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We have no way of knowing just yet whether Ann Romney’s explanation in an interview of her husband’s refusal to release tax returns was just her own effort to get past a difficult question, or represents the Final Word from the campaign. If it’s the latter, you gotta admit it’s pretty damn bold, suggesting that Mitt’s finances—not just his tax returns, but his wealth generally—are a private family matter on which the news media and the American people are strictly on a need-to-know basis. And all they need to know is that the Romneys tithe (and no tither has ever, ever been dishonest about money, right?) and that Mitt turned down a governor’s salary in Massachusetts that probably represented a rounding error in his investment income.
This talking-point would barely pass the smell-test even if Mitt had always resolutely treated his “success” (as measured by his fabulous wealth) as irrelevant to the presidential campaign, instead of being the primary reason Americans should entrust him with the presidency, even if he won’t much talk about what he would do in that office beyond killing ObamaCare and inspiring confidence in every direction.
You have to wonder if in future Mitt is going to “outsource” all questions about his finances to his wife, and then object that anyone who complains about it is engaging in personal attacks on his family. That tactic would certainly be consistent with his general habit of expressing outrage when critics look at his biography or his tax-and-budget plans and suggest things just don’t add up.
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rick on July 19, 2012 12:34 PM:
Using this insultingly lame excuse, Obama's country of birth, college transcripts, and teenage errors in judgement should similarly be off limits as, "private family matters"
Sorry babe, running for the highest office in the world will nevber be a private family matter.
Can anyone help me? I need something to stop the endless string of dumb blonde jokes that are now parading through my brain.
Mimikatz on July 19, 2012 12:37 PM:
Sounds like she's more familiar with horsesh*t than we knew.
Did "you people" refer to the press or the people?
She seems to believe she is running for Queen.
DJ on July 19, 2012 12:38 PM:
"You people," madam? Don't you mean "We the People"?
Josef K on July 19, 2012 12:49 PM:
You have to wonder if in future Mitt is going to “outsource” all questions about his finances to his wife, and then object that anyone who complains about it is engaging in personal attacks on his family. That tactic would certainly be consistent with his general habit of expressing outrage when critics look at his biography or his tax-and-budget plans and suggest things just don’t add up.
Bolding mine. I confess, if that's the idea then this is a pretty inspired strategy on Team Romney's part. It might even work, at least on some segments of the media. Not sure if the Democrats have the stomach to weather such attacks. Guess we'll see in coming days.
Inspired as it may be (and the jury's still out if its a deliberate strategy or just a surreptitious one), its still lamer than a one-legged dog. More to the point, claiming their finances are a "family affair" may put Team Romney further on the defensive as they'll likely try to put everything possibly controversial under that same umbrella. That excuse goes only so far before it becomes a farce and ceases to have any strength.
I continue to believe that, ultimately, Romney getting elected - deliberate disinfranchisement notwithstanding - will be because people were voting against Obama, not for Romney. The fact he's clueless, hapless, a fop, and completely cut off from the electorate's lives won't matter; getting Obama out of the White House will be accomplished, at which time the idiot voters will find out just what kind of monster they've put in his place.
Now, more than ever, I understand why "May you live in interesting times" is considered a curse.
Zorro on July 19, 2012 12:51 PM:
When Romney is selected President, I expect that he'll outsource that job to China, too.
-Z
BillFromPA on July 19, 2012 12:55 PM:
Josef K, I agree this is their plan, but it's easily turned on them by the 'He's hiding behind her skirt' meme that no repug can live with. Obama won't attack her, he'll use her to (further) emasculate Willard.
Gandalf on July 19, 2012 12:55 PM:
It's blatantly obvious that what this is all about is incredible and downright feudalistic arrogance. Bottom line is there is without a shadow of doubt some very damning information in the financials.
Anonymous on July 19, 2012 12:58 PM:
1. "You people"? Seriously? I can't believe she actually said that. I can just see her looking down her nose at us with disgust.
2. All Mormons, by definition, tithe 10% to their church. It's like bragging about paying a 5% sales tax at the grocery store.
jjm on July 19, 2012 1:04 PM:
Leona Helmsley Redux: "We have given all YOU people need to know." You underlings. You peons.
And by the way, wasn't Helmsley sent to the slammer for tax evasion?
Same look of both their faces: the Queen of Mean and Queen Romney
Grumpy on July 19, 2012 1:16 PM:
...Mitt turned down a governor’s salary in Massachusetts...
