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Romney caught on tape . " my job is not to worry about those people "
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2012 Sep 17, 12:42pm 10,801 views 31 comments
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Politicofact
2012 Sep 17, 12:44pm
Back in February, Mitt Romney stuck his ample silver foot in his mouth when he told CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, “I’m not concerned about the very poor.†He went on to say, “We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I’ll fix it. I’m not concerned about the very rich, they’re doing just fine. I’m concerned about the very heart of the America, the 90, 95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling, and I’ll continue to take that message across the nation.â€
Politicofact
2012 Sep 17, 12:55pm
Obama campaign manager Jim Messina wasted no time slamming Romney for the remarks:
“It's shocking that a candidate for President of the United States would go behind closed doors and declare to a group of wealthy donors that half the American people view themselves as ‘victims,’ entitled to handouts, and are unwilling to take ‘personal responsibility’ for their lives," Messina said in a statement. "It’s hard to serve as president for all Americans when you’ve disdainfully written off half the nation.â€
"The people who receive the disproportionate share of government spending are not big-government lovers. They are Republicans."
- David Brooks (nytimes.com)
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/opinion/brooks-thurston-howell-romney.html
Selection of quotes:
"In 1980, about 30 percent of Americans received some form of government benefits. Today, as Nicholas Eberstadt of the American Enterprise Institute has pointed out, about 49 percent do.
In 1960, government transfers to individuals totaled $24 billion. By 2010, that total was 100 times as large. Even after adjusting for inflation, entitlement transfers to individuals have grown by more than 700 percent over the last 50 years. This spending surge, Eberstadt notes, has increased faster under Republican administrations than Democratic ones."
...
There are sensible conclusions to be drawn from these facts. You could say that the entitlement state is growing at an unsustainable rate and will bankrupt the country.
...
But these are not the sensible arguments that Mitt Romney made at a fund-raiser earlier this year. Romney, who criticizes President Obama for dividing the nation, divided the nation into two groups: the makers and the moochers.
...
The people who receive the disproportionate share of government spending are not big-government lovers. They are Republicans. They are senior citizens. They are white men with high school degrees.
...
Sure, there are some government programs that cultivate patterns of dependency in some people. I’d put federal disability payments and unemployment insurance in this category. But, as a description of America today, Romney’s comment is a country-club fantasy. It’s what self-satisfied millionaires say to each other. It reinforces every negative view people have about Romney.
Personally, I think he’s a kind, decent man who says stupid things because he is pretending to be something he is not — some sort of cartoonish government-hater. But it scarcely matters. He’s running a depressingly inept presidential campaign. Mr. Romney, your entitlement reform ideas are essential, but when will the incompetence stop?"
MisdemeanorRebel
2012 Sep 18, 1:13am
Wow dudes. Romney just called the 1/4 of the population that lives off their lifetime of Social Security contributions (in addition to the income tax they paid) deadbeats. And most of the other 1/4, who work bonegrinding low-wage jobs running their asses off all day, the same.
You gotta love the Republicans. Laying around living off your inherited investments is taxed less than wages and salaries from productive endeavors, yet they're obsessed with taxing retired people and single moms working two P/T jobs.
Politicofact
2012 Sep 18, 4:58am
Importantly who are these people?
According to the Census Bureau, 49% of Americans in the second quarter of 2011 lived in a household where at least one member received a government benefit. (The total population at the time was 305 million).
That’s up from 30% in the 1980s and 44.4% in the third quarter of 2008, a recent growth in part attributable to the bad economy of President Obama’s first term.
The Census Bureau broke the data down like this:
26.4% of U.S. households had someone enrolled in Medicaid (the health-care program for low-income Americans)
16.2% of households had at least one member receiving Social Security.
15.8% lived in a household receiving food stamps
14.9% had a member with Medicare benefits
4.5% of households received assistance with their rent
1.7% had a member receiving unemployment benefits.
Politicofact
2012 Sep 18, 4:59am
So Mitt.
1) The sick/ Sick CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!
