Pelosi: I'll release my tax returns when I run for president

[cal04]

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/238969-pelosi-ill-release-my-tax-returns-when-i-run-for-president-

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pushed back hard Thursday against the notion that congressional leaders should release their tax returns, saying the standard applies only to presidential candidates.

"When I run for president of the United States, you can hold me to that standard," Pelosi told reporters in the Capitol.

(snip)
Pelosi on Thursday chastised the media for focusing on the tax-return issue instead of jobs, while arguing it was Republicans who were calling the most loudly for Romney to release more of his tax returns.

"Let's not be silly," she said. "This person (Romney) is running for president of the United States. His party is calling on him to release his returns. It's up to him to take the consequences of not doing it, or doing it, but not to deflect (the issue) to say, 'Well, if he has to do it, why doesn't everybody else have to do it?' Because everybody else isn't running for president of the United States, and that's the last thing I'm going to say about it."

[bigwillq]

1. I disagree with her

All elected officials should release.

[Dokkie]

5. +1000

All federally elected officials and their spouses should release their tax returns. Pelosi is third in line to the office so god forbid the President and VP die in a place crash, she is will become POTUS. Release you tax return woman

[madokie]

12. Boner is 3rd

[11 Bravo]

28. Ummm, the Minority Leader of the House is not in the Presidential line of succession.

[_ed_]

2. Completely disagree

This makes her look like a giant hypocrite. The Speaker is third in line for the Presidency, and office she just held until 2010.

[Le Taz Hot]

3. I got pelted pretty hard yesterday

for posting an article illustrating the hypocrisy. Not being a lock-step third-wayer I knew this was going to happen but take a look at all the apologists in the responses.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014170821

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. It was, as you said, just your opinion

but, by calling others "apologists" and "lock-step third-wayers", you've taken this up a notch, to making it personal against other DUers.

The point, which you either can't grasp or are avoiding, is that there is a norm - those running for, or in, Congress release the details of their income that are required. So we know that Pelosi's net worth in 2010 was $35 million; and you can get an idea of her income in 2011. Presidential candidates release more than one year's tax return (plus an estimate for 2011) - hence the criticism of Romney.

So, where the hell do you, who are defending a false position of "both sides do it", get off calling other DUers "third wayers"? Your position stinks.

[Le Taz Hot]

9. I answered all of this yesterday.

To deny that there are apologists and third wayers on this board is disingenuous to say the least. It's actually ENCOURAGED.

I (and others) point out hypocrisy and it just pisses the shit out of the apologists -- you know the ones (you should) -- the ones who justify things like drones and torture because it's the Democrats advocating for it. I'm not going to STFU (as one of your buddies so delicately put it). I'm an opinionated, mouthy-assed broad and you can huff and puff all you want. You're not going to shut me up and better people than you and that silly little cowardly DU cyber wolf pack have tried for 11 years now so far with no avail. Any questions read my sig line. That should give you a clue.

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. You're the apologist and third wayer

You are trying to justify Romney's position; you are the one saying "both sides do it".

We don't encourage your type here.

The is Democratic Underground. Take your Republican talking points elsewhere.

[dionysus]

7. maybe you got pelted because you're bizarrely trying to make this an attack on dems.

who needs "dems" like you, who campaing against their own party and call mainstream democrats "apologists" and "third way locksteppers"?

[Le Taz Hot]

11. I was a "Dem"

from 1973 to 2004 then they lost me with the third-way shit. In order to continue to be a Democrat I would have had to have sold my soul and look the other way while atrocities were being committed in my name and I'm not willing to do that.

It's funny that you guys can (try and) rip apart anyone who doesn't goosestep to the party line but the first time someone, in the smallest way, points out your hypocrisy, you cry foul. Fuck that shit. Right is right and wrong is wrong

[madokie]

13. I thought this was a democratic message board

If you're no longer a Dem maybe you should re think your reason to be here. Just sayin

[dionysus]

15. it is, but maybe 5 or 10 people are trying their best to make it otherwise.

[Le Taz Hot]

16. Then you would be wrong.

Just sayin'

[dionysus]

23. .

[madokie]

27. ask skinner

see what he says

[dionysus]

14. i'm pointing out you're a third party advocate campaigning against dems on DU, consistently.

in fact you seem to spend more energy slagging dems than you ever do fighting the GOP. why don't you go hang out at one of those loser third party forums?

the treebaggers would like you.

[Le Taz Hot]

17. I've never once advocated third-party candidates on this board

and I challenge you to prove that I have. Now I'm a treebagger? LOL!

[dionysus]

19. you don't have to specifically say it when you're crying about how bad the dems are 24/7.

you know you can't explicitly campaign for third parties here so all you do is trash dems instead. your intent is fairly clear; to slag dem pols and insult their supporters with little nazi innuendos.


and i didn't say you're a treebagger, i said you'd like it over there.

[Arkana]

20. Does your outrage keep you warm at night? You know, like a blanket?

You guys sure love bitching and moaning but the minute it comes time to find solutions, you fall mysteriously silent--perking up only to complain some more about how you don't like the current proposal.

And Nancy Pelosi isn't and has not EVER sought the office of the Presidency. If she is ever elevated to the Oval Office, then I'll ask to see her tax returns. Until then, only the people of her district have cause to see them.

[ProSense]

4. I agree with her.

This is a distraction from Romney's predicament. Pelosi isn't running for President.

I mean, there are 535 members of Congress who are required by law to file disclosures.

When Boehner, Cantor, Issa and the other Republicans agree to and release their tax returns, then I'll call Pelosi a hypocrite.

[Lizzie Poppet]

8. Bad call.

While not the presidency, the position of Minority Leader is hardly obscure and hardly powerless. It's not unreasonable that people would want to know if there's reason to believe a person in that position (or, perhaps, any congressperson) is just another corporate sock puppet. tax returns provide some insight into that, along with campaign contribution records, etc.

[lame54]

10. they only want to know to take the heat off Romney...

they are completely on the defensive -- why would we give them a way to get back on top?

it's never been a topic of discussion before - and now we are going to let them control the dialogue?
that's crazy

[Lizzie Poppet]

18. Agreed.

Another good reason for Pelosi and other Congresspersons on our side to simply say, "Sure...here you go" to those requests. It yanks a talking point (that is, distraction) out from under the feet of the right. Unless, of course, they really do have something to hide...but if that's the case, then they deserve what's coming to them.

[Arkana]

21. Bingo.

The issue of whether or not Congressional leaders should release their tax returns is a separate fight.

Right now, Romney is using them as a cheap excuse to get out of showing us his. It's not going to work--and we shouldn't allow it to work in the interest of "fairness".

[pinboy3niner]

24. Fuck that and GO NANCY!

[malthaussen]

25. I don't know why it became the convention to release tax returns

And I certainly don't understand it, nor do I approve of it. What does it prove? Why is it our business? I find it incredible that we insist candidates disclose their taxes, but allow campaign donations to be anonymous.

But since it is the convention, the candidate has little ground to stand on if he chooses to ignore it.

-- Mal

[Kalidurga]

26. This wasn't even an issue until Romney deflected to it.

Maybe it is something we should have expected that people running for congress show their records. But, on the other hand I am not sure I like that idea. It seems that some people would opt out of running for any office if they had to show their returns, some because they are embarrassed by stretches of unemployment or what not. We really don't need anymore barriers for the non-elite to jump through to participate in government.