with his governing of Massachusetts, very much so with the balanced budget and bi-partisan cooperation. I also agree that the tax return issue is a distraction away from Obama's lack of leadership and record of mis-steps.

Some folks want tax returns, others want proof of citizenship ... just saying!

Why are the tax returns important? Because, #1 it is a right of the american people to know what we are getting. He is the first candidate not to follow the precedence set by those before him.
#2 because everything about the man is hidden - his actual stances, his electronic history as governor of Mass (who incidentally purchased EVERY hard drive from computers used during his administration - another first)
#3 Because it is hard to trust him

I agree that OB is a problem, but I have not been convinced that Mitt is the answer

show me the CAR FAX er i mean show me the TAX FACTS

If he had done something wrong the IRS would be on him like white on rice...

Pete, Why has Obama spent million of dollars and numerous lawyers sealing ALL records relating to every school he ever attended? As well as his passport documents? Who paid his bills? How did the leader of the "choom gang" get into Ivy league schools?
From Dreams from my Father
" I spent the last two years of high school in a daze, locking away the questions that life seemed insistent on posing. I kept playing basketball, attended classes sparingly, drank beer heavily and tried drugs enthusiastically."

2) Because everything about the man is hidden. He is the first President to accrue more debt in 4 years than all the previous Presidents combined. Spending that threats our very existence as a country.
3) Because it is hard to trust him.
4) Why after 4 years does he not have any record of accomplishment to run on and has resorted to distraction, divide and distortion?
5) There is NOTHING Mitt can release that would not be demagog by the Obamamania lapdogs. He's doing the right thing. He legally paid what the government required he pay. There is no IRS investigation. Do you believe there wouldn't be???????????

Why are taxes important?

1. As I posted on another thread, there were 16K people with average income of over $500,000 (some/many had income in the millions) who didn't pay 1 cent in US income taxes. And yet, they received indirect support of the US government via the military, roads, schools, retirement, etc but didn't help support the US. Was Mitt one of these leaches?
2. There were many financial people and stock traders who were short-selling bank stocks and other stocks during 2007, 2008 and 2009. These short-sellers increased the downward pressure on stocks and contributed to the depth of the market decline. Did Mitt short the US to make a quick buck?
3. Tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of Americans have hidden money in overseas tax havens to avoid paying taxes. And yet, they have reaped many benefits of the US. The Gov't has offered amnesty to those who atone for the tax crimes and many have come forward. Was Mitt one of those seeking amnesty?
4. Mitt is worth $250 million or more and would, as president, be in the position to make policy decisions and investment decisions to substantially increase his net worth. If we don't know his tax history and investments, how are we to know if he has conflicts of interest?
5. The have been many individuals and companies doing business with unfriendly nations via shell companies. Has Mitt been aiding our enemies?

Without his tax history, we'll never know. That's why its important!

I agree with all points above.

With the financial crisis this country has gone through in the past due to the deregulation and investment fiasco that has resulted, it is VERY important to see how he might have benefited, because he isn't going to work very hard to change loopholes to screw his donor friends.
And regard to the academic record being sealed - I have NO problem with that, to me that is no different than with doctors, lawyers or any other professional - a diploma is a diploma, and unless you have something to promote (ie first in class, etc.) there is no reason to let the vultures pick through - is a doctor that received A's and graduated any more qualified in the grand scheme of life than one who received C's?
And regarding Obama - I seem to recall a certain republican (who I voted for ) that set the mess in motion long before Obama took office - I don't give the man a pass by any stretch, but OB wasn't exactly given a clean slate to work from, and I am not sure anyone would have been successful in one term.

5) Good point we should not allow government officials to do business with enemies of America. I know you like to speculate and implicate. How about some REAL proof, oh, I don't know like David Plouffe.
"David Plouffe, a senior White House adviser who was President Obama’s 2008 campaign manager, accepted a $100,000 speaking fee in 2010 from an affiliate of a company doing business with Iran’s government.

A subsidiary of MTN Group, a South Africa-based telecommunications company, paid Plouffe for two speeches he made in Nigeria in December 2010, about a month before he joined the White House staff.

Since Plouffe’s speeches, MTN Group has come under intensified scrutiny from U.S. authorities because of its activities in Iran and Syria, which are under international sanctions intended to limit the countries’ access to sensitive technology. At the time of Plouffe’s speeches, MTN had been in a widely reported partnership for five years with a state-owned Iranian telecommunications firm."

