By David Corn
In the week since I made public the secret video of Mitt Romney at a private Boca Raton fundraiser denigrating almost half of America as moochers and victims, I've been repeatedly asked what I consider the most damagingor damningportion of Romney's remarks.
"I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."
My view of this one line was reinforced this morning. I walked into a store to buy some cleaning products. The 40-something woman at the counter rang up the purchases and kept looking at me. Once I had paid, she said in a low voice, "I really don't want to bother you, but..."
Go ahead, I said.
But I know who you are, and I just want to say that Mitt Romney doesn't know what he's talking about. Not at all. I am college-educated, but look where I'm working now. I can't find a better job now. And, and .
She paused and lowered her voice more:
I'm on food stamps. I didn't have a choice. I'm making about $12,000 a year now. And I need them. I work hard. And I'm looking for other work. But just because I'm on food stamps doesn't mean I'm not taking care of myself. Doesn't he know that? Doesn't he get it?
Apparently not. Many people on food stamps, Medicaid, and the like do strive to provide for themselves and their families. The working poor work. They may even park cars at fancy fundraisers for minimum wage. Romney all-too glibly characterized anyone receiving any public assistance as a parasitic freeloader, and he revealed an us-versus-them attitude that was tremendously ungracious, mean-spirited, and predicated on ignorance of the real world.
"Thank you, thank you," the woman said. "You showed us what he really thinks of us, what he thinks of me."
Mitt Romney built that.
More: The Most Damning Line in the Secret Romney Video | Mother Jones