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."
Opinion
Romney should come clean on taxes, Bain
- Opinion
-
-
Satirical letter was pleasant change of pace
It was a pleasure to read the letter by Mr. Stammel of Stamford in the May 15 Daily Star.
-
Teacher was wrong to dismiss fracking
As a longtime resident of Delaware County, and a person with strong business connections to the area, I was shocked to find that my grandson who was graduating from an unnamed upstate high school was told by his science teacher that fracking was not safe.
-
Grads' fulfillment can wait if need be
Let's not mince words. Today's college graduates have it rough when it comes to job prospects.
-
NRA's senators ignored will of the people
Last month, the bipartisan proposal to expand background checks in the Senate failed with a majority of 54 senators voting to support the bill.
-
Fracking moratoriums are ridiculous
A moratorium is defined as a delay or stopping of an activity. Recently some local town boards issued moratoriums that included prohibiting vertical gas drilling. Since the early 1800s, 70,000 vertical wells have been successfully drilled in New York state. About 14,000 are active, contributing 44,000 jobs, and permits are still being issued by the DEC.
- Thursday, May 23, 2013
-
Fed ammo theories show who is gullible
Ask 10 people for their thoughts on the National Rifle Association, and you'll likely get a broad range of responses. But on one point, we can all agree - if a threat to the Second Amendment appears, the NRA will find out about it and quickly spread the word. That's why it was nice to see the NRA last summer shoot down one of the more absurd rumors that's been making the rounds: that the federal Department of Homeland Security and other agencies are hoarding massive stockpiles of ammunition for secret, nefarious purposes.
-
Natural gas boom is a false promise
Support for the Constitution and Leatherstocking Pipelines is based primarily on the false promise of affordable shale gas. False, since the price of this gas is too volatile to make it a reliable energy source in the future.
-
Locally led baseball team deserves support
Springtime has finally come to us in the greater Oneonta area, with its warmth, sunshine, emerging shrubs, green lawns, with more smiles than frowns, and how we relish it!
- Wednesday, May 22, 2013
-
Schools must find ways to deal with threats
Anonymous threats to schools are nothing new. Through the years, they have consisted -- among other messages -- of anonymous phone calls, magazine or newspaper lettering glued to a letter, and scrawled warnings on a bathroom mirror.
-
City should improve access to river
Many cities make the river running through it a focal point for its scenic qualities. By doing this, they attract more people to their city to spend some time there and also utilize the stores, restaurants and hotels.
-
Otsego County veteran's director is top-notch
The veterans of Otsego County are being well-served by Jack Henson, director. I feel he is the best director that has ever served in this county.
- Tuesday, May 21, 2013
-
On our Opinion: Cheers
To the DEP's "The Watershed Experience," the Oneonta High School Envirothon team, and to ROPS rebate funding.
-
Make sure Blodgett project holds water
Many thanks to Dennis Finn and the Planning Commission for allowing unrestricted public comment on the Blodgett Drive housing project at the commission’s May 15 meeting. Most who spoke are residents of the area who know the safety and drainage issues well.
-
We need a law against Google Glass
It’s a technological marvel; a product ahead of its time, or at least ahead of the law for the time being, that is.
- Monday, May 20, 2013
-
Make sure you vote in school tax election
School superintendents have it anything but easy in these challenging economic times. In addition to dealing with myriad day-to-day and semester-to-semester issues, they have to have Solomon-like political acumen and management skills.
-
No foreign aid until our needs are met
I couldn't agree more with Sal Furnari's letter published in the Weekend edition. I would also like to add that when I was growing up I was taught to "take care of my own first" and then share with others.
-
THIS WEEK'S POLL
-
It's sad to see Rich Murphy retire
It was a sad day for Otsego County when Rich Murphy announced his intention to retire from the county board at the end of his current term.
-
Liberal media only care about themselves
Sounds like it all depends on 'whose ox is being gored' when it comes to the illegal phone tappings of reporters.
-
Street Talk: May 20, 2013
Do you think that recent high school graduates have a harder time finding a job than previous generations?
-
Satirical letter was pleasant change of pace
