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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Many Republicans live in a bubble where anyone who is a wounded veteran, sick, old, an underpaid student, a parent of a disabled child or just laid off in the recession is "dependent" and refuses to take responsibility for their life (sorry Mitt, not everyone had a rich daddy to pay the bills). This is extra rich coming from a guy who evades taxes any chance he gets and pays a lower rate than most middle class folks.
Lastly, the reality is that a lot of Obama supporters are successful, smart professionals who care about other people, while a lot of Republican base are on Social Security and Medicare, so Romney is actually insulting a lot of his own supporters. Plus, he apparently doesn't care about anyone that doesn't vote for him – some President he would make!
I am responsible for setting up new businesses to meet our clients needs. I distinctly remember a conversation I had late last year, outside of St. Louis. I was on a lunch break and driving by a small holding pond within a warehouse district. I stopped to talk to some people (5 or 6) fishing. In passing conversation I mentioned that my company was hiring, and the individual I was speaking to giggled to his buddy. "If Uncle Sam is willing to pay me to fish, why would I ever look for work? I stopped looking for work a year ago." It was funny to them, but frustrating to me. Not because they were fishing and I was working – but because I was working to pay them to fish. My company has been directly competing with the government for workers for the past 3 years. They are being paid to stay home and I have good paying jobs I can't fill. That is called "dependency on the government" – That is the issue. If you stop paying people to stay home – they will find a job and start paying taxes. That's how we create enough revenue to help those who "truely" need the help.
That situation is not the norm imo. There needs to be a tighter requirement to keep obtaining benefits for people like that fisherman you spoke to. For every fisherman like that you have many many struggling families trying to get by.
AMEN! I've launched many businesses and helped so many people. I will never forget trying to help a man start a business to make more money for his family but he didn't want to endanger his government check as he lived in a slum.
Don't worry, Romney – these self proclaimed losers won't vote for you anyway. They would father act like slaves so that they can live on the government candy.
Maybe the goverment should pay companies that hire people that are out of work instead.
Thank you for your post. I talk to people, at least once per week, who would rather get government aid: food stamps, free/reduced school fees, subsidized rent and unemployment rather than get a job. Me, I drive 900 miles PER WEEK to work a temporary job. We have one car in the family and my husband works in one town and the job I'm working is 65 miles in the opposite direction. As long as I make more than the cost of the extra gas and what I would earn in unemployment, I'm working. I've been called a lot of names, but I'm looking at the end run. I'm still working, thus adding to my unemployment bank, I'm not drawing on the aforesaid unemployment bank, and I'm keeping my job skills (and brain) sharp. It's not easy, but I'm not lazy! And while I'm pontificating, any citizen who draws unemployment, food stamps, government subsidized housing, or any government aid should have to pee in a cup! Mandatory drug testing... if it's legal to be required in the workplace, it should be legal before you get the free monies.
If you are still looking for willing workers, give me a call... I'm still looking for work!
Mitt is so over.
See Obama 2016 Genius then you can go back to sleep as the mobs come to behead you.
Yep.
That remark sealed the deal who I will be voting for this November. There are many hard-working people that are/have been down on their luck. I worked 46 years before retiring and then becoming disabled. The 2008 financial crisis wiped out all my savings. I am about to also lose my home. I do not choose to be living on disablilty and food stamps. I paid into the system all of my life, since I was 16 years old. We are not all fortunate enough to be rich. If the crooiks on wallstreet had not caused me to lose my life savings, I would not be "living off the government." It is NOT correct, nor is it fair to lump everyone receiving government help as deadbeats!
You're not the lazy group of people he was referring to. Sounds like your pride is hurt – don't let it be you paid your dues just get back on your feet. No, Romney is talking about those who don't care and have no moral problem living off the rest of us. I was homeless after losing everything and there is no shame is accepting help – the help is there for people who need it who are getting back up. Rise up! You're not a loser.
Yea right you are an Obama voter to begin with. Stop lying.
Can people please wake up to reality? It's the REPUBLICAN states that are the poorest, they're the ones on welfare, they're the ones who aren't paying those "taxes" and they're the ones complaining about it. The people who are voting for Obama tend to be better educated and employed. It is unreal the GOP is neglecting this verifiable fact.
Please, don't ask these people to look at facts. It will just make their head hurt.
