Romney Tax Theories, Boehner Slams Bachmann, and More

Theories Emerge on Romney Taxes:

2009 may be the problem tax return that Mitt Romney does not want America to see. Consider: He released his 2010 return and a summary of his 2011 taxes, and he also gave John McCain’s campaign 20 years’ worth of tax returns when he was being vetted as a potential running mate in 2008. Theories that have been put out as to why Romney seems to be so vexed about releasing more documents include taxes related to his Swiss bank account (which, like many others, he was forced to shut down in 2009), and the possibility that he suffered losses severe enough in the financial crisis in 2008 that he did not have to pay any taxes the following year. (Read more)

Ann Romney Enters the Tax Fray: Mitt Romney’s wife Ann is standing by her man. During an interview with ABC News on Thursday, Ann Romney defended her husband’s decision to not release more tax documents, saying the couple has “given all you people need to know.” She added: “He’s a very generous person. We give 10 percent of our income to our church every year. Do you think that is the kind of person who is trying to hide things, or do things?” That’s a little ironic, considering that the only way we would know that for sure is if Mitt—you guessed it—released his tax returns. (Read more)

DNC Apologizes for Romney Dressage Horse Ad: The Democratic National Committee on Thursday said it would no longer air a political ad that uses Ann Romney’s Olympic-bound dressage horse to criticize her husband’s decision not to release more tax returns. The commercial was questioned as being possibly offensive to the potential future first lady. Ann Romney uses the horse as part of her treatment for multiple sclerosis. (Read more)

Boehner Joins McCain in Criticizing Bachmann: House Speaker John Boehner added his name to the list of Republicans who are criticizing Rep. Michele Bachmann over her allegations that a top Hillary Clinton aide, Huma Abedin, has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. In a news conference Thursday, Boehner said he believes “accusations like this being thrown around are dangerous.” Wednesday, Arizona Sen. John McCain took to the Senate floor to defend Abedin against the accusations and condemned Bachmann’s unsubstantiated claim. (Read more)

Video of the Day: The Missouri lieutenant governor primary race is getting down and dirty. Check out this new attack ad that accuses current GOP Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder of, among other things, skipping out of tie-breaking votes to go to a bar called The Horny Toad, and aggressive behavior toward a stripper. “It’s last call for Peter Kinder. Time to cut him off,” the ad says.

— Posted by Tracy Bloom.