Taxes: Play fair!

[LadyVT]

Today, Sen. Bill Bradley falsely claimed that "Barack Obama has revealed his income tax returns for the last eight years." In fact, Sen. Obama has released one year. ABC News reports (http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/03/the-obama-tax-a.html):

But it's not as though all Obama's returns from his entire time as a US Senator are available. Will Obama release all of those returns or, next month, his 2007 tax returns? That's unclear. So when the Obama campaign says Clinton should release her returns, it just means for 2006? Apparently so. "We've said she should release her tax returns from last year, like we have done," says Obama spokesperson Bill Burton. As for any pre-2006 or 2007 returns, Burton says he "will keep you posted."

Sen. Bradley also claimed that Sen. Obama has "revealed all of his earmarks - all the earmarks that he sponsored." That's also false. Sen. Obama refuses to release the vast majority of earmarks he requested as a state senator. AP reports (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/13/politics/main3936743.shtml): Sen. Barack Obama is open about the pet projects he's tucked into federal legislation, but it's a different story when it comes to the extra spending he added to state budgets while serving in the Illinois Legislature. Public records reveal some of the projects he sponsored as a state senator, from literacy programs and park improvements to drill team uniforms and jazz-appreciation events. They add up to more than $6 million.

But that covers just two of Obama's nearly eight years in the Illinois Senate. While silent about Obama's spending in Illinois, his campaign has criticized Democratic presidential rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for withholding similar information about her years in the U.S. Senate. The list of U.S. Senate earmarks requests Sen. Obama recently released also does not appear to include a number of requests he made jointly with Sen. Durbin.

So come on, Obama. Stop this negative campaigning you vowed to eschew during this election!

[boston bean]

1. I tried to tell people this the other day and was called a liar.

I do my research and I don't think I have to do it for every O supporter out there, but maybe they will read this and shut their traps about Hillary missing last years tax returns.

He is a sham, he has his supporters all hoodwinked, bamboozled, he played the old okey dokie on them.

[rodeodance]

2. its a lie that obama folk think to be true--they spam the threads over and over

[MonkeyFunk]

6. Just today

one of the notable Obama supporters called someone a liar for claiming Obama has only released one year's tax return.

They're rabid.

[rodeodance]

8. i say that--there are several THREADS demanding HRC docs!--for days now

[anonymous171]

3. He didn't say he wouldn't campaign negatively.

You thought he was going to sit there and take it? Hill's got a glass jaw and he's going to prove it. Every attack thrown at her sticks to her. Asking for transparency is not a personal attack.

[rodeodance]

5. why does he have his surrogates out on Nat. TV lying?

[LadyVT]

10. Yes, he did say he wouldn't campaign negatively.

He said that was the "old politics." The "politics of divisiveness." He represents the "new politics" of "unity."

Back in January.

Remember?

[anonymous171]

12. Yeah, and to reach unity you have to destroy those who would divide us.

If Hillary can't fight "Obambi" than she won't be able to fight McCain.

[LadyVT]

14. Read what you wrote very carefully.

This is very dangerous logic. Do you realize that this was the logic used by Hitler?

If you want UNITY, you have to LISTEN to the viewpoints of people different from you, and then you have to COMPROMISE. Otherwise you have to KEEP destroying people who have viewpoints different from your own, and then you have genocide.

Only infants get most of everything they want in this world, and even then, only for a very, very short time.

[qnr]

21. That's not unity, that's enforced homogeneity n/t

[rodeodance]

4. Bradley lies. who would have imagined!

[rodeodance]

7. REC

[Hawkeye-X]

9. Too bad it's going to be debunked anyway.. Obama plans new style of attack

By releasing everything to the public (his taxes, his earmarks, his Senate financials, etc) this week, Clinton will be HEAVILY pressured to release hers early. There is ABSOLUTELY NO FUCKING REASON whatsoever to wait until April 15th Her taxes were prepared already, she needs to release it.

Go back to your corner and stay there.

