Truthseeker420
Gold Member
I admit it: I’m challenged to constantly come up with new superlatives to describe Mitt Romney’s latest craven and/or self-destructive move on the campaign trail. The latest outrage: leaked video of Romney telling wealthy donors that 47 percent of Americans back President Obama because they are “‘victims’ who believe that government has the responsibility to care for them. Who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, you name it. And they will vote for this president no matter what.”
Where to begin?
David Corn of Mother Jones obtained the video and verified its authenticity. The Romney campaign did too; its statement in response is so weak IÂ’ll get to it at the end of this post.
HereÂ’s the core of what Romney told his donors, in response to a question about how he can prevail over Obama:
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 thatÂ’s an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter whatÂ…These are people who pay no income taxÂ….[M]y job is is not to worry about those people. IÂ’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.
I want to break down the cruelty and the inaccuracy of what Romney said. That 47 percent “who pay no income tax” has become a core issue in the campaign for Republicans. But according to the Washington Post, of those Americans who don’t pay federal income taxes, 29% pay payroll taxes, and almost a quarter are elderly. The most important point is: they all work, and most are eligible for a federal tax credit for low-wage earners that was a Republican idea, as an alternative to welfare (this is my hobby horse and I won’t ride it now, if you care you can read about it here and in my book.) Oh, and the U.S. military is apparently also counted in this number. Those parasites.
Mitt Romney insults half the country - Salon.com