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'm glad some truth is finally starting to show here. I'm in the "middle" and I have to say that nothing Romney said made me sway any more to the left or right. He was only stating facts, as were presented to him. I don't find anything he said offensive.
I do, however, think that Obama should worry because in the long unedited version of this video, it's very apparent that many people know just how corrupt Obama is. Here are rich people pointing out, at a dinner, Obama's corruptness along with others in the whitehouse. How exactly is that not being brought to light in the news?
The only thing Romney stated that was factual was an obscure and complicated statistic from the Tax Foundation – that 46.4% of Americans did not pay FEDERAL INCOME TAX
The only thing Romney stated that was factual was an obscure and complicated statistic from the Tax Foundation – that 46.4% of Americans did not pay FEDERAL INCOME TAX in 2009.
He didn't mention that most of those people pay payroll taxes for medicare, medicaid and social security. He didn't mention that the majority of those people are seniors in retirement on fixed incomes, college students, low income working families with children and even middle class families that benefit from GOP tax cuts and deductions.
The rest was red meat rhetoric – offensive, unsubstantiated and divisive. Half of the country "dependent victims" who "won't take individual responsibility for their lives".
You didn't find Romney supporters at a Romney fundraiser talking garbage about his opponent the least bit suspi cious, and indeed, think that such gossip should be put in the news. Really.
Americans really are brainless. Here they whine and cry about how dishonest their politicians are. Then you have one come along and tell it like it is; the hard truth. And now? Well, Americans can't handle it. They have wet their diapers, have dribbled all over themselves, and can't handle any of it. Bloody babies you all are.
We can handle the truth; it's the obvious lies that we have problems with.
"In that group are Christians who shudder at the
thought of voting for abortion and gay rights"
How dare Romney denigrate such decent gay-hating people! Now these voters are stuck with the awful dichotomy in which they cannot maintain their own self-respect without also respecting others! It makes me sick.
Everybody shocked and outrages by Mitt's comments? How do you feel about Obama's comments on he believes in redistribution? He was always a socialist but now its right out of the horses mouth and nobody is jumping on it. Its more like take money from the companies that hire workers, and give the money to people on welfare. If Obama gets elected for four more years we all are gonna be on "welfare" the government will control every aspect of our lives and we will rely on them instead of the government relying on small business and entrepreneurs....
WAKE UP PEOPLE geeze...
Mark, while I agree with the overall concept of your statement, I do think you are making an over the top statement. Even if BHO does get re-elected we all will not end up on welfare. Yes he will continue his destruction of this country but it will not be something that we will not be able to recover from. Bad yes but not the end of the world as we know it.
Romeny is so truthful that he chose secretly to say what he felt like to some Rich donors. Show us your taxes will be the judge, if you pay taxes at all Mr. Corny. Like taking care of the vet’s is socialism that he despisers.
You know, most reasonable people figured out that we were never going to see Obama's Birth certificate or his school transcrips (something that you or I have no need to see). So be a resonable person and stop asking for something that you or I have no legal reson to see. (Only the IRS has a reson to see his tax returns and if they are ok with them then it becomes the end of the story. Obama was vetted before he ran for office and was given the green light, Romney was vetted before he ran for office and has been given the green light. So don't make yourself look like a fool.
I think the most overlooked population of non tax payers is military who are deployed to a Combat Zone – All military pay is tax free while deployed. So even high ranking enlisted deployed for 9 mos of tax year usually pay 0 taxes and in many cases are eligible for EIC, because of an extremely low total income for the year.
RICH PEOPLE GET 3 TIMES MORE WELFARE THAN POOR PEOPLE DO..REMEMBER THE BUSH TAX BREAKS ???WELFARE.
So are you equating sitting on your but collecting welfare and other hand outs to Fighting for and defending your country as being equal? When I was deployed to a combat zone yes you are correct that I did not have to pay Federal Income Tax (and only Federal Income Tax) on my meager earnings which totalled up to only a couple houndred of Dollars over the entire time I was in the combat zone. I still had to pay state taxes, FICA, SSI and every other tax. And be fore all you nay sayers chime in you ALL know I am talking about cronic welfare abusers, not the elderly or handicaped or low wage earners, you know I am talking about those who abuse the system. (Shock Shock Horror Horror yes they are out there).
I hope your being sarcastic.
Anyone care to know the real reason "Obama leads Romney in the pre election Polls", or why most of the replies on these media forums are pro Obama, anti-GOP? I know. Because Republicans are at work earning money, so they can pay the taxes for you 47%, and subsequently give you the free time to complain. Nobama 2012. Bababooey to you all.
Nice bababooey reference. But if all the republicans are working hard and you are one of them, what are you doing here? You must be part of the 47%.
Romney says 47% will vote for the other side because they are dependent on the government; Obama has previously characterized the other side as clinging to their guns and religion. So what! Am I the only one tired of hearing this garbage regurgitated on the news? Can't we focus on how to strengthen our country and make life better for everyone?
don't crucify Mitt for stating a fact!
Did you know that more than half of the 46% are on medicare? Which means most of the old people who are for Mitt are on public assistance. Makes you wonder....
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."
If you want to pay them so bad, just send the "US TREASUREY" a check and a letter, explain how badly you want to pay them. Problem solved. But I'm sure you don't 'really' want to pay them, you just 'think' you do.
Having to rely on food stamps when there is no other choice isn't a sin as republicans make it out to be. The republican sin is to deny and loathe anyone who must get food stamps. Food stamps are part of our safety net to feed people. The republican sin is to call everybody on food stamps bums. Food stamps prevent starvation. Food stamps keep poor children alive. Republicans know these things but still don't care and that shows the in-born streak of terrible cruelty running inside their veins. How dare they?
yes, 50 million people on welfare, if we can get it up to 100 million after Obama's second term we will have the changed hopeful America.... Then you will have your Obama America paradise of government controlling if it thinks you should have a cough drop, and waiting in line to get food and your welfare check. You cant drive your electric car, because Obama shut down all the coal power plants and nothing can recharge it because nothing exists to replace coal which makes up 48% of the nation's power. Oh wait, your liberal mind saids solar panels and wind mills, ummm yeah its gonna take acres and acres of land to generate a fraction of what a coal power plant can generate. So Obama is going to tell farmers to burn their fields so they can build solar panels and windmills on them??? How else could you replace the coal plants???
DO YOU EVEN THINK or are you a CNN Obama zombie ?
Of course it is the truth even if it is maybe a bit over stated the point is there are way too many dependent on the GOV and Obama and the liberals want that. The problem with that is is crushes everyone else who is working and paying taxes and there simply are not enough of the tax payers who actually pay taxes to support the ones that do not. That is why we are 16 trillion in debt! So Romney is telling the TRUTH and CNN of course hides this article here so hardly anyone will see the comments. CNN has and continues to campaign for Obama and lie to the American people.
What Mitt isn't telling you is WHY so many people pay no taxes and get some form of government aid.
It is because the are unemployed, underemployed, can't get medical insurance, etc.
He said one number, the 47% figure, that is an obscure fact.
The rest is absolutely divisive rhetoric that cannot be substantiated. He called YOU a dependent victim who won't take responsibility for your life.
And here you are saying he's speaking the truth. I cannot believe how delusional people are.
Where do you get that these people do not pay any taxes at ALL? They pay no FEDERAL taxes. Glug glug.
It is The Economy, Mr. President. Your Economy, Mr. President.
What is MRoney's plan to add jobs to the economy? Haven't seen one yet, either....?
My husband and I pay between 20 and 25% in income taxes. That puts us in the 53%. We are voting for Obama.
Same for me.