2) The elderly
3) The military vets
3) The poor
4) The working poor
5) The unemployed
Mitt you make me vomit.
Politicofact
2012 Sep 18, 5:17am
Romney rails against the "WEAK" that they don't pay "ENOUGH" tax, WHATS HIS EXCUSE?
OUTRAGED!
Politicofact
2012 Sep 18, 5:22am
Where did all the wing-nuts go?
Running with their tails between their legs to Sarah Palin
Ceffer
2012 Sep 18, 5:54am
Where did all the wing-nuts go?
I think they decided it was better to live on a desert island without burning "straw men" in effigy.
Y
2012 Sep 18, 9:04am
Another quote taken out of context by the liberal media. what a surprise it was 'unearthed' by that mother jones idiot who needs some kind of mole remover ointment.
Romney was referring to his election strategy. He should not worry at all about the 47% of left wingnuts that would not change their vote if jesus christ was on the red ticket.
His plan is to concentrate on the independents.
Got it? Didn't think so....
Romney caught on tape . " my job is not to worry about those people "
Politicofact
2012 Sep 18, 9:54am
Romney was referring to his election strategy.
We know and understand that it is also his governing policy.
It is clearly "NOT only his "ELECTION STRATEGY" as you say,
Romney would cut taxes for the rich and raise them on the poor. This we can all very clearly see.
Politicofact
2012 Sep 18, 11:03am
McMahon distances herself from Romney 47% comments (Updated)
Connecticut GOP Senate candidate Linda McMahon is out with a statement today offering direct criticism of Mitt Romney's comments on the "47 percent" that were unearthed yesterday:
“I disagree with Governor Romney’s insinuation that 47% of Americans believe they are victims who must depend on the government for their care. I know that the vast majority of those who rely on government are not in that situation because they want to be. People today are struggling because the government has failed to keep America competitive, failed to support job creators, and failed to get our economy back on track.
“I am sympathetic to the struggles that millions of Americans are going through because I’ve been there. As a young couple Vince and I lost our home and our car. With two small children it was not an easy time for my family.
“That’s why I am running for the Senate, because I have been there before and I know the way out. My financial struggles were part of the foundation that I built my jobs plan on. It’s why I want to give the middle class a tax break that will put an extra $500 a month in the pockets of an average Connecticut family next year. My sole focus if elected to the United States Senate will be to create good jobs for middle class families and get the American economy turned around.â€
Politicofact
2012 Sep 18, 11:08am
Fact checking Romney's "47 percent" comment
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57515033-503544/fact-checking-romneys-47-percent-comment/
Politicofact
2012 Sep 18, 11:18am
Bill Kristol: Romney Remarks ‘Arrogant And Stupid’
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/bill-kristol-romney-remarks-arrogant-stupid
Conservative columnist Bill Kristol lit into Mitt Romney in the Weekly Standard over his leaked remarks that 47 percent of Americans are hopelessly dependent on government and thus will vote for President Obama.
"It remains important for the country that Romney wins in November (unless he chooses to step down and we get the Ryan-Rubio ticket we deserve!)," Kristol wrote on Tuesday. "But that shouldn't blind us to the fact that Romney's comments, like those of Obama four years ago, are arrogant and stupid.
Noting that many of the 47 percent of Americans who don't pay income tax are core Republican groups like seniors and active military, Kristol added that "Romney seems to have contempt not just for the Democrats who oppose him, but for tens of millions who intend to vote for him."
Dan8267
2012 Sep 18, 1:05pm
Mitt how do you think you will do in Florida now?
Depends on whether or not there's a butterfly ballot.
Dan8267
2012 Sep 18, 1:05pm
He should not worry at all about the 47% of left wingnuts that would not change their vote if jesus christ was on the red ticket.
I wouldn't vote for Jesus Christ. He's a commie.
marcus
2012 Sep 18, 1:09pm
He should not worry at all about the 47% of left wingnuts
Haha. "47% of the country are left wingnuts."
You can't make this stuff up.
MAGA
2012 Sep 18, 1:21pm
Mitt, we (Army) have a slightly different viewpoint about taking care of the troops/people. Oh that's right. Neither you or your five sons ever served in the military.
