Many in the liberal media are loving Team Obama’s attacks on Mitt Romney over his taxes and tax returns. Over at Political Punch, ObamaZombie Devin Dwyer writes that TO Skewered TR
As part of a weeklong campaign around the Buffett Rule, President Obama’s re-election team is making Mitt Romney the face of income tax inequality.
On a conference call with reporters Monday, top Obama surrogates blasted the Republican candidate for keeping years of tax returns secret, using offshore bank accounts for some investments, and enjoying a lower effective tax rate than most middle-income Americans.
Kind of funny: a millionaire who is solidly in the 1% and spends little on charitable contributions slapping another big millionaire and pushing class warfare. But, hold on a second
(Buzzfeed) Romney spokesman Eric Fernstrom accused the Obama campaign of “hypocrisy” for refusing to release 23 years of tax returns, while calling on the presumptive GOP nominee to do the same.
“Maybe they should adopt as their new slogan: Barack Obama — making the world safe for hypocrisy,” Fehrnstrom told BuzzFeed, mocking the Chicago team’s continued struggle for a slogan to match 2008’s “Yes We Can!” and “Change We Can Believe In.”
Lest you think Buzzfeed is making it up, here’s far left Talking Points Memo
President Obama’s campaign ran into an awkward moment in a conference call with reporters pushing Mitt Romney to disclose more of his tax returns when they were asked about their own returns.
Obama campaign manager Jim Messina suggested Romney release 23 years of tax returns, noting that he had reportedly given that many years’ worth to John McCain when he was being vetted as a potential running mate. But when asked by the Huffington Post’s Sam Stein whether Obama had plans to release 23 years of returns himself, Messina pointed to Obama’s 12 years of returns without committing to further releases.
Hmm, so, Team Obama trots out the hypocrisy in wanting Mitt to release 23 years of returns, while Obama won’t do the same. But, then, this is all about optics, and pandering to Obama’s base. Almost no one in the media has mentioned that Obama won’t release the 23 years of returns. It’s also part of Obama’s push for the Buffett Rule, you know, that one that would raise a whopping $47 billion over ten years if passed. Well, provided those making over $1 million a year keep their behavior exactly the same, instead of sheltering more money, taking advantage of the tax code. The White House even admits that this has nothing to do with deficit reduction
(Politico) The Obama administration is emphasizing “fairness†over deficit reduction in its renewed pitch for the “Buffett rule†ahead of next week’s scheduled Senate vote.
Expect much of Obama’s re-election campaign to be about class warfare: really, he can’t run on his pathetic record.
Oh, and if you really want to have fun, use Twitter to demand Obama2012 (@barackobama) #release23years.
Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.
