The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age
    CVille Dem's picture

    Posting a candidate's taxes matters

    By CVille Dem on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 3:42pm |

    There are currently three contenders for the Office of President of the United States.  Only one has posted her taxes (for the preceding 10 years).  Donald first said he would; then said (today) that it is none of George Stephanopolis' business (and by implication, US voters as well).  Bernie posted an abridged 2014 return, and stated that he would only release others if Hillary would publish the texts of her speeches to Wall Street groups.  Bernie"s speeches in Nicaragua and Cuba have not been released, nor Donald's speeches, which very likely would surprise his base.  Of course most people understand that speeches and tax forms are not equivalent, or even remotely related.  But on TPM, DavyJones64 posted these thoughts, and I think they are worth sharing:

    Why did Bernie start hitting her on releasing her speech transcripts? Where did he get the idea for that tactic?

    By reviewing her released tax returns of course! They analyzed her returns and saw that speeches were a major, if not the major, source of her income. So....people really do learn things from reviewing a candidate's tax returns. Bernie knows this, as does Trump. That's why they are both refusing to release theirs and are instead banging on Hillary to release even more information for them to review and pick apart...while steadfastly refusing to release any of theirs.

    I had not thought of that before.  Bernie has pretty much gotten a pass on this, and I am not sure why. The most charitable reason I can think of is that even though he is one of the remaining three, he just doesn't get the same grilling (or vetting) because he can't win.  Still, I think it is a legitimate question.

    As to Donald Trump, the guesses at his motivations are all over the map:

    1. He doesn't pay any taxes

    2. He isn't really a billionaire

    3. He's actually broke

    4.  He hides money offshore

    5.  Dishonest dealing will show up

    There are more, but you get the idea.  Everyone knows that the audit excuse is yet another lie.  With the latest scrutiny of his childishness as he blew his own sexual horn, lying about who he was, I think it is very important to ramp up the pressure on him.  I think it is likely that the Republicans may even force it.  What would they have to lose except the worst candidate ever?

    Although it is true that releasing taxes isn't a requirement, but it perhaps the two parties should make it (and maybe other things) requirements for running under their mastheads.

    Comments

    I know that there should be an apostrophe --> CANDIDATE'S.

    Can't go back and change the title.  Geez I HATE that.  


    by CVille Dem on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 3:46pm

    Just click Edit, I do it all the time. Might take a sec to show up.


    by PeraclesPlease on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 4:35pm

    I don't have an "edit" button for some reason.  I can't even fix a typo of Bernie's name in the body of the text.


    by CVille Dem on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 4:39pm

    Look for the grey boxes just above the title, view edit track.


    by ocean-kat on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 4:45pm

    Thanks. I didn't see that before.  I am old.  What can I say?  Appreciate the help, PP and Ocean Kat.  I also kind of like that we are in in-school suspension together!  LOL


    by CVille Dem on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 6:52pm

    Sanders tax returns and his common republican like attack that he won't release them unless Hillary releases speech transcripts is not getting news coverage because Hillary isn't making it news. Winners in a democratic primary have to moderate their attacks, how ever fair, because they don't want to antagonize the opponent's voters they will need in the general. Losers will not need the opponent"s voters since they won't be in the general. Losers can say anything, fair or unfair, without fear. Especially when they are not really a member of the party, have little allegiance to it, and don't care about the team's prospects in the election.


    by ocean-kat on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 5:26pm

    Losers will not need the opponent's voters since they won't be in the general.  Losers can say anything, fair or unfair, without fear.

    So true.  And especially if they don't even belong to the party they are running with. 

    My point is that they should get some pressure to release tax returns, and so far they haven't. There is simply no legitimate reason for not doing it.  

    I listed the guesses about Trump, but there are others about Sanders:

    1.  He pays his wife and other relatives large amounts to reduce his income

    2.  He contributes to organizations that would turn off the electorate

    3.  He gets money from organizations or people that would turn off the electorate

    4.  His donations actually don't average out to $27, meaning that he is dishonest

     

    Bernie doesn't even realize that he hasn't been attacked, or even vetted,  he thinks that Republicans love him because they secretly want him to win.  In fairness, I would probably be just as deluded as he is given the circumstances.  


    by CVille Dem on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 7:16pm

    This whole thing has me laughing so, so very hard. hahahahah

    Except that it should read:

    He paid his wives so very very much....

    hhahahahah

    How in the hell are the media supposed to itemize all of this bastard's sins?

    I still think we need Al Franken to properly attack T-Rump's record.

    We need a well-known comedian to really go after this sombitch!

    But the real message here is that, WE ARE ALL IN TROUBLE:

    I play this song a lot lately but....

    Oh the fire is sweeping....

     


    by Richard Day on Sun, 05/15/2016 - 6:49am