Limbaugh Claims Americans Don't Want Romney To Release Tax Returns -- But They Do

Rush Limbaugh continued to defend Mitt Romney's refusal to release his tax returns by claiming that Americans aren't interested in seeing Romney's tax returns. In fact, polls show that a majority of Americans want Romney to release his tax returns.

On his show today, Limbaugh declared that “there's not a normal person anywhere” who wants Romney to release more tax returns. He added: “The American people are not chomping at the bit here to have this question answered. It's purely, totally fabricated. The media knows that it's been fabricated; it's a lie.”

In fact, polling reveals the opposite is true: The American people do want the question of Romney's tax returns answered. A July USAToday/Gallup poll found that a majority of people believe Romney should release additional years of tax returns:

A Public Policy Polling survey found that 61 percent of Independents believe Romney should release his tax returns for the last 12 years.

Additionally, a growing chorus of Republicans and conservatives have called for Romney to release more of his returns.

But Limbaugh has continued to staunchly defend Romney's refusal to release additional years of his tax returns. Just last week, Limbaugh advised Romney to avoid releasing his returns while challenging President Obama to release his college transcripts to prove he received passing grades. In fact, there is no precedent for presidents or presidential candidates to release their academic records, whereas presidential candidates are expected to release several years' worth of tax returns.

This is not the first time Limbaugh has resorted to distorting public opinion to make a point.