YOUR TURN: Was Romney Right About the 47 Percent, or Will This Doom his Campaign?
Mother Jones released a video of Mitt Romney telling a private audience that 47 percent of Americans are dependent on the government and will never vote for him. Was this a ruinous gaffe, or has Romney told a hard political truth?
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A secret video obtained by Mother Jones magazine has rocked the political world. In that video, Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney said 47 percent of Americans believe they are victims, are dependent on the government and will never vote for him. He went further, saying he wasn't worried about them. The magazine released a portion of the video Monday.
In a late night press conference Monday, Romney said the comments were not "elegantly stated," but were part of a larger conversation about the role of personal responsibility.
Romney went on to say the comments were a reflection on "the political process of winning an election, and, of course, I want to help all Americans—all Americans—have a bright and prosperous future."
Mother Jones posted the full video just after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Do you think the video shows Romney's true feelings about half of the American electorate, or was this an out-of-context snippet? Will this hurt Romney's chances of willing the election, or is it one blip in a very long campaign? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
John Smith
6:45 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
He may have missed the number on entitlements but the message was certainly on target!! EBT fraud, SSI payments for headaches,illegal aliens receving free healthcare, and section 8 subsidzed housing for 2 working people cohabitating but one has an affliction, they are allergic to alarm clocks. Sounds like a welfare state to me.
Stuart Van Tine
7:14 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Governor Romney's numbers were off by 20% or so. He wasn't giving a campaign speech. He was talking about targeting potential voters with the advertising money he was asking for. Overall, Mitt was guilty...of Crimespeak. That's the term for saying that Big Brother is lying in George Orwell's "1984." He was telling the truth, and Big Brother Barack's team is furious about it. Mitt plans to lower taxes for the middle class. 47% of income earners pay no income tax. " I'm not going to waste your money telling them about my tax cuts, because that won't affect them", he was saying, in effect, to contributors. Smart. He'll spend money keeping his base energized, but the resources are best used to convince the undecided that his plan is right. President Obama is doing the same thing, targeting those same voters. He touts Obamacare to keep his base in line; he lures the undecided with promised freebies. Mitt mistakenly applied the 47% number to another group, the dependency class, who will never vote for him. Those are about 40% of voters who think government should supply their needs. Gross oversimplification, I know. Space & time limited. Freebies are what they want. Obama is their guy. Simple truth. Example: Liz Warren's Occupiers' #1 demand is for forgiveness of their tuition loans. Big freebie. Those facts outrage some Democrats. Well, Dems, get over it. Accept who you are, or become Republicans and try to change things. .
Ouie Boscoe
7:36 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The message he was putting out is the truth Obama doesn't want you to hear. Yes 47 percent is not the true number of the lazy free loaders Obama relies on. There are a lot of honest people who are in the 47 percent who would like to get a honest job and earn a living but that is not the goal of Obama he wants as many people as possible to depend on him.
Mitt and the real Americans want people to actually earn a living not depend on the Feds to give them everything. So the lying media will say Mitt is an evil person to protect your Messiah Obama.
Rodger Wonker
10:34 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
>, they are allergic to alarm clocks.
Or they are disabled, elderly, or in the military
>Freebies are what they want. Obama is their guy... Those facts outrage some >Democrats. Well, Dems, get over it. Accept who you are, or become Republicans >and try to change things. .
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/sep/18/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-voters-who-support-barack-obama-a/
NOPE
>Mitt and the real Americans...
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-08-18/politics/30039546_1_blue-states-federal-taxes-red-states
Red states are welfare queens...so much for your "real America"
He showed his true colors...and now he is trying to spin his way out of it. I'm sure your angry, uneducated comments are a big help to his campaign.
Stay classy you rage-filled partisian parrots.
Stuart Van Tine
11:27 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Rodger. Are you a stand up comedian, or too dumb to see the hypocrisy in your own words? You call us classless, then call us "rage filled partisan parrots." You, sir, are today's perfect example of the archetypical liberal/progressive Democrat. They are smug in the certainty that they are all brilliant and always right, and that all who disagree with them are cretins. They do, every day, exactly that which they falsely accuse others of doing. Such as issuing a classless accusation of classlessness. Priceless.
Rodger Wonker
10:39 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Be good little doggies and blame the "liberal media" at uh...business insider and politifact. If you cant attact the facts, attack the source, its really your best defense isnt it?
Im waiting you predictable plebeians....don't let me down...
Bill
10:48 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Listen up retirees, military, postal workers, government workers and those trying to get by on minimum wage. You are not Romney's constituents and your voices will be marginalized if he is elected. The people he was addressing were having their drinks refreshed and tables cleared by people like you.
Stuart Van Tine
11:09 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Hey, are the Patches cross linked? I submitted my comment to the Milton Patch. It appeared in the Barnstable-Hyannis Patch, also. I'm not complaining. It gets more people into the debate, I guess. Not a bad thing.
Margaret Carroll-Bergman
11:47 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Hi Stuart, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and South Shore patches are sometimes linked for comments, and they are for this article.
