Harry Reid, income taxes and Mitt Romney
To the editor:
Sen. Harry Reid's comments alleging Mitt Romney went 10 years without paying federal income taxes are far worse than below the belt. Sen. Reid is an embarrassment to the state of Nevada, the U.S. Senate and the Democrat Party.
His only purpose for making the comment is to try to keep the focus of the campaign off President Obama's record.
Sen. Reid also said, "I don't think the burden should be on me. The burden should be on him. He's the one I've alleged has not paid any taxes. Why didn't he release his tax returns?" In other words, Sen. Reid's position is that the accuser has no burden of proof, but the accused does. Whatever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? What about all the questions about President Obama's past that went unanswered?
To my understanding, Mr. Romney has complied with all election laws regarding his campaign. If Sen. Reid truly feels more returns should be released, he should author a bill in the Senate.
James F. Camburn
Las Vegas
Truth seeker
To the editor:
The truth shall set us free. Sen. Harry Reid informs the American public that Mitt Romney did not pay taxes for 10 years. This information was given to Sen. Reid by a reliable source. Instead of running for president, Mr. Romney should be on trial for tax evasion, if this proves to be true.
Two things should happen immediately. First, the election of 2012 should be put on hold until this matter is resolved. Second, the GOP should select a new candidate for president.
A crime is a crime, be it perpetrated by a blue-collar person or a white-collar person. Set us free, Mr. Romney, and put an end to your tax situation, be it true or false. You owe this to the hard-working taxpayers of the United States.
John Tominsky
Las Vegas
From the floor
To the editor:
I don't know which is more irresponsible, Sen. Harry Reid's unsubstantiated accusations that Mitt Romney didn't pay taxes, or that Sen. Reid delivered them from the floor of the Senate. Sen. Reid is an embarrassment to Nevada.
Henry Schmid
Las Vegas
Indecent manner
To the editor:
I work in an elementary school. Each day we try to teach children how to behave in an honorable and decent manner in order to preserve a civilized culture. We teach them to tell the truth, not to call each other names and to honor our country.
But we have a senior senator from Nevada who violates all of those values. Would that we were able to point to Sen. Harry Reid as someone the children should emulate.
How has Nevada managed to select a person who represents the antithesis of these qualities?
Michelle Duncan
Las Vegas
Hiding something
To the editor:
Why is it that Sen. Harry Reid is supposed to prove his suspicions that Mitt Romney hasn't paid any taxes in the past 10 years, but the birthers and the "Obama is a Muslim" accusers aren't expected to offer any proof? Barack Obama had to prove he was born in the United States, yet the birthers are still spewing their unfounded accusations.
Seems to me that Mr. Romney is the one who should "put up or shut up" because he is definitely the one with something to hide.
Michael Fox
Las Vegas
Slinging mud
To the editor:
Here we go again. The Democrats are cheering at Sen. Harry Reid's statement that Mitt Romney didn't pay taxes. It doesn't matter that Sen. Reid says, "Now, do I know that's true? Well, I'm not certain." In other words, he's just throwing it at the wall to see if it sticks.
How about using documented facts to back up these allegations? Even if it were true, couldn't it be explained the same way that Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Attorney General Eric Holder explained their non-payment of taxes? It was merely an "oversight." If that was good enough for the Democrats back then, it should be good enough now.
I am tired of this Democratic mud-slinging. How about campaigning based on your record of what you have done for the past three-plus years? Let's see, I believe that would include record deficits, higher unemployment, and a driving effort to create class warfare and demonize the American Dream to work hard and become successful in your chosen field.
Harry Zinser
Las Vegas
Four more years
To the editor:
Your Saturday editorial ("All-in bluff?") is sadly mistaken. Usually, when you go all-in on a bluff, as Sen. Harry Reid has done about Mitt Romney not paying taxes, you end up leaving the table. Sadly, the residents of Nevada and the nation are saddled with this fool for another four years.
Richard Laird
Las Vegas
What's right
To the editor:
Your Saturday editorial, "All-in bluff?," was quite intriguing. Most of your ink was devoted to blasting Sen. Harry Reid for citing an anonymous source, ostensibly a former colleague of Mitt Romney at Bain Capital, who said Mr. Romney hadn't paid any taxes for 10 years.
This is the same Review-Journal that, for years, has relentlessly (and rightfully so) championed full and absolute openness, transparency and disclosure as the expected standard for government officials, especially those seeking our highest office.
Doing what's "required" and doing what's "right" are not always the same. Mr. Romney is not legally required to release any of his tax returns to the American public. But it's been well-established as the right thing to do for presidential candidates - and not one or two years, but several years.
So the next logical question: How many years worth of tax returns should Mr. Romney release? I'm not sure. So let's just say, to be fair, that he should follow the same standard he and his team are requiring during the vetting process from his prospective running mates.
I guarantee you it's more than a year or two.
Rob Powers
Las Vegas
