David A. Rice feels like Mitt Romney wrote him off.
The 61-year-old has always been a values-based voter, generally votes Republican and could be a key vote in the swing state of Florida. But he's also among the 47% of Americans that Mitt Romney said don't pay income tax and rely on government support.
"There are 47% of the people who will vote for the president no matter what," Romney says in a clip from a secretly filmed private donor meeting in May, which was first posted on Monday afternoon. "There are 47% who are with him, who are dependent on government, who believe that, that they are victims, who believe that government has the responsibility to care for them. Who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing."
Romney's '47%' – Washington's tax-break obsession to blame
Rice says he is working part-time and doesn't pay taxes because he can't find a good job. And the fact that Romney wrote him off in those comments is frustrating.
"I am insulted. I support you and you just wrote me off with the 47% who pay no taxes. In that group are those who cry every time they use food stamps; people who would trade them in a minute for a real job. In that group are Christians who shudder at the thought of voting for abortion and gay rights," he wrote in an iReport. "You have strengths that appeal to the demographic you just wrote off ... use it! In the middle of rich supporters you cannot afford to write off a huge group with a careless word."
The 61-year-old said that he has been forced once or twice to take food stamps - and unlike what Romney contends in his comments - he maintains it was not something he was proud of or hopes to ever have to do again.
"It really hurt me," the iReporter told CNN. "It was not something that I wanted to do, I did it because I didn't have a job."
Rice says he didn't think it was right for Romney to lump every low-income person into the same group.
"Not everyone who takes food stamps is a food stamps junkie," Rice told CNN. "There are people who think the government owes them a living and that the government ought to take care of them and be their momma and daddy all their life. That doesn't apply to everyone."
It all left Rice a bit uneasy.
Which leads to the big questions swirling around the Romney campaign: How much damage will Romney's comments do to his chances for winning the election? Were his comments a big enough gaffe, combined with previous missteps, to really dent his campaign? Were his comments just the brutal truth others don't want to hear? Will it sway the votes of Republicans, independents or the undecided?
Rice says he'll still be voting for Romney because of the candidate's social views. But he knows it may not be the same for others.
"I think it was a mistake on his part because he insulted a lot of people who he needs to vote for him," he said.
CNN asked our readers on Facebook what they thought about the remarks and more than 71% said Romney was wrong and should apologize. Twenty-four percent of readers who answered our unscientific poll said he was right, and it was something someone needed to say. Just about 4.5% felt that Romney was right but shouldn't have phrased the remarks the way he did.
Nevin Sanli, from Los Angeles, California, said he is in the 47% and Romney's recent remarks, as well as other gaffes, have sealed his decision to vote for Obama.
"I never took a penny in help or government assistance money or otherwise. I own two businesses, and all I have been doing, along with my business partners, is creating jobs. I am not a victim," Sanli said in response to the CNN poll on Facebook. "I worked hard and built it all from scratch and I pay a lot of taxes. I am not as rich as Romney, but I sure pay a much bigger percentage of my income in taxes than he does. I find his remarks to be un-American, shocking and insulting."
And definitely unbecoming a president, he added.
"Elitism, silver-spoon arrogance and outright divisive statements, with undertones of racism, cannot be attributes of an American president," Sanli wrote.
For his part, Romney has stood behind the comments from the secretly recorded video. They were an honest reflection of his campaign's message, he said.
"This is a message I'm carrying day in and day out and will carry over the coming months," Romney said on Fox News. "This is a decision about the course of America, where we're going to head. We've seen the president's policies play out over the last four years."
Kristopher Daughtrey agreed with those tough words and took them to show that Romney won't shy away from the truth and will stick to his convictions.
"I applaud Romney for his remarks. He's the only one willing to not sugarcoat it. I'm not a huge supporter of either party, but at least Romney has the guts to speak out frankly about it, instead of Obama, Congress, and other politicians trying to justify their actions constantly or running away with their tail between their legs," Daughtrey said. "If you're going to be president then you need to have the backbone to walk the walk and not just talk about it."
Jason Asselin, an iReporter from Iron Mountain, Michigan, is an independent who says that he generally votes for the best candidate, despite their affiliation, though he likes the ideas and stances of the tea party.
While Asselin is normally a critic of Obama, he said Romney's comments really angered him because he doesn't pay taxes, but it isn't because he doesn't want to.
"I try paying taxes each year and every year they say we don't make enough, it isn't that I don't want to pay my taxes - they won't take them," he says. "Our government put rules and regulations in place for the lower class of people. It isn't our fault for falling under that. I don't like being called the 47%, I'd like to be called American."
Asselin said he is frustrated that Romney makes assumptions about how he will vote. And he is not alone.
Jeff Zicker, 21, might have been a candidate for the 47% category. He's college-aged, but left college because he landed a job performing with a national Broadway tour. He worked two jobs all through college, and these days he pays all his taxes, which puts him in the 53% category.
