Posted on 09/17/2012 4:47:55 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Via Mother Jones and Ace, watch this now if you haven't seen it elsewhere because political media will be having 20 heart attacks about it tomorrow and you'll want to be up to speed. This was recorded awhile back at a fundraiser, just like Obama's infamous "bitter/clinger" comments in 2008. Remember how big that blew up? That's how we ended up with President McCain.
The dirty little secret of most "controversial" political statements is that voters pay them little mind, especially when they’re preoccupied with bread-and-butter issues. The GOP spent three days in Tampa hammering Obama for the “you didn’t build that” line and a fat lot of good it did them in vaulting Romney past O in the polls. Then again, the GOP didn’t have a media megaphone like the one that’s going to be amplifying this for the rest of the week. The money quote:
“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…
“And I mean the president starts off with 48, 49 … he starts off with a huge number. These are people who pay no income tax. Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax. So our message of low taxes doesn’t connect. So he’ll be out there talking about tax cuts for the rich. I mean that’s what they sell every four years. And so my job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives. What I have to convince the five to ten percent in the center that are independents that are thoughtful, that look at voting one way or the other depending upon in some cases emotion, whether they like the guy or not.”
Certainly, the Obama campaign’s never done anything to tout the sort of cradle-to-grave dependency that Romney describes here. I think David French’s recent post about the “bookends” that compose the modern liberal coalition is closer to the mark than Romney’s familiar makers-and-takers formulation here, but he was at a fundraiser and tossing red meat and I guess wanted it to be as red as possible. As for his claim that 47 percent pay no income tax, it’s true but carries lots of caveats. Ramesh Ponnuru wrote an insightful piece about last year; this new article from National Journal is worth reading too. Two political difficulties here. One: While some Obama supporters may not pay federal income tax, they still pay federal payroll tax and may well pay state and city taxes. They do contribute something to government. Two: A lot of pro-Republican working-class voters pay no income tax due to the Earned Income Tax Credit, and a lot of pro-Republican seniors pay no income tax because most or all of their income is Social Security. Not sure how either of those groups will react to Romney’s critique of O’s fans, but my hunch is that Ben Domenech’s right in believing that no one really thinks they’re part of the 47 percent. Everyone thinks they’re a “maker,” not a “taker,” due to whatever little tax they pay, so when Mitt lays into freeloaders, even people who pay no income tax think he’s talking about someone else. It’s sort of the flip side of senior citizens saying that America needs small government while telling politicians “Hands off my Medicare.” I doubt it’ll end up hurting Romney badly, but the media will do its level best. Buckle up!
That’s the first video. The second video is of Romney joking that he’d have a better chance at being elected if he was Latino, which is almost certainly true.
Some people take this country for granted and they don’t consider how to take care of it. Not during an election. They are bought, their votes are bought. They will not understand basic economics from someone whom they hate in eight short weeks.
Why people who are on govt. dole are allowed to vote is probably a flaw in the system. Conflict of interest, just to start.
Ooh, I cringe in anticipation.
Don’t back down Mitt, you are correct.
Very true. There are tons of people out there who, due to the flaccid economy, are downright ashamed that they pretty much had no choice but to accept some form of government assistance. They want to work, but there is just so little job creation.
Obama’s lead over Romney among low income voters is only around 15%, and taking into account the low percentage of poor people that even do vote, clearly these are different slices of the 47%.
I fail to see the inaccuracy of Romney’s remarks.
he is a dem troll pretending to be a conservative at that website.
he quotes the Daily Koz alum Nate Silver and usually is dead wrong about everything.
can not figure out why he is still around on that website.
GO Mitt!
What percentage does he think is reasonable. He has included the military, police officers, fire fighters, all government workers and, social security recipients. All painted with a broad brush of being lazy and irresponsible and Obama voters. I don’t think he meant it that way but that is why he has to clarify so many of his statements. Maybe if he had given some thought to a solution he could have been more effective.
Of course. Someone was sitting on this video, and the polls must be showing that the foreign policy disaster in the Middle East is starting to hurt Dear Leader, so out it comes. Nothing but 24/7 lapdog media coverage of this until the Muzzies stop burning our embassies and killing our diplomats, or until after the election.
Great cartoon
The Makers [53%] will vote for Romney.
The Takers [47%] will vote for Obama.
So what are YOU? A Maker or a Taker?
Vote Accordingly...
Those 47% bitterly clinging to their welfare checks and gubmint cheese will vote for the guy who accused those of bitterly clinging to their guns and religion of voting for Republicans.
Thank you for bringing this article and videos to our attention.
Romney has embraced the RINO Hydra of trying in vain to win over moderates. Independents, undecided and of he fence sitters.
Here is the main idea from the article that I base this on: “ - - - Asked why he wouldn’t go full-throttle and assail Obama as corrupt, Romney explained the internal thinking of his campaign and revealed that he and his aides, in response to focus-group studies conducted by his consultants, were hesitant to hammer the president too hard out of fear of alienating independents who voted for Obama in 2008 - - - . “
Key phrases are “his aides,” focus-group studies,” “his consultants,” and “fear of alienating independents.”
America needs a leader to get us back on the right Track, Romney.
Tick-Tock Romney: can you discard the above 4 groups that keep you tied with Obama? Tick-Tock.
Bookmarked.
Did he learn nothing about the press then?
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