Obama releases tax returns; Clinton's returns still MIA

[Iowa_Card]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/25/obama.tax.returns/index.html

[kah]

John McCain's are MIA too. But doubtless nobody will say anything about that.

[210]

Only mental midgets care about the tax returns of candidates.

[Bleacher Creature]

Only mental midgets care about the tax returns of candidates.

I have yet to understand why this is so important.

[madyaks]

I have yet to understand why this is so important.

I am not saying I do, but it got started when she loaned her campaign 5 million bucks. Someone thought about the one big money raiser she had that got convicted of something and they wondered if any of her personal wealth came from shady places.
I don't think there would have been anything more to it if she had just released them, it's only a big issue because she refused to.
And then her BS about "well I will have to sit down and get it all together when I have a chance, I am kinda busy you know." She doesn't do her own fucking taxes, he pays someone to have that shit ready and it should have taken very little time.

Again I am not saying there is a single thing in there, but she is the one who has made it an issue.

[kjoe]

Nothing wrong with the Clintons being wealthy and having wealthy friends.

But some transparency is needed with issues like the cause and effect of lobbyists' influence being debated.

NBC: Bill Clinton's Controversial Uranium Deal In Kazakhstan

Over the last decade, former President Bill Clinton has raised more than $500 million for his foundation, allowing him to build a glass-and-steel presidential library in Little Rock, Ark., and burnish his image as an impresario of global philanthropy. The foundation has closely guarded the identities of its donors — including one who gave $31.3 million last year.


In Charity and Politics, Clinton Donors Overlap

By DON VAN NATTA Jr., JO BECKER and MIKE McINTIRE
An examination of the William J. Clinton Foundation shows how its fund-raising has fostered potential conflict.
December 20, 2007U.S.News

For Clintons, Delicate Dance of Married and Public Lives

By PATRICK HEALY
Since leaving the White House, the Clintons have built largely separate lives around their distinct career paths.
May 23, 2006N.Y. / RegionNews

[King]

Nothing wrong with the Clintons being wealthy and having wealthy friends.

Indeed. No more quaint bullshit like public service, civic duty, and all that.

Today's politicians are in it to get fabulously wealthy. Nothing wrong with that, duh.

Bob Dole, the Clintons, Charlie Rangel, it's a an equal opportunity path from shakedown to riches.

[Reggie Cleveland]

Indeed. No more quaint bullshit like public service, civic duty, and all that.

Today's politicians are in it to get fabulously wealthy. Nothing wrong with that, duh.

Bob Dole, the Clintons, Charlie Rangel, it's a an equal opportunity path from shakedown to riches.

That's so like you.

[ppg shg]

Indeed. No more quaint bullshit like public service, civic duty, and all that.

Today's politicians are in it to get fabulously wealthy. Nothing wrong with that, duh.

Bob Dole, the Clintons, Charlie Rangel, it's a an equal opportunity path from shakedown to riches.

That's quite a group. Hey let's find the black Korean war veteran and throw him in there too!

[King]

That's quite a group. Hey let's find the black Korean war veteran and throw him in there too!

Rangel covered for the blacks and Dole covered for the veterans (not Korea, but what does it matter).

Personal Wealth Creation for the Political Class is a big tent - any personal characteristic that will help mute scrutiny or criticism is encouraged (e.g. "how could you say such a thing about _________, he's/she's our friend and looking out for our best interests...").

"The Shakedown Club!"

It's gotta good ring to it, no?

Keep dreamin, counselor. You look so cute playing the part.

[El Establishment 1]

I think it is important and has always been important.

Would you not like to see the tax returns of those who consistently hammer on big business and interest groups?

There is a reason the Clintons won't release it. She got paid by someone they don't want the public to know about.

[Moon Man]

I think it is important and has always been important.

Would you not like to see the tax returns of those who consistently hammer on big business and interest groups?

There is a reason the Clintons won't release it. She got paid by someone they don't want the public to know about.

I'd agree with this. I think it's more about the willingness to disclose, than the specifics in the return.

Moon

[ppg shg]

I think it is important and has always been important.

Would you not like to see the tax returns of those who consistently hammer on big business and interest groups?

There is a reason the Clintons won't release it. She got paid by someone they don't want the public to know about.

True story.

[kjoe]

It could be one of those "if I release it at the last possible moment, close to the PA election, and some of my smart-assed critics make a big deal out of one or two missing pieces of information, which I clear up the day before the election, it will look like they are piling on, and I will get a 5 or 6 point bump in sympathy votes." deals.

Time the release for maximum outrage at the criticsm when you can say---"see---there is nothing there."

Or not. El Birdo's scenario seems more likely to me.