Mitt Romney Video

That video is an embarrassment for our country. As someone who recently was in the 47%, I was not a victim nor did I believe myself a victim. If you agree with his statement, then you are part of the problem this country is facing. Since we as a country seem to be embracing this pathetic form of pandering, we are reaping what we sow.

I was actually surprised he said it so I'm with you a little bit.  I wasn't insulted but there are certainly nicer ways to say essentially the same thing.

I don't like the fact that more than 50% of americans use some sort of government assistance, but there are genuine people (disabled vets, elderly, etc...) who are most certainly not "free loaders" in my mind that get lumped into that category.  There are a lot of freeloaders though too.  Most of them are related to me.

Obama's been praying the last few nights for a distraction to deflect from Libya so he may have just found one.  

Mitt Romney held a hastily arranged press conference here to engage in damage control hours after a May video of him surfaced at a private fundraiser describing 47 percent of the country as “dependent upon the government.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81312.html#ixzz26mrbwahI

What part do you have a issue with? Do you deny that 47 percent are dependent on the Government? I am retired from the Navy I am a government dependent. Do you know over 40% of our school students are on reduced or free lunch? Here read it yourself http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/PA694.pdf I see advertising at schools and at the local Wal-Mart for FREE LUNCH at school. Do many of you know your tax money is used to provide free lunch in the summer? Don't take my word call your local High School cafeteria and ask them. I speak to the kids on welfare every day and the VAST majority are Obama supporters.  I worked for the Texas Employment commission and I can tell you most an overriding majority of those on welfare do not want to work and feel they are entitled to as much as they can get from the government. And guess who they are voting for?

It's a very misleading figure. It includes the 16% of people receiving Social Security. Given the fact that I'm paying into the system during my working years, I would not consider that a handout.

15% of Americans receive food stamps. 26% of Americans receive Medicaid benefits. WIC (women, infants, children) are 8%. 4% receive housing assistance.

While there is no doubt that there is abuse of the system, and that a percentage of people receiving assistance should be in jail for what is basically theft, the safety net is also used by people who are truly in need. I would expect the numbers to go up in a severe recession, and to go down as the economy improves.

But for a presidential candidate to say "it's not my job to worry about these people' is callous at best.

That's kind of what I was trying to say but you said it in a much more eloquent way.  

Somehow I don't get the sense that you were calling Mitt callous.

I'm not sure if this raises to the level of "you didn't build that" but it's kind of along the same lines of class warfare but in the other direction.

<getting out my tinfoil hat now>  As someone who loves the political game and looks for strategy in these kinds of moves.  The video was recorded in May so they've been sitting on it for four months waiting for the "opportune" time to release it for the most political benefit.  So my guess is this was slated for a last minute october surprise, but with the president getting torched for his foreign policy they needed a distraction now.  So purely speculation on my part is they were forced to play this card early for the distraction.  Unfortunately for Obama the political benefit/bounce of this recording will likely fade long before November.

True, I was more referring to whose on entitlements

Why do you hate America?

x2.  It has nothing to do with the figure, number or percentage.  Trying to discuss the legitamacy or policies of that number is just a red herring.  Romney said something jaw dropping. 

I call it diplomacy or tact.  I frequently think things about my partner that may or may not be true.  But I don't say them.  Not unless I want to sleep on the couch.  Romney just did that.  He shared a thought that many have but didn't need to be said on a public stage.  And his refusal to apologize is more insulting. 

If you listen to the recording that statement had to do with not worrying about their vote. He wasn't referring to their welfare.

His point was that since they don't pay federal income that group wouldn't respond to his message of lower taxes therefore he won't have to worry about their vote.

The next line in his talk is: "I'll never convince them (47%) they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."  Seriously? So if you are able to take advantage of the tax code and that results in zero income tax, or you're a student, or on Social Security, e.g. you have no personal responsibility?