Y
2012 Sep 18, 2:46pm
so. what do you have against communists?
Oh, I know...it's like looking in the mirror...
He should not worry at all about the 47% of left wingnuts that would not change their vote if jesus christ was on the red ticket.
I wouldn't vote for Jesus Christ. He's a commie.
Y
2012 Sep 18, 2:50pm
Bottom line: You will all be licking the boots of the mormon president for the next 4 years...get use to it.
Dan8267
2012 Sep 18, 4:28pm
so. what do you have against communists?
Nothing, but why would I vote for someone with such an economic policy. It would be inappropriate for the U.S. in the 21st century. Jesus would make a lousy president and would ruin the economy.
We have some pretty dumb members of parliament in Australia. But this bloke, “Romney†gets my vote for the dumbest thing I have ever heard a Candidate for any high office say.
Does he take drugs? If not, perhaps he should start.
I have included a link for a YouTube video, it is a pictorial representation of how his campaign is going……….
http://www.youtube.com/embed/Xrn6ellbtpc
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/mitt-romney-caught-on-video-tape/2012/09/17/38578a5e-012f-11e2-b257-e1c2b3548a4a_blog.html
http://www.youtube.com/embed/XnB0NZzl5HA
“There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that’s an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what…These are people who pay no income tax... my job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives…. The president has been a disappointment. He told you he’d keep unemployment below 8 percent. Hasn’t been below eight percent since. Fifty percent of kids coming out of school can’t get a job. Fifty percent.â€
— Mitt Romney, speaking at a private fundraiser
The Facts
Romney appears to conflate a few things — Obama’s approval rating, the percentage of people who do not pay income taxes and people who rely on government assistance.
There may be some overlap between these groups but they really are not the same thing.
First, let’s start with the notion that nearly half of Americans do not pay income tax. This is one of these “facts†that is not very informative. “Income taxes†are just one type of tax that people pay, and for most working Americans, payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare far exceed what they pay in income taxes. Moreover, if some people do not pay income taxes, it is because of policies often advocated by Republicans.
Some 44 percent of those who do not pay income taxes are because they benefit for tax benefits aimed at the elderly, while another 30 percent benefit from tax credits for children or for the working poor, according to a paper published by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.
But not all of these people are automatically Obama supporters. In fact, according to a map published by the Tax Foundation, eight of the top ten states with the lowest income-tax liability are the heart of Romney country — the deep south. The only exceptions are Florida, a battleground state, and New Mexico, which leans toward Obama. Meanwhile, most of the states with the lowest level of nonpayers are Obama states.
As for other entitlements, of course Social Security and Medicare are reserved for the elderly — and are generally popular. But it seems simplistic to think these are all Obama voters, especially since polling indicates that the Republican share of the vote among white seniors have increased in each of the last five elections, to 58 percent in 2008.
Two of Romney’s other facts in his spiel are wrong. When Romney says 50 percent of people can’t get a job, he is greatly simplifying an Associated Press survey earlier this year that concluded that about 1.5 million, or 53.6 percent, of bachelor’s degree-holders under the age of 25 last year were jobless or underemployed. This was the highest level in 11 years, since the dot-com bust in 2000. But underemployed is not the same as not getting a job.
“A weak labor market already has left half of young college graduates either jobless or underemployed in positions that don’t fully use their skills and knowledge,†the news agency said. “Young adults with bachelor’s degrees are increasingly scraping by in lower-wage jobs — waiter or waitress, bartender, retail clerk or receptionist, for example — and that’s confounding their hopes a degree would pay off despite higher tuition and mounting student loans.â€
As for the claim that Obama promised that unemployment would be below 8 percent, Romney has already earned Two Pinocchios for that.
The Pinocchio Test
Perhaps it is too much to expect a politician to be entirely accurate in a closed door speech, but one would think he would have even less need to stretch the truth if he thinks the cameras are not rolling. Unfortunately for Romney, at least one camera captured his misleading picture of the electorate.
#housing