Four Pinocchios for Harry ReidUser provided
Four Pinocchios for Harry Reid
Made popular 289 days ago in Politics
nation.foxnews.com — Four Pinocchios for Harry Reid’s claim about Mitt Romney’s taxes

By Glenn Kessler, The Washington Post
“The word's out that he [Romney] hasn't paid any taxes for 10 years.”

— Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Aug. 2, 2012

Reid has generated a lot of controversy with his claim that presumptive GOP nominee did not pay any taxes for 10 years. He originally told the Huffington Post that a person who had invested with Bain Capital had called his office and told him this. Then, he told reporters in Nevada that “I have had a number of people tell me that.”

Reid has refused to identify his source (or sources). Romney and his campaign aides have emphatically denied the charge but Reid has stood firm. “I don't think the burden should be on me,” he said. “The burden should be on him. He's the one I've alleged has not paid any taxes.”

This whole exchange poses a fact-checking conundrum. Generally, we maintain that the person or the campaign making the charge must back it up. Reid has refused to provide any evidence, except for the (unproven) fact that someone called him up and told him something that may be true — or simply a rumor.

The Pinocchio Test

We use a reasonable person standard here. Without seeing Romney’s taxes, we cannot definitively prove Reid incorrect. But tax experts say his claim is highly improbable. Reid also has made no effort to explain why his unnamed source would be credible. So, in the absence of more information, it appears he has no basis to make his incendiary claim.

Moreover, Reid holds a position of great authority in the U.S. Congress. He should hold himself to a high standard of accuracy when making claims about political opponents.

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Posted by lightdude
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When will dingy harry release his taxes?
When hell freezes over.
2.6%
Hypocrites (liberal leftests) don't have to release tax records.
39%
He never has and never will.
0%
He can't release his tax records because he has his head so far up dingle barry's butt that he can't see to do them.
11%
All
47%
This is not a scientific survey, click here to learn more. Results may not total 100% due to rounding and voting descrepencies.
User Comments
TopSpin
Posted 289 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
Harry Reid has released more information than Romney Hood has.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79419.html

But I would definitely support any call for the release of his taxes and legislation that would require members of congress, SCOTUS, President, and president's circle to release their Taxes for the last 10 years and going forward.
lightdude
Posted 289 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
@TopSpin No he hasn't. It all comes down to you show me yours and I'll show you mine. Dingy harry and nutbag nasty has never shown theirs. I don't blame Romney at all.

Spud, you should get a real news sight that has some real facts.
TopSpin
Posted 289 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
Romney Hood has no chance in hell of winning if he does not come clean and releases his tax returns and financials in FULL detail.
lightdude
Posted 289 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
@TopSpin Spud, you are soooooooo desperate. Maybe if you watch a news station that is based in reality, you would know that Romney is leading. Sorry spud, you can't run on a record THAT bad.

Try to have a nice day! :-)
lastbaldeagle
Posted 288 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
How about Obaloney releasing his real Kenyan birth certificate and his college transcripts in exchange? Romney has paid more in taxes in one year than Topspin has made in his lifetime.
ProWife
Posted 269 days ago
0 up votes, 0 down votes
Why didn't (doesn't) US Senator John McCain tell us who is lying. He didn't say a word when fellow Senator Harry Reid came foward with his declaration. To this day, mum is the word. He saw 22 years of the first universal health care governor's tax returns.
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