Signs are Pointing to Obama Campaign having Dirt on Romney Finances

[berni_mccoy]

I've been watching this particular topic with some interest.

On one hand, there was Romney's refusal to his own primary challengers to disclose his tax returns. And then reinforcement of that stance again once he became the apparent nominee for the GOP.

However, the Obama campaign has pursued this unprecedented lack of transparency with more passion than I expected. It would be one thing if they were simply re-iterating the need for Romney to disclose the returns. It is an entirely different matter that they are escalating it with more fervor than a birther demanding Obama's birth certificate. And this escalation is coordinated with the Democratic party, as they were out in full force this weekend hammering Romney on the point.

For example, back in May, the Obama campaign came out with the Map of Romney's Money in Off-Shore Accounts.

The language at the time was roughly paraphrased as "we're not saying he's done anything illegal, but every president has disclosed their returns", emphasizing that there was no suspicion of illegal activity. Furthermore, the campaign was tying it to Romney's Bain Capital's practice of sending labor overseas while liquidating American companies.

Last month, the language and emphasis shifted to basically, "What is Romney hiding? Why won't he show is tax returns?". The term "cover up" was used frequently.

Now, the terminology has shifted yet again. "We don't know if he has done anything illegal. We don't know if he is evading taxes." These are no longer questions, but statements with hints of accusation. I know from everything I've seen from Obama and his last campaign, that they would not go there if the simple revelation of Romney's returns would be made. That is, they must know that Romney has damaging information in his returns and there is no way in hell he is going to reveal them. And the damaging info can't be simply a mistake or that he's using the tax code to minimize taxes. If that were the case, Romney would reveal them and he could cause some blow-back on the Obama campaign for the haymaking.

Instead, I believe the Obama Campaign really does know something they haven't revealed yet. And Romney knows it too, otherwise he would put this issue to rest by revealing his return. The political damage in not doing so is going to continue until Romney reveals it. I believe the Obama Campaign knows what it is and is going to eventually release it. The question is, will we find out at the GOP convention or will we find out in October?

This election may very well be about Taxes after all. I just don't think the GOP expected it to be about Romney's taxes.

[Rambis]

1. He claims to have been unemployed and living in his son's basement

Tip of the iceberg

[Sheepshank]

31. at the time it was an unfinished basement n/t

[AnnieK401]

58. Hey, it could be true

A man worth hundreds of millions of dollars sleeping with his incredibly pampered wife in his son's unfinished basement. Could be.

[Merlot]

83. Anything with "Cayman Islands" on it is the tip of the iceberg

[madaboutharry]

2. Good points here.

The way they are framing this does make it seem like the Obama campaign is sitting on something very devastating to Romney's campaign.

[Schema Thing]

3. I had this thought watching the past couple of days unfold.

"holy shit, they KNOW something".

[JDPriestly]

52. It could be something as simple as the use of different addresses

for different kinds of reports or filings. It could be something as complex as laundering profits overseas or as ordinary as simply hiding the profits on foreign investments from the IRS.

The odds are that he hasn't released his tax documents because there is something terribly embarrassing that cannot be easily explained in them.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. How would the Obama campaign know?

Tax returns are privileged and the IRS won't release them without signed consent. Could it be someone at the IRS leaking info? Could it be someone who was part of the McCain campaign to which Romney released his records? Could it be someone who worked in the office of Romney's accountants? Perhaps if Romney had to borrow significant amounts of money for all his real estate purchases, a lender required verification of his net worth including date-stamped filed tax returns (unless he has millions in cash lying around but I thought his money was mostly tied up in foreign bank accounts). There are probably several ways the information could reach the Obama administration but they couldn't release it. A third party might release it anonymously to wikileaks.

[spinbaby]

24. I'd put money on the McCain campaign

Even if they knew about Rmoney's tax issues through the IRS, they couldn't use that information--the right would scream bloody murder and abuse of power--too big a blowback. That leaves the McCain campaign where I'm betting that information was passed around like juicy gossip at a coffee klatch.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

32. Or someone else in the Republican party, who is sick of where their party is heading ...

I will always suspect the Bush family anytime there is cloak and dagger work going on, given Poppy's past.

But there are plenty in the Republican party who have been swept aside in the past ten years who are not happy with how tea baggy the party is getting nor how the country tanked during Junior's eight years and doesn't want to return to that type of thinking.

Yeah, probably Grampy McCain.

[SDjack]

81. Or, an accountant who was enraged by the obscene wealth Rmoney screwed out of corporations

that Bain hit with a wrecking ball and then sold the pieces.

