Posted on 02/26/2016 8:00:01 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Or maybe because, to quote Ben Carson, they’re looking at the fruit salad of his life. Fresh off of getting chased around the arena by a couple of lions, Donald Trump tried to explain to CNN’s Chris Cuomo why the IRS audits him so routinely, the excuse he gave during the debate for not releasing his tax returns. Trump claimed to be the victim of religious persecution:
“I’m always audited by the IRS, which I think is very unfair. Maybe because of religion, maybe because of something else, maybe because I am doing this, but this is just recently,” Trump said, at the end referring to his presidential bid.
When CNN’s Chris Cuomo questioned the comment about religion, the real estate tycoon said: “Maybe because of the fact that I am a strong Christian … you see what’s happened, you have many religious groups complaining about that.”
Perhaps it has more to do with Trump’s complicated finances than it does with his religious affiliation, because let’s face it, the IRS may not have even known about the latter. Trump has affirmed his Christian affiliation, but it’s safe to say that he hasn’t exactly been one of the more high-profile followers of the church during the course of his life. Chris Cuomo can’t quite believe he’s hearing it, and asks for clarification on Trump’s claim of religious persecution.
The issue arose earlier this week when Mitt Romney publicly speculated that Trump was trying to hide something in his tax returns — either legal issues, or perhaps just that Trump has inflated estimates of his wealth to impress voters. Hugh Hewitt asked four of the five candidates on stage whether they would release their tax returns but started with Trump, who promised exactly one year earlier on Hugh’s show that he would release all his returns:
Last night, when reminded of this, Trump sneered at Hugh’s show while flip-flopping on releasing the returns:
Well, if he’s routinely audited every year, then why did Trump promise to release his tax returns when talking to Hugh a year ago? And what about an audit prevents people from releasing their returns, anyway? If they are the same documents provided to the IRS, then there’s nothing legally risky about providing them to other people at the same time. It may require a caveat that the returns could be modified after an audit, but tax returns aren’t held under lock and key during audits — and previous years certainly could be released.
Unless releasing tax returns are against Donald’s religion, nothing about these responses make much sense, except as a fruit salad of dodges.
Yeah, right.
He soooooooooooooo pious and devout.
I’d say it’s also because he’s a billionaire. But, given that he’s a candidate, I’d say that he’s gone from very high probability of audit to politically determined certainty.
Bill Gates says the IRS has to use a special computer because his Tax Returns are so complicated.
Trump has been threatened and extorted by politicians his entire career. So have most successful businessmen who are not totally corrupt.
If you don't understand this you are hopelessly naive.
And YOU were put in charge of determining piousness and devoutness by whom???
He is being audited because he is currently an enemy of the state.
Certain people and companies are audited every year based on the size and complexity of the returns.
I worked for a major corporation. The company I worked for was audited every single year. I worked in the finance area. And some of our work was done in such a way as to make sure we had documentation for the audit the following year. We were always cognizant that IRS and other audits were always happening every year. It was just a part of the job.
Trump is probably in a category of business and wealthy individuals who just automatically get audited.
If Trump were on trial for being “a strong Christian” there would not be near enough evidence to convict him.
He is being audited for his sleazy business dealings.
Not surprised. This government is evil.
None of the candidates have released their returns.
More importantly, he’s not a Muslim.
I was going to switch my support to Trump until I found out he’s one of those crazed, pious religious zealots.
Hewlett is the one who kept coughing on mike during the candidates answers...disgusting.
I know some people think Trump sounds silly but I think he’s playing this brilliantly.
Dr. Carson was first last night to say that the IRS targetted him. We know this isn’t paranoia; we know it happens.
Then Trump joins and offers himself up as a Christian being persecuted by Obama’s IRS.
Its a brilliant bit of campaign theater.
Trump will open every wound commited upon the body of America and this retort was in regards to the IRS
We already know (but it's been forgotten) that the IRS has been used against Christians, Christian organizations and anything or one that is Conservative WASP.
What a goofball. The stronger one becomes as a Christian, the more they admit they are not a good Christian. It's called being humble and honest, something Trump knows nothing about.
Maybe they are auditing him because he is saying how many billions he has and the actual returns are not reflecting that number.
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