The Tax Return Distraction...

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Liberty -vs -Tyranny

With all the hoopla over Romney and his decision not to release more than his 2010 and 2011 tax tax returns, and Bill Clinton's less than accurate statement(s)that no doubt added to the a generally inaccurate perception held by many PolitiFact provides the real skinny.

Clinton said most candidates release about 10 years of tax returns. That's more than the two years of returns Romney has released.

Clinton is exaggerating a bit when he puts the "typical" number at 10. Over the decades, we found candidates released anywhere from 30 years of tax returns to one year. A majority of the recent candidates we surveyed did not in fact release a full 10 years of tax returns.

On the other hand, a majority of recent candidates did release far more than two years of tax returns. So Romney lags behind most of the pack.

Clinton’s statement is partially accurate, but it leaves out important details. We rate his statement Half True. {Read Full Report}

Romney, aside from being under no law or obligation to release any specific number of returns is on the low end for presidential candidates. Ronald Reagan released only one return in 1980.

It is likely very prudent for Romney to match the seven returns released by then candidate Obama in 2008 during the primaries. A number matched by Hillary Clinton.