[Jim Robinson]

Romney says he pays 15% income tax, but pushes for a 35% tax rate for the “wealthy.” Then hides his own wealth offshore in tax havens?

[EyeGuy]

I wasn’t defending Romney’s two-faced socialism, just attacking the LeftMedia’s characterization of offshore tax havens.

Entities that owe their existence to the unfair, convoluted and anti-productivity US tax system.

[Cato in PA]

But it's different when you're a member of the political elite. Plebians like us just wouldn't understand.

[dennisw]

Then hides his own wealth offshore in tax havens?

Not hidden from the IRS. All offshore accounts must be declared. I assume Romney has declared these accounts. Of course many American have secret undeclared off shore accounts in Switzerland, Cayman and other places. David Axelrod will do his best to make this all seem sleazy and illegal. Legal accounts like this might be beyond the reach of scummy divorce lawyers and other lawyers

Romney is once more proving himself to be a lot less delectable than Newt. Here's praying Newt heads him off at the pass and gets the nomination

[cornfedcowboy]

Romney doesn’t pay 15% income tax. He pays 15% capital gains tax. The company where the gains occured paid tax prior to going to Romney’s wallet. I’m no fan of Romney, but this is not a road conservatives wish to travel.

[greyfoxx39]

Romney says he pays 15% income tax, but pushes for a 35% tax rate for the “wealthy.” Then hides his own wealth offshore in tax havens?

But, according to many FReepers that's perfectly all right. I think it morally sucks!

[SJackson]

Romney says he pays 15% income tax, but pushes for a 35% tax rate for the “wealthy.” Then hides his own wealth offshore in tax havens?

Not likely, my guess the income is coming from Bain partnerships set up offshore to avoid regulation, likely given relatively small numbers of investors. My guess the issue which will be raised is that of carried interest. You and I work and pay 35%. Not just Mitt, but many who manage not just venture capital but also real estate partnerships accumulate their wealth from performance incentives, typically in the 20% to 30% range, which is taxed at 15%, as though it were capital. Intellectual capital I suppose, fully taxed for everyone else. Nothing illegal or hidden, nothing to do with tax havens. Just the tax code as written. IMO, labor shouldn't be taxed more than capital, quite possible under a flatter tax code, but that's just me. This will be a problem in the general, he's not John Theresa Heinz Kerry who I think paid at about a 12% rate. There's a reason so many of the mega wealthy are on the left, just ask Warren Buffet.

[Soul of the South]

“Romney says he pays 15% income tax, but pushes for a 35% tax rate for the “wealthy.” Then hides his own wealth offshore in tax havens?”

Not unlike George Soros, Michael Moore, John Kerry, and Warren Buffet.

The wealthy live by their own rules not the rules they inflict on us.