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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It's the truth... too many people don't pay crap. Those who pay the least, use the services the most. We signed a declaration of independence not a declaration of dependence to the government.
Wonder how Greece got where they are today? Just take a look at ourselves because we are well on our there. Government over spending... give aways... payoffs... freebies... trying to take as much as possible from those who have and give it to those that don't deserve... those that have trying to pay as little as possible because of the corruption and unfair system taking so much more from them % wise.
Yep we are there... just waiting for the forced cutbacks and all the riots and complaining from those that don't get a free ride anymore. Tick, tock, tick, tock...
A Bush government that put us in a war and put $38 billion aside for it when it costs $200 billion. Tax cuts with no payment plan.
it all boils down to who u want to lead the country .......your friend eddie haskell obama .... everyone likes eddie he is cool or ward cleaver romney...... truly someone who can make a difference
You forgot an eddie haskel with a much higher I.Q. and 100 times the compassion, and repaired our relationships with allies, we are on the road to recovery. Romney vulture capitalist with alot of flip flop.
I just don't know. Mitt Romney really doesn't seem to care about the average person. I'm afraid if he gets elected things might get really bad for normal average people.
Romney has tax envy. He dreams of not any paying federal income tax and as a percent of income already pays less then many. If he were to join the 47% not paying federal income tax would he then vote for Obama?
Willard is a used car salesmen.
Truth.
A former co-worker, through no fault of her own,, became disabled. She could not walk, talk, or use her dominant hand, and our insurance company refused to pay for therapy that would have helped her. Is she a "moocher" because she relied on the Disability benefits that she had paid into all her working life? Did she have no right to food or housing because she was unable to work?
We have met the Death Panel and its name is Mitt Romney.
that is a lie! Mitt said if you have really listened to his speech that we need to take care of those in need. Those Mitt was talking about is the dependent society that the liberals have created over the past 5 generations. I hope this is not too tough for you to understand.
Nope he said the people not paying income tax, nice try to spin it, notcnnfan.
It's hard to do, but Mittens has managed to turn the truth into a huge political mistake.
He has turned a clandestine recording that he could have turned to massive advantage but instead he doubled down and amplified stupidity in the mind of voters.
If he wins, it'll be despite himself. Unfortunately his opposition, an incompetent socialist isn't any better.
Really? Who told you that–CNN?
Do you have the same type of friends Obama has had?
Your commet flushed in 3-2-1
I find it hard to imagine that so many die-hard birthers do not trust the Republican party. As if a group as big and as powerful as the Republican party would not have put a stop to Obama ever running for President if there was even a hint of doubt that he was not born in America is unimaginable. It is amazing to me that these people would vote for a party or its candidates that they actually have so little faith in.
From Romney's point of view, the people of the Greatest Generation that ended the Great Depression, won the Second World War and the won the Cold War that use Social Security and Medicare are a burden to society;maybe, we would not be having this free election if it were not for the Greatest Generation!!!!
Now that is mixing historical events with fantasy! Did the liberals give you a class on how to do that or did you learn from watching other liberals.
I guess it boils down to do you want a President who will give you a fish, or a President who will teach you to fish? I would rather be given the chance to make my own way. If I did require Government assistance, I would be fine with a program that requires me to volunteer my time (working in a soup kitchen, shelter ect) to earn my keep until I can support myself. I don't want to be given a hand out. That could also be used for a resume. Employers now look and see how long you've been out of work. If I'm unemployed but using my time to help others, it shows a strong work ethic.
What makes me laugh, is all this fuss was started by an unemployed Democrat who happens to be the grandson of one of the worst Presidents our country has seen. Thankfully Jimmy Carter makes a former President.
And yes, I think everyone should pay some federal taxes. Why should I have to pay more because I haven't popped out a half a dozen kids?
Great comment!
Let's expand on that "give a fish" story.
Sure, Romney would teach us how to fish, but here's the catch.
All the good fishing holes are privately ownd by banks with armed guards. And if you just happen to find a fishing hole that isn't privately owned, thre will be 10's of millions of others trying to fish from the same spot.
