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"The Right Is Wrong to Pin Obama’s Edge on Welfare State"
memeorandum ^ | Sept. 17, 2012 | Ramesh Ponnuru

Posted on 09/19/2012 7:08:32 AM PDT by teflon9

Mitt Romney echoed the sentiment in a video secretly recorded at a fundraiser ... in which he argued that the 47 percent of Americans who don’t pay federal income taxes would vote for Obama “no matter what.”

As an explanation for electoral trends, though, this theory doesn’t hold up.

One major reason for the growth of the federal government in recent years has been that entitlement spending per beneficiary has increased, and so has the number of beneficiaries as people have retired. Yet senior citizens -- who benefit from federal programs, on average, far more than younger people -- have become more Republican over that same period. They actually voted for John McCain over Obama in 2008 by a slightly higher margin than they did for George W. Bush over Kerry in 2004.

In 2010, their Republican margin increased even more, to a whopping 21 points. Pollster Scott Rasmussen told me that ... Romney still leads among seniors by 19 points.

[T]he public at large isn’t as convinced as conservatives that he has been a dismal failure. Most people cut him some slack because of the economic crisis that began under a Republican president and kept unfolding as Obama took office ... Some people think the economy has done about as well as it could have under the circumstances.

Another reason Obama is doing well might have to do with the weakness of the Republican economic message. Republicans dwell on the heroic entrepreneur held back by taxes and regulation, which must be part of the story that a free-market party tells ... most people don’t see themselves in that storyline, any more than they see themselves as dependents of the federal government. They don’t see Americans as divided between makers and takers.

To the extent Republicans do, they’re handicapping themselves.

(Excerpt) Read more at memeorandum.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dependency; obama; romney; victims
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To: Macoozie

“ALL those who get a check provided through TAX DOLLARS and the largesse of the state are Takers, this includes Social Security and all other forms of transfer (i.e. WELFARE) payments. Those who bend the tax code rules to their benefit are not Takers, it is THEIR money to begin with!”

So...all seniors over the age of 70 who were required to have THEIR SS money taken directly from their paychecks when they worked, are Takers. Those who “bend” (tax cheats)the tax code rules(and pay into SS)are not Takers. So... according to you, tax cheats are not Takers but most all seniors are Takers. Duly noted.


21 posted on 09/19/2012 8:53:19 AM PDT by Mashood
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To: Emperor Palpatine
You obviously haven't paid into it 45 yrs or you wouldn’t post such an idiot post!!
22 posted on 09/19/2012 8:57:26 AM PDT by ontap
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To: Sacajaweau
THAT'S the 47% that Romney is talking about.

What 47% is Romney talking about, people who vote democrat?

Obama easily won the $200,000 income and above, by a 52 to 46 margin!

Obama lost the $50,000-$75,000 income group by a single point!

Obama won the $75,000 to $100,000 income group by a solid 51 to 48 margin.

Obama lost hugely from those 65 and older all of them collecting SS, and tons of them not owing taxes. They were the ONLY age group that voted against Obama.

There is no neat little package of 47% of Americans for a President to write off because they don’t vote for him.

23 posted on 09/19/2012 9:01:13 AM PDT by ansel12
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To: rlmorel
my MIL watches Good morning America and Today show.
She came down here to the south to my house some time ago and she wanted to watch her shows.

I put them on for about an hour and I turned it off and told her why she thought the Dems were great etc.

I couldn;t believe how much they do not inform the viewers, how much they lie and how many talking left wing heads they have on.

It took months for her to understand that her JFK party has gone and it;s been taken over by socialists.

SHe now voted for Brown and against the Dems for the first time in her life, she is also voting for Romney , not because she loves him but because she now hates obama and the party he has changed over the years.

I talked to a life time republican , marine vet etc and he told me that attacks over in N Libya was over a movie.

I asked him what news channels he had been watching and he told me the evening news channels.

I had to explain to him that it was not just a movie, it was failed foreign policy and he had no clue about jug ears going to Vegas after these deaths and attacks .

The media is our enemy, they are lying like mad, they are twisting the facts to attack Romney and if the truth did get out jug ears numbers would be in the 20’s.

We have to inform our friends, family, neighbors, and those at work.
I've found that when I meet people who have little facts , they all watch their evening news or CNN.

24 posted on 09/19/2012 9:04:01 AM PDT by manc (Marriage =1 man + 1 woman,when they say marriage equality then they should support polygamy)
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To: ontap

I’m young but I agree with you.


25 posted on 09/19/2012 9:06:42 AM PDT by manc (Marriage =1 man + 1 woman,when they say marriage equality then they should support polygamy)
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To: ontap

No, closer to 35.

But I don’t care.

We can’t afford it, and I’m tired of supporting freeloaders and seniors.


