Romney looking concerned. Image from Politico.
Romney’s refusal to release more than 2 years worth of tax returns, combined with the revelation of his “retroactive retirement” makes me think that his tax returns from 1999 – 2002 reflect exactly what the Bain SEC filings from the same period say, which would make sense.
What would be more interesting is if there aren’t any amended returns, and what his 2003-2004 returns say. Because if he really retired retroactively, wouldn’t he have to return his salary or bonuses or whatever compensation he got from Bain? And wouldn’t he need to then amend his earlier returns?
In any case, responsibility is not something that can be retroactively abdicated. Whether or not Romney was actually in-house at Bain during the Olympic period, he was the Chairperson, CEO, and President of the company at that time. Responsibility for the decisions made by the company at that time was his, and his alone.
This is not the first time that Romney has tried to deny responsibility for something Bain did while he was on a “leave of absence”. During his campaign for Senator against Ted Kennedy, he tried the same thing. It didn’t work, because people know that the actions of a company are the responsibility of the CEO.
Given that this retroactive denial of responsibility for things he actually was responsible for is a pattern, I have to wonder how he will handle being President? I mean, it’s not like it’s a job devoid of responsibility.
And now, for your viewing pleasure, two of the best commentaries on this past week’s Romney news:
| The Daily Show with Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Democalypse 2012 – Bain Damage – Romney’s Blind Trust | ||||
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Ill Doctrine: Mitt Romney’s Blackest Week Ever from ANIMALNewYork.com on Vimeo.
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Stevens Miller
July 18, 2012 at 1:35 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
If Mitt Romney resigns retroactively in the forest…
Tom Seeman
July 26, 2012 at 7:12 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I don’t have time to set up the links, but all three fact-checking services, polifact, the WaPo, and Factcheck.com, have concluded that there was no wrongdoing by Gov Romney, and that when he did leave Bain he had no further influence with them.
More to it, this whole business of releasing tax returns is silly. I really don’t think any politician should do it as it adds nothing to the debate.
Liz
July 26, 2012 at 9:43 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Sorry, no. I DO have a link to AP’s fact-checking and Romney was still involved. with Bain after 1999.
Releasing tax returns is not silly, it shows where a politician’s personal money comes from and where it goes. If you want to see what a rich person thinks is important, you look at what they support with their money.
Stevens Miller
July 26, 2012 at 12:57 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Nothing’s silly when it’s your man doing it. Or not.
Mitt Romney just LOVES me, an essay in pictures and captions » Doorbell Queen
July 26, 2012 at 10:34 AM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] of course, changing his stance on every position he’s ever taken. Romney, Romney, Romney, you really don’t want to bring up taxes, do you? Share [...]
It all makes sense now » Doorbell Queen
September 21, 2012 at 1:01 PM (UTC -4) Link to this comment
[...] is the sort of thing that we should be used to from this [...]