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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I have to say- like it or not- truth is truth- though the true number is more than 47%. Even I have taken advantage of a gov handout and I am one who is very set on being self-reliant.
The 47%( should be 100%) makes up your tax breaks, grants, roads and infrastructure building and maint, gov subsidized products that you do not even know about for foods, light bulbs, bailouts, tax deductions, etc.
Seriously, there are things the gov has done to make you rely on them and 100% of all Americans use them unknowingly every day.
Lifein America used to be that the only thing you had to do was live, die and pay taxes. Looking toward the future, its going to be, Live, pay more taxes than the3 generations before you, and be a member of Obamacare, die, and watch your children and children’s children pay for a deficit that is not even their debt to begin with.
I wonder how an HONEST and COMPLETE valuation of A-L-L (Federal, State & Local) Government Assistance annually provided to (Corporate America) AND to [the Wealthy portion of the 53% who pay Income Tax] - however "creatively" hidden from ordinary view that it may presently be - how THAT stacks up against a similar valuation of Government Assistance provided to the [47% who pay no income taxes] ? ? ?
For those Conservatives who do not understand the term "HONEST", Google it !
To the "Trailer-Park Pseudo-GoP" -
I suspect that you should make your miserable selves become prepared for a SHOCK ! ! !
Incidentally, Govenment Assistance to those in [the Wealthy portion of the 47% who pay no Income Tax] should be ADDED TO that provided to [the Wealthy portion of the 53% who pay Income Tax]. . The [Wealthy portion of the 47% who pay no Income Tax] DO NOT NEED Government Assistance, but accept it GREEDILY ! ! ! - Especially since the Wealthy ARRANGED for it to come their way in the first place via the political Influence Money which they have so widely dispensed to BOTH political parties ! ! !
Isn't it funny how they use tax laws to pay no income taxes, but deride those who don't make enough money to pay them? Isn't it funny how they deride those who don't pay IT because they are deployed, but will inevitabley expect their services when the US is in another war because that's what the GOP WANTS?
WE ARE THE 99%
Yes, those damn lazy retired people who only worked 50 or 60 until their bodies gave out should be paying more in taxes. I mean what the heck did they ever do... besides winning World War II AND the space race AND the cold war AND building the greatest economy and greatest nation the planet has ever seen. They need to give more.... a lot more! ...otherwise the MItt Romney's of the world might not be able to afford their car elevators and dressage horses.
I believe Mit was telling the truth and all that shows is he doesn't have a clue about how 99% of American citizens live. He does not have a CLUE. I really want a president to have some inkling of what hard working people go through each day. Mit will never understand that and that is really scary.
@to all Obama Mamas and Kobrakais
Somebody has to stand up and say it, you like it or not. You think nothing wrong with 47%? Think again.
For almost 40 years of my life I lived in the Soviet Union and heard every day this “99% versus 1 %”, “Rich versus Poor”, “Exploited and Exploiters” Bolshevik and socialist garbage while living conditions were unbearable, and those 99% lost any incentives to work at all. Obama is brainwashing you with his socialist garbage, and you should be ashamed of yourself for repeating his destructive and anti-American nonsense. I came to States with 10 box in my pockets, worked 2-3 jobs for 20 years and made it to 1 %.
Now what? You want me to share it with you? You call it “spread wealth around”?
How about some decency?
Nice story! I applaud you. There are many unpatriotic Americans, because our culture is in decay. Look at what's on television, It's a celebrity worshiping culture, uneducated and lazy.
I wonder if the battle ground states are mostly pathetic, government nanny lovers or are they self made men & women, who know about personal responsibility. We shall see which path America has gone down: A welfare path or one of self determination, liberty and economic freedom from a tyrannical government. btw, I'm a small business owner who knows government interference first hand. I know about self determination and hard work and personal responsibilty without receiving a dime from the big nanny. Oh, look I have to go back to work!
You do realize that the states collecting the most welfare are red states, right?
81% of Americans pay federal taxes including payroll taxes for Medicare and Social Security and income taxes.
And the vast majority of them pay taxes at a HIGHER RATE than Romney does.
How did all the stupid GOP Ireporters end up on this blog.
In 2007, 38 percent of Americans did not pay federal income tax. In 2008, that number jumped to 49 percent. I seem to remember that someone else was president at that time. The percent has actually gone down during Obama's presidency. This isn't Bush bashing. These are the numbers. I just don't see how Obama created a culture of dependency. During a bad recession, more people will use welfare, food stamps, Medicaid, and unemployment. It doesn't matter who's president. None of those programs are new. Much of Obamacare isn't even in effect, and even if it was, it actually makes people pay their share and not just the wealthy. It's amazing how people twist the facts and others buy into it.
Sadly...both. Just horrifying...
How about the video taken in 2009. You know the one with Obama's advisor Robert Reich and Charlie Rangle. The meeting where they discussed denying stimulus benefits to "white male construction workers"? Maybe the Romney campaign should run that in some commercials.
Flat Tax!!! No loop holes, no deductions, It would be fair and there would be no 47%. Everyone, Millionaires too, would pay their fair share. I do think that people making under 25,000 per year should not pay taxes. Use the money to better themselves and prepare for a better job.
Just a thought.
You really believe this? Look at CNN.com's top story. The iPhone 5 is sold out. A stupid device that everyone has already is sold out because people want to waste their money to get the newest version to fulfill their vanity. If you have an older model there is no reason to get it unless you are getting a new contract. When I drive by the projects I see their parking lots filled with cars nicer than mine. You give humanity too much credit.
You DO realize you just contradicted yourself, right?
No exceptions except....
I liked the idea of the 9-9-9 tax that the one candidate Herman Cain had. Unfortunately, the media took care of him too.
Romney and Ryan ......... Laurel and Hardy of the 21st century
Obama: Bad leader. Marxist. Socialist. Enables people to sit around and collect welfare. Joke of a president.
Romneyhood ......... Give to the Rich take from the poor
The greatest swindle of our time is that the media/Obama tricked all you saps into believing this.