Biden: Romney won't disclose tax loopholes he'll close

Vice President Joe Biden gestures as he speaks at a campaign event at Portsmouth High School, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012, in Portsmouth, Ohio.

/ AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

(CBS News) Milford, Ohio -- Vice President Joe Biden, picking up on earlier Democratic attacks, on Sunday mocked Mitt Romney's refusal to identify what tax loopholes he would seek to close in order to finance tax cuts.

Appearing on NBC's "Meet The Press," Romney sidestepped questions from host David Gregory about which deductions or credits he would pursue. The former Massachusetts governor said only that he would eliminate "some of the loopholes and deductions at the high end" in trying to "lower the burden on middle-income people."

Romney "said he is going to pay for all of these tax cuts by closing the loopholes, but when asked by Mr. Gregory what loopholes he'd close, he couldn't name one," Biden said as a crowd of more than 700 people supporters laughed.

The Democratic National Committee earlier sent reporters a series of emails about Romney's reluctance to specific loopholes, with one of them sarcastically headlined, "Specifics? What specifics?"

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"When you give these kinds of tax breaks out to the very, very wealthy, the money's got to come from somewhere," Biden told the crowd. "And guess who? You!"

Democrats also highlighted the reluctance of Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan, to specify any loopholes during Ryan's appearance on ABC's This Week.

The tax issue was among the criticisms former President Bill Clinton leveled against Romney in his speech at last week's Democratic National Convention, arguing: "If they stay with this $5 trillion tax cut plan, they'll have to eliminate so many deductions, like the ones for home mortgages and charitable giving, that middle-class families will see their tax bills go up. Or, two, they'll have to cut all the programs that help to empower middle-class families and help poor kids."

At the same time, however, Republicans and even some Democrats - such as Clinton's former labor secretary Robert Reich -- have taken Obama to task for not offering for specifics of his own in his convention speech.

The Romney campaign also issued a statement criticizing Biden - who demanded on Saturday that reporters "fact-check me" for his recent statements on Medicare that fact-checkers have found to be misleading or inaccurate.

[hhandyman]

classical political tactic baffle with bull then slap the middle class with the bill for the big boys tax refund. Thanks George we didnt need that debt you gave us all.. or the wars or the rest after that day in fate 11 years ago today.. You had full cooperation and where did we go too bad you didnt have Money to burn in a treasury you had bills to pay long before the tax refunds you gave should of paid the IOU's to social security first then if any thing was left but NOpe you had to go for a vote for gimic.

[zenia5]

You can bet that Romney will close the few loopholes that the middle class have left....if he's elected, you can kiss your home mortgage deduction and charitable donation deduction goodbye. He won't touch any loopholes for the wealthy.

[Maerzie]

Ah, yes! Romney, the SECRET candidate, in the days when media comes into the intimacy of his bedroom. '

"You can't see my tax returns. You can't know what I plan to do, but I'm the guy FOR you because the other guy has accomplished too much and I HATE him for it! We were supposed to make him look like a failure, but our mission was a FLOP! How could he DARE to succeed? He's BLACK! Vote for me! I am WHITE!!"

[nygurl1]

I think that covers it nicely!

[walkthetalk]

Your calibrated yard stick means that there never will be a viable Republican President. Useing that logic, that would mean if your father was a murderer, you will be also. Think About It.

[nygurl1]

Don't be stupid. ...Just because he's a disaster we don't need, doesn't mean that ALL reps from NOW ON will be failures!

There has to be a shift to sanity eventually, but we will probably have to wait until the old boy networks dies.

[Eco99]

Is this news, has Mitt been specific about anything the entire campaign other than stating no defense cuts?
How people can vote for him without specifics amazes me but I guess you cannot hold him accountable since he hasn't said he would do anything specific.
Mitt already back tracked on his pre-existing condition statement saying that he only meant that in reference to people with continuing coverage. Duh? Pre-existing conditions don't matter if you already have coverage. But people still gonna vote for him ... amazing.

[Eco99]

I agree with you but if he does win it will be a long 4 years but the 1% don't have anything to worry about they will be OK no matter who wins.
I think anything is possible but I am also realistic, W won twice (well once for sure). If that could happen well who knows. Be afradi be very afraid.

[Maerzie]

Of course there wouldn't be any defense cuts. That's one of the best investments ther are for safety! Republicans LOVE wars and defense. It's usually not the rich kids over there getting killed. Defense investments are "count my money" time. War is extremely lucrative! The more, the better!

[walkthetalk]

I'm sorry but your commets are not Germaine to my post about Mr.Kerrys boat. Mr Rommey Historical data was not part my post. My intent is to now defend the facts of my post and clear my good name. You went off on me without knowing the Law. Mr. Kerrys boat was stored in Rhode Island because it saved him about a half million in Taxs. Rhode Island repealed a similar Tax code as Massachustts still has in force. This made a perfect safe haven for his Five million dollar boat, Now I now no respected Democrate would do this because their more honorable than Republicans, so Iv'e told every day of life HA! HA!. Let's be resonable, move your boat down to Rhode Island and save a heck of alot money about half a mill. Any one would be fool not to. Rich people like hang on to their money just we do. The problem arose when the state of Massachustts showed his boat listed in his personal property porfolio,and no Taxes were being collected. When Senator Kerry was questioned about this issue, He and His attorneys scrambled to come a plasible explaination, thus boat repair fiction novel was born. In defense of Mr. Kerry I think that I heard, several Mass taxed boats were being repaired in Rhode Island. Now I really don't like being called a Idiot by someone that has't completed his home work. Apology accepted.

[goat5691]

I have a feeling this 'voter suppression is going to backfire on the Rep. real bad and it will take a long time to recover

[Eco99]

I really hope so and serves them right!!

[WHAT-lS-HE-SMOKING]

LOL, I would love to see you telling her and her friends face to face how ugly you think she is.
What a ninety pound weakling you are.
HA, HA, HA.

[WHAT-IS-HE-SMOKING]

And which tax loop hole will he close? Loop holes that favor the rich, middle or low?

[walkthetalk]

Let's Just pretend you live close to a state line and you take your car across the state line for repairs. Now it's TAX time. and your car is still the other state. YOU BETCHA! you still owe your state TAX on that vehicle. You don't get PASS just because it ain't in your driveway. So who is LYING MUCH!