President’s wealth is no secret

President’s wealth is no secret

A recent letter (Mike Simon, April 27) compares the 15 percent of adjusted gross income paid in income tax by Mitt Romney with 18 percent paid by President Obama and asks two questions: Whether the president is “trying to mask the fact that he’s rich folk,” and whether “the president paid his fair share.”

Well, of course, the president’s wealth is no secret; he releases his tax returns to the public every year. And, of course, he paid his fair share, because he paid what he owed.

As Romney said during his campaign, the electorate would probably not want a president who paid more taxes than he owed. The difference between the two is that Romney would like to be taxed less, and Obama would like to be taxed more.

In terms of willingness to share, one can hardly fault the president and first lady; in 2012, the Obamas gave $150,000 to charity (about 25 percent of their adjusted gross income.)

Donald G. Westlake

Wheaton