Rudy points out the problem with releasing tax returns - plus, if Trump doesn;t take care to exercise all the deductions available, he can be sued.
Todd thinks it is wrong to have deductions for business losses. Rudy says "Great men have big failures, and come back" citing Winston Churchill and others.
Todd persists that the deduction is a loophole. Rudy says "lots of poor people use loopholes to avoid taxes too." I bet Chuck Todd is a tax loophole fanatic, for his own benefit.
Rudy explains the "too stupid to be president," and Hillary was wrong for attacking Monica. Todd tries the trick of making Rudy a bad messenger because Rudy has had infidelities. Rudy took him to school.
Ditto that!
Good segment, and today the hippy is an overt partisan hack. ..might as well be wearing a Hillary tee shirt.
Warren Buffet says he pays less taxes on his income than his secretary. Buffet is a Dem so it is not worth mentioning.
Rudy says, even if it is, it's perfectly legal, and not only that, Trump has an obligation to use tax deductions, otherwise he is open to suit for loss of jobs, investment, etc. Brings up GE example. It's part of our tax code. He used it to the benefit of the people he is serving, his employees and customers.
Tapper asks whether failing to use the tax law makes a person stupid?
Tapper asks Rudy if Rudy pays taxes. Rudy says that is between him and his accountant. Jake makes a mocking "I'm shocked" face. Tapper wants to know who would sue him. Lenders, for one. Tapper says "Let me ask you another question" Funny how they move on.
Many successful business people don't look for every opportunity to avoid paying taxes, and tries to move on real fast so Rudy can't answer. Rudy says avoiding hanging fruit tax breaks is stupid.
Moving on to "Yeah, but losing a billion dollars proves he is a bad businessman." Rudy cites Steven Jobs (fired from Apple) and Winston Churchill again.
Tapper says there is no way to know Trump's income last year - Rudy says look at his FEC statement. Tapper is genuinely offended that Trump has not released his taxes.
Rudy says the news is "Trump takes advantage of legal allowances in tax codes". Tapper insinuates that Trump is breaking the law, because most people pay taxes. Tapper asserts flat out that Trump does not pay federal income taxes.
Rudy again says that if Tapper has a problem with the law, then argue the law, not that Trump used the law.
Tapper's last argument is a wild and unsubstantiated allegation, Hillary is not faithful to Bill. Is that normal and stable behavior by a presidential candidate? Rudy says, well, after Hillary says Trump is racist, misogynist, etc., Trump makes a sarcastic remark. Same question that Todd finished with, are you the right messenger for casting aspersions on marital loyalty?
Tapper moves on to discuss Saturday Night Live. I am not making that up.
Thanks for the report. How does he explain the “too stupid...”?