If you were considering voting against Mitt Romney because of his disdain for the 99 percent; it turns out there’s only 47 percent of America that he isn’t interested in representing as POTUS.
In a statement that pits him squarely against the middle class and will certainly serve as another nail in his presidential ambition coffin, Mother Jones released a video yesterday that has Mitt Romney saying: “There are 47 percent … 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.”
He added, “My job is is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”
I don’t know what additional evidence one would need to conclude that Romney’s campaign is little more than a thinly-veiled war against the working class.
But don’t take my word for it, here’s what conservative columnist David Brooks said about Romney’s telling statement in a piece aptly headlined Thurston Howell Romney. He writes:
Romney, who criticizes President Obama for dividing the nation, divided the nation into two groups: the makers and the moochers. Who are these freeloaders? Is it the Iraq war veteran who goes to the V.A.? Is it the student getting a loan to go to college? Is it the retiree on Social Security or Medicare? The people who receive the disproportionate share of government spending are not big-government lovers. They are Republicans. They are senior citizens. They are white men with high school degrees. As Bill Galston of the Brookings Institution has noted, the people who have benefited from the entitlements explosion are middle-class workers, more so than the dependent poor.
But forget for a moment the political reality that Romney was effectively campaigning against a huge number of people who were potential supporters, a larger point is he was actually low-balling the percentage of America that relies on the public sector.
We all are. Elizabeth Warren describes how we are all dependent on public sector programs far better than I can in this famous Youtube video:
So why does Mitt exempt 53 percent of America from his ire? Because despite what they say it isn’t government Romney and the Republicans don’t like, it’s the middle and working class.
In case folks need a reminder, Brendan Doherty loves Mitt Romney.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 4, 2012
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Please Contact: Robert Coupe
Rob@DohertyforCongress.com or
(401) 942-5522
BRENDAN DOHERTY ENDORSES FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR MITT ROMNEY FOR PRESIDENT
Cumberland – Brendan Doherty, Republican candidate for Congress from Rhode Island ’s first Congressional district today announced his endorsement of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for President of the United States. Doherty joins former Rhode Island Governor Don Carcieri and leaders of the Rhode Island Republican Party in endorsing Romney.
“Mitt Romney is a proven leader who will stand by his convictions while seeking consensus to find real solutions to the daunting challenges facing our nation,” commented Doherty. “I would be honored to serve as Rhode Island’s Representative from the first Congressional district and to work closely with Mitt Romney once he becomes the President of the United States. As a former Governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney understands the challenges facing our region’s economy and I trust that he will provide strong leadership and together, we will restore economic opportunity and hope toRhode Island families,” concluded Doherty.
I think you give Mittens too much credit. I’m not sure he has a belief of his own. Romney has spent seemingly his entire political career telling people what they want to hear. He’s known as a flip-flopper for a reason.
Romney doesn’t believe all Americans are entitled to food? What kind of person says that? Yes, what a country it would be if only we had millions of starving children to serve as dire warnings to the rest of us to get it in gear.
“Romney doesn’t believe all Americans are entitled to food?”
You guys are great. When did he say that? Certainly not in that video. Please provide a citation. I agree it’s probably one of the dumbest remarks of his campaign but there is some truth in what he says albeit not 47 percent and certainly not all non-taxpaying citizens. It analogous to the public employee unions that campaign for candidates that will ultimately be their boss. How many of those dependent on government would vote for smaller government especially when big government advocates keep pounding into those dependents that they will lose benefits? It’s a logistic that he has to accept. The worst part is his math. If he’s already conceding 47 percent of the vote to Obama then he’s pretty much screwed.
“When did he say that? Certainly not in that video” Are you an agent provocateur for the left? Surely, no actual conservative would throw down the gauntlet so rashly.
From the video:
“…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. ”
www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/secret-video-romney-private-fundraiser
Let’s bold-face the part about food: ”who believe that they are entitled…to food”
So, to re-cap:
1) You said: ““Romney doesn’t believe all Americans are entitled to food?”
You guys are great. When did he say that? Certainly not in that video. Please provide a citation.”
