Bernie Sanders’s false claim that he has released his full federal tax returns

[TexasTowelie]

From The Washington Post:

-snip-

The Pinocchio Test

Plainly put, Sanders has not released his full federal tax return. The little he has released was the Form 1040 in 2014, which is a summary of his tax filing that gives a snapshot of his finances — not what is considered a full tax return. The Sanders campaign confirmed to The Washington Post that it has not released other tax returns prior to 2014, which is a sharp contrast to Clinton’s voluminous release of her complete tax returns.

Tapper correctly questioned Sanders, asking why “nobody has seen them {federal tax returns} at all.” Yet Sanders interrupted Tapper to reject the notion, insisting: “That is not true. Of course, we have released them in the past.” But this answer is nothing remotely close to the little federal tax records he has released to the public.

Sanders says there is nothing in his 2015 tax return that is different from what the public has “seen for the last many years.” This indicates he may have been referring to the information filed in his financial disclosures. But that’s not the same as a full federal tax return — and as a longtime member of Congress, Sanders should know that.

Sanders is not required to release his tax filings, and he clearly decided to keep them confidential. That’s his choice. But it doesn’t excuse him from misleading the public to believe otherwise with this false claim.

Four Pinocchios

The full article is at https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/04/05/bernie-sanderss-false-claim-that-he-has-released-his-full-federal-tax-returns/

[geek tragedy]

1. He's all hat no cattle on transparency nt

[riversedge]

11. Good one. Had not heard that one in a while. Well said for this issue.

[Human101948]

26. He should release his tax returns...

when Hillary releases those speech transcripts.

Neither, however, is required by law.

[geek tragedy]

30. No, taxes are a more important disclosure and have been released by every serious candidate.

Sanders himself thinks the transcripts are a bullshit issue:

In October, as they gathered at a hotel outside Las Vegas to prepare for the first Democratic debate, Mr. Sanders’s advisers urged him to challenge Mrs. Clinton over accepting $675,000 from Goldman Sachs for delivering three speeches, according to two Sanders advisers. They thought the speaking fees meshed with the senator’s message about Wall Street excess and a rigged America. But Mr. Sanders, hunched over a U-shaped conference table, rejected it as a personal attack on Mrs. Clinton’s income — the sort of character assault he has long opposed. She has the right to make money, he offered.

Throughout the fall, his team urged him to rethink that stand. The campaign’s internal polling and focus groups showed that Mrs. Clinton was vulnerable on the issue. And she was hitting him, especially on gun control. Yet he refused.

[Human101948]

33. I don't agree with Bernie on that issue...

I respect his opinion but I think it would be revealing to see what was said to those Wall Street audiences. Some here have said the speeches are just a bunch of political platitudes--nothing to be concerned about. If there is nothing negative, why should Hillary be worried?

[geek tragedy]

34. It's a bullshit issue and she's treating it that way

It's a Sanders campaign talking point

[Human101948]

35. Which is why the majority of Americans think Hillary is untrustworthy...

Pollster Trend

Unfavorable 54.5%
Favorable 40.6%

http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/hillary-clinton-favorable-rating

Does not bode well for the general election if the Republican manage to ditch Trump.

[geek tragedy]

36. People find simple lies more trustworthy than complex truths.

They thought George W Bush was more honest than Al Gore.

[Human101948]

43. Which is sad but true...

And no matter how much you bemoan it, Hillary's negatives are historic. I hope that it does not sink her in the general election.

[geek tragedy]

45. Against Trump or Cruz not an issue.

If they nominate Kasich we're probably screwed either way.

[pnwmom]

86. They think that because the rightwingers and their puppy-dog media has been TRAINING

them to think this way since the first Rose-Hill-WhiteWater-Vince-Foster-murder FAKE scandals.

[Human101948]

87. Absolutely, but that fact does not change the numbers...

and they are very negative.

[pnwmom]

92. His will be negative, too, once the RW start attacking him in the national press.

They have been holding their fire till now, but they'll have plenty.

And what they don't have, they'll make up -- just as they did with Obama and Clinton.

Clinton didn't murder Vince Foster. Obama wasn't born in Kenya. And Sanders isn't the Manchurian man.

But he would be by the time they were through with him.

[pangaia]

57. You got it figured out.

[fun n serious]

79. No one has ever been asked

to release transcripts of a speech. NEVER. Not Collin Powell, not Bush, no one.. I think it violates are privacy rights.. Taxes have been tradition for POTUS. Does he manage his money well? Does he have off shore bank accounts?

