Romney: ‘Victims’ comment not elegantly stated
COSTA MESA, Calif. (AP) — Republican Mitt Romney is trying to head off a new distraction for his campaign after a video surfaced showing him telling wealthy donors that 47 percent of all Americans “believe they are victims” entitled to help from the government.
Romney offered no apologies at a news conference Monday but conceded the comments were not “elegantly stated” and spoken “off the cuff.”
The Republican presidential nominee says the remarks showed a contrast between President Barack Obama’s “government-centered society” and his belief in a “free-market approach.”
Obama’s campaign is pouncing on the video and using it to encourage supporters to donate money to the president’s re-election effort.
The video comes as Romney advisers try to reassure party leaders and donors about the Republican’s ability to win the White House.
Comments
z123go, nice try. The NAACP, Sandra Fluke (sp?) et al, encourage the victim mentality 24/7. Biden spoke of putting, "y'all BACK in chains..." Z12go, what does this mean?
No, Greene, nice try. If you knew anything and I mean anything at all, you'd know, all the ppl I know, whom voted for Obama in 08 and whom are voting for him this election ALL PAY INCOME TAX. And the NAACP, Sandra Fluke do NOT have a victim mentality. Sorry to burst your republican bubble. If you knew anything, you'd know that insurance companies cover Viagra and why...that's not an health issue! But they won't cover Birth Control pills, that are rarely used for Birth control, but for many women's health issues! You even saying that we play the victim let's me know you are part of that great Youngstown racist mentality. If you knew anything, you'd know that it's more Whites on government assistance than any other race. So, who has that entitled victim mentality? Here's some facts for you greene: 49% OF WELFARE RECIPIENTS ARE WHITE; 26% ARE BLACK; 20% ARE SPANISH AND 8% OTHER RACES. So my dear, whom exactly has that victim mentality again? If you knew anything, you'd know, at only a gross income of two working adults in my houselhold of only $35,000 a year we pay a combined income tax of over 60%. My husband is at 37% so far and I make slightly more than he does an hour and I'm at 42%. So you and that racist POS Romney can kiss my taxed arse! And back in chains was meant as in "the government will put you back in chains by voter suppression, by raising your taxes...you know, chaining you down financially. But someone with a small mind like yours, would like to think that way...but won't admit your guy is an extreme elitlist racist! and so are MOST of the g-no-p! Hey, don't get mad because the brother has not only up staged your guy in results, but also in intelligence, morality, compassion, action and even in the wife department. I hope your kids never leave home so they can show you what a real victim is!
Not "elegantly stated?" The truth rarely is.
@ MzVirgoLuv :
> > a gross income .... in my houselhold of only $35,000 a year we pay a combined income tax of over 60%. < <
I strongly suggest that you immediately seek the advice of a competent CPA. You are paying far in excess of what income tax would normally be applied to that income level.
If your numbers are correct.
I think it's clear now what Romney thinks of the middle class and the poor. There are plenty of people working their butts off and barely surviving. They need help, not a smug jerk who thinks they all have the victim mentality.
@ MzVirgoLuv :
Please see a CPA immediately! If you have a gross income of $35K and file a joint tax return since you are married, you can claim a standard decuction of $11,600 and personal exemptions of $7400, giving you an adjusted gross income of $16,000. The tax on this amount for married filing jointly is $1603!. This is an effective tax rate of 4.6%, nowhere close to 60%! Even if you added in payroll taxes for SS and Medicare, that is only another 7.65%, yielding an effective rate of 12.25%.
The truth of the matter is that 50% of Americans receive some type of govt assitance or check. The dependent class keeps getting bigger and the real USA keeps shrinking. Victim status...I'll agree with that!!!!!
Hey you have to remember Kasich act like a jerk his whole campaign and got elected. He stated he didn't care about the middle class, didn't like unions, only cared about businesses and still was elected.
Why all of the bashing of pro business people?
They are the ones who build companies that supply the jobs for which so many clamor.
romney is the best thing that has happened to the Democratic party since palin.
Clinton 2016!
@ cambridge :
You must have been on the debate team, that reply was an excellent sleight of hand, so to speak.
@ z123go :
> >They don't build a company to make jobs, they start a company to fill a need and sell something. < <
This goes without saying, it's understood. You're correct, businesses are not created for the sake of "jobs." It is in filling a need that they create jobs and wealth.
Ironically, the business creators are so often vilified by the job seekers.
Joe, a little respect from the job creators to employees would go a long way in changing that opinion. We've seen what Romney says behind closed doors when the cameras are off. Why wouldn't people be disgusted with him?
z123go, it was Mr. Biden that introduced race, not me. Mr, Biden was speaking to a Black audience.
BTW, google Y-town tax accountant before Apr 15th.
@ DwightK :
Romney does appear to suffer from foot-in-mouth disease on too many occasions.
Executive level comments are not meant for the general public which often misinterprets them as arrogant and slanderous.