Very well stated Sarah and I wish EVERYONE would read this and TRUELY think about what you are saying. Sure Romney is a knucklehead by the way he worded it. Even if it is true.. It should have been more well thought out. The problem is, those who are on any form a assistance becomes accustom to the life and don't want to give it up. So pretty much what happen to Greece is going to happen here. Most will argue me and tell me I am wrong.. But is only their way of denying the truth/facts. Just admit it... It is going to happen. People will get sick of pulling more their share of work and give up as well. WORD
You do realize that disabled people (including veterans) and the elderly (most of whom worked their entire lives) are part of the 47%?
no, quite honestly and quite directly, it boils down to do you want a president who is an ass or do you want one who isn't.
And trust me a whole lot of people are going to vote against Romney on that basis alone.
And the fact is that he hasn't made a positive case for voting for him. Unless you believe that "I'm not Obama" is "a positive case for voting for him". But 'I will cut taxes and I am pro-business"...sorry but that's not going to cut it in 2012. Obama has done everything that he can do over the past 4 years despite all the Republican opposition and you know who has gotten rich behind his efforts? Rich White Republicans.
It's just obvious that whatever the government does to improve the economy?
Rich White Republicans are going to get 2/3rds of the benefits. If not more.
So you're talking about the 1% which is already well-off just getting even richer all while complaining about Obama and the Democrats ruining the economy.
unfornatly because of romney all of the fishing holes are now in china
Sarah
Robme and his rich friends, the banks and the corporations own all the fishing holes and the fish, if you are very nice they let you catch a small one, just enough to live on. Our economic freedom is being sucked away by the rich, not the government. They don't just want more, they want it ALL. The gap between the rich and middle class has TRIPLED since 2000, soon we will be a nation of robber barons and serfs. They really don't give a D- about their workers , the middle class or the poor. No, I am not a socialist; I have a brother worth $200M and I have a net worth well in the 1%,including owning a corporation, and I have seen first hand the disdain and contempt the rich have for anyone who is not in their "class"; they will bleed the middle class and the poor dry if the government lets them..
Sarah you totally missed the point and wording. Income tax. The elderly already paid their income tax.
Now if you are talking about welfare, the south and republican states use more welfare, and they get more money per dollar back, than they pay in to federal taxes. If you take a map of the republican states and superimpose a map of welfare it is the red states that use more food stamps, more federal money. So what is your point? Republicans are a drag on the economy and have lower wage jobs and live off of us?
Learning how to fish is nice, but worthless, if the lake is dead or only has stunted fish in it.
Most of the 47% get some type of assistance because they are unemployed or underemployed.
I'm not blaming anyone, since we all played a role, but everything from customer support to manufacturing is done in other countries now.
So I work all my life, pay my taxes and now when I want to enjoy my savings and social security along with Medicare that I paid for out of my taxes for 45 years I'm written off as a freeloader? Thanks Gov. Romney, I guess I'll have to vote for the man who wants to be President of all Americans even if I don't like some of his ideas.
WWJD? Don't think he was about money. I think he thought more of man than that. He didn't damn the sick, poor, elderly, etc. Just can't get to a point where I believe republicans aren't hypocrites. They truly have no clue what JWD. I feel sorry for every last one of you.
They believe Jesus was a capitalist?lol
Even Our Lord would be hard pressed to deal with the likes of Romney and his ilk.
Mitt is basically suggesting all the 47% Americans who didn't pay income tax are democrates and all the ones who pay tax are republicans. NOT true. it's more like his base. Republican party leaders think they are exceptionals. Rick Santorum said the Eliot and smart people will never be with conservatives, so he was saying he himself is not smart or Eilot or he's an exception. Ann coulter said Obama's base is single stupid women but she is single and she is stupid for saying stuff like that but she is excetion because she is republicaion. Mitt's father was on welfare first few years of his life, but since Mitt made millions Mitt thinks he's an exception and anyone who doesn't make enough to pay income tax are loosers according to him.