Harry Reid slams Romney's "47 percent" remark, again demands tax returns

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., speaks with reporters following a Democratic strategy luncheon on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012.

/ AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

(CBS News) Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., on Wednesday spent nearly seven minutes on the Senate floor attacking Mitt Romney's "47 percent" remarks and once again demanding the GOP nominee release more of his tax returns. 

A recently released video, taped secretly during a fundraiser in Florida, captures Romney declaring that that 47 percent of Americans consider themselves "victims" and will never be convinced by Republicans to "take personal responsibility and care for their lives." Reciting a segment of the remarks, Reid read Romney's comment that "These are the people who pay no income tax."

"For all we know, Mitt Romney could be one of those who have paid no federal income tax," Reid said Wednesday. "Thousands of families making more than $1 million pay nothing in federal income taxes each year... Is Mitt Romney among those? We'll never know, since he refuses to release tax returns from the years before he was running for president.

"From that one return - only one we've seen - we know Mitt Romney pays a lower tax rate than middle-class families, thanks to a number of things he's done: Swiss bank accounts, Cayman Islands tax shelters," Reid added. "And we can only imagine what new secrets would be revealed if he showed the American people a dozen years of tax returns, like his dad did."

Last month, Reid took to the Senate floor to announce that he had it on good authority that Romney hasn't paid taxes in over a decade, though he did not provide evidence.

[Factorfiction13]

I know for a fact that every American appreciates the military and the retired population for their contribution and have no issue with paying them what they earned and deserve. This is not the issue...in today's election...the real issue is wether we want the government to provide for us rather then have ample private sector opportunities to succeed and achieve the american dream. Social redistribution of wealth isn't the answer.

[Factorfiction13]

Funny that Harry Reid spoke on TV saying that the senate floor is not the platform to campaign and yet he does it himself. The tax statements he is making has not been proved bout Mitt's taxes and therefore have no merit. Btw I would like to compare the amount of charitable donations with Mitt versus Harry...just food for thought. Also, it seems strange to me that Obama selected Geitner as the head of the IRS who we all know had issues with his taxes but the press gave him a pass...why is that? Did we speak of this on the Senate floor when Obama chose him? Lastly, the media is using the 47% statement out of context. Oh and even after denying it, that video was proven to be editted despite the media saying it wasnt'. Surprisingly, we haven't seen anything about Obama stating blattantly that he believes in social redistribution of wealth when the video was launched this week. I viewed a show that showed the coverage between the two was like 10 to 1. I think we all want to help others ...the issue is helping other learn to fish so that they can evenutally do it themselves and not stay on govt assistance.

[Maerzie]

Well, don't feel bad! Mitt Romney's family started out on welfare, and now, he's still LOVING his welfare program! His "ENTITLEMENT!The outrageous, EXCLUSIVELY for the SUPER RICH, tax deductions, which help him evade even MORE taxes! He doesn't have to do ANY work to get this Republican WELFARE handout either, but I'm sure he feels "ENTITLED" to it! So, the ROMNEY's are "THOSE PEOPLE" too. Now WE get to pay HIS taxes for him. His actual "FAIR" share that he gets out of paying!

[Maerzie]

Don't ANY of the other Mormons "LIKE" Mitt Romney either?? I would HOPE at least the "mandatory tithe" collector might like him a LITTLE!

[lavonneann-2009]

I am with Reid. I do not believe Romney has paid tax returns for any of the 10 years ( at least) previous to the 2010 one (1) that he has released. SO is he a MOOOOcher too? Of course!

[ammo17]

he is the perfect excuse for term limits.as for the 47% if it is true what is the problem. i am part of the 47% but i worked all my life,spent four years in the us navy.what bothers me is that people and their families have been on welfare and medicaid for generations and no one seems to want to stop it,welfare is not a life time entitlement.

[nancy_naive]

The returns say one thing.

That between 2003 and 2008, the offshore accounts were illegal.

In 2009, Mitt took the Amnesty and paid back taxes and penalties.

[nancy_naive]

Give 'em Hell, Harry!

[dennisall77]

SO THAT IS WHY ROMNEY WILL NEVER RELEASE THE RETURNS. HE KNOWS HE MADE THOSE STUPID REMARKS AND COULD BE MADE TO LOOK LIKE MORE OF AN A & & THAN HE ALREADY IS BECAUSE HE NEVER PAID TAXES IN MOST YEARS. HE CALLED HIMSELF A FREELOADER!!

[A_Canadian_Opinion]

When you consider the pressure that has been applied, and that he still won't release the returns in the face of that pressure, it becomes very clear that he is hiding something that could be construed as tax avoidance. I couldn't trust him as my leader.