The Obama's Are Not Poor

Barack Obama's campaign released his tax returns from 2000 - 2006.  TaxProf provides a nice summary and quick analysis of the returns. 

I do not think that candidates for public office should have to release their tax returns.  Their returns are private and contain personal information.  The candidates should be afforded the same right to privacy that all citizens enjoy when it comes to their tax information.  I don't blame Hillary Clinton for delaying the release of her returns and I would not have blamed Obama if he had not released his. 

I think it's funny when politicians succumb to public pressure and release their tax information.  However, I think it's funnier when the tax forms reveal that Clinton and Obama are millionaires, but they insist that they know what it's like to struggle in today's economy.  I only wish I could struggle like they do.

I also think people are getting too excited about the upcoming opportunity to review Clinton's tax forms.  What are they really going to find?  Everyone knows the Clinton's are millionaires.  Everyone knows former President Bill Clinton is paid well for his speaking engagements.  I assume what political opponents really want to review are the Clinton's investment portfolio.

For those of you who are interested, this site allows to you to view the tax forms of past president's who decided to share their private tax information with the public.