Rodger Wonker
12:48 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Hey Stuart, Im sorry to shatter you narrow minded, red vs left worldview. But Im a staunch independent that was on the fence untill this video came out.
Im sorry if my presentation of facts from non-partisian sources is too much for you to handle. So please continue with the unfounded personal attacks....Woof Woof....Good Conservative.
Stuart Van Tine
1:50 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
You pass out personal insults like Halloween treats. How can you be an independent? Nastiness demands passion. How can you be impassioned if you don't take a side? Just askin'.
Rodger Wonker
1:05 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
How does it feel to be a party cheerleader? An airheaded bimbo who cant form an arguement but knows all the right slogans, phrases, and chants. Go Team!
My term "plebeians" was not rooted in economic class, but rather the simplistic, uninformed, "common" line of defense I was expecting to be met with when presenting a counter point that included facts deliberatly cherry-picked from independent sources. (to avoid the all to predictable "liberal media", dismissive counter arguement)
Your broad-stroke accusations and fall back defenses (typical liberal lol) are not doing your party any favors. Keep shaking your Romney pom-poms and hit me up when you can present an actual counter point. Go ahead...Ill wait.
Hows that for smug?
helen costa
1:28 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Romney was right. people don't want to listen to it. most people that are collecting welfare are couch potatoes. there are those that really need it due to job loss but I'm talking about the ones that deal drugs at night. do you want to change america, then vote romney in november
ranndino
4:39 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Stick a fork in him. He's done himself in. The only people who agree with him are right wing nuts who get all their info from Fox News, conservative radio and other similar sources. They talk about food stamps and other small fish, but somehow miss subsidies and incentives given out to corporations (not to mention the constant creation of new tax loopholes) which amount to thousand times more in government welfare payments. These people are either hypocrites, incredibly naive or both.
Ouie Boscoe
6:57 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Oh Yes the usual liberal talking points that Rachel Madcow and Christy Matthews tells you to repeat.
So what about the money from the honest people who pay taxes going to the union thugs at GM, then how your messiah stole the retirement money from Delphi workers to pay off his union friends at GM. The money stolen from taxpayers to pay off Barry s friends at Solyndra I can keep on going but you really don't care do you all you care about is living off of the taxpayers money.
ALISA ROMAN
7:20 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Today...It is akin, to dancing in a mine field, with flippers on, to actually tell the truth..Mr. Romney, is not politically slick , he does not have that inate skill ...he is simply honest...at a time, when our flag is being burned ,embassies, stormed by radical elements in countries , where we have sent billions, in monetary help..Our enemies have grown along with our debt ...our Government , unemployment , our place and standing in the world ..We have a popular President , or so the MEDIA ,would have us believe ..He can bust a move , with the best of them , channel, Al Green & deliver a line cleverly written for him...Look down the fairway of indifference.
You could play a game of pickup Basket ball also...He is available for Weddings , appearances,. on late nite shows..look for him in the background of Beyonces video
He has, not logged, that much time in the Oval Office, being the President.. All things considered , I will vote,
for the guy with the life of service ..whos life is not peppered with alliances , the likes of Alinsky,Bill Ayers, Frank Marshall Davis a.leading Communist Leader,..mentioned in his book ..and surrounding, himself with the Chicago( Daley machine} in the White House...Did I mention REDISTRIBUTION...I have been a life long Democrat,I no longer feel that this party , that was unable, to allow God, in .the convention..a Political Party that .I feel comfortable with.Divide and Conquer , is a destructive Game..We all Lose....
OllieD
11:00 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Alisa -
A lot of area for disagreements and facts in need of fact-check in your post, however I will limit my reply to a couple of areas in which I have some questions:
First, since you mentioned it - REDISTRIBUTION - or the taking of monies from income tax payers and giving it to those who are not paying income tax, the 46%. Does that mean you desire to end Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, aid to dependent children, student loans, etc., etc., etc. Would love to examine your views 14 years ago to see if I could find a brief quote out of context I could use about yourself.
I watched both the Republican and Democratic conventions, and didn't realize that "God" was not allowed in the Democratic convention. First, seeing as God is all powerful, not sure how someone could keep him out of anywhere he/she might want to go. Second, seems to me that many speakers gave thanks to God in one way of another. Yes, was removed from their platform and re-inserted right away when the error was spotted. Seems to me when the Republicans passed their platform positions, it included the outlaw of abortions with NO exceptions including the health of the mother or for rape. Many of the Republicans running for office said that was not their position and besides, party platforms don't mean anything. Guess they should have said unless they were Republican platforms. Democratic platforms are the absolute truth. Now, return to Rush L.
Carol Melcher
12:26 pm on Thursday, September 20, 2012
4 words to remember before you judge Romney: YOU DIDN'T BUILD THAT
Deanie
12:45 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
Romney was correct! Granted there are good people who need help, but that's not what he was talking about! The ones with their hands out for freebies & now Obama opened our borders to millions for FREE STUFF! Who's gonna pay for them & the diseases they bring with them! This is out of control & now Obama went against our Laws & says you DON"T HAVE to look for work ...just come get Obama-money! AMERICANS deserve the entitlements...not illegals & freeloaders!