On Aug. 20 President Barack Obama finally spoke with the White House press.
Although Mitt Romney has given the required two years of tax returns and plans to release his current one, much discussion again revolved around this unimportant matter, as far as world concerns go. (Although John Kerry owned seven houses, no one ever asked about his taxes.)
The president brags that his taxes are available, but unlike Romney, his personal life is a mystery after high school in Honolulu. Yet, no one asks him to open his sealed papers: passport, records from two colleges, law degree and, yes, the original birth certificate.
We know everything about Romney's background. His business acumen is such that he made his own fortune after giving away his father's inheritance. His overall tax rate is a lower percentage than Paul Ryan's since most of his income is derived from capital gains, which the government taxes at a lower rate. The Romneys tithe at least 10 percent to their church and have given millions to charity every year.
That is the kind of selfless leader we need now to save us from becoming like Greece.
What has our president - who says we should should spread the wealth and we should be our brother's keeper - done for his half brother living in a hut in Africa? Nada. Not one dollar, and poor George lives on less than $20 a year. Sad, really sad.
Gaye McDonald
Kihei
