Harry Reid v Mitt Romney (The Same Cooperative Order)

Harry Reid v Mitt Romney (The Same Cooperative Order)

The ‘put up or shut up’ line Governor Mitt Romney uttered on Fox, in response to Senate Leader Harry Reid’s charge as to the reason that Romney has not released his tax returns, has ushered in some commentary.  Reid claimed that he was told by somebody at Bain Capital that Romney did not wish to reveal to the public that he has not paid taxes in 10 years. 

Liz Marlantes, Correspondent / August 3, 2012 Christian Science Monitor posted   “How to tell Mitt Romney is no 'wimp'? Take that, Harry Reid.”

This is a delightfully sarcastic article and is, among other things, about Romney’s lack of human emotion even when responding to his critics on Fox friendly.  Romney, who was given airtime by a Fox friendly to respond to Reid’s accusation that Romney has not paid taxes in 10 years, uttered “put up or shut up” . . . challenging Reid to disclose his source. Marlantes also discusses the fact that Reid has taken some heat for not disclosing his source (more about that to follow).

There is also a piece by Sarah Jones of PoliticusUSA; ‘Reid to Romney: It’s Your Obligation to Put Up Instead of Shutting Up’.

The essence of this piece is that the conservative media is all taken by the fact that Romney told Reid to ‘put up or shut up’ regarding the accusation. He has finally shown some 'cajones'. What they are forgetting (the conservative media) is that Reid is not Romney’s opponent and they are too full of themselves and pleased with Romney’s response to understand this.

I tend to think Jones’ article is more to the point.  The tiff is much to do about nothing and is aimed in the wrong direction. Reid is not running for president and is not Romney’s opponent.  This is surely a diversionary tactic, which Romney, if he wished to put an end to the mystery, could easily make go away. So it is clear why so many believe he is hiding something. 

Importantly, the point missed is Romney, Ryan, Norquist, et al, argue, a la Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged, and libertarian economists like Milton Friedman claim that our most important value is freedom.  The preeminent component to maximizing one's freedom is taking responsibility for one's actions. One might think Romney is exercising his freedom by not issuing his returns because he does not feel an obligation to do so; or as his critics postulate, one might believe that he does not wish to take public ownership for what his tax returns may or may not contain and so is not acting freely, i.e. he is being handled.

One also might not wish to have a man as president who is not willing to take responsibility for his actions. Bottom line, we all at one time or another have acted hypocritically, but it is apocryphal to act in a manner that compromises the central value to which one aspires and preaches as essential for living a good life. I, for one, do not wish such a man to represent me in the World.

As to Harry Reid, I guess Romney can ask what he wishes . . . again Reid is not Romney’s opponent; this is a diversion. Bain, no doubt, is code for the fact that Reid has sources that he will not divulge because he and Romney are both senior members of the same cooperative order.

sfb