[Vinca]

2. Pssst . . . this was yesterday's slur du jour. You're behind the times.

[hereforthevoting]

6. It didn't take off as anticipated

Wonder what post WI will be?

[Snotcicles]

90. Sometimes you have to step over the same dollar twice to pick that penny up. nt

[TexasTowelie]

7. Pssst...

the article was published this morning.

[Vinca]

9. So old news is being parroted . . . did the order go out for a rerun?

[TexasTowelie]

15. It certainly has not been repeated as much as Bernie's stump speech.

[Vinca]

21. And Bernie's stump speech has even more validity this morning given the Panama revelations.

Can't wait to see who turns up on the American list.

[riversedge]

47. Pssst...I was working most of yesterday into the evening-missed this good post, so I apprecite it.

[merrily]

52. I give this Opening Post six Pinocchios, ten Gepettos and three umbrella steps.

Nowhere in that article did Sanders say he had released his tax returns.

The shet never stops.

[Hiraeth]

85. Jiminey Cricket, I think you've got it!!

[Amaril]

82. Actually, a couple posters........

.....have been trying to gain traction on this since last week.

I guess they figure if they post it enough times it will suddenly become the issue (deflection?) they want it to be.

[LexVegas]

3. A pattern of lies and falsehood from Sanders. Many of us are right in not trusting a word he says.nt

[hobbit709]

8. But you believe anything Hillary says no matter how much it was proven to be a lie.

[geek tragedy]

12. Clinton is much more transparent and is more honest on policy.

Sanders is a shameless pander bear who passes off applause lines as policies.

[hobbit709]

13. you are funny-NOT.

Transparency? where's the transcripts?

[geek tragedy]

20. Transcripts are an attack line dreamed up by Tad Devine

Even Bernie Sanders thinks it's bullshit.

No candidate for president has been expected to publish transcripts of private remarks.

Every serious candidate for president is expected to release their taxes.

Clinton has released a massive amount of her tax records.

Sanders is bullshitting and stonewalling.


Your guy is ALL TALK.

[hobbit709]

25. Yep. there's something in the air on Planet Hillary

[geek tragedy]

27. Sanders campaign said this to the NY Times

In October, as they gathered at a hotel outside Las Vegas to prepare for the first Democratic debate, Mr. Sanders’s advisers urged him to challenge Mrs. Clinton over accepting $675,000 from Goldman Sachs for delivering three speeches, according to two Sanders advisers. They thought the speaking fees meshed with the senator’s message about Wall Street excess and a rigged America. But Mr. Sanders, hunched over a U-shaped conference table, rejected it as a personal attack on Mrs. Clinton’s income — the sort of character assault he has long opposed. She has the right to make money, he offered.

Throughout the fall, his team urged him to rethink that stand. The campaign’s internal polling and focus groups showed that Mrs. Clinton was vulnerable on the issue. And she was hitting him, especially on gun control. Yet he refused.

Bullshit non-issue pushed by a bullshit campaign.

[merrily]

54. The only lie is the subject line of the OP. Sanders never said he released his full returns.

In fact, he said the opposite of what the headline of this thread claims.

But, hey, don't let reality stop you from smearing him.

[Fairgo]

4. Its getting difficult slogging through all of the pigeon guano

I just flush these days...

[azurnoir]

5. maybe the FBI should investigate?

[geek tragedy]

22. His tax preparer has been linked to financial fraud

so maybe.

[azurnoir]

37. oh so Tuesday is recycle day? sorry but that's already been taken to the trash

[geek tragedy]

39. And your snide FBI comments were totally not

a dog whistle.

[My Good Babushka]

10. If my choice is

between an incomplete tax return and a money laundering non-profit "foundation" like Clinton's, this is one time I will pick the lesser of two evils.

[jmg257]

14. Can someone explain this "1040 is just a summary" meme?

Our tax returns, called 1040s, are each 2 pages long.

It is a "full tax return", or am I missing something?

Form
1040 Department of the Treasury—Internal Revenue Service (99)
U.S. Individual Income Tax Return

Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
Annual income tax return filed by citizens or residents of the United States.

[TexasTowelie]

17. Most likely you are talking about either a 1040EZ or a 1040A.

A full tax return also includes the individual schedules that correspond to specific line items on the summary tax form.

