Republicans slam Sen. Reid over Romney tax claim

Sunday, August 5, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Republicans on Sunday accused Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of lying by passing along an anonymous claim that GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney hasn’t paid taxes for 10 years.

Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus called Reid a “dirty liar.” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said, “I think he’s lying about his statement of knowing something about Romney” and he contended Reid was “making things up to divert the campaign away from the real issues.”

Reid’s spokesman, Adam Jentleson, contended that Republicans were trying to cover up for Romney and the aide repeated the Nevada senator’s claims that the source about Romney’s taxes is “credible.” Other Democrats said Romney could clear up any confusion about his taxes by disclosing them to the public, and the issue was a main talking point on the Sunday news shows.

Reid said last week he had learned of the claim about Romney’s taxes from an investor in Romney’s former firm, Bain Capital. But the lawmaker hasn’t offered any evidence to back it up and even has said he’s not sure it’s true.

Romney, who has disclosed that he’s worth as much as $250 million, has said Reid’s claim isn’t true and that he’s paid “a lot of taxes.”

Romney’s 2010 federal tax return shows he paid 13.9 percent tax on income of $21.6 million. Most of Romney’s income came from investment gains, which are taxed at a lower rate than earned income.

The candidate has refused to release more than one year of personal tax returns, despite calls from Democrats and some Republicans to do so, saying his critics would distort the information and use it against him. He has promised to release a second year of returns.

Democrats have tried to make Romney’s personal wealth and how he’s managed it a key issue in the presidential contest. The former Massachusetts governor, who would be among the richest presidents ever elected, is aggressively competing with President Barack Obama for the support of middle-class voters.

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FussyOno 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Reid has stated the truth. Otherwise romney would have released his tax returns. Obama 2012.

spelchek 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Please tell me you're not a lawyer! Using your logic, Obama's Columbia transcript shows he registered as a foreign exchange student. It is truth, otherwise obama would have released his transcripts to prove his innocence.

newone 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Don't you know that if they don't hear it on FOX "news" than it can't possibly be true!! The man is a lier and a cheat and he is hiding something big or he would relase them, Grace..one word for you DESPERATE!! Bad grades do not even compair to not paying taxes for 10 years!

newone 9 months, 2 weeks ago

oh honey the only one in denial is you, Romney is a liar and a cheat and you don't want to see that or admit it but that is ok because it will come out, a lier and cheat can only lie and cheat for so long before he is found out and it will happen.

BubbaD 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Sure. That's the path to President of the Harvard Law Review. Sure.

JCLifer 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Snopes is proven to be a biased site, funded by Soros and other liberals.

JCLifer 9 months, 2 weeks ago

What lie did I tell?

JCLifer 9 months, 2 weeks ago

See! They do lie. Snopes cannot be trusted.

spelchek 9 months, 2 weeks ago

"or was that another lie from the man who would be president ?" -- You mean like Guantanamo? What's the matter Hank, only Democrat presidents can lie before coming POTUS?

newone 9 months, 2 weeks ago

He could put an end to all of this speculation in a matter of minutes if he would just produce the documents, every other presidential candidate has produced them, he is just making himself look very guilty of something.

asb 9 months, 2 weeks ago

The day he publishes his last ten years' tax returns, he's done. He has paid so little compared to those in this forum that it would prove how privileged and corrupt he is. He's betting the public doesn't care if he wants his privacy. He's wrong, he's running for the top job. He's scrued either way. BTW, I find Reid's tactic a bit too much, but compared to the smears from the FRight it's not so bad.

newone 9 months, 2 weeks ago

You are repeating yourself, you need help Graceful.

newone 9 months, 2 weeks ago

I will repeat myself again, if Romney did everything he should have he will produce his returns, he can end all of this specualation in a matter of minutes but of course he refuses, he is hiding something! It looks to me Romney is the one trying to scam people and it's working so far.

newone 9 months, 2 weeks ago

blah, blah, blah...Romeny can prove he is not a lier by showing his returns but he refuses, he can prove Reid is a lier by showing his tax returns but he refuses...hummm...wonder why???

BubbaD 9 months, 2 weeks ago

I suspect that Mitt's tax returns will reveal details that couple his income directly with: the suffering of Americans at companies that were bankrupted, parceled out in pieces, and sent overseas. Since he has failed to produce the documentation yet for his overseas holdings, there is also reason to suspect that Mitt may be off-shoring income. Sure, it may be done legally, but is it Presidential ?

BubbaD 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Just keep telling yourself that, if it keeps you even a little bit more calm. In the meantime, I'll choose what concerns me in a candidate. I can acknowledge why you disagree and your right to do so. That's something you can't say. You dismiss and denigrate any who disagree with you.

BubbaD 9 months, 2 weeks ago

If your tone isn't intentional or beyond your comprehension, then I have to be concerned for your clients.

asb 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Your tone is of a frothing pamphlet slinging Bircher warning the innocent of the approach of the apocolypse at the bidding of demons. I think you actually intend it to be that of an articulate reasoned conservative helping guide the hapless unwashed, but nope, it's nutso time in Graceland, brought to us all by FOX and Fiends. You DO denigrate all who disagree with you with dismissive and dehumanizing tone and actual words.

dokeus6 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Condescending. All knowing. Holier than Thou. Mother Mary in Control, Domineering Stranglehold, Sowing destructive seeds for the scavengers that feed.(Thank you Queensryhce for that phrase fits grace perfectly)

dokeus6 9 months, 2 weeks ago

You try to denigrate me all the time grace. You push my opinion down all the time by telling me I have a hidden agenda trying to persuade people with no evidence even though I back my assertions up with data and links to data.

BubbaD 9 months, 2 weeks ago

When you characterize opposing opinions as the product of "desperation, panic, envy and jealousy" then your dismissal of those opinions is denigration. In fact, that is literally one of the dictionary definitions of denigrate: "to deny the importance or validity of".

spelchek 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Your the kid standing under the kool aid cooler with his mouth covering the spigot. You are distracted from reality, get back on track. We have a tanking economy and a debt enormous enough to break us all. I trust the former Governor and successful business man more than I do a community organizer who's made all his paychecks off tax payers hard work. Think about it. When I vote, I don't usually vote for RINO's, but when I do, I vote Romney.

spelchek 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Shhhhhhhhh, only our side uses common sense.

newone 9 months, 2 weeks ago

I think people are starting to catch on to Mr Romney and his lies!! And we have 4 months left!

"The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows President Obama attracting 46% of the vote, while Mitt Romney earns support from 45%. Five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided.

This is the first time the president has led on back-to-back days since late June."

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