How very noble, just like the way he donated his million-dollar salary from the Olympics. A salary that was, in essence, paid by his million-dollar donation to the Olympics. Basically, he donated his own money to charity, but laundered it through the Olympics so he could, I imagine, double the deduction from his taxes.
stinger on July 19, 2012 1:38 PM:
They don't tithe because they're charitable and generous. They tithe because they have to, to remain in good standing with the Mormon church.
H-Bob on July 19, 2012 1:48 PM:
Zorro -- Mitt will keep the title of President but outsource the Cabinet to China !
TCinLA on July 19, 2012 1:53 PM:
Talk about a woman who is out of touch with reality, at least as it happens to be in America. I do believe her attitude went out of fashion when Marie Antoinette ended up on the Guillotine. For all those who wonder where the "Rich B - - - -" term and the "C" word came from, I do believe Mrs. Romney has provided the definitive example.
I gotta say, they certainly deserve each other. They both think they deserve the White House because they're who they are. The two of them in their sense of entitlement and willingness to be so open about it are absolutely amazing.
And I wonder how she managed to forget to put the word "little" between "you" and "people" in her pissed-off royalty statement.
Kathryn on July 19, 2012 1:53 PM:
Imagine for a second that Michele Obama referred to the press and the citizenry as "you people" as she declined to provide more than one or two years of tax returns. Exactly who do these people think they are I wonder, tithing to the church is not germane to the issue, apples and oranges blondie. Same as spokeswoman Andrea Saul suggesting that they have already provided 500 pages of financial documents so what, it's the years not the pages. Every press person should start the question with Pres. Obama has provided 10 years of tax returns and you have provided one with one pending, when will you release more years as the president has done? I guess the white nobility Romney clan is allowed a different standard. Actually think Romney has hidden behind Ann's skirts a number of times and it adds to his lack of charm, awful people.
Skip on July 19, 2012 2:03 PM:
“given all you people need to know.”
Who is "you people"?
Did anyone ask, or did the media just print her words, duck their heads in respect, back out of her presence, and return to their common lives?
There's of course justification and sympathy for Romney (for some jaw-dropping idiocy see www.godfatherpolitics.com on Romney's tax returns) which would be pitchforks and pine tar by the right if a Democratic candidate submitted one (1) tax return.
Still Fighting the Same Ole Battles on July 19, 2012 2:10 PM:
"I guess the white nobility Romney clan is allowed a different standard."
Agree, Kathryn. There should be a public statement in rebuttal to Romney's wife that since they wish to lower the expectations of disclosure for the Presidental Office, that forthwith, any candidate only has to submit 1 to 2 tax returns...Republican, 3rd Party, or DEMOCRAT.
Somehow, I do not believe the right would be comfortable with that.
trish69@pacbell.net on July 19, 2012 2:15 PM:
'YOU PEOPLE" sputter sputter
YOU REPORTERS?
YOU DEMOCRATS?
YOU POOR PEOPLE?
YOU NON MORMONS?
YOU NON TITHERS?
YOU RABBLE ROUSERS?
No ann, you people who don't know YOU PEOPLE is offensive
T2 on July 19, 2012 2:16 PM:
I'm with Kathryn....imagine the outrage on FOX if Ms. Obama use the term "you people" addressing the press and public. Man, these Romney's are snooty. Maybe it's a Mormon thing?
June on July 19, 2012 2:28 PM:
Others here have pointed out how Ann Romney points to tithing as proof of how generous her husband is, but since tithing is actually required of its members by the Mormon Church, it‘s a moot point. But what really sticks out for me about this is, even when it comes to tithing, according to his wife's comments, Mitt Romney is still only meeting the minimum requirement, 10%. Just like he said his tax returns are a closed matter because he’d met the legal requirement. “Bare Minimum Mitt,” anyone?
June on July 19, 2012 2:30 PM:
Others here have pointed out how Ann Romney points to tithing as proof of how generous her husband is, but since tithing is actually required of its members by the Mormon Church, it‘s a moot point. But what really sticks out for me about this is, even when it comes to tithing, according to his wife's comments, "generous" Mitt Romney is still only doing the minimum requirement, 10%. Just like he said his tax returns are a closed matter because he’d met the legal requirement. “Bare Minimum Mitt,” anyone?
