Romney on not releasing more tax returns: ‘I’m not a business’

[TomCADem]

Source: Washington Post

When pressed on why he’s not releasing more tax returns in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Mitt Romney justified it by saying: “I’m not a business.”

Bloomberg asked Romney whether, if he was investing in a company, he would want to see more than two years of financial reports, likening that process to the American people electing a president. But Romney suggested the standards aren’t the same for people and businesses.

“I’m not a business,” he said. “We have a process in this country, which was established by law, which provides for the transparency which candidates are required to meet. I have met with that requirement with full financial ­disclosure of all my investments, but in addition have provided and will provide a full two years of tax returns.”

This is the candidate who, almost exactly one year ago, got into a somewhat-heated exchange with a heckler in Iowa in which Romney made that case that “corporations are people” — that is, what happens to corporations affects the people who work for them.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/romney-on-not-releasing-more-tax-returns-im-not-a-business/2012/08/09/18e2d062-e225-11e1-98e7-89d659f9c106_blog.html

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Here is the latest Romney dodge as to why he is not releasing his tax returns, which is particularly noteworthy since he once vigorously asserted that "corporations are people."

[rocktivity]

1. But I thought he said that "Corporatations are people, my friend!"

Not that he hasn't made it clear that he's not a person...


rocktivity

[closeupready]

17. Yep, lol - the jokes have begun writing themselves.

Tangled webs of lies are like that...

[rocktivity]

20. He's making me dizzy!

Last edited Sat Feb 21, 2015, 06:23 PM - Edit history (2)

rocktivity

[SemperEadem]

26. wow!! I haven't heard that song in ages!

I loooooved that song back when I was a young-un! Thanks!

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

62. I thought wingnuts wanted to run the gub'mint 'like it's a business'

In which case, Willard should show his damn returns.

[sad sally]

66. The loser speaks: he corrected himself to say "human beings, my friend"

&feature=player_detailpage#t=6s

[Enrique]

2. that is awesome n/t

[bemildred]

3. LOL.

What a fool.

[Scuba]

4. Yeah, you are, Mitt. A criminal enterprise.

[grantcart]

5. not a corporation, not a person

The borg's came early and James Kirk isn't even born yet.

[FailureToCommunicate]

36. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated...

[tularetom]

6. He's a people my friend

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. People are corporations, my friend.

.

[annabanana]

8. His HORSE is a business though. . .right? . .n/t

[progressivebydesign]

46. I... am not... a business.. I am a human being or a horse, whichever gets the bigger deduction nt

[JHB]

61. That's why he skipped the Olympic dressage competition, to not distract Rafalca

Any time he's around Rafalca gets all lusty for that exemplary horse's ass.

[BeyondGeography]

9. Mitty McShifty, always stepping in his own bullshit

[Canadian 2]

10. See, this is why I love America

You people have the batshittiest pols!

[Brigid]

13. You win this thread.

We Americans really keep you Canuks entertained, especially in election years, don't we?

[GrantDem]

33. +1

[JBoy]

11. "I'm not a human" he said, and then

Romney peeled off his face to reveal the cyborg that he was.

[Iliyah]

12. Corporations are people my friend

kicking your ass right now huh Mittens.

Release the Gawd Damn taxes asshole.

[BSUbluNorange]

14. So Mitt is not a person?

Corporations are people, he's not a business/corporation.... Interesting

[sarcasmo]

15. This proves Mitt is a Robot.

[DallasNE]

16. Romney Talks The Talk

But if you want to be able to see whether he walks the walk one has to be able to review the record and his tax returns are a big part of the record. At this point it is almost a given that he has not paid any meaningful income taxes for a number of years and he will at all costs hide this part of his record.

I wonder if anybody in the media has attempted to contact this man as he could well be the source behind the story about Romney not paying taxes for all of those years. He certainly fits the profile.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_C._Gay

[msanthrope]

18. But in America, corporations are people, Mitt!!! nt

[Liberal Veteran]

19. lol. Wut?

[Atman]

21. I am choking on the irony!

[Pirate Smile]

22. What does that even MEAN???

[tridim]

23. He's not a corporation or a person, so I guess he really is an animatronic robot. Confirmed.

It all makes sense now!

[SemperEadem]

24. Um, no... you don't get to walk this one back, mittiot

you said, and I quote "corporations are people, my friend..."

I'm sure it could be argued that you aren't a person, but a robot, but that's non sequitur right now to the fact that you have already stated the above. To use the transitive property, if corporations are people, and you are presumably a person, then you are a business.

Sucks to be you, huh?

[beac]

25. "transparency"???

The only thing transparent about Mittens is his naked ambition.

[Happyhippychick]

27. He's not a business but he is a robot

[karynnj]

28. have provided and will provide a full two years of tax returns.” - is gramatically a mess

He can say he provided one year and will provide another -- which sounds less than "two full years". Not to mention, how do you release only part of a year. "full" is there just to maximize what he did.

[SoapBox]

29. Asshole!

...there is simply nothing left to say.

[RKP5637]

30. Romney is a weasel. n/t

[closeupready]

50. In snakeskin loafers.

That's for damn sure.

[RKP5637]

52. And a sharkskin suit!!!

[Roy Rolling]

31. Still undecided

Is a train-wreck a corporation or a people?

[Old and In the Way]

32. Just keeps getting better.

I hope Mitt likes marinating in his financial exposure. The real story of Bain Capital is slowly cooking the Mittster.

