Posted on 02/01/2012 8:41:49 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
Fresh off his big win in Florida Tuesday night, Mitt Romney made the most stunningly stupid remark of his campaign.
Im not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there, Romney said in an interview with CNN's Soledad O'Brien this morning. If it needs repair, Ill fix it. Im not concerned about the very rich, theyre doing just fine. Im concerned about the very heart of the America, the 90 percent, 95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling.
"There are lots of very poor Americans who are struggling who would say, 'That sounds odd,'" O'Brien replied.
"Well, finish the sentence, Soledad," Romney said. "I said I'm not concerned about the very poor that have a safety net, but if it has holes in it, I will repair them. We will hear from the Democrat party, the plight of the poor. And there's no question, it's not good being poor, and we have a safety net to help those that are very poor. But my campaign is focused on middle-income Americans. You can choose where to focus, you can focus on the rich. That's not my focus. You can focus on the very poor, that's not my focus. My focus in on middle income Americans. Retirees living on Social Security, people who can't find work, folks that have kids that are getting ready to go to college. These are the people most badly hurt during the Obama years. We have a very ample safety net and we can talk about whether it needs to be strengthened or whether there are holes in it. But we have food stamps, we have Medicaid, we have housing vouchers, we have programs to help the poor. But the middle income Americans, they're the folks that are really struggling right now and they need someone that can help get this economy going for them.
It's obvious that Romney's statement that he's "not concerned about the very poor" is incredibly tone-deaf. A candidate can say he's "focused" on the middle class without saying he's "not concerned" about the very poor, just as a candidate can say he's "focused" on the economy without saying he's "not concerned" about national security or even less vital issues like education.
But Romney's remark isn't merely tone-deaf, it's also un-conservative. The standard conservative argument is that a conservative economic agenda will help everyone. For the poor, that means getting as many as possible back on their feet and working rather than languishing as wards of the welfare state.
And then of course there are the poor who will rely on the safety net even in good times. Romney isn't sure if the safety net is in need of repair, but for the poor, Medicaid is a dysfunctional system because of federal regulation. So Republicans are united behind the proposal to block-grant the program back to the states--not just to save money but to help the poor. School choice is another conservative program designed to help poor children flourish.
Medicare and Social Security--programs Romney promised to protect the other night--are the two huge safety net programs, and they are being threatened by runaway spending. To be anti-debt is to be anti-poverty. As Congressman Paul Ryan says, when a debt crisis hits the elderly and the poor are hit the first and the worst.
Had Mitt Romney picked up his conservatism sooner, perhaps he would know these arguments by heart.
Here is my basic point. Romney TODAY espouses conservative sentiment. That is why I find it uncomfortable to join the liberal media when they attack Romney statements.
Romney was a liberal in Mass. I get it. Therefore many don’t trust him to be conservative if elected. I get that too.
Newt isn’t pure in this regard. I clearly remember Newt going waaay off the reservation on global warming.
But if Newt is nominated, he gets my vote in a heartbeat. Likewise Romney or Santorum.
Santorum is the ONLY consistent one. My ONLY concern about Santorum is electability, otherwise I would feel most comfortable with him as president.
There is nobody starving in this nation, unless they are incapicitated, abused or neglected.
Our "very poor" are quite well off when compared to the truly poor in the rest of the world.
Agree with that.
Reagan also understood the concept of individual liberty and freedom. Romney’s default is statism. Romney’s context is completely different and the total opposit of Reagan’s. Remember, Romney was (and still is but wouldn’t say it) a proud progressive republican.
I’m not listening to Rush, so I don’t have any opintion on your other comments.
Newt has my vote by default.
I must say, Mitt is consistent...he says what he thinks will get him elected.
My guy was Cain, will do this time the same as I did last time, vote for the Pub just because Obama scares me and I want him and Holder out. Enthusiasm I had before is gone.
While I agree with you, I think it almost eerie that Romney comes out the very morning after with a quote like this.
Dare I remind that there are those praying that his words will muddle, will fall on deaf ears, and will reveal his emptiness? Romney is actually saying nothing it seems to me, and what he does say ranks right up there with the same boring platitudes that marginalized Sarah Palin. Romney is appearing to be all about plenty of “want to” and passion, but this guy is paper thin on depth at all levels.
Newt is already the feared legislative genius and delivers not just the populist message in spades, but the tactics that can prevail to establish the message, right down to the ink in the pen used used to sign off on it. Newt-speak is never vacuous.
Autotuned and viral by 2....total moron....
Those sounds you hear are the high-fives coming from DNC Headquarters.
But... but he’s being “wanded” — just like we’re all given the wand. Right!? LoL. I don’t mind that he’s rich. He’s just such an obviously cartoonish low hanging fruit for the Left to pick.
Wanded, hell! He’s getting a shoe-shine.
But my campaign is focused on middle-income Americans. You can choose where to focus, you can focus on the rich. That's not my focus. You can focus on the very poor, that's not my focus. My focus in on middle income Americans. Retirees living on Social Security, people who can't find work, folks that have kids that are getting ready to go to college. These are the people most badly hurt during the Obama years. We have a very ample safety net and we can talk about whether it needs to be strengthened or whether there are holes in it. But we have food stamps, we have Medicaid, we have housing vouchers, we have programs to help the poor. But the middle income Americans, they're the folks that are really struggling right now and they need someone that can help get this economy going for them.
Mittens is pandering scum! Slicing and dicing the electorate just like a classic 'Rat.
But Romney's remark isn't merely tone-deaf, it's also un-conservative. The standard conservative argument is that a conservative economic agenda will help everyone. For the poor, that means getting as many as possible back on their feet and working rather than languishing as wards of the welfare state.
Bingo! We must support the candidate who best articulates that message!
He should resist the temptation.
He does best when he articulates a coherent conservative vision and worst when he attacks Romney from the left.
WE are on the same page!
Bump!
I know, it’s just so fitting to imagine a shoe-shine.
If the pic was of better quality, it’d be worthwhile to doctor it up a bit.
WellyP is face palming too. LoL
I have to be objective on this one and agree with him. I’m not concerned about them either because I am becoming poor supporting them. Then when I read about legislation like this having to be passed..........
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/01/31/house-set-to-ban-welfare-payments-at-strip-clubs
I’m sick of paying for people that are poor because of the choices they make with their lives. Lot of the choices they make are intentional.
Wasn’t exactly what I was referring to, but that’ll work! LOL
That's right. Why - the poor are safe on top of the car just like Seamus. Safely locked in their air tight - but not diarrhea tight - crate. Why, they are perfectly fine.
If it needs repair, Ill fix it.
Darn tooting! If they don't like it, I'll jerk them out of the their air - but not diarrhea proof - crate, hose them down and let them then shiver themselves silly. Now, let's talk about me!
The very poor are nothing more to this man than Seamus. Compare and contrast to President Reagan's, "A rising tide lifts all boats." Or to Newt Gingrich's idea that work builds self esteem and when you have earned money in your pocket you become a more productive and happier citizen.
This joker's going to be a gaffe a minute, because basically he is the joke.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.