Mother Jones - David Corn, 9/17/12
During a private fundraiser earlier this year, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney told a small group of wealthy contributors what he truly thinks of all the voters who support President Barack Obama. He dismissed these Americans as freeloaders who pay no taxes, who don't assume responsibility for their lives, and who think government should take care of them. Fielding a question from a donor about how he could triumph in November, Romney replied:
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.
Romney went on: "[M]y job is is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."
Mother Jones has obtained video of Romney at this intimate fundraiser—where he candidly discussed his campaign strategy and foreign policy ideas in stark terms he does not use in public—and has confirmed its authenticity. To protect the confidential source who provided the video, we have blurred some of the image, and we will not identify the date or location of the event, which occurred after Romney had clinched the Republican presidential nomination.
To watch all five videos of Romney speaking and read the rest of this story, visit MotherJones.com.
Comments
Well, I don't know if it's
Well, I don't know if it's 47%, but Romney has a point. There are a lot of people who rely on govt money. And, for the gov't to have the money to pay out, other people have to do the work to generate taxable income.
But at the same time, it's the gov't fault for 50 years of dulling down education and simply lying to the people about everything important in the world. Plus, the banking system stealing our wealth through inflation.
Both candidates would do well to adress this situation in a positive, constructive light. As in, how do we empowert these people to create positive outcomes in their lives. Setting the system up for failure, and then criticizing the people is not helpful at all.
Fact
He is right.
This is an accurate estimate.
Thought this site was about truth.
It is time to stand up for the truth even if you do not support Romney.
but it's not fact...
In that percent he quotes are many people who have PAID into social security, unemployment, and disability for YEARS, even DECADES. That is not a handout, that is people getting back from something they paid into.
As far as welfare, there are false stereotypes. Most are not wanting to just live off food stamps and government help -- they WANT TO WORK.
Manufactured problem, we all
Manufactured problem, we all must realize this when we decide to judge others because they have not.
You're implying that we're
You're implying that we're not reporting the truth here, but where's the falsehood? This just shows Romney's disdain for half the population of the U.S. and how he really acts around his rich friends.
I am the original
I am the original poster.
Just look at the popular vote for the past three elections, very close by popular vote.
There are those who will vote for their party every election regardless who is running.
In some states you have to vote your party.
The majority of the people do not vote. They leave it up to the minority who do.
I stand by my comment and you can prove it too yourself.
Ask people who they are going to vote for, and then ask why!
Ask if they are going to vote for Romney Palin, Romney Biden or Obama Clinton.
Are you going to vote for Obama Ryan?
Ask who the running mates are?
Last election I asked people if they were going to vote Obama/Clinton or McCain/Biden. This was when Clinton was still in the race; answer? Obama/Clinton!
I am not talking about asking your friends and others politically involved, ask people at the checkout or parking lot, etc.
My comment was about the 47% not all the other issues mentioned in response.
This article and the news reports are taking it out of context.
Is that ok when it is the other guy?
Let’s use the same tactics we despise when it promotes one’s personal political position.
I am not a Romney supporter but I do have respect for his decision to not apologize.
I dont find it accurate in
I dont find it accurate in the slightest to slandr those who have no choice but to live off of the government that is there solely for their benefit. It is definitely not a wise statement saying that a whole 47% wpuld fit into that category, now thats just hogwash. There is nothing to be stated about that, if Romney truly understood the issue of the meny jobless and homeless of this country or he actually cared at all, he'd give up all his extra cash and end homelessness and poverty accros the country just like that. Lol.
Food, education, and housing should simply not be something to sacrifice one's light and life for, as Romney would have it.
Namaste