With Romney's GOP rivals now loudly calling for him to release his tax returns, the logical push-back against President Barack Obama is for the White House to finally release his long-form birth certificate. What's that? he already did that? And he's even making jokes about it to Betty White? That's right, it must have slipped my mind.
So, uhm...how about college transcripts? Yeah, we'll go with college transcripts, which Ed Henry brought up at today's White House press briefing with Jay Carney:
HENRY: I don't know how many years, maybe you do, George Romney released of his college transcripts, but Republicans like to complain that the president has not released his college transcripts. What is the stated reason for that?
CARNEY: I would refer you to the campaign...I think we've answered this a bunch. The tradition of releasing income tax records for serious potential nominees, and nominees of the two parties is well established. It's not a law. But it's well established. It's one this president abided by when he was a senator. It's one numerous Republicans and Democrats have abided by and we think it's a good idea.
I think we're past the point where it's unreasonable to consider a candidate's college transcripts out of bounds. Rick Perry's grades gave good chortle, so I don't begrudge anyone the chance to experience the mirth that comes from the college records of any of the other candidates. (I got a "C" in child psychology myself -- by all means, point and laugh!) But it's something of an apples-and-oranges comparison: we're not going to learn about any potential conflicts of interest by looking at Obama's grade in Freshman Comp.
That said, "I would refer you to the campaign" is kind of silly! I guess this means that the White House isn't planning some big news conference reveal, like they did with the birth certificate.
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