[FarCenter]

100. If the Bush family had such information, why would they squander this power?

Their optimal strategy would be to see Romney elected and then use the information to influence him.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

113. Perhaps to set Jeb up as a savior in '16?

Just a thought, though.

Jeb was smart enough to know that Junior's stink was still foul enough that nobody would vote for a Bush in '12 - he may be thinking about '16. Hopefully by then, the effect of having Junior sitting in a prison cell along with Cheney, Rice, etc. will deter anyone from that family from ever seeking political office again (oh, to dream!).

[FarCenter]

117. Maybe, but George Prescott Garnica Bush is waiting in the wings -- 36 now.

[hifiguy]

38. I think so too. Grampy's people saw everything

going back more than a decade. Someone took notes that they held on to. I am convinced that there are more skeletons in Mittwit's financial closet than there are in all the catacombs of Rome. They're already starting to rattle around.

[Sgent]

57. I sure as hell hope nothing comes from the IRS

even if it was leaked by someone w/o instructions from up high, if an IRS employee was tied to the leaking of private tax returns or other documents of Romney's, it will be a new Watergate -- and this one would be for real.

[MissMarple]

71. Probably not the IRS. And I thought Watergate was for real.

Certainly real enough for the Nixon administration to implode. I think they may know something, but it comes from another source. If it actually is the McCain people, that makes sense. And, as another poster mentioned it could be the Bush family, as well.

Exciting stuff...almost like the Tudors or the Borgias, now we have the Romneys. I'm glad his parents can't see this, however it turns out.

[Sgent]

72. If the leak came from

an IRS employee, even if a civil service employee, I expect that would be the end of an Obama presidency -- or at least a near fatal wound.

[Merlot]

84. My guess is the Obama Team is smarter than that

They wouldn't touch any illegal information. Even if they're bluffing, it's pretty obvious that a guy like rmoney would have a lot of skeletons in the financial closet.

[Kahuna]

5. I think so too... Mittens is awfully quiet all of a sudden.. And the rest of the rats

are jumping ship with their criticisms..

[Segami]

6. K&R

Pass the corn!

[JohnnyRingo]

7. Romney recently said he paid full US taxes on his offshore holdings.

The first thing I wondered was: "why would he do that?". What's the point of keeping his money in the Caribbean or Swiss banks if he's not avoiding taxes?

Since he released last year's returns only, I assume he hurried and paid taxes on that year and is trying to hide the fact that he avoided his civic responsibilities on decades previous. Etch a Sketch indeed.

Such is the arrogance of Mitt Romney that he waits until the absolute last possible moment, when he's running for political office, to fire undocumented gardeners and clean up his finances. I hope the Obama campaign blows the top off this potential scandal and portrays Romney as less a patriot and more a man who would gladly sell out his country for personal gain.

[frazzled]

19. No, that's not quite what was said

I believe it was something like "I paid all the taxes owed on the offshore holdings." If they're cleverly sequestered in a Swiss bank account or in the Bahamas or Caymans, you probably don't "owe" anything. It could well be "legal." But that is not the point: it's neither patriotic nor morally defensible. This is money earned in the US and, due to ability to set up these things, sheltered from US taxes. It's money being withheld from our government.

[JohnnyRingo]

60. You're right....

He actually said he paid all the taxes he owed, and not one dollar more. Presumably, paying too much to the country he loves so dearly would be unpatriotic.

Sadly, that gets some Tea Party street cred because those patriots want to starve the federal government into extiction.

[On the Road]

68. I Don't Think Those Statements are Appreciably Different:

"I paid full taxes"
versus
"I paid all the taxes owed."

If it is true, it a legitimate defense. And there are some reasons for an account in the Caymans for perfectly legal tax avoidance.

http://www.rjmintz.com/offshore-havens/bank-secrecy-havens/cayman-islands/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offshore_bank

If it turns out that Romney paid his US income tax in full and held accounts in the Caymans for other reasons, he'll probably survive relatively unscathed. However, the most common reason is probably the secrecy, which enables tax reports to be deliberately understated. That's the thing that would sink Romney's campaign if it comes out.

[NYC Liberal]

80. The "all the taxes owed" is exactly what caught my attention.

First thing I thought was exactly what you're saying: there are lots of loopholes that provide legal ways to get out of paying a lot of taxes. But if you're running for president, there are higher standards.

[Number23]

95. Damn good point

If they're cleverly sequestered in a Swiss bank account or in the Bahamas or Caymans, you probably don't "owe" anything. It could well be "legal."

