Questioned today about differing standards and releasing her own tax returns, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called the issue a distraction and even suggested the possibility that the media should face disclosure requirements as well.
Pelosi says her refusal to release her tax returns is a distraction in the presidential election. Only 17 members of Congress have released!
— No Liberals (@NoLiberals) July 20, 2012
Reid, Pelosi, Wasserman Schultz, the most vocal voices that have called on Mitt Romney to release his tax returns, refuse to release theirs.
— Joe Cienkowski (@JoeCienkowski) July 19, 2012
https://twitter.com/ClaytonSmith15/status/226105908038606850
BUSTED – Nancy Pelosi hasn't released her own tax returns, so now she's downplaying her demands on Romney: http://t.co/J2sUX9n7 #p2 #felon
— Caleb was a robot (@17ebivor) July 20, 2012
ABC’s Jake Tapper tweeted to clarify that Pelosi was not dismissing the demand for Romney’s tax returns; rather, she was concerned that the questions were taking too much of her limited time.
LOL! RT @jaketapper: Pelosi on Romney tax returns issue: “We spent too much time on that. We should be talking about middle-income tax cuts"
— John Hayward (@Doc_0) July 19, 2012
to be clear: pelosi was talking about spending "too much time" on the tax returns issue at her press avail — not as a general matter
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 19, 2012
@jaketapper So Pelosi's comments are being taken out of context, right Jake? For the "smaht party" they sure have a hard time w/messaging.
— Flora Duh (@FloraDuh1) July 19, 2012
@jaketapper You should be Pelosi's press secretary.
— juliebean (@juliagulia614) July 19, 2012
@jaketapper @jakesherman Plz ask Pelosi when she & Sen Reid are releasing last 10 tax returns??
— Guyton W (@TigernBham) July 19, 2012
Pelosi clarified that “there’s no rule” that requires Romney to release his tax returns but it is the “custom” for presidential candidates and “a tradition” — and that she would release her returns “when I run for president.”
A promise wrapped in a chilling threat… Pelosi: I'll release my tax returns when I run for president http://t.co/VB6IIBH4
— Mike McNally (@notoserfdom) July 20, 2012
Nine scariest words I've ever heard: "When I run for President of the United States…" says Nancy Pelosi. Aaaaagh! http://t.co/VUdNZveZ
— Right Words (@RightWordWriter) July 19, 2012
Apparently feeling cornered over the issue, Pelosi went so far as to suggest that the reporters’ tax returns be made public. “What do you think of that? For everybody. For everybody who writes about it. For everybody who hires people who write about it. For corporate ownership of the media and what are they doing as far as their taxes are concerned?” She then added, “But really, let’s not be silly.”
