Romney stands his ground on tax returns

(CBS News) Mitt Romney is not budging an inch when it comes to his personal taxes. Despite repeated calls by Democrats and, over the weekend, by some of his fellow Republicans to release more tax returns, Romney says two years worth of returns is enough.

"The Obama people keep on wanting more and more and more: More things to pick through, more things for their opposition research to try to take a mountain out of and to distort and to be dishonest about," Romney said Monday on Fox News Channel.

Romney pointed to the 2010 tax returns he already released and the 2011 returns he says we will once they are complete. "It's hundreds of pages of documents, and by the way, none of the tax returns are required by law to be put out. What is required by law - the financial disclosure - has already been made."

(Romney discusses his tax returns in an interview with CBS News political correspondent Jan Crawford.)

Romney has been playing defense as the Obama campaign has been on the attack over Romney's personal finances and his tenure at Bain Capital.

And the Obama campaign has made no indication they plan to back down. Rather, President Obama called on Romney to be more transparent.

Firestorm continues over Romney's business career
Pressure mounts on Romney to release tax returns

"Harry Truman said 'the buck stops with me' and I think understandably people are going to be interested in are you in fact responsible for this company you say is one of your primary calling cards for your wanting to be president," Mr. Obama said in an interview with Virginia television station WAVY released on Sunday.

"If Romney followed decades of precedent set in motion by his father, who released 12 years of tax returns, as well as the minutes from Bain Capital board meetings, the American people could finally learn to what extent Mitt Romney was involved with the actions at Bain Capital following 1999," campaign spokesperson Ben LaBolt released in a memo to reporters.

Although the Obama campaign is using Romney's father, a 1968 presidential candidate, as precedent, Romney points to more recent politicians.

"You know, John McCain ran for president and released two years of tax returns. John Kerry ran for president. You know, his wife who has hundreds of millions of dollars, she never released her tax returns. Somehow this wasn't an issue," he said on Fox & Friends.

But even some Republicans are calling on Romney to release his taxes, endure possible backlash now - four months before the election - and take the argument away from the Obama camp.

"The cost of not releasing the returns are clear," conservative columnist George Will said on ABC's "This Week." "Therefore, he must have calculated that there are higher costs in releasing them."

"He's done nothing illegal, nothing unseemly, nothing improper, but lots that's impolitic," Will added. "And he's now in the politics business."

Will joins more than a handful of other Republicans calling for Romney to release his taxes, including commentator Bill Kristol and Alabama governor Robert Bentley and former Mississippi governor Haley Barbour.

Although their message has been muffled by the Obama campaign's attacks, the Romney campaign is attempting to change the tenor of the debate. For the second day in a row, the campaign is attempting to highlight cronyism within the Obama administration. The Romney campaign resurfaces the argument over Solyndra, the bankrupt green energy company that received $500 million worth of taxpayer-backed loan guarantees.

"When billions upon billions of dollars are given by the Obama administration to the businesses of campaign contributors, that's a real problem, particularly at a time when the middle class is really suffering in this country," Romney said on Fox News. "I think it's wrong. I think it stinks to high heaven."

[mkbjon]

It's funny, you always hear Republicans tell the little people that if they have nothing to hide, then it shouldn't matter. Patriot act spying on you---nothing to hide, submit. Stop and frisk---nothing to hide, submit. In the "wrong" neighborhood---nothing to hide, submit. Hispanic in Arizona---nothing to hide, submit. Those people are largely insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but this is the Presidency we are talking about. Romney could possibly be leading all of us, but WHERE? If ever there was a time to say "if you have nothing to hide, submit" it is now.

[RepubsAreFiscallyLiberal]

Excellent comment. They want "small government" - as long as they can control every aspect of your life.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

Very good point mkbjon!

[jesse2159]

You would have thought that he, or his smart team of advisors would have cleaned up his returns years ago, right after he started to think he might want to run for the presidency. This is a made to order "issue" that will keep him back on his heels throughout the campaign. President Obama will make hay out of this and Romney will lose the election because he was too smart by half.

[pdchapin]

He's been running for president for more than ten years and it didn't occur to him to make sure his returns were squeaky clean? I would have made sure my returns were good and have volunteered to put them out there. It raises serious questions about his foresight and general competence.

You've got to wonder what's in there that's so bad that taking the hit on the issue is better than putting them out there.

[55minus5]

Well, if the birthers demanded a 50-year old record from Obama, there's nothing wrong for Romney to show his 10-year records.
I think, Romney eventually will, it just takes some time to brush them up and remove the most interesting parts.

[A_Canadian_Opinion]

Who cares what was said on the airwaves of the GOP propaganda machine?

[Eisenhower_Dwight_D_USA]

Teabaggers don't believe in taxes. They want America to be strong but don't want to pay one red cent. Teabaggers want jobs in the US, but R-Money outsourced whole industries. Teabaggers want the Military to be strong but don't want to pay for it. Teabaggers don't believe in Sociial Security, but they all are waiting for their SS benefits every month. Teabaggers are screwed up hypocrites and morons, with nothing better to do than ***** and moan, lie, obfuscate and delay technological progress for this nation. Most selfish and ignorant group of people I have ever seen.

[Lindag20]

by theshark82 July 16, 2012 10:12 PM EDT
only an idiot would write it...thus obama4all. are you his mom?
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Nope, but since I live in the armpit of the country (Kentucky) the only fun I have is fishing for jokers like you.

[smscbsnews]

Mitt.... Where are the tax returns??? We want to see your tax returns. Follow your dad footsteps and show 12 years worth of tax returns.

[Lindag20]

by jwindsDAD July 16, 2012 7:31 PM EDT
I don't care if you do use a new name shark. I can always tell it's you! Now get off the dang computer and do your homework boy. Stop trying to pick fights with the lib kids. You know they just make you cry when they beat you up.
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Since everyone is into reposting tonight, I thought I'd join in. I liked this one.

[tvwatcher5345]

don't release the tax returns mitt!! i love seeing the dems make you squirm and hear the republicans on talk radio whine, please don't release them mitt, i haven't had this much fun since i saw the obama ad with you singing American the Beautiful (the ad seems payback for the dukakis ad, the swift boat ad, and even the republican on republican attack on mccain from the carolinas that mccain had an illegitimate child of color), mitt America is Beautiful!

[Lindag20]

In a nutshell, Bain is turning into Romney's bane. LMAO