What's funny is that the federal gov't moved the Mormons to Utah after huge discrimination in Missouri in the 1800's. The federal gov't made a sanctuary for them in Utah, where bigamy, racism, and child abuse were allowed under the 'freedom of religion' clause. So, Mormonism's very survival is due to the federal gov't. Talk about hypocrisy.
The Hypocritical oath of the Republican mind.
When a Republican becomes disabled and needs help they morph into a Democrat.
When a Democrat becomes rich they stay a Democrat.
Needed to be said!
CNN = Hypocrite News! That's the reason you are not number 1.
I am a register democrat. Clinton was the last president I voted for. I will be stepping out of my house to vote for Mitt Romney this November.
"I will be stepping out of my house to vote for Mitt Romney this November."
Why?
classic troll. They love to pretend there are these true blue dems out there that for some magical underpants reason have turned to vote Robmey because Obama is a muslim socialist. Yeah right.
A lot of people miss the point that maybe 47% of the US population doesn't pay income taxes, but only a very small percentage of that number is on welfare. Most of them are the working poor, retired seniors and students (who ALL pay sales taxes, state taxes if they have them, etc.). Romney is so wrong-headed about so much in this country it's incredible anyone would vote for him on his own merits. Most Romney "supporters" just don't like Obama.
Truth? What truth? To lump 47% of the country as one? The millionaires with loopholes and shelters? The stay-at-home moms, the retired who are barely making it? I'm one of the 47%, and I'm voting Obama. Romney is one disdainful man.
amen!
the whole thing is BASED on a lie -
the lie being that the %47 who pay no fed tax are democrats
and that simply is NOT true and the most disgusting part of this whole affair is romney KNOWS that
the reality is that the majority of that %47 are most likely republican (seniors, vets et al)
it's prob close to half and half but given who is in that %47 (incl savvy rich folks)
the odds are very good that some bare majority of them are republican
soooooooo the entire thing is based on a lie..and an INTENTIONAL one at that
and now as usual the republican base is just lining up and going along with that lie
I'm an independent and this republican lockstep thing scares the bejusus out of me for the future of our country
stop with the TEAM mentality.......... make the USA your team!! ALL of the USA
If you ask a Democrat, it's a mistake. If you ask an indepent or Republican , the majority will tell it's the truth. It's the intent of his remark that counts. The truth hurts Obama. He has a tendency to lie. I don't make much, but what I make i'm sick of giving it to do nothings in this society and I'm on Social Security that pays taxes.
What lies has Obama told? Romney and Ryan have been constantly called out for telling lies, and even telling lies after they've been debunked. After all, they won't let fact checkers run their campaign. Who needs the truth? And apparently you haven't been paying attention at all to this whole fiasco. Democrats are saying its wrong. Independents are saying its wrong. Even a large portion of the Republican party is saying his comments were wrong.
And by the way, if you're collecting Social Security, you are part of the 47%. You are taking in more government funds than you are paying in taxes. Ergo, your net is negative.
I can't wait until Romney and Ryan cut your social security and make you pay your fair share of taxes while they skate by. I can support my parents. Can your children support you? He lumped you all in together for a reason.
He's right!! But if you look at it in a different way, he won't become the next president lol....After what he said, whose going to vote for him now???
me for one – I like honesty and I don't like subsidizing people who could be working if we had the right policies and mindset in place
how is he right? elderly people, people in the military and those with jobs that pay taxes, but not income tax, don't take responsibility for their lives???
He said people that work, and work hard, aren't taking responsibility for their lives, how is that right? It's the exact opposite of right, it's wrong, on every level.
I will vote for him. I've certainly seen my share of those who expect everything from the government, who work, but try to get as much as possible free. There are also those with welfare mentalities who don't work and get everything free.
I see that there are those who want to play this "gaffe" fopr everything it's worth. Who cares if the man has money. Do you think that Franklin Roosevelt was from a poor family???? No, and look what he did for the nation!
The fact that the media is trying to hype this so much when we have Americans dying around the world is sick journalism at best. They should report it and let it go the same way they did with Obama's comments throughout the last four years. Stop trying to make news when there is real news to report. Start in Lebanon and Libya and Syria and our military dying still in IRAQ! ENOUGH ALREADY!
time to look for another source for your news. cnn is elite controlled propaganda like fox, cbs, bbc, etc.