National Review, Rick Perry, others call on Romney to release tax returns; Updated
http://twitter.com/#!/NRO/status/225336020915335170
In a new piece, National Review Online’s editors suggest that Mitt Romney nip the tax questions in the bud and release his returns:
Romney protests that he is not legally obliged to release any tax returns. Of course not. He is no longer in the realm of the private sector, though, where he can comply with the letter of the law with the Securities and Exchange Commission and leave it at that. Perceptions matter.
Romney may feel impatience with requirements that the political culture imposes on a presidential candidate that he feels are pointless (and inconvenient). But he’s a politician running for the highest office in the land, and his current posture is probably unsustainable. In all likelihood, he won’t be able to maintain a position that looks secretive and is a departure from campaign conventions. The only question is whether he releases more returns now, or later — after playing more defense on the issue and sustaining more hits. There will surely be a press feeding frenzy over new returns, but better to weather it in the middle of July.
If he releases more returns, Romney will be in a better position to resist the inevitable demands for even more disclosures. More important, he will be in a better position to pivot his campaign to what should be its focus — telling a story, through a series of detailed, substantive speeches, about where he wants to take the country. It is to President Obama’s advantage to fight the election out over tactics and minutiae. By drawing out the argument over the returns, Romney is playing into the president’s hands. He should release them, respond to any attacks they bring, and move on.
ThinkProgress has published a list of other prominent Republicans (including — *cough* — David Frum of No Labels fame) asking Mitt to bite the bullet.
It seems Rick Perry, Texas governor and former contender for the Republican presidential nomination, has also joined the fray.
UPDATE: Texas Governor Rick Perry calls on Romney to release his tax returns http://t.co/h5WBE3Ii
— ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) July 17, 2012
From The Associated Press:
Perry said anyone running for office should make public as much personal information as possible to help voters decide.
Perry has released his tax returns dating to 1992.
Will Romney buckle under increasing pressure from both sides? Time will tell. But you can count on Twitchy to keep you posted.
***
Update:
Hmmm …
Team Perry disputing AP reporting on tax returns… Stay tuned.
— Carrie Dann (@CarrieNBCNews) July 17, 2012
Gov. Perry made no mention or hint that he was talking about Romney, yet the @AP and @jmartpolitico reported different.
— Ali A. Akbar (@ali) July 17, 2012
From The Statesman in Austin:
Gov. Rick Perry held a rare Austin press conference today in which he hit President Barack Obama on a few points that ranged from economics, to college transcripts, to Medicaid.
…
Perry also deflected a question about Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee, not releasing a full folder of tax records. Perry criticized Obama for not releasing his college and law school grades.
The AP has updated its earlier story, now saying Perry was calling for transparency from all candidates, and not specifically from Romney:
AP tweaks Perry story: "Corrects to show that Perry calls for transparency for all candidates, not that he does specifically for Romney"
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) July 17, 2012
New AP: AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas Gov. Rick Perry, weighing in on whether Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney…
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) July 17, 2012
"…should release more tax returns, says he believes all candidates should be as transparent as possible when it comes to tax returns…"
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) July 17, 2012
From the AP’s new version:
In remarks to reporters Tuesday, Perry didn’t specifically call on Romney to release more tax returns. But Perry said that anyone running for office should give people what he called “backgrounds,” including tax returns, if asked and if the requests are within reason.
Funny how a few sentences can change a story completely. Slick move, AP.
Meanwhile, we’re still waiting for MSM-ers and their lackeys to tweet out corrections of their own:
Breaking: Texas Gov. Rick Perry now calling on Mitt to release tax returns http://t.co/jk9n1FQn
— Ed Schultz (@edshow) July 17, 2012
#edshow tonight… Sununu & Beyond: can @MittRomney taxes stay under wraps after @GovernorPerry and @NRO call for their release?
— Ed Schultz (@edshow) July 17, 2012
Rick Perry: Romney should be ‘as transparent as you can be’ about tax returns http://t.co/RMf7qfh7
— Post Politics (@postpolitics) July 17, 2012
Perry spox: More tax returns "a decision Mitt Romney will have to make" http://t.co/Lp3Ge2hl
— Talking Points Memo (@TPM) July 17, 2012
Rick Perry to Romney: Release more tax returns http://t.co/E6bk36Cu
— Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) July 17, 2012
We’ve got time. The truth is worth the wait.
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