If Sen. Harry Reid is going to demand full tax return transparency from Mitt Romney, he should at the very least hold himself to the same standards. Unless of course he has some horrible, scandalous financial secrets to obscure…
Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson told Politico last week that the majority leader will not release his tax returns, writing: “He’s not running for president. … He has of course released more than 30 years of detailed [personal finance disclosures]. There is exponentially more information available to the public about Sen. Reid’s financial life than there is about Mitt Romney’s.”
Conservatives have begun accusing Reid of hypocrisy for his attacks on Romney. And the Las Vegas Review-Journal — in a somewhat different context — on Monday resurrected a 1974 statement in which Reid said: “Any man or woman who will not be completely candid about his or her finances does not deserve to be in public office.”
Asked about that statement at a news conference Monday in Nevada, Reid responded: “In 1974, I wasn’t in Congress.”
Note that the congressional financial disclosure forms Reid has filled out provide different information than tax returns, so they’re hardly a substitute. If he wants the questions to stop, he’s going to have to cough up the actual documents.
Is Reid just stringing the press along here so he’ll have more leverage when he finally does release the information, or is he really so dense that he went ahead with this anti-Romney attack, knowing all along he wouldn’t be willing to release his own tax returns if asked? I’m tempted to guess the former, but his comment about not being in Congress when he called for full financial disclosure just seems too unbelievably awful to have been planned in advance. He’s basically saying his personal transparency ethics went out the window once he was handed political power. Poor 1974-Reid must be so embarrassed by 2012-Reid.
On a related note, the mainstream media seems to be turning against the Senate majority leader. Washington Post’s fact-checker gave his accusations against Romney “Four Pinocchios” this morning, following up on Politifact’s “Pants on Fire” rating yesterday.
Harry Reid wants Americans to be more concerned about how Romney spends his own money than how the Democrats are spending other people's money. He also thinks that Romney would be dumb enough to evade taxes while governor of Massachusetts, head of the SLC Olympics, and while running for President. n nThis situation would be completely laughable except that many on the Left take it completely seriously.
Reid is not running for President or for any other office. Are you saying that if Reid were to release his tax returns, Romney would, and the only thing preventing Romney from releasing his returns is Reid? n nBy the way, Romney did release his tax returns to John McCain in a futile attempt to be the vice-presidential candidate, and he did demand is gubernatorial candidate release his tax returns. n nThis situation would be completely laughable if it didn't indicate Romney has something serious to hide. Otherwise, he wouldn't risk voter anger. If he's so innocent, he'd simply release the returns. Why not?
Why are they bugging Reid?! This is about someone running for president who has decided that secrecy and deception are more important than being transparent. This issue will continue to haunt Romney.
One thing I would demand if I were in the Romney camp is a quid pro quo. Romney releases his paperwork only if Reid divulges his source.
Got it.Romney really wants to release his tax returns, but can't do it until Obama releases his college transcripts.Truly sad.