“For (Romney) to say his plan only appeals to those who don’t victimize themselves just further proves how out of touch he is with the rest of the American public,” he said.
Zicker is a moderate Democrat who will be voting for Obama this fall.
“I honestly believe that somebody that would say that a large of a portion of Americans, that this group victimizes themselves and tries to appeal to voters in that way, I don’t think that shows that they would be fit in any way to be president," he said.
But others say that Romney is merely beginning a dialogue that many Americans refuse to have. Steven Evans said that he thinks the discussion is an important one as the country moves forward.
"It is time to start a national dialogue on whether we are creating a major dependency class," he said on Facebook. "I am glad to see him tell the truth. Let's decide whether we are going the way of Greece or the traditional USA."
But some believe that having that conversation with only half of the country is problematic.
“It’s not in touch with what America’s values are and what we should be in a country," Zicker said of Romney's comments. "At the end of the day, we’re all connected. What I do affects you economically and socially. We shouldn’t see it as an one-for-all system.”
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People do not like the truth. The absolute truth is that the dependent class have learned they can vote themselves money by voting for Democrats who will continue to keep them in chains by keeping them dependent on the government. It is a vicious cycle. It is not because Democrats CARE about these people, these politicians are usually very wealthy by the time they leave office...they only care about the votes they are buying that will keep them in office. Modern day slavery is what this amounts to and the people are too blind to see that they are slaves to the government.
@LUCYSPILLERGUTS...........................you're another one why don't YOU have the nerve to tell us who these dependent people are...........be careful what you ask for you may be one soon!!!!!!!!!!!
1.) Identify that a problem exists.
2.) Determine the cause of the problem.
3.) Fix the problem
Very elementry for a manager and the only route to a solution.
the methodology you mention is simplistic but i think the point you are trying to make is that we dont have politicians that follow any logicial path to solving issues. the process is corrupted by extraneous inputs that have nothing to do with actually addressing the specific problem.
America is the greatest nation on earth today. can we ask Mitt Romney, is it 100% of Americans or 53% or 47% that are made it so? I can see why during the GOP CON. he spent most times trying to talk down America.
From this Statement, it is clear, the kind of heart Mitt has towards most Americans, to me, his Wisdom is questionable. Mitt thought through his comments before he spoke. A man can not be separated from his words. if you are wiser, loving and more caring for Americans, you will never vote for such a man, like Mitt Romney
Today the percentage of Americans largely dependant on the government is 47%. What was it 25 years ago? What will it be 25 years from now? Too many people are voting for the candidate that will give/support/reward them the most. It is a trend that must be reversed. We are paying the benefits with borrowed money. We are not redistributing wealth from the rich but from future generations.
in 1936 it was 33%. considering that was during the great depression, i dont think we are measuring up very well.
the assumptions the government used to determine
25% of people are retired, disabled or cant work for some reason. 11% of the remaining folks were on public assistance.
Many in Washington are familiar with Ryan White (1980's Indiana teen who's name was behind the Ryan White Care Bill that the President signed a few years ago), and, per the above article, Ryan was once quoted in his biography that he never considered himself a victim. Ryan was very wise for someone his age in saying that because, as he explained his comment, to consider himself a victim meant that he'd end up going through life saying "Why me?", when he could instead try his best to make the most of his life – and he did...
Truth – the country is filled with freeloaders. But I am optimistic enough to think that a large percentage of them would work if they could. Obama has failed. His administration's justice department rubber stamps mergers and acquisitions with abandon, more so even that his predecessor. The result is layoffs, and offshoring. Any corporate moron can make money by buying another company and laying off redundant workers. We need a president who is proud of American, believes in the American worker, and applies stiff regulations about worker retention before allowing any merger. And a president who works with Congress to apply stiff tax penalties to any corporation offshoring jobs. We need that 47% back at work paying taxes – THAT is the way to balance the budget!
Er...no, your truth is false. Of that 47%, many of them are retirees. You are calling people that paid into social security all their lives "freeloaders"? Many are working poor. Meaning they work, many of them full time, but they are paid so poorly by people like Romney that they don't qualify to pay taxes. Can't get blood from a turnip. Many are military that do not pay taxes while deployed. So you think all of these people are "freeloaders"? Perhaps you should get your facts straight. "Obama has failed"? NO, Republicans in Congress have failed. We've passed no legislation in the past 2 years that will help America since Republicans took power in Congress.
CNN has yet to post anything pro-Romney. But they won't and we all know why. There are plenty of pros as well as cons for both candidates but CNN has chosen sides. This isn't even journalism.
No its the truth . From a party of lies and deceptions (republican) why should cnn be more pro lier.
