So why hasn't John McCain called Harry Reid a liar?

[mucifer]

He saw the tax returns.

He said Harry Reid should show the proof but he didn't say it was a lie. He said Reid has erratic behavior.

McCain saw the tax returns. He never said Reid lied.

Video Here:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2012/08/02/ac-mccain-harry-reid-romney-taxes.cnn

[KaryninMiami]

1. I know- it would certainly quiet things down for a while-

All he would have to say is "My campaign reviewed the returns and it is not true- Romney did in fact pay taxes during the past 10 years". He wouldn't even have to elaborate- just that statement alone would be ample to calm down the rhetoric. We could still press forward and demand to see them of course (which I doubt would make any difference), and questioning the billions in loopholes he and other billionaires are getting will still be a big issue- but the 10 years without paying any tax assertion would be put to rest for a while. So yes- something is bizarre here- guess there really might be some truth to Harry's accusation (no surprise- I don't think he'd go this far out on a limb if he didn't have his facts in place). I also suspect that the Dems have more info on Romney which they are saving for after the convention.

It is a mystery indeed- and interesting that no one has called McCain out on this more aggressively (except for those stating "after seeing Romney's returns, McCain picked Palin&quot .

[NYC Liberal]

4. I disagree that it would calm things down. It would raise the question:

"McCain says his Romney's returns are totally clean. But if that's really true, why hasn't he released them?"

McCain potentially comes away looking like he's lying if Romney still refuses to release anything.

[BlueStreak]

2. Because Romney (presumably) has seen the tax returns

Another thought entered my mind. I wonder if Romney is concerned his returns, while not being illegal, might indicate connections with organized crime. Probably not "The Mafia" per se, but he very possibly could be involved with mobsters from Central America, as they helped fund Bain.

[ThomThom]

5. Iran

[BlueStreak]

6. That would be a problem

Both for Americans as well as for the Israelis he wanting to be chummy with.

If there are Iranian connections, I'd think there would be a different way for the Obama campaign to get that out into the open, but the ideal timing for that is late August, early September.

The ideal timing for EVERYTHING is late August, early September, so we are likely to see a lot of developments starting in the next week or 2.

[rocktivity]

3. Did Anderson by any chance ask the obvious followup question?

"YOU saw Romney's tax returns when you vetted him for VP in 2008 -- did they have anything to do with the reason why he was not chosen?"




rockivity

[cr8tvlde]

7. Even if McCain knows even though I doubt he actually saw them,

23 years worth??? That's what campaign staff are for. He cannot legally comment in any way other than he did.

[TeamPooka]

11. then he saw a summary

[bklyncowgirl]

8. Maybe McCain is Harry Reid's anonymous source.

He's known to dislike Romney but he couldn't do anything without totally rupturing his status in the party.

[MADem]

9. Because he's probably one of Reid's sources on this matter. nt

[HopeHoops]

10. Because he knows Reid is correct.