Mitt Romney's Anti-Gay Tax Return Revelations Include $4 Million to Mormon Church
Tim Elfrink at the Miami New Times breaks down Romney's tax returns, and notes the motherlode received from the Romneys by the LDS Church:
The Mormons get as much as the feds: Since 2010, the Romneys gave away $7 million to charity, with the vast majority -- $4.1 million -- going to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The IRS, meanwhile, got just $3 million last year from Mittens.
Romney pays crazy low taxes for a rich guy: If you've got a couple mil in the bank, you might want to hire Romney's accountants. The guy pays a tax rate of about 15.4 percent, CBS reports, which is equivalent to the average Joe's rate. But it's a fraction of what other millionaires pay, leaving tax advocates like Warren Buffett fuming this morning.
Think Progress adds: "CNN reported that the Romneys’ Tyler Charitable Foundation also gave to the anti-gay Massachusetts Family Institute over a period of several years. The group opposes same-sex marriage in the state and warns parents about literature that promotes so-called 'pro-homosexual books' to school children."
Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...
Michelangelo Signorile adds: "...for moderates it's a reminder that Romney is a strong adherent -- morally and financially -- to a church that is on a moral crusade against women's right to choose and, most prominently in recent years, against gay rights. The Mormon Church was the focus of protests across the country after Proposition 8 passed in California, banning marriage for gays and lesbians. Church leaders had urged members to give money to the cause, and some estimates put that amount at over $20 million. The church itself gave over $180,000 to help pass Prop 8. The church was fined by the California Fair Political Practices Commission for not reporting its numerous financial contributions to the cause."
Um, could we please do away with the conceit that giving money to your church is "charity"? Whether or not that money is treated the same way as charitable donations for tax purposes, propping up religious institutions is hardly the same thing as true charity. That's true in all cases but particularly when that "charity" is mandatory, as tithing to the Mormon church is, and the recipient is FAR from needy.
Posted by: Caliban | Jan 24, 2012 12:18:47 PM
This headline is stupid. Mitt Romney's Tax Return has made no comments on how it feels about the gays.
Also, duh, Romney is a Mormon... It would have been shocking if he hadn't given money to the Mormon Church, whether or not he himself is anti-gay.
Posted by: RandySF | Jan 24, 2012 12:37:23 PM
Is this news to anyone? Every mormon in good standing pays ten percent of their income to the church, as Romney himself indicated before his 500+ page tax return was released.
Posted by: spraypaintedgold | Jan 24, 2012 12:55:42 PM
Yeah, not sure how this is news. Every mormon is required to give a percent of their paycheck to the church - tithing. The fact that he gives more shouldn't surprise anyone because it's a tax deduction.
Posted by: Craig | Jan 24, 2012 1:21:30 PM
whoa your info is off
per CNN, MSNBC, everybody else Mitt paid 13.9% in 2010 with money stashed in cayman islands, a swiss bank account, and luxenburg
and the charitable giving to the mormon church for 2010 and 2011 = 5.1 mill total
Posted by: say what | Jan 24, 2012 1:33:33 PM
Wow a lot of apologists posting.Mitt has always been homophobic thats part of the problem with this community you find one little thing you can possibly defend these bigots with you grab hold to it.Ridiculous.Don't be naive either Mitt knew where his money was going the entire time he just thought he could hide it like any other hypocritical republican does.
Posted by: Kenny | Jan 24, 2012 1:37:45 PM
PS the average joe comment is off as well since the average american ends up paying after deductions about 18.2 to 25%
Posted by: say what | Jan 24, 2012 1:39:31 PM
@Craig: What is wrong with people like you? You are actually trying to find a way to justify and excuse people like Mitt from denying us our rights as human beings? The hypocrisy of this community never ceases to astound me.
Posted by: Kenny | Jan 24, 2012 1:39:40 PM
That was supposed to be @ Craig and Saywhat. Honestly the more petty excuses rationalizations and justifications the more these twits think they are justified for who they contribute to and why they contribute to them period.
Posted by: Kenny | Jan 24, 2012 1:41:18 PM
@ kenny
excuse me?
where di I defend romney. I crticied andy's citing cbs as a source. CBS' #s are off compared to all other news sites
all other sources paint romney in a worse light than the source andy sighted
I was bashing romney
In no way paying 13.9% tax rate a good thing
in no way saying that romney donated more than what andy cited iis a good thing
in no way pointing out romney stashed money overseas in luxenburg, swiss acount, and cayman island account a good thing
kudos to you kenny commenting to the romney apologists but you are cross eyed if you think my post was a romney apology
Posted by: say what | Jan 24, 2012 1:45:13 PM
@SayWhat: Sorry then half the time I can't tell who are apologists and who actually understand in this community. We are fighting for our rights here and in all honesty we are screwed no matter who becomes president. You made some very valid points the thing I find hypocritical is these candidates ALL of them have secrets have done wrong yet they continue to condemn us the big bad gays and act like they are innocent and pristine no matter what.
Thats a laugh.Again my apologies.
Posted by: Kenny | Jan 24, 2012 1:50:00 PM
no prob kenny
Posted by: say what | Jan 24, 2012 1:53:41 PM
This guys tax return on so many levels is a abomination to all hard working americans...who make under $21million+!
Posted by: Vern Dufford | Jan 24, 2012 1:59:16 PM
Sure would be nice for someone to ask the Mormon Church what they do with all that money.
Posted by: BobN | Jan 24, 2012 3:30:17 PM
I have been reading more about Romney's tax situation it is fascinating stuff it does make you wander why the republican super packs back him so...The rich get richer and and everyone else can go to hell.Except off course organized religion and swiss bankers.
Posted by: Vern Dufford | Jan 24, 2012 3:52:30 PM
I was once told by a former lover's very wealthy father that either you work or your money does. His dad was an executive VP at Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner and Smith brokerage house. Mitt's money works very hard for him. Mitt, however, hardly performs a day's work at all. The average wage earner, who actually works for a living producing something tangible or providing a service, has his taxes taken from him before he receives penny one from his labor. Mitt pays a capital gains tax at year's end. He apparently has little (speaking fees?) or no wages subject to FICA. Mitt gives very little to a country that has allowed him to benefit so much. He's a greedy man.
Should Mittsy get the nomination and should he select Christie as a running mate, they can run on a ticket of Greed and Gluttony. The GOP, poster children for the seven deadly sins.
Posted by: Bob R | Jan 24, 2012 4:00:57 PM
FICA is the biggest tax for most people with less than a median wage.
Posted by: anon | Jan 24, 2012 5:38:49 PM
Mitt is a very rich white guy so is his puny tax return really so shocking?!
Posted by: jaragon | Jan 24, 2012 5:49:05 PM
What is the point here? I pulled this article up to read a new journalistic analysis of Romney's tax return. The author's individual bias against this candidate overwhelms everything else he has to say. This type of reporting damages the mission of this website.
Posted by: Scott | Jan 24, 2012 9:14:37 PM