Romney: 47% of Americans are victims

[dirk digler]

I guess this maybe the kill shot for his campaign. I know some of you believe you this and won't find a problem with what he said but as a person running for POTUS you probably shouldn't write off 1/2 the country especially in a disparaging way.

A hidden camera video of Mitt Romney at a fundraiser shows him talking disparagingly of people who will vote for President Obama.

Said Romney: "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...These are people who pay no income tax."

He adds: "My job is is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

[suzzer99]

Originally Posted by patteeu

I agree that what he actually said makes no sense. That's why it takes something other than pure literalism to understand what he meant.

It would be completely embarrassing if it were a scripted moment at a public campaign event, but it's not. It's an off-the-cuff remark to a private gathering and all that he was interested in doing was communicating with those people. I'm confident that every person in that room understood what he was saying. I understand what he was saying. You could too if you had any real interest in it.

So even though you have no idea how large this chunk of freeloaders is (and I agree with you these people exist), you know that you feel it's a very large # - so you just substitute that number in your mind for what Romney actually said?

Must be nice for Romney if he can just say whatever stupid, non-factual thing he wants and his supporters will simply replace it with whatever emotionally-biased idea works for them.

His statements are really just Rorschach tests.

[suzzer99]

From my poker forum:

I knew a guy who was mentally disabled (he's now passed away). He worked a menial job and tried to be a functioning member of society, but he, dare I say, depended on the government for housing and food assistance. And what's more, he didn't even aspire to get out of his situation. He thought he was doing pretty well for himself just where he was. I never helped him with his taxes, but he probably didn't pay any income tax. I used to think of this guy as a good Christian guy with some mental problems who we helped out whenever he needed a hand and with whom my family had roughly nightly 15 second phone calls when he was feeling lonely, but no, I was all wrong. This guy was a leech and a scourge on society, part of that unshakable percentage-less swath of Obama voters out to steal Inso's money.

[WV]

Originally Posted by patteeu

I agree that what he actually said makes no sense. That's why it takes something other than pure literalism to understand what he meant.

It would be completely embarrassing if it were a scripted moment at a public campaign event, but it's not. It's an off-the-cuff remark to a private gathering and all that he was interested in doing was communicating with those people. I'm confident that every person in that room understood what he was saying. I understand what he was saying. You could too if you had any real interest in it.

You know this doesn't apply to Republicans. Now if Obama had said it......

[A Salt Weapon]

Paying payroll tax is meaningless if it's all coming back at return time. Anyone who gets back more than they paid in for the year or breaks even is a drain on society. Single mothers that make $4,000 in a year working are getting $6,000 back in the form of a tax return, this isn't even accounting for the foodstamps, housing, and cash money they receive each month. The system is flawed.

The liberals with their free shit for votes is what is bringing down this country.

[LiveSteam]

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

Paying payroll tax is meaningless if it's all coming back at return time. Anyone who gets back more than they paid in for the year or breaks even is a drain on society. Single mothers that make $4,000 in a year working are getting $6,000 back in the form of a tax return, this isn't even accounting for the foodstamps, housing, and cash money they receive each month. The system is flawed.

The liberals with their free shit for votes is what is bringing down this country.

Cosmo could save this country. If he would only get a job

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by suzzer99

From my poker forum:

Bullshit story apropos of nothing. I'm wrapping up a half day meeting at the Biltmore, getting ready to grab a cocktail and cigar and proceed to get tight with the tax payers your kind hates and envies so much.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Well, he's refused to back down from his comments.

So maybe he meant what he said.

It sucks for Republicans. I don't think this man represents what Republicans preach. He's single handedly sabotaging the Republican Campaign and adding to stereotypes that republicans need to dispel.

He's making it easy on the Dems.

Like i said earlier, all the Dems have to do now is shut up, let this man continue to put his foot in his mouth, sit back and act like the good guy.

Oh, I don't think it's a fait accompli at this point. You may want it to be, but that doesn't make it so.

[Detoxing]

Originally Posted by Donger

Oh, I don't think it's a fait accompli at this point. You may want it to be, but that doesn't make it so.

At this point, no. But it's headed there.

I just think the Republicans coulda done a better job of picking a candidate.

Whom? I have no idea. I don't follow politics closely enough to pretend to know.

But there certainly could've been someone better than this?

[DoucheMcCloud]

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

Paying payroll tax is meaningless if it's all coming back at return time. Anyone who gets back more than they paid in for the year or breaks even is a drain on society.

So Mitt Romney is a drain on society? I am a drain on society?

JFC, are you 10 years old?

[Detoxing]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

So Mitt Romney is a drain on society? I am a drain on society?

JFC, are you 10 years old?

Seriously.

I pay enough payroll taxes every month that if i coulda kept it, i could afford a nice shiny new car. Maybe that 2012 Camaro i keep dreaming about.

Sadly "the man" takes it, does whatever with it. I rarely get to see a dime of it back.

Guess im a drain on society.

Shrug.

Whatever.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

So Mitt Romney is a drain on society? I am a drain on society?

JFC, are you 10 years old?

Do you or Mitt Romney pay net $0 taxes?

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by Donger

I must be missing something. It seems reasonable to presume that Romney was referring to the 6.9% and incorrectly lumped in the other 40%, no?

Not a chance. He was spewing RWNJ's talking points and got busted doing it

[DoucheMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Donger

Do you or Mitt Romney pay net $0 taxes?

Did you read his post?

Originally Posted by A Salt Weapon

Paying payroll tax is meaningless if it's all coming back at return time. Anyone who gets back more than they paid in for the year or breaks even is a drain on society

I read this as no tax refund due.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by Donger

Or, he just spoke poorly. Strange that you neglect to offer that alternative.

He repeated a very common right-wing talking point. He repeated it perfectly (although most round up and just say "half" rather than 47%). He didn't speak poorly. He said exactly what he meant to say.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Did you read his post?

Yes, I did.

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I read this as no tax refund due.

I believe he's referring to payroll taxes (which we all pay) and those who also pay no income tax. I presume you and Romney both pay the latter.