This morning's Kagro Show made the very important point that if Romney gets away with not releasing any more tax information, it will break with precedent going all the way back to his father, and set a precedent for future concealment. Even when Mitt loses, it won't necessarily be traceable to the personal tax issue, and therefore still may be a precedent.
The media seem to consider this matter "resolved" and appear content to let this new, terrible standard be set. For some reason, I haven't seen Joe or Mark bring it up at 7:00 am, nor did Tom Brokaw mention it between talking about Joe Biden's rudeness on Sunday. Kagro said that "we" have to push this issue. This diary is an effort to do so.
In a prior diary, Will Romney Get Away On Tax Returns?, I included the ad below focusing on the Swiss Bank Amnesty issue.
Can you aspiring Don Drapers and Peggy Olsons out there write the copy for an ad on Romney's taxes? There is so much material -- e.g., the Caymans, the shell corporations. And the multi-million IRA is out there ready to be pushed far and wide -- even without any more information. (Compare your stagnant or declining IRA to Mitt's Madoff growth IRA.)
So I propose a contest. Put your ad in the comments and I will then choose as many as possible and do another diary including them, with a poll. I'm open to suggestions about what to do with the winning entries.
(Unaccustomed as I am to requesting recommends, I think it's appropriate here, so please rec if you agree.)
My Ad:
{Ominous music; shots of huge bank vaults and the Matterhorn.}
In 2009, the IRS granted amnesty to those who could have been prosecuted for felony tax evasion for illegal Swiss Bank accounts.
{Shot of Monopoly "Get our of Jail Free" Card}
Mitt Romney admits that he had Swiss Bank accounts.
{Headline re Swiss Accounts}
Did Mitt Romney receive this amnesty?
The only way to find out is if he releases at least his 2009 return.
{2009 1040 with Romneys' names and CENSORED blocking it out.}
Voters deserve to know.
Release your returns, Mr. Romney.