26 posted on 09/19/2012 9:11:40 AM PDT by Emperor Palpatine ("On the ascent of Olympus, what's a botched bar or two?" -Artur Schnabel)
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To: Emperor Palpatine
Freeloaders and seniors

Does that apply to your mommy and daddy and granny.The depth of your stupidity is amazing. First off you haven't done a damn thing every senior hasn't already done so if you expect any sympathy for you "SACRIFICE" forget it. Here's how this is going down, you will spend the next 15,20 30 yrs whatever bitching and moaning about all the money your having to pay and then along about your 62nd birthday you'll get a letter from SS telling you you have to apply...at this point yopu'll meander on down to the SS administration and sign up.

27 posted on 09/19/2012 9:59:46 AM PDT by ontap
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To: ontap

They’re all dead.

Nice try, though.

There are only two classes of people. Creators and parasites. Doers and second-handers.

I agree with Ayn Rand, not your pitiful attempt at throwing a guilt trip. I have nothing to feel guilty about.

You must get a check.


28 posted on 09/19/2012 10:08:10 AM PDT by Emperor Palpatine ("On the ascent of Olympus, what's a botched bar or two?" -Artur Schnabel)
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To: Emperor Palpatine
So they didn't draw SS before they died? And your right pal I get a check, and you'll keep paying those SS taxes just like I did...whether you like it or not!!! Just like I did!!!
29 posted on 09/19/2012 10:18:09 AM PDT by ontap
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To: ontap

Well, I’m willing to chalk up my contributions to gambling losses and do away with it entirely.

I don’t need it or Medicare when I retire...IF I fully retire.


30 posted on 09/19/2012 10:25:19 AM PDT by Emperor Palpatine ("On the ascent of Olympus, what's a botched bar or two?" -Artur Schnabel)
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To: Psycho_Bunny

rats have two big advantages
1-single women with children
2-those with two digit iqs
delete these groups and the rats would never win anything


31 posted on 09/19/2012 10:29:09 AM PDT by genghis
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To: Emperor Palpatine
Well, I’m willing to chalk up my contributions to gambling losses and do away with it entirely.

What you're willing to do has nothing to do with anything. I told you what you're GOING to do, you have no choice Now when your time comes you are perfectly free to turn down your SS (you don't have to turn down medicare ,that's automatic if you refuse SS) but you'll keep paying.

32 posted on 09/19/2012 10:32:07 AM PDT by ontap
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To: ansel12

He’ll lose the 65+ers again!!


33 posted on 09/19/2012 10:34:51 AM PDT by ontap
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To: ontap

I think the whole thing should be scrapped.

For everyone.

Sorry you didn’t plan ahead for your retirement well enoung, toots.

But that doesn’t ebtitle you, or anyone, to one red cent of mine.

Get rid of Medicare and SS immediately.

It might be rough for some, but they’ll get over it, or else.

Yes, I believe in the survival of the fittest.


34 posted on 09/19/2012 10:41:43 AM PDT by Emperor Palpatine ("On the ascent of Olympus, what's a botched bar or two?" -Artur Schnabel)
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To: Emperor Palpatine

Your a slow learner...it doesn’t make a good g$%damn what you think. Get over it it will never happen. And the only one who will “get over it or else” is you!!! And just for the record I’m not solely dependent on SS but it was part of the plan and who do you think got my money!!


35 posted on 09/19/2012 10:47:56 AM PDT by ontap
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To: ontap

I’m not a slow learner.

And you’re sucking on the public teat. That makes you one of the 47%.

Get a job.


36 posted on 09/19/2012 10:51:35 AM PDT by Emperor Palpatine ("On the ascent of Olympus, what's a botched bar or two?" -Artur Schnabel)
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To: Emperor Palpatine

Just shut up and keep paying. If I lose my SS I’ll have to half the number of Cruises I take.


37 posted on 09/19/2012 10:53:47 AM PDT by ontap
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To: Emperor Palpatine

-— Yes, I believe in the survival of the fittest.——

I don’t, but as a matter of fact, the welfare state is coming to an end.

I look forward to the return of clans, or multi-generational families living under one roof.

Walton’s-style living has many advantages, the most important public reason being its power to resist the State.

The Fabians facillitated the abandonment of the elderly through SS, the separation of children from grandparent and parental wisdom through compulsory schooling, and the alienation of fathers through welfare and no-fault divorce.

But, like all satanic conspiracies, this one has reached its disastrous end.

Now, let a thousand well-armed clans bloom!


38 posted on 09/19/2012 10:55:44 AM PDT by St_Thomas_Aquinas (Viva Christo Rey!)
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To: ontap

You are right, Obama will easily win the 35 and under vote, but the 65 and older, Social Security vote will make up for those leftists that make up the under 35 crowd, by voting against him by an even larger margin, than in 2008.

We would be lost without the social security voters.


39 posted on 09/19/2012 10:58:22 AM PDT by ansel12
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To: ansel12

We were the biggest thorn in his side in ‘08 and will be even bigger this year. If he is re-elcted they can’t blame us.


40 posted on 09/19/2012 11:01:46 AM PDT by ontap
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