Thousands at U.S. rallies demand Trump release tax returns

[rooster59]

Thousands at U.S. rallies demand Trump release tax returns

By Chris Francescani and Tom Ramstack

 

People march demanding President Donald Trump release his tax returns, in New York, U.S., April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

 

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people marched through midtown Manhattan and dozens of U.S. cities on Saturday to demand that President Donald Trump release his tax returns and to dispute his claim that the public does not care about the issue.

 

Organizers of "Tax March" in more than 150 cities across the country and beyond wanted to call attention to Trump's refusal to disclose his tax history, as his White House predecessors have done for more than 40 years.

 

The marches coincide with the traditional April 15 deadline for U.S. federal tax returns, though the filing date was pushed backed two days this year.

 

There were no reports of violence or arrests, in contrast to a clash between Trump supporters and opponents that erupted at a rally in Berkeley, California, where nine people were arrested.

 

Two of the biggest tax marches took place in New York and Los Angeles, with each drawing about 5,000 people, according to estimates by Reuters reporters. No official estimates were immediately available.

 

In Manhattan, a good-natured crowd rallied at Bryant Park before marching up Sixth Avenue to Central Park.

 

Among the marchers was an oversized inflatable rooster, sporting an angry expression and a sweeping metallic orange hairdo meant to resemble Trump's signature style.

 

“Thanks to Trump, I think that releasing your taxes when you run for president now has to be a law,” said New Yorker Marni Halasa, 51, who arrived in a tutu and leggings made of fake dollar bills and holding a sign that read “Show Me The Money!”

 

In Washington, more than 1,500 protesters gathered on the front lawn of the U.S. Capitol, where members of Congress addressed the crowd before it marched to the Lincoln Memorial.

 

"We are taking the gloves off to say knock off the secrecy Mr. President," said Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, which would play a leading role in tax reform measures being considered in Congress.

 

He described Trump's refusal to release his taxes as being "like a teenager trying to hide a lousy report card."

 

TAX REFORM

 

Among the marchers was Melinda Colwell, 34, a stay-at-home-mother from Ledyard, Connecticut. She said she was concerned that conflicts of interest in Trump's tax returns might foreshadow selfish interests in his tax reform policies.

 

"I think it's important to know how that could influence his decisions and how he could benefit from the decisions being made," she said.

 

As a candidate and as president, Trump has refused to release his tax returns, citing an ongoing audit by the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS has said that Trump can release his tax returns even while under audit.

 

The White House could not be reached immediately for comment on the marches.

 

Events were also planned in cities in Europe, Japan and New Zealand.

 

The marches were launched by a single tweet, organizers said. A day after the massive Jan. 21 women's march in Washington and other cities, comedy writer Frank Lesser tapped out on Twitter, "Trump claims no one cares about his taxes. The next mass protest should be on Tax Day to prove him wrong." It has been retweeted more than 21,000 times.

 

In Los Angeles, television director Mike Stutz turned up at the march dressed in costume as a Russian general and said he was called General Bullshitski. He carried a sign that read: "What Tax Returns? Putin paid cash. Trust your oligarchs," referring to allegations of contacts between Trump's campaign and Russia, led by President Vladimir Putin.

 

Joe Dinkin, spokesman for the Working Families Party, one of the groups organising the marches, said investigations into the Trump campaign's alleged connections to Russia underscore the need to disclose his returns.

 

"Without seeing his taxes, we'll never really know who he's working for," said Dinkin, who expects the marches to draw at least 100,000 protesters.

 

There have been some glimpses into Trump's tax history. Last month, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow reported on two pages of Trump's 2005 return that were obtained by investigative reporter David Cay Johnston and released by DCReport.org. They showed Trump paid $38 million in taxes on more than $150 million in income.

 

And in October, The New York Times reported that Trump had declared a $916 million loss on his 1995 federal tax return, citing three pages of documents from the return.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-16

[darksidedog]

It appears that contrary to Donalds assertion that no one cares about his tax returns that in actual fact, many people care a lot.

One has to suspect that given his refusal to make them public, that the issue may be a seriously smoking gun.

If all were above board there would be no reason not to divulge them. What is he hiding? Is he broke? Is Russia financing him?

Obama showed us his birth certificate, so show us the tax returns.

[haroldc]

Perhaps all these protesters should release all their tax returns before demanding that President Trump releases his.  As Mr. Dinkin said: "Without seeing his [their] taxes, we'll never really know who he's [they are] working for."

[Jingthing]

Perhaps all these protesters should release all their tax returns before demanding that President Trump releases his.  As Mr. Dinkin said: "Without seeing his [their] taxes, we'll never really know who he's [they are] working for."

Makes no sense. They're private citizens. trump is to so called president. He's supposed to be working for the citizens.

