That tax thing again, and a salute to Senator McCain.

I would like to start this post like I have a few others over the past few days: by asking Mitt Romney to release his tax returns. I know it's an uncomfortable subject for Mr. Romney and his supporters, but I.....wait, let me just let the Washington Post's editorial page tell us why he should release them.

"FOR MOST AMERICANS, income tax returns are a private matter, and federal law protects that privacy. For those who would be president, a different standard applies. The modern presidency demands so much of one individual — decisions of immense complexity, consequence and difficulty — that the candidates’ characters must be thoroughly examined.

The exploratory process is often unpleasant for candidates, especially when it is stimulated or exploited by their opponents. But it is essential for voters. The probing and investigating is a chance to examine all the ups and downs of a career, the critical moments and life experiences that might foretell how a president will make decisions.  

This is why, as we said months ago, Mitt Romney’s tax returns are important. He has described himself as a successful capitalist who took risks and created wealth, a laudable credential. Voters would benefit by seeing and evaluating the details of that story, including through his tax records.

So far, Mr. Romney has made public one year of his federal return, for 2010, and promises to release the 2011 return when it is ready. He has declined to disclose any earlier years. This is an error that he should quickly reverse. He does not need to go as far as his father, who made public 12 years of tax returns when he was running for president in 1968, but more than two years would be informative..."

Thank you!

Anyway, I wanted to do a post tonight congratulating and praising senator John McCain of Arizona. Mr. McCain is a man that I don't often agree with, but he did a brave and courageous thing by standing up to some of the wingnuts in his own party and he should be commended for it.

The republican party is becoming so unhinged at its core that we soon won't recognize the "party of Lincoln" anymore. To think that they would accuse a trusted and long time aide to our Secretary of State of being infiltrator and a spy for the Muslim Brotherhood is preposterous and shocking. (BTW, she is married to a Jew)  

So back to Mr. McCain. Yesterday he took to the floor of the Senate and gave one of those "profiles in courage" speeches that we get from politricksters every now and then.

"In a floor speech Wednesday, McCain defended Abedin, calling her “an intelligent, upstanding, hard-working and loyal servant of our country and our government, who has devoted countless days of her life to advancing the ideals of the nation she loves and looking after its most precious interests. That she has done so while maintaining her characteristic decency, warmth and good humor is a testament to her ability to bear even the most arduous duties with poise and confidence.

“Put simply, Huma represents what is best about America: the daughter of immigrants, who has risen to the highest levels of our government on the basis of her substantial personal merit and her abiding commitment to the American ideals that she embodies so fully,” McCain said. “I am proud to know Huma and to call her my friend.”

I salute you sir. And shame on Michele Bachmann and the purveyors of hate and prejudice for even dignifying these unfounded charges against a hard working American because of their own bigotry and ignorance.