The Romney campaign steps in it again. From Mother Jones.
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14 Responses to Romney Secret Camera Video
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I applaud Mitt Romney for speaking the truth. I bet 47% of the people in Bridgeport, New Haven, New London, Norwich, Hartford, etc receive some form of welfare.
What I find most amusing is the reaction to the video.
Romney basically said there is about half the country that is dependent on Government and don’t pay Federal Income Taxes. Both of these statements are true.
He went on to say that this group of people has a victim mentality. This is also true. And after decades of Democrats telling them they are victims, who could blame them.
He added that a message of tax cuts is not effective on those who pay no taxes and view themselves as victims. This also is true, and should be obvious to all.
His other sentiments indicate that those who view themselves as victims, are dependent on government, and pay no taxes are going to vote for Obama. As Obama encourages and advocates for the victim mentality and class warfare mentality, this too should be obvious.
So, what we have is a Presedential Candidate getting killed in the media for stating simple truths. Not one thing in his comments were inaccurate. What a shame that pointing out reality can damage a campaign so badly.
Rick, did you know that one-party recording is illegal in Florida? I don’t know if there’s any potential accomplice liability for you or the Courant by posting this, but let’s just say that this recording is a result of a crime and we should probably treat it as such.
Or we should start talking about Libya. Or Egypt. Or any of the other embassies that are under attack. Better yet — let’s talk about jobs. OK?
Right, forty-seven percent of Americans are lazy leeches. Stereotyping beats thinking I guess.
This from that renowned liberal, William Kristol.
“It’s worth recalling that a good chunk of the 47 percent who don’t pay income taxes are Romney supporters—especially of course seniors (who might well “believe they are entitled to heath care,” a position Romney agrees with), as well as many lower-income Americans (including men and women serving in the military) who think conservative policies are better for the country even if they’re not getting a tax cut under the Romney plan. So Romney seems to have contempt not just for the Democrats who oppose him, but for tens of millions who intend to vote for him.”
(The rest of Kristol’s article can be found here; http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/note-romney-s-arrogant-and-stupid-remarks_652548.html.)
I was under the impression that the 47% number applies to working age people and excludes children and those above retirement age. I am pretty sure I am correct.
Can you provide information that will correct my lack of proper thinking?
After further review, the 47% comes from people who actually file income taxes.
Therefore, the 23 million or so unemployed people who lack both work and taxable investment income are not included.
Children are not included.
Further, those poor seniors you are worried about, who live soley on social security benefits, are not included either. You see, if your only source of income is social security, you do not need to file an income tax return.
In the world of rapidly available information from websites like IRS.gov, you should have your facts in order proir to running your mouth/keyboard.
John, These comments are a little out of order time wise. This is being posted after my comment below.
You said after further review. Further review of what exactly? How about a link?
And cheap shot insults are always fun. Stay classy.
Hi Paul,
I will stay classy. Thanks.
If you would be so kind as to read the the last paragraph of the post I made prior to your request for a link, it mentions IRS.gov. There you can search the filing requirements for social security recipients with no itemizations and no income source beyond their ss benefits.
As far as my statement that only those who file a tax return are included in this number, here is a link to the ultra-conservative ABC.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/mitt-romneys-47-percent-pay-income-taxes/story?id=17263629
Please note that the 4th paragraph states “…who filed income taxes…”. Since those with ss as their only source of income, and those with no income of any kind are unlikely to file a tax return, I feel my comments are inarguably accurate.
Stay informed Paul.
I believe the number getting kicked around is from the Brookings Institute. They refer to “Households Paid No Federal Income Tax”. They don’t mention how the cohort is made up. My guess is a combination of households that file with no liability and households that don’t file at all. I imagine there are all kinds of people in that cohort including working people who are 65 or older.
There’s charts here: http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxtopics/federal-taxes-households.cfm
Romney says a lot of stupid things but I’m sure he doesn’t think that the 47% of households that didn’t pay income tax are 100% behind Obama (getting back to Kristol’s point). There are plenty of low-income conservatives out there. Whether he can explain his way out of this without inflicting more damage to his campaign remains to be seen.
This number comes from filed tax returns. It does not account for those who do not file a tax return, which includes seniors who’s only source of income is social security.
But you are correct about the fact that all that matters is whether Romney can explain his way out of this.
Romney should keep his fat mouth shut unless he is speaking specifically about unemployment, anemic GDP, the failure of Obama’s Middle East Policy, or the wide swath of Obama’s unfulfilled campaign promises.
Every question asked of him should be answered with one of those topics. If Obama can disregard direct questions and talk about whatever he feels like, so can Romney.
I wonder why the Courant and other left wing outlets did not emphasize Obama’s “secret” remarks of the past. Oh I see it is all about Obama getting re-elected and the means justifies the ends.
I agree, some misuse the system but there are some who are getting some kind of government aid and not by choice, most of them want be productive citizens pay their share and have a better future than to live off welfare. Who in the world wants to live in poverty, they need to create more jobs and invest in education get rid of welfare
If Obama gets re-elected, I wonder how many entrepreneurs will simply give up and “stop pulling wagon and join the 47% by jumping into the wagon.”
“I loved Michelle Obama’s line in her speech: ‘A presidency reveals who you are.’ So do campaigns. And mark me down as one Republican not happy with what is being revealed about Mitt Romney.
–Mark McKinnon, Republican strategist and Bush campaign aide.