[Jingthing]

It appears that contrary to Donalds assertion that no one cares about his tax returns that in actual fact, many people care a lot.
One has to suspect that given his refusal to make them public, that the issue may be a seriously smoking gun.
If all were above board there would be no reason not to divulge them. What is he hiding? Is he broke? Is Russia financing him?
Obama showed us his birth certificate, so show us the tax returns.

Yes but he will never show them. The impeachment process will need to be based on other things.

[haroldc]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Makes no sense. They're private citizens. trump is to so called president. He's supposed to be working for the citizens.

Makes perfect sense.  The protesters want to know if President Trump is not working for the best interests of the United States.  Why should we not know if the protesters are not working for the best interests of the United States?  What's good for the goose should be good for the gander...

[daboyz1]

What a monumental waste of time. Maybe they should find a job.

[Jingthing]

Makes perfect sense.  The protesters want to know if President Trump is not working for the best interests of the United States.  Why should we not know if the protesters are not working for the best interests of the United States?  What's good for the goose should be good for the gander...

Ridiculous.

[Jingthing]

What a monumental waste of time. Maybe they should find a job.

Resisting an autocratic demagogue not a waste of time.

[PatOngo]

20 minutes ago, haroldc said:

Makes perfect sense.  The protesters want to know if President Trump is not working for the best interests of the United States.  Why should we not know if the protesters are not working for the best interests of the United States?  What's good for the goose should be good for the gander...

They should all put their hands on their hearts and repeat "America First"! 

[Scott]

A troll post has been removed.   Unless someone has a reasonably credible link to substantiate paid-to-protest, further comments such as that will result in suspensions.  

[daboyz1]

Resisting an autocratic demagogue not a waste of time.

Election is over. The whiners have another shot in 3.5 years. Time to move on.

[Jingthing]

Just now, daboyz1 said:

Election is over. The whiners have another shot in 3.5 years. Time to move on.

Not that B.S. again.

Nobody said the election isn't over. 

The U. S. elected an absurd clown that directly threatens core American democratic institutions. 

Protest is the most patriotic thing to do in the face of such a direct threat from within. (Within the white house.)

It's hilarious to me that trumpists think they can shut down the resistance with insults. The man has a teeny tiny approval rating and it isn't going to get better. Deal with that. 

[daboyz1]

What BS? Should I post the results? Like I said.. keep crying.. in 2020 you'll have another shot.

FTR I agree with you that the guy is a clown, but the voters have spoken. The elected an unqualified idiot twice in 2008 an 2012, and they were consistent again in 2016. Get over it.

[Jingthing]

4 minutes ago, daboyz1 said:

What BS? Should I post the results? Like I said.. keep crying.. in 2020 you'll have another shot.

FTR I agree with you that the guy is a clown, but the voters have spoken. The elected an unqualified idiot twice in 2008 an 2012, and they were consistent again in 2016. Get over it.

Talking about the election results is YOUR trip. Pure OFF TOPIC diversion. The resistance IS over the election results and for a long time dealing with the reality of trump actually occupying the oval office.

 

Focus on the actual topic, OK?

[Scott]

Troll post and replies removed.  

 

[Ramen087]

Are the Russians financing him? Too funny. The guy is worth ~ three and a  half billion dollars. A blockbuster inquiry and release into his taxes show he does what everyone else does... he legally files a return that reduces his liability... all within the law. And in the year of '05 he had a bad year and still made 150 million bucks.  Financed by the Russians? Not likely.

 

  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/03/14/this-2005-donald-trump-tax-return-is-a-total-nothingburger/?utm_term=.de87d40e2f8e.

 The WP termed it a 'total nothing burger'.  And they're not a pro-Trump news group.

 

I have never understood the public's need to see any elected official's tax return. That is the job of the IRS and state tax departments. Just like it's nobody else's business how much money I make it is no one else's business how much an elected representative makes.

 

[Jingthing]

5 minutes ago, Ramen087 said:

Are the Russians financing him? Too funny. The guy is worth ~ three and a  half billion dollars. A blockbuster inquiry and release into his taxes show he does what everyone else does... he legally files a return that reduces his liability... all within the law. And in the year of '05 he had a bad year and still made 150 million bucks.  Financed by the Russians? Not likely.

 

  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/03/14/this-2005-donald-trump-tax-return-is-a-total-nothingburger/?utm_term=.de87d40e2f8e.

 The WP termed it a 'total nothing burger'.  And they're not a pro-Trump news group.

 

I have never understood the public's need to see any elected official's tax return. That is the job of the IRS and state tax departments. Just like it's nobody else's business how much money I make it is no one else's business how much an elected representative makes.

 

Disingenuous distortion, dude.

Who do you think you're fooling with that?

That was ONE return, an old one, and there is suspicion that it was leaked by a trump ally as a propaganda ploy.

