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There is no more slavishly liberal editorial board than that of the New York Times, so when it tells Hillary Clinton to shape up, that is rather extraordinary. The board writes:

“Everybody does it,” is an excuse expected from a mischievous child, not a presidential candidate. But that is Hillary Clinton’s latest defense for making closed-door, richly-paid speeches to big banks, which many middle-class Americans still blame for their economic pain, and then refusing to release the transcripts.
A televised town hall on Tuesday was at least the fourth candidate forum in which Mrs. Clinton was asked about those speeches. Again, she gave a terrible answer, saying that she would release the transcripts “if everybody does it, and that includes the Republicans.” . . . .
Public interest in these speeches is legitimate, and it is the public — not the candidate — who decides how much disclosure is enough. By stonewalling on these transcripts Mrs. Clinton plays into the hands of those who say she’s not trustworthy and makes her own rules. Most important, she is damaging her credibility among Democrats who are begging her to show them that she’d run an accountable and transparent White House.

This raises a few key points.
First, if the board is sincere, it should henceforth declare that it will no longer endorse candidates who are not transparent about their finances. It’s simple, easy to apply and, in this case, might have some impact on the Clinton team’s cost-benefit analysis.
Second, Democrats should be nervous. Do they imagine none of these speeches were ever recorded or that there are no attendees with good memories? Surely bits and pieces of Clinton’s remarks to Wall Street execs will come out. And, hey, if she ever sent her scripts by email — well, we know what happens to unsecured emails.
Third, the exact same principle is at work with regard to Donald Trump and his taxes. And here the Republican National Committee can actually play a constructive role in reclaiming its manhood. It should call on all candidates to disclose ample financial material, including past tax returns. How else are Republicans to make the case against Clinton’s secrecy and hypocrisy if their own potential nominees do not do so? If need be, try adding it to the convention rules as a condition of having one’s name entered in consideration for the nomination. Simply put, Trump can keep his tax records secret, or he can pursue the nomination, but not both.
Oh, I can hear the mice squeaking right now. Trump will be mad! He’ll run as a third-party candidate. Listen, anyone who does not think he will do so anyway if he loses the GOP nomination is kidding themselves. It’s time for the party to show some leadership and defend the party from a hostile takeover.
Fourth, Trump’s GOP opponents and their super PACs should make this a key issue. Run ads on the topic, asking what there is to hide. Remind voters that he has been accused of inflating his wealth in the past and is now selling himself on his phenomenal success as a businessman.
Disclosure is no small matter, especially when the candidates at issue have a long history of dissembling and of financial intrigue. If they are not willing to turn speeches or tax returns over for inspection, they shouldn’t be running for president. And neither party should let them get away with it.