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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While I certainly don't agree that it's 47%, I agree that there are a number of people out there who fit the definition, who are dependent on the government for handouts because they want to be. Who feel that they deserve to have government support them simply because they exist. I've known people like that. I've been (tangentially) related to people like that. And our system makes it easy for people to become dependent. We should be looking at ways to revamp welfare to make it more equitable, so that it's not a handout, but a hand up.
For instance, instead of paying for people to try to find jobs, what about paying people to work in jobs? Arrange with an employer to hire someone on a probationary basis, during which time, the government will pay their salary. We'd be paying them any way. This way, the employee is getting job experience and feels like a productive member of society, the employer gets to hire somebody and try them out risk free, and government ultimately spends less money supporting long-term welfare recipients.
For every one person whose feelings were hurt by Romney's remark, there will be 20 more that fall into the category of wanting a hand out – not a hand up.
Yes – Romney is telling the truth and the truth hurts. So if you like being on public assistance, don't mind never being able to get ahead. and just generally want someone to take care of you then by all means vote for Obama.
However – if you want the tools provided to help you out during tough times while encouraging you to better yourself, then vote for Romney.
The choice of YOUR future is in YOUR hands.
And it doesn't bother you that Rombot himself is part of the 47% that pays no taxes? Yeah, I didn't think so.
Granny, are you collecting social security? Are you on medicare? Because if you are, you are one of the "parasites" that Mitt is talking about.
Granny... you are obviously an idiot!
Romney will only make it WORSE. Ask yourself this question: Why didn't Bush fix this so-called government dependency problem? He had 5 YEARS will FULL CONTROL of Congress yet this problem was not solved. Why? Answer: This is just a wedge issue to get you to vote for them. Once they get your vote, they sweep it under the rug. Why can't you figure that out?
They only worry about it when a Democrat is in office. Democrats actually DO want this but yet Republicans block. Then you vote a Republican in and it gets swept under the rug until the next election when they trot it out again for stir you up to vote for them again.
Astounding how many people just refuse to see it.
You post is straight up wrong. It's the democrats that are trying to educated people in order for them to be able to get decent jobs. It's the democrats that are trying to give people the knowledge and tools to prevent unwanted pregnancies which financial independence difficult.
All you are stating is GOP talking points which are flat out wrong.
MtGranny...if you need a hand- up don't bother with Romney/Ryan...they plan to cut social programs...the only thing you have our your boot straps
The only tools Romney's using are the ones he has fooled with his lies. The lies change in front of every crowd he is presenting in front of. The only thing he wants is to get in the oval office so he and his friends can suck the money out of the U.S. just like Rumsfeld and Bush.
wooooow you guys cant be serious! Romney? you are the 99% so if Romney is chosen as president where will you be? hmm? where exactly will you be, do you think "oh im going to suddenly become rich and join his plans for the 1%" DO YOU? because i work harder than a lot of people, as a buisness man in NY i still fall under the category of 99% and Obama is going to get my vote because he deserves it. If the GOP gets out of the way then he can progress in his plans for a better USA. Socialist or not you are not at the point where you can make that decision. If socialism grants Americans the money and power to move foward than so be it. But you cant honestly think that Romney will do better than Obama. Its your vote, pick wisely not based on your selfish religious or party opinion!
Hard work has nothing to do with the value you provide. That is what most Americans dont understand. Romney was 100% in correct what he was saying. Personally I woudl elminate all fund to government programs and start a degressive tax system. We should be taxing the poor and middle class at a higher rate as they contribute less to the economy. The issue with most liberals as they still don't understand that money does make the world go around. Nothing is free... The 47% wealthy or not, should not have the ability to vote.
I'm only 30 and I've paid tens of thousands of dollars to the government in taxes in my short lifetime. Most of that money is for social programs that I don't benefit at all from. You better believe I think the govt should give me assistance when I fall on hard times and can't afford to buy a meal. If they won't help me then I want a refund of all my income taxes. I could use that to feed myself.
Plain truth? I'm going to go deeper into the truth than Mr. Romney would dare go in front of his FATCATS.
Many businesses underpay up to 99% of their workforce and those people who work very hard can't make enough to survive on and must use Government Services for aid. Businesses run by Romney's FATCATS under pay their workforce and rely on the GOVERNMENT to pick up the tab. So the taxpayers money are used to help people with full time jobs because some Business owner is GREEDY.
If it were not for Government services many people could not get by and we would see more demands for Unions and other methods to assure a worker makes more money.
Any rich Business owner, who underpays their workers owe considerable amounts of their money to Social Services as they pay workers much less than they should and the tax payers must pick up the difference. THAT'S THE PLAIN TRUTH!