2) The publication that released the video offers the following direct quote from the video in the second paragraph of the article in which they released the video:
“…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. ”
Now, what’s interesting about all of this isn’t the fact that you’re wrong, because you’re always wrong; no, what’s interesting is that you set yourself up for a fall. Why did you do that? Why would you make a claim that is not merely wrong, but wildly wrong, and easily verifiable as wildly wrong?
What is your goal here?
The problem with your comment is that you attribute the highlighted quote to me but it actually belongs to PinkHatLib. The second problem is your citation does not accurately reflect PinkHatLib’s comment. I disagreed with Romney. Is that a problem for you?
Not sure why you think he didnt’ say that… “who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing.” Count me in the 47% who believes I am entitled to food. Even prisoners are entitled to those things. Why should a child be any different?
“Count me in the 47% who believes I am entitled to food.”
From the government?
‘entitled’ .. there’s the problem right there. Prisoners get food ’cause we are holding them against their will. We therefore are responsible for feeding them. You are *not* entitled to food, nor gas for your car or a big screen TV or happy children. You earn them ( might have to look that one up ). Thinking you are entitled to food, which perforce must be bought with someone elses money, makes you a thief at heart.
You want something, go earn it.
“you attribute the highlighted quote to me”
Are you crazy? Here is the chain of events:
1) PHL says: “Romney doesn’t believe all Americans are entitled to food? ”
2) You say: “When did he say that? Certainly not in that video.”
3) I point out that Romney did say that he does not believe all Americans are entitled to food and that he said so in that video.
Let me put it another way, because it takes so long for things to sink in.
1) PHL says that Romney said something bad.
2) You said that Romney did not say that bad thing.
3) I prove that Romney did say the bad thing that you said he did not say.
I honestly cannot tell if you post here to make conservatives look bad.
You say he said it but he didn’t say it so just because you say he said doesn’t mean he actually said it. Get it? Two can play your game turbo.
Hey, don’t get me wrong: I love that you are now the conservative who posts most frequently at RIFuture.
Every time you post, your conservative brethren thunk their heads on their desks–and that sound is like the sweetest xylophone ever.
But one more time, for the record and because you are so embarassed by your mistake that you cannot admit it:
DogDiesel: “ When did he say that? Certainly not in that video.”
From the video:
“…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. ”
www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/secret-video-romney-private-fundraiser
You can pound it all day long but he never said, “He (Romney) doesn’t believe all Americans are entitled to food?” It’s just another partisan hyperbolic statement from the left wing. Is he wrong when he says that there is a portion of our society that feel entitled to government dependency and will not vote for him for that reason?
“he never said, “He (Romney) doesn’t believe all Americans are entitled to food?””
Actually, he did. He presented a list of things 47% of the American population believe they are entitled to, when, in Romney’s view, they are not entitled to these things.
Romney believes no one is entitled to:
–housing
–health care
–food
Again:
“…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. ”
If you believe that you are entitled to housing, health care, or food, Romney disagrees with you.
Romney believes that no one is entitled to housing, health care, or food.
And, also for the record, I am ecstatic that you are denying that Romney said what he said on video. There is nothing you could do to make yourself look like more of a crank. I love it!
You’re leaving out the part that he said the 47 percent felt entitled to these benefits from the government for which I said earlier I disagreed with but you keep spinning it any way you want.
Are you even aware what conversation you are participating in?
“You’re leaving out the part that he said the 47 percent felt entitled to these benefits from the government”
No, that is the part I’m leaving in.
Here are the two sides.
Side A: Everyone is entitled to food, housing, and health care. If you cannot provide food, housing, and health care for yourself, then the government will provide it for you.
Side B: Everyone is not entitled to food, housing and health care. If you cannot provide your own food, housing, and health care, then the government will not provide it for you.
Side B is Romney’s side.
Romney also says that only those people who do not pay income taxes are on Side A.
“for which I said earlier I disagreed with”
This is not English. It is unclear which side you think you are on.
“Are you crazy?”
Sorry, forgot your first question. At least no one with any credentials in the field has actually said so but there’s still time.