How about GE? Appointed by Obama lead his jobs council.

"General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt admits General Electric is doing business with Iran.

Iran has been sending platter charge improvisational explosive devices, also known as Explosively Formed Penetrators, into Iraq that have been maiming and killing American soldiers and marines since I was there in 2005. They have also made continuing and substantial fiscal contributions in support of anti-American and anti-Iraqi forces."

"The Obama administration has been bragging about the strength of the international coalition it has assembled against Iran and the “crippling sanctions” it has imposed on the Islamist regime. But the dirty little secret about the sanctions is they are riddled with loopholes. Not only has the Treasury Department issued thousands of exemptions to companies that wish to do business with Iran, but President Obama has also specifically granted permission to China and India to go on importing oil from it. "

Wow, Frank imagine that a duplicitous Obama administration. Who need a shell when you have Obama and the media covering for him.

2)"Puppet Master and unrepentant Nazi collaborator, George Soros is poised for a big win with the financial “reform” feculence being by phonied up by Chris Dodd , Barney Frank and the rest of the corruptocrats.

Managed Funds Association (MFA), a lobby group championing the protection of hedge funds, including Soros’ own Quantum Fund, from scrutiny.

The hedge fund short sellers, who are members of the Managed Funds Association, are running our government today. They are the ones who authored the Dodd bill.

Soros, naturally, is the leading member of the MFA, as well as its busiest and most influential member.

The repeal of the uptick rule and other safeguards enable unregulated hedge funds to wreak market mayhem:

The repeal of the safeguard regulations, such as the uptick rule, circuit breakers and trading curbs, and the introduction of the short ETFs (Exchange traded funds), which began under Christopher Cox at the Securities and Exchange Commission, has given the members of the MFA tremendous power and influence. He says these individuals include George Soros, John Paulson, Jim Chanos, James Simon, and other hedge fund short sellers, including those who operate Quant Funds and engage in computerized trading.

The uptick rule essentially operated as a circuit breaker to prevent complete catastrophe driven by market exploitation. The removal of the uptick rules allows hedge fund short sellers to manipulate stock prices by triggering panic selling. "

I'm with you - to me the biggest fallacy here is that we still believe government is "for the people" - that changed with the advent of the special interest group, and the career politician - regardless of which side of the isle they reside.

The Tea Party is the American Taliban...holding this country hostage and laughing all the way to the election. Let's hope most people in this country aren't as dumb as the people spewing iditoc hate on this message board.

Here are some facts for you people to digest.

1. President Obama (respect the office even if you don't respect the man) is a Natural Born U.S. citizen
2. The deficit has gone up because revenue is down, not because spending is up, Spending growth has grown at it's slowest pace since the 1950's.
3. Mitt Romney has not released his tax returns, even though his father believed that 10 years of returns should be released

BS you are really the biggest BSer around.
1) Who here is claiming otherwise ?
2) ROFLMAO Are you freaking kidding?
You and your comment are just too dumb for words.
I'm not even going to bother linking to the hundreds of sites that unlike you, care about facts. The fact is that domestic spending has skyrocketed under Obama - anyway you count it. And no, you can't put all of Obama's first year of spending in the Bush column. It's a tactic that's already been debunked.
3) Distract, distort and divide. Knowing the kool aid drinkers and the lame stream media will carry the water ever time..

It turns out Rex Nutting, author of the phony Marketwatch chart, attributes all spending during Obama's entire first year, up to Oct. 1, to President Bush.
That means, for example, the $825 billion stimulus bill, proposed, lobbied for, signed and spent by Obama, goes in ... Bush's column.
Nutting's "analysis" is so dishonest, even The New York Times has ignored it. He includes only the $140 billion of stimulus money spent after Oct. 1, 2009, as Obama's spending. And he's testy about that, grudgingly admitting that Obama "is responsible (along with the Congress) for about $140 billion in extra spending in the 2009 fiscal year from the stimulus bill."
Nutting acts as if it's the height of magnanimity to "attribute that $140 billion in stimulus to Obama and not to Bush ..."

Nutting's "and not to Bush" line is just a sleight of hand. He's hoping you won't notice that he said "$140 billion" and not "$825 billion," and will be fooled into thinking that he's counting the entire stimulus bill as Obama's spending. (He fooled Ed Schultz!)