I have to laugh at some of the comments on here and how out of touch some people are. The bottom Line is Romney oonce again opened mouth and inserted foot, and given the fact he stands by such comments shows just how out of touch he is. the so called 47% if people want to be honest and truthful not 100% recieve a penny of goverbment help, many don't pay taxes because they work and have taxes taken out during the year but get a total refund because legal deductions which we all take ( no speical loop holes there) take thier income below the level were taxes are owed. the get up every day like many americans go t work , work hard to pprovide for themself and their familes, these are the facts. Yeah there is a small percentage of Americans they play the system and just plain lazy we all know it but it is not even close to 47% . Romney foot in mouth comment would be like one saying the Republican party is only people making 00K a year and up and only white... it is not the truth, Romney with his comment in fact grouped mnay of his supportors into the the 47% with his closed mindness which he has shown time and again..... He has show he is not fit to be POTUS... so but those are the facts, is Obama the best we could do... nope... but given the choices he is the better of the two....one would think after the past 12 years of poor choices a third party would have formed knocking the two party lock hold on you pockets ..becaus until there is a 3rd choice that has a real chance to win the two parties will continue to undermine the country for thier own benifit, that is what really needs to be talked about, no thte fact that since the 1930's we have a small percentage of Americans milking the system and neither party has addressed this in an honest manner.......keep in mind that the earned income tax credit has been supported by republicans just like dems, infact Reagan an increased the amount of hte credit when you go and try to defend romeny's 47% comment..............
I completely agree with you that both parties are looking for their own self interests and I mean each member of the congress or the senate. Barring a few good ones.
A third party is badly needed but may not come soon and that is the country's loss.
As for who to choose between Romney and Obama, for me the choice is clearer now that I see completely false claims being made by Obama and his campaign managers about all of their so called ' non achievements'.
Obama is a man that is an empty suit at best and his totally bizarre appearance on Letterman was so transparently hollow.
TO OUR PERIL WE LAUGH OFF THE REAL SERIOUS MATTERS AND DWELL ON MINUTIAE.
Romney on the other hand may not be a great speaker ( and I am tired of the "speakers" because that's really all that they do). I feel Romney is sincere in his concern for the country and is capable of putting in programs that will help the country turn around from the financial disaster that it is headed for.
WE WANT A PRESIDENT THAT IS MORE SUBSTANCE AND LESS CHARM. CHARISMA IS OVERRATED.
But thanks for your comment.
Romney was just throwing red meat to his right wing supporters. His next topic was probably gay marriage....
Well it's truth and a mistake. It's a mistake because many in that 47% do vote Republican. Retired seniors and military specifically. It's the truth because Romney really doesn't care about your average American. Just look at his policies to gut social safety nets, Medicare, welfare, etc., while increasing taxes on the middle class and giving further tax breaks to the rich. There's only one real demographic he's concerned about, and that's the upper crust of America.
When are you clowns gonna do your jobs and cover the state of this country and the economy under this current president? Is it that there is no good news to share on the economy under Obama that you all spend all your time reading off the White House talking points. Let’s focuss on Mitt Romney and try and maliciously persuade readers (and Hopefully American!!!!) that things are not going well for nominee Mitt Romney!?!?!?!? Well guess what? Keep on trying. Americans are not stupid. They know where the unemplyment level is. They know this government has made it more difficult to hire new employees. They know under this president the state of this economy is under a constant state of uncertainty. They know where gas prices are. They know there is unrest in the middle east. They know it was terrorists that killed an American ambassador last week on 9/11. They know this president is nothing but a speech giver. They know he is incompetent. They know that CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN and the entire legacy media will try and hide it all from the American people while looking for Mitt Romney’s next “gotchya” moment. Keep it up and good luck!!
I fully agree with you.
Read my comment above yours.
All the best.
Reading CNN comments proves the Thurth in Romney's Statement.
Democracies always fail went the hoi polli figure out they can use their votes to get free money from the Tax Payers who support the cost of government. The USA will be a dump like mexico in a few years.
I find it interesting that out of the 7 stories about politics, 6 are about Romney and only one pertains to Obama and the tape where the claims he's for wealth redistribution. Now imagine if Romney had come out and said that, there would be a million stories on it. CNN you're becoming like MSNBC and sinking to new lows.
"...only one pertains to Obama and the tape where the claims he's for wealth redistribution."
__
First of all, that comment was made 14 years ago. Big news!
But, while we're on the subject, are you aware that when Romney's father, George Romney, was young, his family was on government assistance? That was clearly a form of redistribution. I wonder if Mitt feels that his father shouldn't have been given the chance to become independent and successful?
This is Romney's main problem. When he makes a mistake and gets called on it he puffs up his chest and blusters. You can't do that when dealing with other nations. The guy is going to stumble us in to a war that we don't need or want.
If all of the middle class were not dumb, dems will win every time. Unfortunately most of them are dumb.