[PADemD]

106. A Swiss Bank Is Set to Open Its Secret Files

By LYNNLEY BROWNING
Published: February 18, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/business/worldbusiness/19ubs.html

UBS, the largest bank in Switzerland, agreed on Wednesday to divulge the names of well-heeled Americans whom the authorities suspect of using offshore accounts at the bank to evade taxes. The bank admitted conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service and agreed to pay $780 million to settle a sweeping federal investigation into its activities.

It is unclear how many of its clients’ names UBS will divulge. Federal prosecutors have been examining about 19,000 accounts at the bank, but UBS ultimately may disclose the identities of only a few hundred customers.

[frazzled]

111. Yeah, three years ago, in 2009

A few hundred of their 19,000 accounts.

[democrat_patriot]

28. Except there's an account he switched into his wifes name. What's in there?

None of that may be taxed at all.

[Swede Atlanta]

69. Several of the investments were made or moved into blind trusts in his wife's name....

This from Wikipedia on blind trusts:

A blind trust is a trust in which the fiduciaries, namely the trustees or those who have been given power of attorney, have full discretion over the assets, and the trust beneficiaries have no knowledge of the holdings of the trust and no right to intervene in their handling. Blind trusts are generally used when a settlor (sometimes called a trustor or donor) wishes to keep the beneficiary unaware of the specific assets in the trust, such as to avoid conflict of interest between the beneficiary and the investments. Politicians or others in sensitive positions often place their personal assets (including investment income) into blind trusts, to avoid public scrutiny and accusations of conflicts of interest when they direct government funds to the private sector.

I believe at least one of these trusts were set up immediately before he took office as the governor of Massachusetts.

The interesting thing about these are that (a) trusts are private and (b) even though the beneficiaries have no legal control over the assets (i.e. they cannot legally force the trustee(s) to do x or y, they may still have the ability to exert significant influence over the trustees, depending on who they are.

So the trustees could be a son, daughter, business associate, etc. where there was a pre-agreement (verbal of course) on how the trustee would behave. This is very unethical in the context of fiduciary law but we all know it happens.

[Demeter]

8. That's Preposterous on its face

Even if King Log has got something real, AND he decides to use it, AND he doesn't bollix it up as is his usual performance....

it's far too late in the game for a comeback. The dollars have spoken.

[Tigress DEM]

13. So if none of this matters, why not send in your early vote for Mittens?

You've been through a lot, so I feel your dispair, but do you have to take it that much further and be the rallying cry, "Give up now, while there is pessimissm to go around! It will never work, so don't buy that Hope crap ever again!!"

Sure. You might be right, but damm if you are that dismayed why post on DU at all?

Obama is what we have to work with so quit finding every reason for nothing he can do or say to work and find ways to hold him accountable to do what he says he's going to so we can get off this damm carnival ride with the rethugs sabotoging the tracks as we come to them.

Tig

[Demeter]

40. It matters--as long as one lives

The world doesn't end in November (unless the Mayans had it right, after all).

[demwing]

75. Is "end of the world" the only measure that matters?

A person could justify any variety of horrible actions with that logic

Beside, a Romney presidency might be the end of the world (at least the end as we know it).

[Tigress DEM]

108. I think his measure was as long as one lives, it matters.

BUT if the Mayans were right, we'll have even more stuff to contend with and criticizing Obama will move farther down the list.

Why do I think of Nero fiddling while Rome burned when I think of Romney as President at this critical time in our history?

Tig

[Tigress DEM]

107. OK then, just checking.

Yeah, and if they were right, other than find another planet, what can we do?

Tig

[mac56]

22. "King Log"?!

Seriously?!

[Doremus]

30. Who/what is "King Log"? n/t

ETA:

Just realized I directed the question to the wrong person, sorry. (But if you know, could you clue me in please?) Thanks.

[Demeter]

39. The benefits of a classical education are yours

http://www.aesops-fables.org.uk/aesop-fable-the-frogs-desiring-a-king.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Frogs_Who_Desired_a_King

[mac56]

50. Words fail me.

That reference makes no sense at all.

[Demeter]

62. Then you are gonna LOVE King Snake (or Stork, versions vary)

[Junkdrawer]

59. So I take it you're not a big fan of people who wait for Political Heroes...

If you don't like the log, a (Morman?) snake is in the wings....

[Godhumor]

76. I'm pretty sure his king log is a reference to Obama

As are the references to screwing things up and Obama not having a chance this November as the corporations have already paid for the election.

