Obama Campaign Offer of Truce on Romney Tax Returns Rejected

Romney Tear down that wallRomney claims he has paid at least 13% the last ten years, however, we are left guessing at the truth as he refuses to release even one full year of returns.  On Friday, Obama for America Campaign Manager Jim Messina sent a letter to the Romney Campaign’s Matt Rhoades offering to back off on their calls for the release of additional years of returns if he agrees to disclose five years of tax information.  The Romney campaign refused saying that to give in to the Obama Campaign’s demand would redirect the campaign into what they characterize as “trifling personal issues”.

In the letter, Messina wrote:

“I am writing to ask again that the Governor release multiple years of tax returns, but also to make an offer that should address his concerns about the additional disclosures. Governor Romney apparently fears that the more he offers, the more our campaign will demand that he provide. So I am prepared to provide assurances on just that point: if the Governor will release five years of returns, I commit in turn that we will not criticize him for not releasing more–neither in ads nor in other public communications or commentary for the rest of the campaign.

“This request for the release of five years, covering the complete returns for 2007-2012, is surely not unreasonable. Other Presidential candidates have released more, including the Governor’s father who provided 12 years of returns.  In the Governor’s case, a five year release would appropriately span all the years that he has been a candidate for President.  It would also help answer outstanding questions raised by the one return he has released to date, such as the range in the effective rates paid, the foreign accounts maintained, the foreign investments made, and the types of tax shelters used.

“To provide these five years, the Governor would have to release only three more sets of returns in addition to the 2010 return he has released and the 2011 return he has pledged to provide.  And, I repeat, the Governor and his campaign can expect in return that we will refrain from questioning whether he has released enough or pressing for more.” SOURCE

Samuel Warde
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