Will Harry Reid regret his claim about Mitt Romney's taxes?
Without proof, the Senate majority leader insists that the Republican paid no taxes for 10 years, earning a hail of criticism from conservatives and liberals alike
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has got the goods on Mitt Romney — or so he claims. Reid says that an unidentified investor in Bain Capital, Romney's former company, once told him that Romney had not paid any taxes over a 10-year stretch, instead socking his money away in tax havens in the Cayman Islands and Switzerland. Romney vigorously denies the charge, and has slammed Reid for not providing any proof, challenging him to either "put up or shut up." Meanwhile, commentators from across the political spectrum are criticizing Reid's seemingly baseless accusation, with the liberal comedian Jon Stewart calling Reid out for taking a "bullshit shot." But still, Reid is sticking like glue to his guilty-until-proven-innocent stance, saying Romney could clear this up by releasing more than two years of tax returns, which Romney has refused to do. Will Reid regret his attack over Romney's taxes?
Yes. Reid is probably lying: "Shame on [the] gossipy gentleman from Nevada," says Dan Primack at CNN. His claim that the info came from a Bain investor doesn't even add up: "Investors in private equity funds do not receive, nor are they entitled to request, personal tax returns for fund managers" like Romney. The Republican's tax returns probably weren't even "prepared or reviewed in the firm's offices," so how could an investor know the details? Either Reid is lying, or his supposed "source" is "full of it."
"Calling BS on Reid's Bain tax claims"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
And this will further damage Reid's reputation: It's "no surprise that Reid would smear Romney so casually," says Allahpundit at Hot Air. Reid specializes in baseless attacks — in 2008 he "made more noise about [John] McCain's temper being a sign of possible derangement than any other major Democrat." Reid is an "unusually nasty character, even by normal political standards," and he's disgracing his office by spreading the sort of eye-roll-worthy rumors that birthers specialize in.
But Reid is successfully keeping Romney's taxes in the spotlight: Sure, "Reid's accusation does sound too extreme to be true," says Caroline Bankoff at New York. But he's "not backing down," because even wild slander will ensure that voters continue "asking why Romney is so committed to keeping his tax returns under wraps." It's guaranteed that "these stories are going to keep coming, because for Romney's political enemies, it's just too easy."
"Mitt Romney responds to claim that he didn't pay taxes for a decade"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Read more political coverage at The Week's 2012 Election Center.
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 3, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published