[bayareaboy]

34. My Mother used to say ...

That boy likes to hear his voice a lot.

And I guess his Mother didn't tell him about talking like a fool.

[sofa king]

35. Mitt sure likes to talk a lot about what he is not.

He seems reticent, however, to talk about what he is.

Some days I wonder if Mitt's nominating process actually worked like the one depicted starting at the 10:00 mark in this excellent film:

(Graphic politics warning. Also, Danny Trejo sighting @ 2:43)

[SoapBox]

43. I'll be darned...I never saw this.

Bugs! I hate Bugs!

No wait...I hate Mittens! Mittens = BUGS!

ECKKK!

[truthisfreedom]

37. He's making himself more unelectable by the minute! Amazing!

mittens is absolutely determined to guarantee his own demise.

[Evasporque]

38. Well then he is hiding something....period.

F you Rmoney

[Blue Owl]

39. Oh is that so, Willard?

And you wanna be our president? I don't think so.

[Evasporque]

40. they bet on the least damaging choice...

Not releasing will loose some voters (probably enough to lose) but releasing them will probably ensure defeat.

[NRaleighLiberal]

41. I somehow don't think this will fly. Kerosene, meet match. Just gets better and better.

[Javaman]

42. lost mittens plays yet another game of "political twister".

He's like a bizarre new super hero: Inconsistent man.

[progressivebydesign]

44. " have provided and will provide a full two years of tax returns.” Have or will? Which is it mitt??

I love that bullshit doublespeak by Romney. "I have and WILL" You either HAVE or you WILL, it's not both!!!

His 2010 is not complete, AND his 2011 is 'being worked on!" now. Meaning, they're trying to clean it up. The media should ALSO be very very suspicious about his 2011 returns, as he's working on them now. He'd be willing to make a huge tax payment now, if it meant that his forms look almost normal.

So next time I'm asked to file a tax return, as a person, can I use the "I'm not a business" line instead? Sorry.. taxes are for the LITTLE people.

ETA- I always enjoy the Bloomberg articles, because the majority of commenters don't seem like deranged rageaholics or paid shills.

[ThoughtCriminal]

59. Try diagramming that sentence

I'm not sure it can be done in two dimensions or even three. It time travels retroactively into some sort of mobius strip.

[barbtries]

45. really, romney, what's the difference?

where were the reporters who could have followed up with that? since corporations are people what fucking difference does it make whether you're a business?

[Blue Meany]

47. Romney demands that businesses public release tax records!!! n/t

[Justice wanted]

48. This guy is getting desperate. The problem with this argument is that IF Romney is like

Most rich men--ie Koch Brothers, Adleson etc he probably has made himself into an LLC of some sort so when Bain lost money He could say it effected him as well and the Money he gained at Bain that went into special accounts so it isn't his money--but it is.


Also doesn't his backing of Corporations are People just nullify his argument.?

[Berlum]

49. One grows weary of this loathsome prevaricating Republican

Just cannot be up front about anything...

[libodem]

51. All the warmth and charm of a corporate quanset hut

Shell of a building facade, surrounding a stack of dollars equals freedom of speech from a human.

[Peaceful Protester]

53. Corporations are people, but he himself is not a corporation.

Now that's an Oxy-Mormon!

[bucolic_frolic]

54. Yes you are, MittWitt. You're a real operator.

[underpants]

55. I actually laughed out loud when I saw this headline at work

it's not just the campaign that is a mess - this guy is clearly "not ready for prime time"

[and-justice-for-all]

56. Huh what??

[Fantastic Anarchist]

57. Businesses are people, friend.

Hoisted by his own petard! Love it!!

[randome]

58. He won't stop talking about it. He keeps the issue in the news every single day.

He's beyond stupid. We are in uncharted territory.

[JHB]

60. Weasel words. Nothing instills trust and confidence like tax lawyer-speak.

Just what we want in a president, right? A guy who STARTS OFF sounding like a Defendant in a corruption scandal.

[mgarr]

63. Romney is right. He is not a business.

Romney said he was not a business. I agree. If he is not a business, it follows that corporations are not people. Citizens United and the conservative majority of the Supreme Court to the contrary, people are not corporations and corporations are not people. Any other take on this is nonsensical.

Reelect President Obama. Retake the House. Secure a 60 vote majority in the Senate (ignoring the fact that a supermajority of 60 votes is now "required" only because of Republican abuse of the filibuster rule.)

And then DEMAND Congress pass a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United (and at same time, demand Congress pass a law requiring federal funding of all political campaigns.)

The best-kept secret in Washington is that voters still have the ultimate power. So get mad. Then get out and vote. Every general election; every primary; every local election. Vote. (and make sure everyone you know votes.) Start the process of reform by making it politically dangerous for Congress to be bought and sold.

We will then have answered the question. Corporations are NOT people.

[Javaman]

64. as usual his responce makes no sense. nt

[tomm2thumbs]

67. Why can't he even get the 2nd year's out - what's the hold up?!!

My guess is that even this most recent year's return could have been done with his crack accounting team in a week's time. If Romney can't even figure out his own taxes in a reasonable amount of time, how on earth is he going to be able to tackle real problems and budgets in the White House.

What's the hold up Mitt? What are you hiding about this past year that you don't want America to know about until the absolute last second?

I can only imagine

[arely staircase]

68. Corporations are People but I'm Not a Business! Romney for President 2012

This political ad paid for by the truely clueless and ultimately doomed to defeat and humiliation.