The theory is that a new president is stuck with the budget of his predecessor, so the entire 2009 fiscal year should be attributed to Bush.

cont.

Are you really using "Newsbusters" as a source and saying that its truthful? You really think I'm that stupid? Your "Truth" is so far slanted to the right, it's amazing. The only disaster I see here is YOU!

Terrorism comes in all forums...and your propaganda is definitely part of it.

You two are still talking? Teabaggers.......figures...

BSer thanks for playing. Didn't take too long for you lose your side of the argument.

Participation in this lively discussion has been great, but too many comments are including personal attacks. Attack the issue, not the person. Name calling and use of derogatory terms will not be tolerated.

I am very anxious to see the upcoming Democratic Convention. It will be interesting to see how many times O's record can be sited in a positive way and how many times they have nothing to say that would help them, so they feel forced to resort to attacks on Romney and Ryan. Romney's 5 issues he will focus on after he is elected were right on target to save this Country. 1) Energy independence -we have plenty of resources and need to be spending our Country's $$ on developing them instead of sending millions of $$$ to South America so they can develop theirs. 2) Career training and Choice in Education- nothing like sending our middle class jobs out of the Country before training those workers to be able to obtain another job- thank you NAFTA. 3) New Trade Agreements with CONSEQUENCES for cheaters. 4) Entrepreneur and Job Creator security- let's help instead of penalize those who create the jobs and income to this Country for a change. 5) Put US on track to a balanced budget- Reduce taxes on small business to encourage growth and hiring-Repeal and replace Obamacare.
Did you know that Gov. Romney served his entire term as Governor of Massachusetts without taking a penny in salary! Did you know that Gov. Romney donated all of his father's wealth to charity?
If you would like to see a movie that explains why a "smart" man like O would still not be able to see and correct his failed policies after 3 1/2 years in office, go to see 2016 Barack Obama.

Frank, Thanks for your response. Wealth is relative. Obama is very wealthy. What is his charitable donation record? When I listen to the speeches on both sides, I like to compare the promises to the results. Unfortunately, the Obama promises have not only not been fulfilled and we are in much worse shape than ever.
The President does not have to know everything, but he has the position to surround himself with the experts. Not only has Obama not chosen his advisers wisely, report after report says he doesn't listen to solutions suggested by the knowledgeable ones. This is a fatal flaw for a leader, and, in this case for our Country.
Welfare and making the whole world poor together is not the answer. We need a strong United States to bring the rest of the world to a higher level.

I'm reminded of the real estate mkt situation.12 of the last 14 recessions were corrected by a strong R.E. mkt. Sadly our elected officials had "good intentions" (evryone shld own a home-let's make evryone equal) but no clue as to "what wld happen next". The fatal scenario:1.Banks told to lend to anyone 2.Buyer's credit worthiness- completely ignored 3. Mortgages up to 125% of the FMV. 4. Bad risk buyers went into foreclosure. 5.Banks put the houses back on the market at -not FMV or what was owed, but completely fictitious prices. Would not have been so bad if the banks had said "This is a Fire Sale", but instead, 6.Fictitious bank prce, up to 40%+ off FMV, became the comp for whole neighborhds.7.Avg. hmowners didn't have $$ to bring to the Close, so the avg.hmowner could not accept a job elsewhere,and went on unemp searchng for a local job.
If our elected officials had been "awake and knowledgeable" this cld hv been stoppd. Instead banks are bailed out & we're in so deep it may take generations to correct. We need a President who is a leader with a business sense that works in the "real world", not just a bunch of political rhetoric.
I am not the all knowing answer giver, but I have spent the last year+ surrounded by eco develprs from across the country- r.e. developers, corp heads, influential leaders in job develpmnt- NOT ONE has agreed with O's programs and decisions, but ALL have agreed that re-election of Obama would have catastrophic results for this country.

I'm very sure that the opinions of Johnny Isakson are rooted in partisan politics, rather than in the truth. His characterization of Romney, "He’s a humble, dedicated person who wants to be a great public servant." is laughable! Romney is an egomaniac who has a Nixon-level paranioa. He is not well liked by people who have met him. Romney has expressed contempt for "the least of these", which is why he is not worthy of my vote, or, for that matter, my respect.
President Obama's biggest challenge in the debates is avoiding ridiculing Mr. Romney. It will be diffucult to take the GOP candidate with a sufficient degree of seriousness, given the lack of qualifying evidence on the part of Mr. Romney.