Hawkeye-X

[rodeodance]

11. waiting

[LadyVT]

13. It will be interesting to see if he actually does do this.

He sure hasn't already. And until he does, he doesn't have a leg to stand on when it comes to this issue. He risks looking like a hypocrite.

I neither stand, nor live in, corners, by the way.

[Hawkeye-X]

15. Then go put yourself in the closet for 1 hour and think about what a bad thing you did.

Then....

Oh and btw, what I am saying is true. Here's a link:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-070416obama-tax,0,445005.story

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama_mar16,0,6399743.story

I suggest you read both stories.. CAREFULLY.

[LadyVT]

16. Okey dokey. I'll believe it when I see it with my own eyes.... I'm outta' here,

though. Even a 10-minute visit once a day is too much these days.

Wow.

[rodeodance]

18. they are very upset and hurting. we must have pity at this moment.

[rodeodance]

19. You can ask nicely without treating the OP with disrespect.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

35. LOL you go! I get that feeling too, that he is winding up his pitch

:yourock:

[tabasco]

17. This is a funny thread.

- Obama has released last year's tax returns a long time ago but Hillary has not. But the Hillary supporters screech "we're waiting!" like Clinton has the high ground in this debate.

- I'm also wondering why Hillary is not in a big hurry to release her White House records, you know, those records that will clearly show all of her vast foreign policy and other experience. Why the secrecy?

- We know that Saudi Arabia was one of the biggest donors to the Clinton librabry, but who are the rest? Why are the Clintons keeping the donor list secret? Bubba said "no' to releasing the donors list. Why?? Tell me why they would want to keep those names secret?

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/09/clinton-libary-.html

The Clintons are hiding all of their dirty laundry and all Hillary supporters can do is screech about Obama's tax returns from before last year, which Hillary has not released either. Obama HAS RELEASED last year's tax return which Hillary has kept hidden from Democratic voters. Again, what is Hillary hiding from Democratic voters.

You Hillary supporters can screech all you want but Obama is winning this debate.

[rodeodance]

20. patience is a virtue

[spooky3]

22. where are McCain's returns?

[qnr]

25. He's still waiting for the stagecoach to deliver his forms :) n/t

[babylonsister]

29. ROFL!

:toast:

[qnr]

31. Thanks, I was half-expecting a bunch of "ageist" calls

:hi: :)

[spooky3]

36. well, I should have said that, but since it's a Republican, it's ok!

:hi:

[izzybeans]

23. Hopefully they both put at least one out there.

I'd like more, but one is way more than I ever expected either of them to do.

[rodeodance]

24. KICK

[ORDem]

26. Whatever. Still waiting for Hillary to release one year's returns. n/t

[cooolandrew]

27. He is talkng of all his eletions and submitted the REQUIRED returns. The rest is spin where is HRC

and her saudi tax returns.

[MonkeyFunk]

33. I'm pretty sure Clinton doesn't file

her taxes in Saudi Arabia.

[jackson_dem]

28. Present

[babylonsister]

30. After your 'gal' releases at least one year, then we'll talk. And earmarks?

Did your gal release anything yet? Tit for tat is great, but you must realize it works in both directions, thus the phrase.

[Usrename]

32. Maybe that Jake Tapper guy from ABC isn't getting it right.

And perhaps you too, by association. This is a quote from one the two Chicago Trib articles linked by HawkeyeX upthread somewhere:

"The Illinois Democrat is also expected to make public his tax returns for several years before 2006, documents he previously has provided to the Tribune and other news organizations."

It sounds a lot like they are saying that he has provided this stuff to news organizations already.

I don't know why they would do this if weren't true (unless, of course, they are also part of the conspiracy that is doing a big marketing makeover on Obama, turning him into a god in order to punish Hillary).

My guess right now is that ABC is wrong about this.

[Recursion]

34. Are you ****ing kidding me?

Complaining that Obama has "only" released the past 2 years of tax returns and "only" released his US Senate earmarks, while ignoring the fact that Clinton has done neither is perverse to the point of being Rovian.