Feel free to correct me of I am wrong, Demeter.

[NNN0LHI]

96. I can't believe you have been here for almost ten years

[grantcart]

103. I had the same thought.

Guessing he must be a lounge lizzard.

[agent46]

9. warrentless wire taps for national security purposes

Seemed to work wonders for the the Bush/Cheney gang. Obama made sure they continued. I have no doubt it's been institutionalized by now. Who would be surprised if they dipped into their little political tool box once in a while.

[truebrit71]

10. Should they wait until AFTER the repuke circle jerk of fear-and-racism that is the RNC convention..

..or do it before?

[flamingdem]

21. Who will they put in there if Mitt is disqualified?

Hmmmmmm

Rove is thinking about this no doubt

[still_one]

53. Jeb Bush. /nt

[flamingdem]

54. My first thought too but

it's been said he'd rather wait until 2016... however with all the dark money he may now believe he can buy this election.. or it will be payback just to get the Senate back, etc.

[rury]

79. Definitely after the kkkonvention...

...because then the Rethugs will be stuck with The Mittwit.
If it comes out before he is formally nominated, the party elders will convince him to step aside and they might come up with somebody who is palatable enough to win.
Cant have THAT!!

[nxylas]

98. Has that actually happened in living memory?

Even if Jeb or whoever was installed after the convention, how do you think that would look to the average voter (the ones who would vote for a tree frog if it had an R after its name wouldn't care, of course, but you can't win an election with just them)?

[Occulus]

132. After, if they have something concrete and damning (hopefully, illegal) on Mitt.

Let the Repukes scramble to find a replacement for him after they've stamped him with their official seal of approval.

Wouldn't that be fun to watch?

[rufus dog]

11. Just watched the Gibbs clip on MJ and had the same Birther thought while watching Gibbs slam Senor.

He was a pit bull.

My take is it is a no lose discussion.

The best thing to happen for Mitt would be the offshore accounts are a legitimate shelter used by RMoney to avoid taxes. The 1%ers and the clingons will support him, but the majority of people will be pissed. "How the hell can I get 20% return on my IRA much less 20,000% and avoid taxes?"

So most people will be pissed off by the unfairness, as a bonus, anything that illegal or borderline illegal will put Mitt on the defensive.

[Itchinjim]

12. A good lawyer never asks a question he doesn't already know the answer to...

And Obama is a good lawyer

[jaysunb]

20. +1 for sure ! n/t

[Ruby the Liberal]

46. Ha!

I swear I didn't read through the responses before I posted.

I like the way you think.

[Occulus]

133. Good point.

Ergo, they have something on Mitt.

[BumRushDaShow]

14. I remember seeing somewhere

that Ted Kennedy's campaign had done a lot of research on Bain when Rmoney challenged him for his Senate seat awhile ago and that OFA had access to all of that info.... May have been some bombshells in there that Ted didn't need to use at the time.

[Orsino]

15. I rather doubt that anything illegal would be found.

With the ultra-rich, the real scandal is what's legal.

Nothing good could possibly be found in Romney tax returns. Only his donations to the church could be spun well.

[skydive forever]

16. Every time I complained about having to take a drug test

the instant answer was always a variation of "if you don't have anything to hide, then why complain?" Its about time to ask Mitt that, isn't it?

[berni_mccoy]

17. Heh, I really like that analogy.

[azmom]

124. Biden at the La Raza

convention said. Mitt wants you to show him your papers, but he won't show you his (speaking about his tax returns) I thought that was great line.

[Fawke Em]

25. The phone-tapping scandals of the Bush Administration

also fits into this narrative.

[Danascot]

27. And while they're at it, how about some psychological testing?

holding all those conflicting positions on every imaginable issue is undoubtedly indicative of schizophrenia.

[RT Atlanta]

18. Good analysis...

and I hope your analysis is correct and that there is very damaging information in the tax returns for Rmoney. Information that once known will sway those "on the fence" voters into President Obama's camp.

[Blanks]

23. There are a couple of reasons to wait.

If they've got some dirt on Romney; it would be better to hold it until a whole bunch of hay has been made on the outsourcing issue. I don't think it has played out yet. For example what are their (freepers etc.) talking points on this? I haven't heard any. Why is it OK for him to outsource? Perhaps the talking points are out there and I'm just out of the loop. If that's the case; what are the minimum wage republicans saying to defend Romney on this?

If the Obama campaign moves on to the next big issue without the last one running its course; you can't throw their justification (for why outsourcing is OK) back in their faces. I just don't think the timing is good to bring it out yet.

