Harry Reid: My Source On Romney’s Taxes Is A Republican (updated)

[cleduc]

73. Further to that

Huntsman's daughter wrote two articles recently (and probably previously posted):

Mitt Romney Never Thought He'd Have To Release Tax Returns: Bain Sources
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/18/mitt-romney-tax-returns_n_1682539.html

Mitt Romney has been determined to resist releasing his tax returns at least since his bid for Massachusetts governor in 2002 and has been confident that he will never be forced to do so, several current and former Bain executives tell The Huffington Post. Had he thought otherwise, say the sources based on their longtime understanding of Romney, he never would have gone forward with his run for president.

Romney's Tax Returns Could Cost Him the Election
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/abby-huntsman/mitt-romney-tax-returns_b_1675711.html

If one has nothing to hide, why not release a set of comprehensive records (Romney reportedly, after all, provided the McCain campaign with 20+ years of returns when being vetted for VP)? The answer is simple -- he must have something to hide.

Could he actually be worth more than is being estimated under federal disclosure filings (currently ~$190-250 million)? Has putting money in offshore accounts in some way lowered the amount of taxes he's had to pay (according to his campaign, the answer is no)? Or, is there significant income from Bain that was earned after his departure in 1999 (when Romney claims to have not been involved in Bain's investment decisions)? And lastly, was a deal stuck with fellow Bain partners that Romney could never disclose certain information about the firm and its income (since Bain remains a private company)?

It's difficult to know, but one thing is evident -- Romney and his campaign would only weather the current storm if the alternative of releasing additional information about his taxes were even worse than the present. In fact, according to people close to the situation, Romney would drop out of the presidential race before ever releasing further tax returns. It does seem a bit ironic, that a man whose father was one of the champions of transparency with regards to a candidate's finances is now the most blatant offender in modern presidential politics. Even more ironic, is that in general any member of Romney's potential Cabinet (or political appointee confirmed by the Senate) would be required to submit at least three years of tax returns. It seems very strange that the most senior member of the Executive branch wouldn't be held to the same standard.

So Huntsman's daughter also has multiple Bain sources and whacked Mitt pretty hard using them in those two articles.

(again, speculation on my part here but the number of Reid-Bain-Huntsman-Romney links is kind of remarkable)