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Do you really believe?
Romney now claims that his 47% speech was a mistake. Most people do not know the full text of his comments, or that he was speaking more comfortably and naturally than normal. It was not scripted at all, it was offhand, from the gut. Below is a transcript of that portion of his speech, and a following article from the Salt Lake Tribune explaining his motives. Read the speech, then the explanation- and tell me if you still buy the apology and credibility of Mitt Romney.
Romney:
“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 that 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. And I mean, the president starts off with 48, 49, 48—he starts off with a huge number. These are people who pay no income tax. Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax. So our message of low taxes doesn't connect. And he'll be out there talking about tax cuts for the rich. I mean that's what they sell every four years. And so my job is not to worry about those people—I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.“
Salt Lake Tribune:
"You must also assess the audience it was intended to influence. What is also important to take from that speech is what those contributors value and inevitably are looking for Romney to deliver once elected. To elicit their contributions, Romney had to appeal to the expectations that the audience placed on him before they would essentially open their checkbooks. It was necessary for him to put the frame of reference more in line with their judgment of the nation. Referring to the 47 percent who do not pay taxes is to validate for the attendees those who they consider worthy, and who they do not. Those who do not contribute to government by paying federal income taxes are not worthy of receiving benefit from it. Romney was explicit in describing his image of those he values and why others do not earn his and their respect."
Do you really believe all that was a "mistake", some kind of slip of the tongue?
Or was it a duplicitous and ambitious politician who will tell people whatever they want to hear to gain power?
In the 47% there are indeed deadbeats and career welfare recipients. There are a also a great number of the retired on social security who have paid taxes all their lives. There are veterans who were crippled in Vietman, Iraq and Afghanistan who paid taxes and a lot more than taxes. There are those who are unable to work due to injury or birth defects, things not of their own doing- and many other worthwhile people. Romney tied his distinction to the questions of tax payments, period. If you don't pay today, you are a deadbeat.
America is not only about money; it's about humanity, and that doesn't mean subsidizing deadbeats. It does mean caring for your own, for those who have built what you now enjoy, for those who have sacrificed and paid the price. If you don't understand that, you diminish your country.
The most important quality in a president is not his party or position- it's his character. Honorable people self-regulate, they are who they say they are. Thi
This is the the litmus test, the way we find honorable men- we examine their character and integrity before we give any weight to what they claim or promise, because promises from a person without honor are worthless in the first place.
Mitt Romney has failed the litmus test, even before this. He totally disqualified himself with this speech, then slammed the lid on it when he denied he meant what he said. How can a rational person believe that is not vitally important?
David- and you are not wise enough to realize that these thing are the result of a massive recession that began before Obama took office or were directly triggered by GW Bush, such as the wars? Did you think Obama could flip a switch and that would all go away in a week or two?
Mackenzi- You sound quite young. You also sound generous- and a bit gullible. I'm old, but I've been where you are. One of the most important skills to learn in life is how to read people's character. Character is what tells you who a person really is- and that is the person that will always be behind anything they do, regardless of the facade they present. People with good character people have no facade, they know themselves well and have great respect for who they are; as a result they consistent and reliable. They would never sell out their self-respect to gain the approval of others.
Those who do not know who they are or have poor character values will mirror, or appear to be what they think
people expect of them at the moment, and they are inconsistent. As a result, you really have no legitimate idea of who this person will be tomorrow. This is what Romney is doing, and it clearly tells you that he lacks the character which is vital to the position of President. I realize you don't want to believe he meant it, but the person you are fooling is yourself.
Regardless of what people say, what they do is who they are. You remember that, and you will be able to avoid a lot of misery and heartbreak in life.
8 Answers
- ?Lv 79 years agoFavorite Answer
His 47% speech was one of the few times that we have heard the "real" Mitt Romney speak. He is, in my opinion, an arrogant aristrocrat.
- ?Lv 79 years ago
First of all, I heard the whole clip.
I think he partially meant what he said-- and I agree with him to that extent-- but he misspoke by putting everyone in that 47% in the same boat.
Having grown up in inner-city NYC neighborhoods impoverished, yes I can attest-- there is a portion of people who will always vote for the candidate who offers entitlements. Yes, I agree with him that there is a certain percent of people who will always vote for those promising entitlements-- and they will always see anyone looking to reduce or take away those entitlments as their enemy.
They are all in that 47%... and it is to those people I think he was referring. And rightfully so.
But I think-- had he had more time to think about it-- he would have realized that they're not the only ones who make up that 47%.
And that's where I think he misspoke, and didn't mean it. He wasn't thinking about the retirees, the low-income working class, the military, the disabled who need P.A. (for them, it's not an entitlement).
I really believe THAT was his slip-- that he forgot those people are also part of the 47%-- because he's always supported the people who work and take personal responsibility for themselves, who strive to better themselves, who make a sacrifice for their country, and who GENUINELY deserve assistance.
So I think at the moment he was trying to make a point (that there are people who will always want entitlements).
He just did not express himself well in that, and in doing so insulted other people that I don't really believe he was referring to... he just didn't realize at the time that they are part of that 47%.
So yes, I do believe what he means when he said he misspoke and it was a poor choice of words because not all the people in the 47% demand entitlements-- but I don't think he's lying about how he feels about people who demand entitlements.
I feel the same way about entitlements-- because of how I was raised and how I had to break out of that mentality to get out of that situation.
Is Mitt Romney secretly elitist? Probably... but then I believe the same of Pres. Obama & VP Biden. So again, the playing field is level for me there.
Frankly, I'm more insulted by Obama's stance that people need the government to take care of them-- that minorities are too stupid to get an ID to vote (my husband is a minority, that issue has bugged us lately), that because we're working class we are going to need the government to be responsible for us. That bugs me far more-- that we shouldn't have to take personal responsibility for ourselves because we are not wealthy or Harvard educated.
I'm more concerned about who's plans are going to actually work and what I agree with-- and since I support budget cuts, smaller government, less government control, lower taxes, etc... I have to vote for Romney, regardless of whether he has an elitist attitude or not.
I don't really care if the President is a good guy-- I want someone who'll do a good job even if he is a real ******. I think most people who get to that level of power and politics are more likely an Ahole than not deep down, so I don't vote based on that.
- ?Lv 59 years ago
Only fools believe what Romney says. Republicans just want "their country back" which is code for read my lips I am not paying any taxes! They don't really like Mitt either.
- 9 years ago
It was not a mistake or a slip of the tongue. It was Romney saying what he truly believes and what he will act on if elected.
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- 9 years ago
Under Obama
- Lowest consecutive GDP quarters than anytime in our history
- Unemployment has nearly doubled
- More workers fall out of the labor force than anytime in our history
- Minority unemployment is highest in 30+ years
- Young worker unemployment highest since tracked in the 1950's
- Unemployment over 8% for 43 months, ....never has happened in our history
- 38% increase in Americans living at or below poverty,.... more than anytime in our history
- 36% increase in homelessness
- 13% more Americans WITHOUT healthcare today than 4 years ago
- 50% increase in debt
- 4.5x more people on food stamps
- 3x more people on welfare than anytime in our history
- In 3 wars instead of 2 and about to be a 4th with Syria
- Gitmo still open
- More companies have filed bankruptcy than anytime in our history
- 25% increase in home foreclosures
- Under Obamacare women can only get pap smears every 4 years instead of annually
- Under obamacare mamograms every 3 years instead of annually
- The real war on women
- Anonymous9 years ago
of course not. People say what they really feel when they think there is no camera around, plus with all his flip flops you really cant believe anything Mittens tells you