Gary on July 19, 2012 2:40 PM:
I suspect that the reason Mitt doesn't want to release his returns is that they show he is NOT tithing. Being exposed as a fraud before his faith and God is much scarier than the democrats oppo research teams and the liberal media.
boatboy_srq on July 19, 2012 2:57 PM:
@Mimikatz:
She seems to believe she is running for Queen.
HAMMER. NAIL. IMPACT.
The Romneys really do belong, not to the 1930s, but the 1830s (or earlier) when property ownership was still a contentious discussion point about who should actually have the franchise. Two hundred years ago, it was simple: if you owned land, you could vote; if not it wasn't quite so clear, and no small segment of the population wanted to make it as difficult as possible. In that world the Romneys would have flourished, since (as wealthy, landed, privileged white folks) they would have had much more influence.
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All this "private family matter" garbage may also explain how so much that's just plain wrong about the Obamas gets repeated: in certain circles, one can listen to as much gossip as one can handle, but actually digging for the truth oneself is simply rude; repeating someone else's nasty comments about Obama is grist for the mill, but you'd never do your own investigation to find out for yourself.
boatboy_srq on July 19, 2012 3:01 PM:
@H-Bob - just as Jackson had his Kitchen Cabinet, Romney will have his China Cabinet.
T2 on July 19, 2012 3:13 PM:
hummmm. 10% of $250 million is quite a bit. No wonder the LDS likes him.
Diane Rodriguez on July 19, 2012 3:18 PM:
Kathryn exactly! Its quite clear that the Romneys regard the rest of us as something the help has to peel off the bottom of their shoes.
Ann Romney's arrogant and overbearing voice is increasingly prominent in the campaign. It emphasizes that Mitt is an ineffective, wimpish man with no interpersonal skills. Currently, as Kathryn points out, she's getting the rich white woman pass on her holier-than-thou statements. I think she will get much bolder in channeling Marie Antionette because the media is terrified to confront her. they are too busy trying to sell the lie that americans can "relate" to her. I relate to her alright - as someone who disgusts me. I hope she keeps it up. She will be tripped up by her arrogance and tumble over the cliff at some point.
j on July 19, 2012 3:28 PM:
I have seen from the very first interview with Anne Romney just how arrogant she is. She is beginning to prove it, we are the poor idiots who actually pay taxes and she resents any questions about whether they do the same.
Neil Bates on July 19, 2012 3:48 PM:
Ed, good article, but for the sake of search, copying to show other people (links may not work) etc: please put the actual relevant quotes into these articles (some bits of them, at least, as space permits.)
BTW Ann Romney said they'd given "all you people need To know" about family finances.
Mimikatz on July 19, 2012 4:00 PM:
Earth to Ann Romney: There is a reason they call it "public life". If you don't like the scrutiny you don't run for office.
st john on July 19, 2012 4:42 PM:
She says they give 10% tithe to LDS, but the age old question on tithing is: on the net or on the gross? Before taxes or after taxes and all possible deductions? How does LDS calculate if the member is giving 10%? Do they get to look at the annual tax return to verify the donation is "legal" within the rules of the church?
You People? How about, you slut? You C**t? You WH**e? She married Mitt for his money. Can you disprove that?
Bob on July 19, 2012 6:08 PM:
If accurate, the quote has more than a little resemblance to Leona Helmsley's "Only the little people pay taxes."
Doug on July 19, 2012 6:13 PM:
I'm in the "If you can't stand the heat, get the Hell out of the kitchen!" camp.
ANY attempt by Romney flackeys to complain about "attacks" on Ann Romney should be met with flat statement: "If Mrs. Romney doesn't wish to be held accountable for what she says to the media, then she shouldn't say anything to the media."
Fortunately, both Romneys seem to be too filled with a sense of their own importance and entitlement to even imagine THEY should be held responsible.
Daisy Buchanans, both of 'em.
Cha on July 19, 2012 6:27 PM:
Poor Ann Romney..is her entitled idiot-self ever in for a rude awakening. They must be hiding some scarey shit in those tax records for her to get up so early in the morning just to play the fool on national tv.
TheTruthSquad on July 20, 2012 10:05 AM:
Wow, Mitt is hiding behind his wifes skirt. The Mormon church is known as being one of the stingiest churches when it comes to actual charity. They give between 0.7% and 2.6% to actual charity work. The bulk of what they spend their money on is building resorts and shopping malls, and bigger temples. Mitt has given to other charities such as the George W. Bush library and Citizens for Limited Taxation, a charity that fights to lower taxes by eliminating services. I guess the Mormon church doesn't care about the poor either.