I think the difference is, most of us don't have access to teams of tax lawyers to pay Zero tax on nine-figure assets. So we do our best to figure out which deductions we are entitled to, hope we get it right.
So to try to claim Joe claiming a mortgage deduction on Schedule A is EXACTLY the same as Donald Trump posting a nine-figure loss on his tacky casinos is just silly.
Now, if Trump really thinks his manipulation of the tax code makes him clever, then he should release his returns like every other candidate for the last 40 years has.