[jmg257]

18. Ah - thank you! Cheers! nt

[azurnoir]

38. It falls along the lines as official birth certificate

[geek tragedy]

40. That is factually false.

A full tax return lists, among other things, what specific deductions against income were taken. Bernie didn't produce that.

[azurnoir]

41. depends on which form was used

[geek tragedy]

42. He submitted form 1040 and took $56,000 in deductions

So yeah not the complete return.

[azurnoir]

44. and the IRS accepted it? yes or no?

[geek tragedy]

46. Yes. But he hasn't disclosed those deductions.

That is information every candidate does release.

[azurnoir]

49. He disclosed them to the IRS

[pnwmom]

91. So? The IRS has till 2018 to conduct an audit. The IRS could issue a refund

on a return one year, and decide to audit the same return the following year -- and take back the refund.

Also, he got the 4 pinnochios (in WA Post's scale, that makes it a "whopper&quot , for saying he had made public the full returns. The IRS does not define a full return as the two page 1040 only. It requires all the pesky attachments to be a full return.

[azurnoir]

93. Capehart's employer says what? who cares

and if there ws something big the IRS wouldn't wait years, unless you're admitting if there's anything it's really small potato's

[dsc]

48. If you take deductions that require a worksheet

or have income which requires one, it isn't on the 1040, it is a separate thing.

[jmg257]

50. Gotcha - Thanks! Appreciate it! nt

[pnwmom]

88. It doesn't include schedules -- for example, miscellaneous DEDUCTIONS.

And according to his 1040, he had an unusual amount for his income.

In other words, it doesn't include any of the documentation or specifics that are normally attached to the 2-page 1040, depending on your answers.

[jmg257]

89. Cheers - thanks for the details! nt

[bigtree]

16. k&r

[CalvinballPro]

19. 4 Pinnochios for this, 3 for his last whopper. Dirty Bernie is finally being exposed.

And for all his groupies, THIS is what real vetting looks like. He's gotten of lightly these past few months, but if he's going to dish it, he better be able to take it.

And at this point, it's clear that he can't. One of these days, he's going to pop a blood vessel getting so angry at a challenging question, since he's so unfamiliar with hearing them.

[hobbit709]

24. What's in the air on Planet Hillary?

something evidently makes you believe impossible things before breakfast.

[CalvinballPro]

28. You don't get to back a candidate who thinks super-delegates will flip to him when he's trailing

and try to lecture anyone else about believing "impossible things before breakfast."

I can't even say "nice try" because that's such an obvious fail.

[hobbit709]

29. OOOH! I'm scared.

I'm done with you. Read the last part of my sig line.

[CalvinballPro]

59. The first part of the sig is funnier. See, I have family at Leavenworth, and seeing you whine about

"being threatened with" being assigned there makes me glad that my family doesn't have a stain like you guarding their backs.

[hobbit709]

62. It wasn't assigned I was threatened with.

A stain like me? I'm not sure I would have defended you and yours in 69-73 with that attitude.
So go commit an anatomically impossible act with yourself.

[CalvinballPro]

64. Is that supposed to make you look good somehow?

It's doubtful you could defend anything at this point. No wonder your commanding officers were threatening you with assignments instead of rewarding you.

[hobbit709]

67. What did you do in the war, daddy?

[CalvinballPro]

68. I certainly didn't get threatened with bad assignments, that's for sure.

I'd call you "Major Malcontent" but it's highly doubtful you advanced beyond "private" before the discharge.

[hobbit709]

69. you were probably related to my former CO, you got the same attitude.

He stood in front of us and stated he would sacrifice his wife and kids to further his career. That let me know where I was on that list. There was an IG investigation once-which I had nothing to do with-and they walked into his office after talking to everybody and asked if he knew that 75% of his men were ready to shot him if they got the chance? It's one thing when only termers like me hated him but when a E-9 with 25 years hates him for the same reasons there is obviously a problem.
And I made it to Sergeant and got an Honorable Discharge.

[CalvinballPro]

70. Of course you have someone convienent to blame for your actions.

People like you couldn't exist without scapegoats to let you off the hook. At this point, I have to wonder if every story you tell is just more projection about yourself.

[Smarmie Doofus]

23. He's just EEEEEVIIIIILLL !!!!!

[JaneyVee]

31. Even Mitt Romney released his tax returns.

[Trust Buster]

32. SANDERS IS SUCH A HYPOCRITE !!!!! This guy has been whining for months for Hillary

to release private transcripts yet he won't even release his tax returns which candidates "traditionally" release. Hillary has released her last "8 YEARS" worth of tax returns. How can Sanders supporters IGNORE this blatant hypocrisy ?