[99th_Monkey]

128. I heard a couple yesterday

some GOP talking head, on OPB I think, saying "well, actually
there are some benefits to outsourcing: higher profits & dividends
for shareholders, cheaper goods for American consumers.." are
the two that I recall.

[Blanks]

129. That's interesting.

Doesn't have anything to do with my post, but interesting just the same.

If you don't mind my asking; why are you the 99th monkey?

[99th_Monkey]

130. 99th_Monkey

is reference to the "100th Monkey" meme, based on urban legend of a "scientific"
study of the monkeys on a remote island, where there were several distinct "tribes"
on different sides of the island. One monkey in one tribe "discovered" a new improved
way to wash sweet potatoes, and then gradually one by one the monkeys in that
tribe kept learning by emulating others, until once the 100th monkey had learned,
instantaneously ALL the monkeys on the whole island somehow were transmitted the
knowledge, even ones in other distant tribes with no physical contact.

The "research" has been disputed back and forth for decades, but I find it a useful
imagination, and I like the imagery of evolutionary consciousness.

Since I'm not quite 100% evolved yet, I chose the name 99th monkey to tip my hat
to the notion of evolutionary consciousness.

Here's what Wiki has on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundredth_monkey_effect

[Blanks]

135. I am familiar with the meme.

I read a book that mentioned it (about 20 years ago). That's why I asked.

It's one of my favorite memes because regardless of whether it is an actual event; it seems, at least to me, like it is a very real phenomenon (in people anyway).

I like your use of it. Thanks for the explanation.

[99th_Monkey]

137. Cool. I suppose another name for the same phenomenon

that doesn't require any blind faith is "tipping point" or
point of no return, which many people relate to more than
100th monkey. So I take comfort in that as well.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply.

[99th_Monkey]

131. Oh and, by the way

My post was in response to "Blanks" post #23, where they ask,
"For example what are their (freepers etc.) talking points on this?"

[Blanks]

136. Sorry

I see what you're talking about now. I guess I wasn't paying attention this morning. Now that the story has evolved; President Obama really needed both things active in order to catch Romney in a lie on one or the other (or both) issues.

I was wrong.

[BlueCaliDem]

26. I believe, in this, the cover-up isn't greater than the offshore accounts.

the cover-up isn't greater than the (tax avoidance) crime. I believe the Obama Campaign know a lot more than they're revealing . . . for now.

[eggplant]

37. Yet. n/t

[cbdo2007]

29. this would explain the circus of the Republican primaries......

they all knew there was something there too. Santorum and Pawlenty were just getting name recognition for the 2016 election and really didn't put up that big of a fight because they knew there was only like a 5% chance of actually beating President Obama.

Also, this would probably be why nobody wants to be his VP pick. Sure seems like there are a lot of people saying "don't pick me!!"

That points to the Repubes knowing the dirt as well as the Dems. We'll find out in October and like I've been saying for almost a year now....by the time the election gets here, Romney will be literally unelectable and will lose in record numbers.

[Kalidurga]

33. I haven't seen this many Republicans run from the VP spot since...

Bob Dole. This is a serious issue. I am fairly certain Mitt Robme has done a great number of illegal things starting in prep school with a battery on a classmate, to animal cruelty, to forcing companies to take on debt to pay his inflated salary, but this smells like he has actually done something that he could get jail time for. That would be sweet.

[AllyCat]

36. Maybe Walker would take it since he and RMoney seem to be peas in a pod

That is, if he's not in jail by then.

[AllyCat]

34. I hope this is right. For once it would be nice for the October Surprise to be against the crooks

RMoney would be horrible for this country and I want to see what will happen in the next 4 years with Obama. But with the voting machines rigged and Citizens U allowing amazing sums of money to go to Rmoney's campaign, we need to actually get this guy on stuff that hits people in the gut since their too many of their heads appear to still be firmly planted in their arses.

[just1voice]

35. Repukes love criminals, I'm not kidding at all, it'd only help the puke

It would help the Obama campaign a hell of a lot more if they:

1 -- Tried a few Bushies for their crimes.
2 -- Tried a few big banks for their crimes.
3 -- Said the AHA was a step towards single payer.
4 -- Stop acting like repubs are something to even consider.

Seriously, proving Mitt Robme is a criminal is actually helpful for the pukes, especially when Robme won't be tried for anything or even held accountable in any way, shape or form. It just shows the pukes that Robme is smart enough to beat the (D)s at anything we do.

