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Romney Policy Director Lanhee Chen on the presidential candidate’s economic past and his message for the election.
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Hello everybody -- Gerri Willis the issue of Mitt Romney's tax is not flaming out any time soon.
The struggling economy taking a backseat to both sides sparring over senator Harry Reid's claim.
Romney has -- -- a dime in taxes in ten years.
And it looks like -- out but he can't take it is chief of staff blasting the GOP for attacking Reid saying quote.
-- budget cowards Lindsey Graham writes -- in this.
There -- a bunch of henchmen for Romney they couldn't hold a candle to Harry Reid with more on this I have line he Chen.
Policy director for the Romney campaign welcome back this show it's always a pleasure to have you here.
What do you make of these most recent comments.
Well Jerry it's good to be with you look this is yet another distraction that the Obama campaign -- out there to deflect attention away.
From the anemic economic recovery that we face currently this is sat.
It's really disgusting allegation it's one that's completely untrue that independent fact checkers today have said is untrue.
Let let's get back in focus on the issues that matter to the American people let's talk about how we can get this economy growing again.
Mitt -- -- they're talking about his plan for stronger middle class let's have a debate about the policy changes that need to be made to get the economy back on track.
-- it's a distraction that your campaign could put to arrest with a simple.
Release of of tax documents why not do that.
If you go on our website Gerri what -- find it is is really a substantial amount financial disclosure information.
They governor Romney's made available that includes his that 2010 tax return.
As soon when the 2011 tax returns complete you'll see that as well as well as financial disclosures going back got several years that's all available on our website.
The governor's been completely transparent about this as I said this is a distraction well let's move on the issues that matter to the American people clearly we do have -- -- -- ten.
An estimated 2011.
Available as well on your website and would actually looked at that we get a lot of work on this.
But why not release additional tax years is it too much of the distraction for the campaign.
Or as the Democrats suggest is there something in them that you think won't be palatable to the American people.
No I mean Jerry assets said the the information that we've made available on our website is voluminous we encourage anyone to go out there and -- and check it out.
The reason why.
We want to focus on the economy is because this is really the issue that matters the American people.
We believe that this is the issue this election is gonna be decided on and we frankly believe this is an important issue for the future of our country.
And so we wanna be talking about the policies it's gonna take to get our economy going again and that's a debate that we need to have.
How many EV one more question on this in the long live -- table that David Axelrod talked about this.
It again this is to -- it's interesting the way he talks about there's here's David Axelrod.
The Romney campaign and governor -- we can resolve this in ten seconds they can release the tax returns they gave.
23 years of tax returns to John McCain they've given one -- -- tax returns to the American people -- governor Romney's father who pioneered the release of tax returns when he ran for president gave out twelve years of tax returns because he said one year can be misleading why don't they just put this to rest what is it that he's -- You know it's interesting to -- -- had Jay Carney coming out saying green speaks for himself today the president himself seeming to back off.
This whole debate what do you say are heard the Democrats trying to -- to mask.
What should be the real debate about jobs.
Yeah no question this is an effort by the president's campaign.
To distract attention away from the continued poor growth in the economy.
From Friday's job and it's no coincidence that this comes out.
A -- around another poor jobs report on Friday.
So -- -- -- we're going to be talking as I said about the issues that matter to the American people how we create a stronger middle class of policies to grow the economy create jobs.
You know.
We watch very carefully discussion about jobs.
About -- -- at the releases it a point 3% now unemployment going nine.
Romney said -- your candidate just said that there should be no more Federal Reserve stimulus.
Wall Street is clamoring for a congress is clamoring for -- Howell stopping the Federal Reserve money machine.
Help the economy.
Well the answer is not.
For more -- stimulus fiscal or otherwise the answer is to reduce the policy uncertainty that's currently in existence in Washington.
And changing course look we've had.
-- several years of poor economic policies we at 787 billion dollar stimulus.
That's completely under deliver the president promised us a -- unemployment would be below 6% by announcing its eight point 3%.
What we really need is a change in course we need policies to grow the middle class.
By ensuring that we have energy independence by getting trade relationships that are right for America.
By ensuring that Americans have the skills to succeed in our economy.
By ensuring that we cut the deficit and finally that we champion small business that's the core of the governor's economic plan.
And and that's really the solution set that will need to get this economy going.
-- Chan thanks for your help today we really appreciate it.