[Trust Buster]

72. How nice of you to decide what's an issue and what's a non-issue. Sanders made it an issue by

calling Hillary's transparency into account. Releasing tax returns is traditionally expected of candidates. Hillary has released 8 years of her returns. It's an issue, your hypocrisy aside.

[Trust Buster]

75. O.k., I apologize for the H-word. But, how can you hold Sanders' position vis a vis Hillary's

transcripts yet defend him for refusing to release what all candidates traditionally release ?

[mcar]

51. Not a lot of grey area here

You've either released them or you haven't.

[Thinkingabout]

53. Yes, try sending these two pages to the IRS, it will be returned as incomplete, the

Worksheets are required if one is taking deductions. Where is the law requiring release of transcripts, there isn't one. What is Sanders hiding?

[stone space]

56. We haven't done our taxes, yet.

If the 1040 isn't enough, we're in for some big headaches in the coming days.

Or maybe we should just be happy we don't pull in a Senator's salary.

[99Forever]

58. Another flat out lie from Hillary's liars.

Most dishonest campsign ever run in modern history. These people make Ted Cruse look honest.

[djean111]

61. I just completed a little online survey, and one of the questions was, given how this campaign

is being run, how did I feel about being a Democrat? from "proud" to "I don't identify as a Democrat".
The was Hillary and her campaign and her supporters have been acting, I am just in the "ashamed" categoy, and soon to be, perhaps, not identifying as a Democrat. They are using cheap and sleazy and dishonest tactics, and I don't want that in the White House.

[99Forever]

63. Hillary Clinton's campaign is at least as sleazy....

....and dirty anything thr GOP does. I hsve been an active Democrat for decades, that has ended. I will not be associated with such lowlife trash.

[NastyRiffraff]

73. Sooner or later you Sanders supporters

will have to face up to reality. Remember reality? Remember MATH? No? It'll hit you in the gut when he loses.

This is just the latest of Sanders' lies, misrepresentations, and hypocrisy. And the only response you have when it's pointed out, with documentation, is HILLARY LIES!!! LIES!!! Ted Cruz is better! So is Trump! So is ANYBODY!

I'm sick and tired of you all.

[Amaril]

84. Wow. Just wow. (n/t)

[Gothmog]

60. Sanders is not doing well on telling the truth lately

[BlueCaliDem]

65. He lied. Here's the proof:

http://www.taxhistory.org/www/website.nsf/Web/PresidentialTaxReturns?OpenDocument

Look, if you didn't release your complete IRS filing then own up to it. No sense in lying to a reporter who has the resources and who can easily fact-check you. It puts you in a bad light and seriously damages your credibility even as a politician!

[Trajan]

66. Well, Towelie ....

We've travelled the same path for many years here ... But now our roads shall be different ...

This is such weak sauce ... Such desperation it must be to try to make hay over such weak sauce ...

Wave Byebye ...

[liberal_at_heart]

71. Ah, first poster to go on my ignore list today. Congratulations.

[floriduck]

76. Let's trade his full returns for Hillarys GS transcripts. nm

[Maedhros]

77. Yep. You can excuse a vote for the IWR, support of the TPP, destruction of Libya based on lies,

yet you clutch your pearls over a tax return?

Nice priorities you've got there. Have to follow suit.

/ignore list.

[AgerolanAmerican]

78. Who cares?

He could have donated all his money to the Church of Satan and he'd still be a financial saint compared to his competition in both parties.

[fun n serious]

80. How do you know? nt

[AgerolanAmerican]

81. Psychic Friends Network

[synergie]

94. So is this deliberate dishonesty, or is he simply so incompetent that he just doesn't know?

[Bluenorthwest]

95. The Washington Post said 147 FBI Agents were investigating Hillary but they were just wrong

They also claimed those photos of Bernie protesting 50 years ago were not Bernie. But they were wrong. Washington Post has passed on rumor and innuendo about both Democratic candidates this year and any Democrat who buys into what they are up to is not my kind of Democrat.

Or are you saying they were right and Hillary is poised for indictment? What's your take on that? You believe known liars when their current patter serves your objectives? That's what it seems like.

[SunSeeker]

96. K & R for exposure. nt

[jfern]

97. Kasich and Cruz also just released 1040. Trump released nothing.

And Bernie has 26 years of financial disclosures released.