[olegramps]

99. I tend to agree. It wouldn't matter to them if it was revealed that he poisoned his mother.

The intensity of hatred of Obama that the radical right wing talk shows has been able to generate totally obscures any of their candidates' serious faults. The only hope is that Obama can appeal to the Independents and especially the young people for support.

[Ian David]

41. But will it be simple enough for Joe Teabag to understand? n/t

[Mustellus]

42. Wait till Romney's nomination is official....

.. then lob the nuke.

[veganlush]

48. ...or lob it now

and if it's really a bombshell, it could cause major mayhem at the kookvention.

[demwing]

78. Why give them an escape route?

Last edited Tue Jul 10, 2012, 08:34 AM - Edit history (1)

If the OP is correct, this would be a knock out punch on Swiss Mitt. Why give the GOP a gift, and allow them a chance to nominate another candidate? I'd like to see Obama fighting a political cage match, NOT fisticuffs, Queensberry rules.

[csziggy]

91. Maybe that is why the Obama team is not releasing the info

Getting the idea out about the offshore accounts and the possibility of irregular accounting would let the information percolate through the public consciousness for a while. After all, something like this takes time for people to comprehend and accept.

Then once Swiss Mitt is the certain nominee and the Obama campaign knows who the VP nominee is, they can drop their bomb will full effect. Closer to the election would give the Rmoney camp less time to counter the public impression and come up with stories to cover their asses.

[Ruby the Liberal]

43. Politics 101: Never ask a question you don't already know the answer to.

Well done, berni_mccoy!

Love this thread. K&R and bookmarking.

[veganlush]

44. maybe it's tit

(made ya look) -for-tat. Maybe it's because of the birther's with their "i don't know if he was born here" crap.

[Dalai_1]

45. I believe they have more on rmoney ...

I think they are very precise and deliberate about timing of information
to the public..

[GoCubsGo]

47. How the hell could they not expect this to come up???

Seriously. The guy has been obfuscating about his taxes for months. There was already a story about him having a Swiss bank account during the primaries. Did they think the Obama campaign was too stupid to go after Romney after all that? Or, did they think people don't care? Or, that everything was covered up well enough that it would never see the light of day? I think they just don't care. They have enough money, and have prevented enough people from voting against them that they believe the fix is in.

[Vinca]

49. If he won't release the copies of tax returns he gave to McCain, something's fishy.

I've been wondering where Matt Taibbi has been in recent weeks. He's the most likely person to expose the "unseemly" aspects of Mitt's moola.

[KharmaTrain]

51. Willard's "Zero Sum" Game...

Rmoney was "willing" to admit he paid 13.9% on his 2010 and 2011 returns. Hmmm. It's was assumed all his money now comes from capital gains (15% rate) and that this has been his sole source of income for years. The dirty secret may be that using his accounts and accountants, Rmoney didn't pay anywhere near 13.9% at all...more like 0...finding loopholes and deductions to paper over his wealth. He may have even orchestrated a way to earn refunds through the manipulation of "loses", deductions and charitable donations. How would it sound if it was discolsed that Willard hasn't paid a dime in taxes for the past 25 or more years? Not good at all.

As far as the source of any damaging info...does it matter? Mittens hasn't really endeared himself to many thus it could have come from someone who vetted him on behalf of Gramps McCain or a former accountant or employee (surely Mittens employed several) who got screwed along the way.

The mud that Rmoney is getting stuck in...as he did in the past...is even if all he's done is legal, the perception and the amount of time that it takes him to explain it makes people suspect that he's either bent the rules or had them bent for him. There's reams of research and polling that shows the "Richie Rich" meme hurts Willard in key demos and has been driving the numbers in President Obama's favor.

Regarding the timing...I'm enjoying Team Obama playing the Faux game...putting a ? in front of the words Rmnoey Tax Return. The longer the question mark remains the more damaging it is for Mittens. If there's a real nasty revelation ahead this is setting the stage...

[chknltl]

55. I hope your theory is right....and yet even if it is....

....will it be enough to counter the MASSIVE election fraud currently underway?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

56. Spiro T. Agnew had to resign because of tax fraud.

These days the Republicans consider cheating on taxes to be heroic.

[lamp_shade]

61. Kick.

[proud patriot]

63. Romney is betting against America

[Clouseau2]

64. Obama better WATCH OUT!

I can see this happening already:

1) Obama campaign collects damning evidence on Romney's finances
2) A Karl Rove operative leaks fake "evidence" to the Obama campaign
3) The Obama campaign releases their evidence and accuses Romney of shenanigans
4) Right wing bloggers examine the evidence and find the fake evidence
5) Even though it's just one piece of evidence, all the charges against Romney fall apart and the story turns into how Obama tried to cheat to prove Romney did something wrong

I think there's a very good possibility this is exactly what happened in the CBS/Bush AWOL story.

