PUBLIC OPINION > Liberals Want to See Romney's Tax Returns, Conservatives Think It's Just a Distraction
SodaHead News
2012/08/07 22:00:00
No presidential election is complete without its share of drama. Each candidate will be faced with the ghosts of their past -- some real, and some imagined. Right now, Mitt Romney's tax returns are holding the public's attention. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid claims he heard from a "reputable source" that Romney didn't pay taxes for a decade. Romney has already released some of his returns, but there's still a gap in the record. We asked the public if Romney should release more records.
We were hoping for some consensus, but no such luck. Responses were split down the middle, and can you guess what the determining factor was? But first, we wanted to call attention to an interesting argument mentioned in the Top Opinion: "We have it from a very reliable source that Harry Reid is a pedophile." This is a very popular response calling attention to the similarities between Reid's "reputable source" and tabloid rumors. Now, let's get to the stats.
All Politics
Naturally, the biggest difference between people who think Romney should release his tax returns and those who think it's a distraction is their political alignment. Most liberals want to see them, and most conservatives don't. That suggests the shoe would be on the other foot if the parties were reversed.
Big Money, Blind Eye
There was also a correlation between income and response, but there are a couple of issues with that. First of all, income typically correlates with political alignment, meaning the relation between income and response could be directly caused by politics. But it should also come as no surprise that well-off respondents are more likely to call it a distraction.
Young and Suspicious
Another factor that could have affected the income correlation is the age breakdown. Younger respondents were much more likely to want to see Romney's returns. Again, age and politics often line up, so all three of these demographics are probably somewhat linked. Young, left-leaning people with smaller incomes want to make sure Romney is playing fair.
If you'd like to vote on this question, dig deeper into the demographics, or engage in existing discussion about the topic, visit our poll on Mitt Romney's tax returns. We'd love to hear from you!
Top Opinion
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PAUL F 2012/08/07 22:37:51
+17I like the idea that Obama needs to show his High School and collage transcripts! As well as his bar exam test scores! This man is suppose to be a scholar! Producing his applications and documentation on the subjects Obama has hear say about is fair game! So, I say to all you communist out there! If you want to see 10 years of tax returns then we want to see proof of his education! Not just a diploma but TRANSCRIPTS!!!! If not, this is a dead issue!
Let me remind some people who believe that it is a distraction....What is weird is that a lot of you weren't even born before that time!
But here goes, Geraldine Ferraro, yeah, remember her, she ran as Mondale's VP back in the 80's...The Reichties haunted, harassed and so forth for her to show her tax returns....It was bad!...But now, the Reichties don't believe that their candidate should have to show his tax returns....Isn't that just dandy, why is that?...Well, the only conclusion I come up with is because Robmney is a Man, not only a Man, but a Millionaire.....
Now, everyone is saying it is a distraction, no, the only distraction is that Robmney isn't showing his tax returns.....Why not?...Unless of course he is hiding something.....
Oh btw Reichties, where are those WMD's????
Where is the 12 Billion Taxpayers Dollars that Chithead Jr. sent to Iraq and lost?????
But Obama released 12 years of tax returns.
While Romney absolutely refuses.
Basically what we have here is a man who claims to be financial Wizard, but who will not let us see how he handles his own finances.
That doesn't make Mitt Romney very credible does it?
His refusal to release his tax records puts his character in question, and it puts his claims of financial mastery or even his financial competency into question.
And STILL, he refuses to release his tax records, which can only mean that whatever he is hiding would absolutely sink him as a candidate if the nation found out about it.
An American citizen would have to be a fool to vote for Mitt Romney.
All of you Ofraud supporters should be arrested and prosecuted for aiding and abetting and obstructing justice.
Since Oblunder has spent millions on sealing his college records, & everything else that could give some great info, like Passports, why not trade Obumbo's sealed college records, etc, for Romney's tax returns? I think it'd be a great trade! & why not!
Why has Obama spent millions to seal all his personal records? Usually people do that when they have a police record. Just what IS he hiding?
Why isn't the biased left liberal media spouting off about this? It's obviously a huge story!
It's really disgusting that the President is using "gutter politics", but then that's the Chicago style. Shame on him-& he's doing what he does best-blame everybody else.
The answer is 2!!! If that is too far back to matter, then WTF would you care about Obama's records from 30 years ago???
And I fail to see how his college records are germane to the current election.
However, as a future president, who will have an intergral role in setting tax policy, I think Romney's tax records are relevant.
One more question, If Romney isn't embarrased about paying 13.9 percent in taxes... what has him so embarrased that he won't release further tax returns?
