The calls for Mitt Romney to release more years of tax returns are piling up and the Romney campaign is struggling to deal with it. If there is an issue beyond Romney’s flip-flopping that could implode his campaign, it’s the issue of his taxes and his refusal to show them to the American people. Even Republicans want Romney to release them, including high-profile conservatives like Ron Paul.
On CNN on Monday night, Erin Burnett called out Mitt Romney for not releasing his tax returns and wondered why Romney hasn’t released them, wondering if he had done something illegal that he doesn’t want people to see. She also shredded Romney’s excuse and false argument that John McCain didn’t release many tax returns either.
“It’s time, Mitt, time to put them on the table,” Burnett declared. “Unlike John McCain, Romney’s career has been in business, not politics. Mitt Romney is running on his business expertise. His tax returns are a relevant window into how he conducts his business affairs.”
Burnett then listed reasons why Romney has refused to release his returns.

“If he refuses to release them, it is because one, he had a lot more money in tax shelters in prior years than he does how. Two, he did something shady. Or, three, he’s stupid.”
Burnett then opined that Romney hasn’t done anything illegal and that he’s not stupid, (the former isn’t known unless he actually releases his returns, the latter is arguable), but that he must have taken advantage of tax loopholes in a way that most Americans would find detestable.
Here’s the video:
It really doesn’t matter why Romney hasn’t released his returns. The fact is, he is clearly hiding something that could be damning to his campaign for the presidency. Mitt Romney has admitted as much. Yet Romney and some Republicans are complaining, calling this call for the tax returns nothing but a witch hunt designed to smear Romney. Quite frankly, Romney and his Republican pals should stop whining, especially when most of them conducted a witch hunt for President Obama’s birth certificate for most of the last four years. President Obama released his long form birth certificate. Romney should release his tax returns. If he doesn’t, it’s only fair that Democrats get to attack him for it. But unlike President Obama, Romney DOES have something to hide, and the American people deserve to see what it is.
Perhaps there is something interesting regarding his campaign contribution history, more specifically contributions to groups that were not supposed to be involved in political activity. This would call into question any tax deduction he took for giving to that group. Further, if the funds were used in an election, they may run afoul of election laws.