[Th1onein]

66. Baloney! Clousea2! BALONEY!

Bush WAS AWOL. That's the truth. Just because Rather was fired for telling the truth doesn't make it less than the truth.

Bush WAS AWOL, got it? He had someone come in and clean his freaking records up before he ran for Prez. But there was PLENTY of evidence that he was AWOL, even after they did the clean up job.

[MiniMe]

86. Yes, he was. But look what they did to Dan Rather.

The story got lost in that dust-up

[NewJeffCT]

97. and, the only thing *most* people remember

is Dan Rather getting fired over "fake" evidence.

[JNelson6563]

67. I suspect they've been sitting on it a while.

And they probably got vetted info and then went on to vet the crap out of it as well. If they have such a bombshell it will come out sometime after the RNC convention.

Julie

[quaker bill]

74. I agree

given the punches they are throwing now, this early, I expect they have bigger ones to throw after the convention.

[Incitatus]

88. It's a safe bet the Obama Administration has resources CBS doesn't.

I don't see them falling for something like that.

[renate]

93. the CBS/Bush AWOL story was a travesty

And the GOP are self-evidently quite capable of executing something like that.

I hope Obama's people are forewarned by that episode and are extra cautious....

Welcome to DU!

[Ganja Ninja]

116. Obama doesn't have to release any evidence.

All he has to do is repeatedly ask why Mitt won't release his returns. As long as Mitt refuses he looks guilty. That's all it will take.

[steve2470]

65. k&r nt

[malaise]

70. I think you're right

I hope it's the October surprise.

One thing for sure- ReTHUGs are very nervous that Obama is on to something.

Didn't he give McCain years of tax stuff? Why did they MCGramps never consider him?

[Historic NY]

73. Well they do have McCains crib notes....

"After calling for economic divestment from Iran, Romney was embarrassed by revelation that the Italian branch of Bain & Company – firm where Romney started as young consultant and served as CEO in early‘90s – received $2.3 million contract from National Iranian Oil Company in 2004".

Bain Capital, the private equity firm that made Romney his fortune, currently owns a chemicals and paint company called Sigma Kalon that operates an office in Tehran.


http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/the-book-on-mitt-romney-here-is-john-mccains-ent

Lots of stuff to mine and work from...

[klook]

85. Oh my

The Iran connection has a ice aroma. Thanks for this info.

[Motown_Johnny]

77. It could also be voter fraud

since he voted in MA but odds are he filed state taxes in NH where he owns a home and where the taxes are lower.

[Coyotl]

109. Ding, ding, the Felon revelation awaits!

And a complaint has been filed in MA that requires action by officials.

It is really ironic to nominate a fraudulent voter given the Republican War on Liberal Voters is founded/rationalized on stopping the near-non-existent problem of voter fraud.

[Wolf Frankula]

82. Rmoney is running for a White House with a Rose Garden

Wouldn't it be a hoot if he ended up in a big house with a yard?

Wolf

[Kennah]

92. Nah, he'd just move to Singapore

[Taverner]

87. Let me guess: he ended up making way more in his return than he paid?

[B Calm]

89. I think they need to drug test the lying bastard!

[MightyMopar]

90. The idea that Romney committed voter fraud is even more crushing than the shady tax evasion.

So we have a suit who could be considered a Mexican anchor baby from a religion many don't consider Christian who built a Wall Street career out of leveraged buyouts, sending jobs overseas and offshore tax evasion who now surely committed voter fraud. One couldn't make this up. Today's Republicans espouse win at any cost corruption, any evil and and any hypocrisy, no matter how expensive, anti-Christlike or unpatriotic.

I particularly like Romney's advice to young people. "Buy as much education as you can afford" or " Start your own business, borrow the starter money from your parents"!

[Number23]

94. Nice post. Welcome back, Berni!

I was wondering if people were still concerned about the fact that Rmoney has not released his tax returns.

[DFW]

101. If they're smart, they will release nothing of the sort.

If they're smart, they'll just let the Justice Department indict responsible parties for tax fraud or failing to report foreign bank accounts (while they are legal, it is a crime to fail to report them and their balances on a yearly basis.

Then the Obama campaign can just sit back and let justice take its course. After Scalia and Kennedy (probably Alito, too) stomping on Roberts for not being their loyal clone on ACA, he might not stand in the way, this time.

