Mitt Romney's response this week to criticism of his campaign's secrecy regarding his record at Bain Capital and his tax returns has been, at best, awkward and uneven.
Romney's role at Bain Capital from 1999 to 2001 has come under fire because of Bain's investment during that period in companies that specialized in outsourcing jobs overseas.
Romney's campaign has responded by claiming that Bain took no part in outsourcing before 1999 _ the year Romney took a leave of absence to manage the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City -- and Romney said last week he had "no role whatsoever in the management of Bain Capital after February of 1999."
But this argument was undercut by none other than Romney himself when he was running for governor of Massachusetts in 2002. When Democrats sought to remove Romney from the ballot by challenging his Massachusetts residency that year, Romney's attorney insisted that Massachusetts remained "the center of his social, civic and business life."
Romney himself told the Boston Herald in 1999 that his Olympics sojourn was only part time, and that his role in Bain's management would continue. And documents Bain filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2001 and 2002 listed Romney as the company's "sole stockholder, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President."
Romney's disavowal of Bain's post-1999 conduct seems like an odd defense, given his willingness to take credit for investments that went well during that time. After reiterating last week that he wasn't involved with Bain after 1999, Romney added "there's nothing wrong with being associated with Bain Capital, of course."
But when asked by NBC's Peter Alexander if he can claim credit for Bain investments that were successful after 1999 while dodging blame for those that weren't, Romney said if a company succeeds, "I'm happy to point out that my involvement in helping get that business started and seeing it grow over the years."
Romney's timid circumlocution hasn't been nearly as persuasive as a robust, unapologetic defense of his role at Bain could have been. If Bain really shouldn't be ashamed of its record, why pass the buck to those Bain managers to whom he delegated his authority after 1999?
Equally unconvincing is Romney's insistence that there's nothing worth seeing in his pre-2010 tax returns. Romney faced intraparty criticism this week when Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch and pundits George Will and Bill Kristol argued that Romney's secrecy over his tax returns is more damaging than their contents.
Romney's campaign this week batted down speculation that his returns might reveal years in which he paid no taxes at all. But as statistician W. Edwards Deming once said: "In God we trust. All others must bring data."
Editorials
Romney should come clean on taxes, Bain
- Editorials
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Edmond Marchi deserves blessing, not curses
It has been anything but a smooth ride for Edmond Marchi, who resigned last week as administrator of Otsego Manor, the county's nursing home, and the end of the ride hasn't exactly been easy, either.
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In our opinion: Cheers
To Cherry Valley Fire Department, Lucy Ford and Jason's Run.
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We still must sing out against prejudice
It is easy for Americans to congratulate ourselves over how far we have come since the Jim Crow days of segregation and other examples of racial and religious prejudice.
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Fathers give roots to families
THIS EDITORIAL first ran in The Daily Star in 2001. It runs again this year in tribute to all dads for Father's Day.
Continued ... - A grand old flag, indeed
- Thursday, June 13, 2013
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DOT needs to fix Chobani traffic woes
"Growing pains" have been invoked with regard to Chobani several times. The company is a dynamic example of the fact that, as positive and desirable as rapid growth may be for a business, it can carry with it unanticipated challenges.
Continued ... - Wednesday, June 12, 2013
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Equality Act about more than abortion
Could it have been 50 long years ago Monday when President John F. Kennedy uttered these words?
Continued ... - Tuesday, June 11, 2013
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In our Opinion: Cheers
Cheers to Girls on the Run, Sherburne Pageant of Bands and Cancer Survivors' Day.
Continued ... - Monday, June 10, 2013
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Severe weather deserves respect
The phrase "storm chaser" conjured up an image familiar to us from television and the Internet. Picture a wobbly video, punctuated by the excited shouts of the person behind the camera as he tries to capture a grainy image of a far-off funnel cloud.
Continued ... - Saturday, June 8, 2013
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Raising smoking age is a good idea
When it comes to government officials promoting public health, voters have always preferred a subtle nudge to a heavy hand. Just ask New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose hamfisted attempt to ban large sodas was shot down in March amid widespread jeers.
Continued ... - Friday, June 7, 2013
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DNA swabbing benefits outweigh concerns
According to a Supreme Court ruling Monday, yesterday's fingerprinting is today's Q-Tip inside a suspect's mouth.
Continued ... - Thursday, June 6, 2013
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D-Day lessons still strong today
This editorial first appeared two years ago on the 67th anniversary of D-Day. We present it again with minor changes to honor those Americans who fought and died in the Normandy invasion.
Continued ... - Wednesday, June 5, 2013
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It will take courage to get rid of Silver
The concept goes back at least to the early 16th century, and probably much before Niccolò Machiavelli wrote in "The Prince" about plotting against someone who holds power.
Continued ... - Tuesday, June 4, 2013
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In our Opinion: Cheers
To the General Clinton Canoe Regatta, the Wall that Heals, and a fire safety demonstration for OHS seniors.
Continued ... - Monday, June 3, 2013
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Tax-Free NY offers great potential
We often hear that New York state has some of the highest taxes on businesses in the country. So an opportunity for select businesses to operate totally tax-free sounds almost too good to be true.
Continued ... - Saturday, June 1, 2013
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Secure Rx forms could help fight abuse
The recent disappearance of about 800 blank prescription pads from Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown raises a couple of troubling issues.
Continued ... - Friday, May 31, 2013
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Why not expand Hall Classic a day?
Given the professionalism and competence evident over the years at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, we were impressed, but not the least bit surprised, Saturday when as Jeff Idelson said: "The weather gave us lemons, but I think we were able to turn it into lemonade."
Continued ... - Thursday, May 30, 2013
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Adding vocabulary to the bee spells success
If a young person has his or her eyes on winning the Scripps National Spelling Bee this week at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., near Washington, D.C., it's no longer enough to know how to spell a lot of really difficult words.
Continued ... - Wednesday, May 29, 2013
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Boy Scouts are now more 'morally straight'
This is what the Boy Scouts of America organization calls its "Oath (or Promise)":
Continued ... - Tuesday, May 28, 2013
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In Our Opinion: Cheers
To Marie Bruni, Maj. Kevin Molinari, and a $10,000 donation to Cooperstown Central School.
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Edmond Marchi deserves blessing, not curses



