Would anybody seriously be shocked to find out that ultra-rich Mitt Romney paid zero taxes for a decade or more? Of course not. Mad, perhaps. But not surprised. And frankly, for the GOP voter, this is not even an issue. They ALL hate paying taxes ALL the time.
It's not impossible to spin that he did nothing illegal. It's not impossible to spin attempt that he's a "job creator" (the same way GE and Verizon are) and that's why he had no tax liability.
No. Get it out of your head that his failure to release his tax returns is because he doesn't want people to know that he paid little or no taxes for a decade or more. That's. Not. It.
Here's what we know:
Mitt Romney has ZERO moral compass. His decisions are solely based on whether it can make money or whether it advances his ambitions. Full stop.
We already know that Mitt Romney, who I believe is probably genuinely more anti-choice than pro-choice, authorized his Bain Capital group to invest in a company that disposed of aborted fetuses. We already know that he "invested" in companies whose sole purpose was to find cheaper labor in countries other than the USA.
So I think it's safe to assume that he doesn't really give a shit about how he makes the money, as long as he makes the money. It doesn't matter if it's bad long term for people or even for entire countries. It doesn't matter if it conflicts with his personal beliefs. None of that matters. Only the money matters. And really, no shock there. He's Wall Street's guy and this is the way they think there.
So what's in the tax returns? I suggest that it's a helluva lot more serious than "I didn't pay any taxes for 10 years".
There's a lot of money to me made investing in companies that sell weaponry. Perhaps even to Taliban or Al-Qaeda operatives. Or some other extremist group. (Lord knows THAT wouldn't be a first. Maybe he learned from old St. Ronnie after all).
I'd imagine there's quite a lucrative market for investments in companies in "developing countries" that need nuclear weapons power for energy.
I'm quite sure there are lucrative investments all over this crazy chaotic corrupt world. Especially for someone with NO moral compass and a fuckton of money.
Whatever is in the returns, I'm quite convinced, is a lot worse than: "I paid no taxes for 10 years." Americans KNOW the rich live under a different set of rules. No, there's something else there that is SO BAD he knows it would not only sink his candidacy but also possibly destroy his reputation permanently.
Note: Obviously all conjecture. But I'm allowed to "conject" because Romney has decided not to release the returns. I can speculate why all I want. This is MY speculation. Fuck it.