[loudsue]

102. So, if it's revealed BEFORE the GOP convention, does that mean

that Gingrich or Ron Paul or Rick Santorum, or even Jeb Bush, could actually be nominated at the convention???

[maindawg]

104. that would create a motivation for the wacko base

to converge and really go crazy. we are dealing with overzealous nuts here. some heavily armed others idealogicaly overcharged. All hell would break loose. So, its best to wait until the hay is in the barn to light a match.

After the convention, it will all come out and the anger will be directed at the criminal who committed the fraud as opposed to the messenger whom the rushpubliscumbaggers are so prone to attack as per their normal reactions.

[Scurrilous]

105. K & R

[Coyotl]

110. Any chance Rmoney's voter fraud makes him ineligible for the nomination?

How did he file for the primaries, as a voter from New Hamphshire. What is his declared residency?

Remember how the Cheaters delayed announcing the Cheney V-P nomination so Cheney could relocate out of Texas to Wyoming because the V-P cannot be from the same state as the nominee.

[bucolic_frolic]

112. It's part of a larger strategy

Whether there's fire behind all that smoke doesn't matter.

What matters is that the Republicans want the campaign to be about
the freedom to make hundreds of millions of dollars in a free market economy
without regard for working people's jobs.

Democrats know how those large sums will separate a lot of independents
and even a few Republican voters from Mitt's column.

It really boils down to privilege, and Mitt is being painted as a candidate of
extraordinary privilege, wealth, unaccountability.

I was not optimistic a month ago about Democrats' chances.

Today I see that old Obama Campaign Magic. They anticipate issues well,
they float trial balloons and let the opposition waste their load, they have a
visceral feel for where to hit hardest to maximize effect, and they have an
outstanding sense of political timing. If you can dictate the issues, you're halfway
home, because the other party spends their time answering you instead of
defining you. Contrast this with the Dukakis-Bentsen Summer of Silence, 1988.

Who are the architects behind this year's brilliance? Where was it in 1988, 2000, 2004?

It's as if Democrats have grown up enough to play hardball.

[Ganja Ninja]

114. I wonder how long before he's greeted by chants of "Tax Cheat! Tax Cheat! Tax Cheat!"

[cbdo2007]

115. Could we be falling for a trap??? They must know this is going to blow up on many levels....

whether it is the taxes or the offshore accounts or the swiss UBS account or voter fraud....there are Repubes out there that know the truth and know one of these things exists, so they know it will come out eventually. Could they have another trick up their sleeve?? We need to brainstorm this so we can be one step ahead, in case this is a trap they're luring us into somehow.

Could they be planning to dump Romney in Sept/Oct and play the "victim" card to get sympathy votes and energize the base at the last minute while throwing Santorum in there as a last minute pick?!?! Just things we have to consider.

As an analyst, something doesn't seem right with Romney's finances, we can all agree on that. Also, something doesn't seem right that they think they can make it to the election without people finding out.....so I'm definitely smelling some BS here. Anyone else have thoughts on this??

[s-cubed]

118. Excellent analysis. I think info is from someone inthe McCain campaign.

It's well known that the other R candidates in 2008 hated Mitt. Maybe even enough to help Obama.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

119. Wouldn't it be a riot if he was the one who shorted stock on 9/11?

Okay,...maybe that wouldn't be that funny after all,....considering he's hanging with Neocons....

[geckosfeet]

120. "This election may very well be about Taxes after all. I just don't think the GOP expected it to be

about Romney's taxes. "

They are fools if they think/thought otherwise.

But we know/knew that.

Fact is, the bagger base will vote for the white dude 100% of the time - regardless of any criminal activity committed by said white dude. I think that the bagger base has demonstrated that often enough for said white dude to take it for granted.

[Warren DeMontague]

121. K&R

[Ruby the Liberal]

122. One wonders if they knew about the Boston Globe story

that hit today?

Giving this analysis a late night (early morning) kick for those who may have missed it...

[lamp_shade]

123. Very insightful thinking, Bernie. You hit the nail on the head.

[SidDithers]

125. DU rec...

and a kick too!

Sid

[Turbineguy]

126. Compliment

with faint praise.

I think he's OK, but I've never met the fuckin' guy myself. So I really can't say for certain that he's a thief and a liar.

[robinlynne]

127. Why doesn't the IRS audit him? that would not amke it public, but if there is a there there..

[DearAbby]

134. A HARVARD LAW Grad

would never ask a question, you don't already know the answer.