No matter how you slice it, much of our Nations Economical problems are the fault of the RICH and GREEDY. People like Mitt Romney, whom every greedy, rich business owner disparately wants in power to pad their bank accounts.
Your right. Rich people CAN be greedy – so can poor people. What about the person that is paid a fair wage but sits on CNN forums all day at work?
Mybe he works midnights...what are YOU doing here? Quiet, now.
Start up company for Romney, T- Shirts that read on the back " I AM ONE OF THE 47% " on the front " CAN YOU SPARE A QUARTER " Sell them where low lifes hang out, Liquor stores and Walmart's. Get China on that right away Mitt.
but its ok for HIM to take FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS funds to finance his campaign...."Public funding of Presidential elections means that qualified Presidential candidates receive federal government funds to pay for the valid expenses of their political campaigns in both the primary and general elections. National political parties also receive federal money for their national nominating conventions."
The truth is we have a shrinking tax base and an increasing number of people relying on the government in some form or another. Simple math dictates we are headed for disaster in the not too distant future. Borrowing money to kick the can down the road won't cut it for long . If I had to rely on our government for money – I would be nervous. If I didn't have to rely on our government – I would be nervous. When this hits the fan EVERYONE will be impacted. What Romney meant to say is "The 53% of people that pay taxes can no longer keep up with the promises our government has made" We need to tax them more and cut some of the spending. Nobody wants to hear the truth. We are all too greedy (don't tax me).
The election boils down to this: If you want more government involvement and dependency in your life, vote Obama. If you want freedom and self-reliance, vote Romney.
Said like a true libertarian
Romney is just like any other political candidate.. he will say whatever he needs to say, to whomever he needs to say it, in order to win. They all sicken me.
MITT ROMNEY IS A BIGOT, A RACIST AND A WHITE SUPREMACIST!
Appears to me that Romney and a large proportion of billionaires, millionaires etc. also want the government to support them since all they ever cry is "Cut My Taxes" Give me special tax breaks on my stock gains, hedge funds etc. while the true wage earners pay a higher percentage of their incomes in taxes.
Actually millionaires pay a higher percentage of tax on their income (i.e. what you receive as pay). You're right – they don't pay as much on money they invest in companies or stock. This is becuase they already paid the income tax once on the money and now they are investing in companies so they can grow them and hire more people. Here is how it works:
1) A company has a good idea and starts a new product by themselves
2) The product takes off and they want to build a huge plant
3) The company goes public and sells stock
4) Said millionaires (and anyone else who want to) buys the stock
5) The plant gets built and many out of work Americans are employed
6) The company becomes profitable
7) The stock goes up or they pay a dividend
8) Investors receive compensation for funding the entire operation
Please explain to me what your problem is with milliionaires (or retirees on fixed income investments) not having to pay the same tax rate as standard income for cpatial gains. There are a heck of a lot of old people depending on the lower tax rate for investments. Are you that cruel as to lump them in with these greedy millionaires you speak of?
I thought Geo. W. spent a great deal of time with his foot in his mouth (and he did), but this guy isn't even POTUS and he is going to have to have orthodontic work before the campaign is even over. And I thought Sarah Palin was an idiot (and is).
How about Michelle Obama – "For the first time in my life I am proud of my country"
How about Joe Biden – "You folks making over 250K it's time for you to start being patriotic and paying more taxes"
How about Obama – "They like to cling to their guns and religion"
They all do it in some form or another. It takes a logical person to see it though.
Terry, I don't believe those comments alienated about half of the electorate.
notogop – If Michelle Obamas gaffe didn't alienate you then you never have known someone who fought for our country and what we stand for. That comment should have alienated 100% of people that call themselves American not just 47% !!!!!
It is absolutely right what he said, it is a BITTER truth that the sooner we aknowledge that the better off we as a nation will be in future, what he was trying to say was with his proposal to fix economy he can create so much jobs that people don't have to be on food stamp or any type of government aids anymore and they can contribute to the country by paying taxes. That is all and we should be grateful that there is still ploticial around that truely care about the country and the people.
Why does it seem the Republican party self destructs at this crucial juncture? Just like last year, MacNobrain selecting Farrah Failin for VP?!?!?
Romney was just stating what he believes. We all pay some type of tax – payroll taxes, property taxes, we fil up our gas tanks, we pay sales tax, so the 47% do pay some type of tax and do not depend on government handouts. There are also people who work two or three jobs to make ends meet, and sometimes that is not even enough. That is called the working poor. Unfortunately, there will be many poor Republicans voting for Romney in spite of what he says and obviously thinks.