 

 

[ilostmypassword]

9 minutes ago, Ramen087 said:

Are the Russians financing him? Too funny. The guy is worth ~ three and a  half billion dollars. A blockbuster inquiry and release into his taxes show he does what everyone else does... he legally files a return that reduces his liability... all within the law. And in the year of '05 he had a bad year and still made 150 million bucks.  Financed by the Russians? Not likely.

 

  https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/03/14/this-2005-donald-trump-tax-return-is-a-total-nothingburger/?utm_term=.de87d40e2f8e.

 The WP termed it a 'total nothing burger'.  And they're not a pro-Trump news group.

 

I have never understood the public's need to see any elected official's tax return. That is the job of the IRS and state tax departments. Just like it's nobody else's business how much money I make it is no one else's business how much an elected representative makes.

 

And, for that matter, it's nobody's business what the President invests in and who he partners with because, you know, it's not illegal. It's true it's illegal for most people in the upper levels of the executive branch, but not the President. And the reason is that when this law was passed, no one believed that a President could be so lacking in moral sense and ethical standards that he wouldn't put his holdings in a blind trust.

And the reason that Cilizza called it a "nothing burger" was that it was only the 1040 form that was shown.  That's not where the interesting and possibly incriminating details would lie.

[csabo]

3 hours ago, darksidedog said:

It appears that contrary to Donalds assertion that no one cares about his tax returns that in actual fact, many people care a lot.

One has to suspect that given his refusal to make them public, that the issue may be a seriously smoking gun.

If all were above board there would be no reason not to divulge them. What is he hiding? Is he broke? Is Russia financing him?

Obama showed us his birth certificate, so show us the tax returns.

Obama spent millions to fight off showing his BC for years even intentionally realeasing a false version first.  You cant just make that go away.  Rachel Maddow already released Trumps returns anyway. It was a non-story to the point that all these protestors and you must have missed it.  It turns out Trump payed a higher rate than most including your beloved Obama.

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, csabo said:

Obama spent millions to fight off showing his BC for years even intentionally realeasing a false version first.  You cant just make that go away.  Rachel Maddow already released Trumps returns anyway. It was a non-story to the point that all these protestors and you must have missed it.  It turns out Trump payed a higher rate than most including your beloved Obama.

RETURNS?

That is a baldfaced lie. It was a limited leak of one year. Proves nothing about the bigger picture of what may be in his returns. If he has nothing to hide ... release, release, release. He obviously has something to hide BIGLY. 

Edited April 16, 2017 by Jingthing

[csabo]

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Makes no sense. They're private citizens. trump is to so called president. He's supposed to be working for the citizens.

Trump was also a private citizen not a career politician when he ran.  Politicians only release their taxes when they are running to show they are not on the take. The hide the real bribes in the "Foundation" anyway.

[Jingthing]

Just now, csabo said:

Trump was also a private citizen not a career politician when he ran.  Politicians only release their taxes when they are running to show they are not on the take. The hide the real bribes in the "Foundation" anyway.

Not convincing. We want to see his returns. The fact that he refuses to release them makes people think there is probably something extremely damaging in them. Make excuses, fine, the majority aren't buying them. 

[csabo]

Just now, Jingthing said:

RETURNS?

That is a baldfaced lie. It was a limited release of one year. Proves nothing about the bigger picture of what may be in his returns. If he has nothing to hide ... release, release, release. He obviously has something to hide BIGLY. 

So it was released and there was nothing there and so you want another release and another until you find something???  Thats called witch hunting. Come closer I've got a release for you.

[csabo]

Just now, Jingthing said:

Not convincing. We want to see his returns. The fact that he refuses to release them makes people think there is probably something extremely damaging in them. Make excuses, fine, the majority aren't buying them. 

You know the election is over right?  

[Jingthing]

Just now, csabo said:

So it was released and there was nothing there and so you want another release and another until you find something???  Thats called witch hunting. Come closer I've got a release for you.

You're not fooling anyone. Deal with facts not fake reality. It was limited info from one year, long ago. Only fools and hard core trumpists would think that tells it all. 

[daboyz1]

What is this obsession with the guys tax returns? I think they've already been leaked. Find something else to worry about maybe the hair.

[Jingthing]

Just now, csabo said:

You know the election is over right?  

Yes, dude. 

This isn't about the election.

Stop the diversion. The topic is the tax returns. 

[Jingthing]

Just now, daboyz1 said:

What is this obsession with the guys tax returns? I think they've already been leaked. Find something else to worry about maybe the hair.

Wrong. They have not already been leaked. Pay attention to the facts. There was one leak of limited info from one long past year. There wasn't anything damaging to trump in that but it does not follow that that tells us anything conclusive about seeing ALL his more recent returns. Some people may fall for fake news. Not everyone yet.

[daboyz1]

So tell me the relevance. I don't want to hear the bs about every president releasing them since Nixon.

It's a witch hunt. The guy has plenty of other warts.