Posted on 09/17/2012 4:48:47 PM PDT by Evil Slayer
Mitt Romney described almost half of Americans as “dependent upon government” during a private reception with donors earlier this year and said those voters will likely support President Obama because they believe they are “entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it.”
The blunt political and cultural assessment by the Republican presidential candidate offers a rare glimpse into Mr. Romney’s personal views as the campaign enters its final 50 days. Liberals quickly condemned the remarks as insensitive and Mr. Obama’s campaign accused him of having “disdainfully written off half the nation.”
The recordings surfaced even as Mr. Romney sought to retool his campaign message amid internal campaign sniping and calls from Republicans outside the campaign for him to be more specific about how his policies will fix the nation’s economy.
The video clips raised the possibility that his campaign would once again be sidetracked by Mr. Romney’s own words, a problem that has plagued the former Massachusetts governor since his hard-fought battle with Republican rivals during the nominating contests earlier this year. The video of Mr. Romney making the comments was posted on the Internet Monday afternoon by Mother Jones, a liberal magazine, which said it had obtained the recording and had confirmed its authenticity. The magazine said it was concealing the identity of the person who took the video and the location and time of the recording.
(Excerpt) Read more at thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com ...
I think this was a genius move by Romney. I hope he says this at the upcoming debate. In fact, I would not be surprised if it was Romney’s people who leaked this video. Its absolutely perfect because it’s TRUE..There is a large population of people who currently collect welfare and food stamps who do NOT want to work..its true because I see what those occupy protestors tell the media when they are being interviewed. In fact, this morning on Fox Business Network they interviewed a guy who works at the Stock Exchange, he was hiring for his business and he put a box on the street asking those occupiers to put in their resumes, saying he would hire them if they were qualified for the position..he said the few who did show up for interviews looked like they just came from a junkyard and while talking to them they were clearly not qualified for the job..the rest didnt bother showing up. There are plenty of people who want Mommy and Daddy Govt to talk care of them, forever
Might be a slight problem considering how many Republicans have lost their jobs, homes, bushiness, savings, etc over the past 5 years.
That doesn’t sound like he is “walking it back” to me. It reads as clafification.
When you can’t find work and are struggling to keep a roof overhead and food on the table for your family, are you going to ask of anyone helping you, “Hey! What’s your politics?”
BHO2 had demonstrated that an evil President can destroy the livelihoods of US citizens: Romney is saying he can release the restraints holding back the economy, so people do not have to rely on government.
For the record, I am not now nor have I ever relied on government for all or part of my living. Though I have been qualified for food stamps, I have found it unnecessary.
I agree with Mitt, and most Americans know it is true. But this is going to really hurt his campaign. The liberal media will bash him non stop. It will be at every debate.
Not good folks, not good.
The question is not whether Mitt was right about his statement on 47% dependent on the government. He’s right of course.
But whether or not he stick to his guns on his statement or runs away from it looking like a fool when Obama challenges him on it during the debates
If people can look at what Romney said and it costs Romney the election I got news for you, this country was already gone. Romney mind as well speak the truth because its the truth.
I do not see that as a backtrack. I see that as facts.
Romney fired up the base by saying this.....but unfortunately this my cost him the independents. Makes him look cold and heartless and the MSM is running with it.
Is there something Mitt can say where the media will NOT bash him non-stop?
My father was forced onto Medicare. When he turned 65, his employer said they had no choice.
He was a WWII vet and had paid into SS for half-a-century, and when he retired he didn’t take any payouts until he reached 71. He died last month at 85.
Social Security was never meant to support illegal aliens or drug addicts considered disabled.
Push it even harder, the unemployed who want to work and build a future will get on board, the grifters will always grift.
More importantly is turn out. tell the lazy, they are lazy , they really will respond by sitting on their hands and they won't vote.
Scream about rugged individualism, tell people they can succeed and the gov't will only help by leaving them alone......that will move voters.
that was done when the left started the 99%- the 53% though represented those if us who pay federal income tax...
http://money.cnn.com/2011/10/26/news/economy/occupy_wall_street_backlash/index.htm
The country is going broke anyhow and why not go down on some principle. Eventually these 47% will rue the dayprobably in near future..
I think that some of those “depending” on government realize it is because of obama whose attempts to redistribute wealth have put them in that situation.
I may not like Romney at all, but on some issues he is right. And on this, he is dead on. He’s not saying he does not WANT the vote of that 47%, but he is correct that there is no reason to expect any argument he can make to get these people to willingly give up their welfare... which is what you are getting when you either on direct welfare payments, or when you work buy pay no taxes. It means everyone else pays yours for you. Same thing.
Who is going to give up the free ride willingly? 1% at the most?
I agree. The question is will it drive a certain fraction of them who weren't going to vote to the polls.
Nevertheless, I gotta admit I agree with almost everything he's said here and he may be in the process of winning this skeptical conservative over. The correct reaction here is NOT to run from these statements, but back them up with facts and statistics. If he retreats, he loses.
that’s definitely not a backtrack....
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