Too many in the wagon and not enough pulling the wagon.
> > Too many in the wagon and not enough pulling the wagon. < <
That is precisely why Romney needs to take charge of the business in Washington.
I have to laugh at all the working-class idiots and pensioners who don't realize that he's talking about them.
Also, Joe, the reason why there's a backlash against businesses is that people are finally realizing that the system's slanted in business' favor. With all the loopholes, write-offs, and deductions, businesses hardly pay any taxes anymore (as compared to 50 years ago when businesses paid more than people did). I know, I own a few LLCs, I write off practically everything I do. It's not fair, but I'm not about to be a martyr.
@ 300 :
> > I own a few LLCs, I write off practically everything I do. It's not fair < <
Quit apologizing, it certainly is fair, according to the law, which I assume you obey.
The only ones who think it is not fair are those who can not position themselves to do the same.
This becomes an instrument of Obama's class warfare. Don't lower yourself to that level.
> > If Mitt wants to give lectures about who is paying what then why does he continue to hide his tax returns? < <
If he is not compelled to do so by law, then he should not do it.
That is his business that no one other than his accountants and the IRS need to see.
Of course I obey the law, I'm just pointing out that our system is skewed in the favor of business owners.
I don't have any personal security issues that I need to cover for, so I'm able to admit that I benefit disproportionately from the system due to my LLCs. I still can't believe that the American people accept a Capital Gains tax that taxes that income at a lower rate than those who actually work for their income.
There's nothing fair about it.
By the way, do you think for one second that I'd quit investing if Capital Gains went up to 30 or 40%? Of course not, it's still money that I managed to earn without doing any actual (or at most, very little) work.
@ 300 :
> > it's still money that I managed to earn without doing any actual (or at most, very little) work. < <
The "amount of work" is a different issue.
The important thing is that you have capital at risk. Your gains, if any, should be compensated for the risk taken through a lower tax rate.
Guys, where exactly do you think tax breaks come from? Write-off or etc....????? Wait for it.... Wait for it..... wait for it....
The GOVERNMENT! Which is really Congress that allows these things to be negotiated between the Repugs and Demo's.
It's a BIG A$$ gov't entitlement! Don't attempt to sugar coat it, it is what it is.... And the ones that do pay income taxes end up paying for those so called write-offs "cough" I mean entitlements.
Just Saying
@ LLoyd :
You're exactly right. The whole tax code is a convoluted disaster of "breaks, loopholes, and handouts." It is designed to raise revenue, steer social behavior, and provide selective advantages or punishments among other things.
It is skewed by those who have the capacity to influence Congress.
Just remember this, Mr. Romney, that this rabble you're talking about... they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath?
If anything the government isn't doing enough to help the poor, disabled, veterans, and elderly. you realize that full welfare assistance in Pennsylvania for some one with no kids is $86 every 2 weeks and $200 of foodstamps a month? I couldn't even imagine how to live on $43 a week.
Our veterans come home disabled and we live in poverty.
God forbid you get sick in Ohio. If you are over 19, under 60, and not disabled (how are you going to get on disability if you don't have the medical insurance to see a doctor that you're trying to apply for!?) or don't have any children under 19, forget it. The state says too bad suffer.
You can always go to the Emergency Room but all they are required to do is stabilize you i.e. make sure you don't die.
Its sickening that we spend billions on bombers but our vets are in poverty and people are sick.
Mitt-Flopper: ‘Victims’ comment not elegantly stated.
Obama thought it was VERY elegantly stated. Mitt-Flopper has dropped in the polls like the Titanic hitting an iceberg!!
Romney has to be faulted for his political skills (non-existent), rather than the value, or lack of value, of his message.
The bottom line: our present course is unsustainable- we can't continue to borrow 40% of every dollar we spend at the Federal Level and the only people who seem to be talking about that are some of the Republicans (the Tea Party Members). We need entitlement reform more than anything else- especially of Medicare- if we wish to not end up like the SS Titanic- under the waves and sinking fast.
Unfortunately, the GOP has a habit of picking their most inept politicians to carry their message: Romney, McCain, Dole, etc. and these lightweights have to come up against superb natural (read talented) pols of the caliber of Slick Willy, and (much as I hate to say this) Barack Hussain Obama.
That's like, to use a sports metaphor, putting up a Muhammed Ali against and amateur who like to "put on the gloves" on weekennds. A Bloodbath.
The GOP would have been better off - with someone like Santorum, or even Newt- people that had the courage of their convictions and could effectively communicate.
Political Skills and Statesmanship are not the same. In Ronald Reagan, who I believe will go down as one of 20th Century America's greatest statesman (FDR- the condescending Elitist not withstanding) we had someone with both. God, please send him back to us, on Loan: the Country Needs Him Desperately!
Last I heard reagan was a lump in a dirty diaper. Come to think of it, that probably is a better choice than romney.