Heck, if Romney is telling the truth, he could just release his tax returns and make Harry Reid look like an idiot... Do you wonder what he is hiding? I do.
It would also show from his records, his true birthplace. He also lied on his bar exam. He's not a trustworthy person, & should never have been allowed to be President.
He had to by force, forfeit his licence to practice law-so did Michele. These are not the kind of people to run america.
Romney & Ryan have INTEGRITY-It is what America needs.
Since, it is a fairly straightforward concession, for candidacy... One has to question why giving Obama, a way to distract from his failed economic policies, makes strategic sense?
Clearly, Romney continues to demonstrate a lack of skill necessary to lead America.
Now, it appears that we have to candidates who only provide rhetoric, regarding transparency.
16 trillion dollars in debt, and escalating! The largest debtor nation in the world. Thanks DNC/RNC for your debasement of our nation.
Of course, since both Obama and Romney are Big government, corporatism/cronyism, welfare/warfare advocates... America would best be served if they both lost.
Lets see them first.
1)Lael Brainard, nominee for Treasury Undersecretary of International Affairs:, Brainard "was late in paying real estate taxes in 2005, 2006 and 2007. A report by the staff of the Senate Finance Committee, which is overseeing her confirmation, also challenged the accuracy of a home office deduction Brainard. The challenge led Brainard to reduce the deduction on her 2008 return, says ALG. The AP also reports Brainard was evidently not forthcoming to the committee: "The committee's top Republican is unhappy that the committee staff had to submit 10 sets of questions to Brainard before getting complete information about the discrepancies."
2)Capricia Marshall, Chief of protocol for the State Department, a position that carries the status of an ambassadorship – Marshall failed to file taxes in2005 &2006
3)Kathleen Sebelius, secretary, Health and Human Services: The former governor of Kansas amended three years' worth of tax returns to correct "unintentional errors," paying back taxes and interest totaling just under $8,000.
4)Ron Kirk, Trade Representative: The former mayor of Dallas, Tex. owed nearly $10,000 in back taxes for 2005, 2006 and 2007; ...
1)Lael Brainard, nominee for Treasury Undersecretary of International Affairs:, Brainard "was late in paying real estate taxes in 2005, 2006 and 2007. A report by the staff of the Senate Finance Committee, which is overseeing her confirmation, also challenged the accuracy of a home office deduction Brainard. The challenge led Brainard to reduce the deduction on her 2008 return, says ALG. The AP also reports Brainard was evidently not forthcoming to the committee: "The committee's top Republican is unhappy that the committee staff had to submit 10 sets of questions to Brainard before getting complete information about the discrepancies."
2)Capricia Marshall, Chief of protocol for the State Department, a position that carries the status of an ambassadorship – Marshall failed to file taxes in2005 &2006
3)Kathleen Sebelius, secretary, Health and Human Services: The former governor of Kansas amended three years' worth of tax returns to correct "unintentional errors," paying back taxes and interest totaling just under $8,000.
4)Ron Kirk, Trade Representative: The former mayor of Dallas, Tex. owed nearly $10,000 in back taxes for 2005, 2006 and 2007; filed an amended return after the Finance Committee noted the discrepancies.
5)Caroline Atkinson, Treasury Undersecretary of International Affairs (same job Brainard is going for): "Caroline Atkinson, was told she had to withdraw after a 'tax problem' was revealed early in the vetting process, according to officials,” reports the ABC News blog.
6)Tom Daschle, nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services: Failed to pay taxes on more than $300,000 worth of income he gained through consulting work, including the taxfree use of a car and driver for several years.
7)Nancy Killefer, nominee, Administration's Chief Performance Officer: Withdrew after Killefer was found to have failed to pay employment taxes for household help.
8)Hilda Solis, Secretary of Labor: Husband had unpaid tax liens against his business in Los Angeles county; in all, 16 state and county tax liens amounting to $11,640.
9)Timothy Geithner, Secretary of the Treasury :Extent of tax problems longer than previously known. Geithner didn't pay Social Security and Medicare taxes while he worked for the International Monetary Fund between 2001 and 2004. As an American citizen working for the IMF, Mr. Geithner was technically considered self-employed and was required to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes for himself as both an employer and an employee, reports the Wall Street Journal. In 2006, the IRS audited Mr. Geithner's 2003 and 2004 taxes and concluded he owed taxes and interest totaling $17,230, according to documents released by the Senate Financeommittee. The IRS waived the related penalties, the Journalreports.