Best Time to Release Romney's Tax Returns

[patrick1]

Many Americans who are worth a fraction of a fraction of Romney's wealth pay a higher percentage than him in taxes. Even if he releases them, it could seriously blow right back up in his face.  I know the blue collar members of my family aren't exactly comforted that Mitt paid at least 13%.  It plays into the narrative that the wealthy have substantial benefits in this economy and Mittco. will make this playing field even more unbalanced.

[patrick1]

Many Americans who are worth a fraction of a fraction of Romney's wealth pay a higher percentage than him in taxes. Even if he releases them, it could seriously blow right back up in his face.  I know the blue collar members of my family aren't exactly comforted that Mitt paid at least 13%.

Over a quarter century, I'm sure Romney has paid literally millions and millions of dollars in both taxes and charitable contributions. Stressing aggregate taxes/charitable contributions would be effective if they release the dossier at once. Furthermore, it would be unprecedented to release so many tax returns, more than doubling the number of years his father provided and putting to rest the doubts about transparency. Plus, it would be scandalous for Harry Reid and other Democrats he is promoting for Senate.

Romney is being an idiot by not releasing them.  He would have had time to build these arguments and deflect the negative impressions of his tax record that continue to fester. It looks like he is hiding something, and this at least 13% business is the lead-not the aggregate. People who are struggling to pay their rent, mortgages or fill up the gas tank are wondering why Mitt gets to keep more of his money than them.

Taxes should be a winning Republican theme.  By being coy Mitt is hijacking a traditional winner of an issue.

[patrick1]

People who are struggling to pay their rent, mortgages or fill up the gas tank are wondering why Mitt gets to keep more of his money than them.

Maybe they should be wondering why they want four more years of the Obama Economy? They want four more years of the past four years? Really?

The change theme will only take hold if people think the alternative will do a better job. (see 2004).  You are right that this should be the theme but Romney is letting this tax issue stick around.  Thus, he is either being incredibly stupid or hiding something that can be used to sink him.  Perception and impressions are incredibly hard to overturn once they take root.

[patrick1]

People who are struggling to pay their rent, mortgages or fill up the gas tank are wondering why Mitt gets to keep more of his money than them.

Maybe they should be wondering why they want four more years of the Obama Economy? They want four more years of the past four years? Really?

The change theme will only take hold if people think the alternative will do a better job. (see 2004).

That will be the function of the debates, as was the case with Reagan in 1980.

People just need to know Romney is a safe alternative. Once that happens, and I think it will happen during the debates, it's lights out for Obama. There is no other result. Not with this economy. Not after these past four years. You said it yourself: Too many people are struggling. A recession is when your neighbor is out of work; a depression is when you are out of work. A heck of a lot of people, across every state, are in a recession or a depression.

Mitt will need to do more than the vague platitudes your throwing at me if the economy remains the same from now until Nov. 6  However, from his own advisers it looks like he is only going to offer up this.  He needs to get the tax thing behind him because the perception of the alternative will be that Mitt is just going to help out his corporate buddies.

Additionally, the more he and his wife talk about blind trusts, the more working class votes he is going to lose.