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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With malnurished decompossing bodies lying all over our streets we will have no country worth saving
The racists are out in force to defend Romney. The rest of us recognize racism when we hear it and take note of who is defending Romney. If these racists are his base, his run at the presidency is doomed.
When all else fails yell RACISM.
Don't you dare call me a racist just because I disagree with your politics. If you are a typical Democrat may God help this country!
You haven't heard blatant racism in these remarks? If you're not saying it then fine, but plenty are saying it. If the shoe fits...
if you are looking for racism (as I am sure you are) you will find it even if it isn't there (and it isn't)
A bunch of panties on a wad over this. He said 47% would be voting for Obama "no matter what" who want the government to take care of them. If that's not you then good for you.
"In" a wad.
Huge mistake. Some of those 47% are moochers, however, seniors, disabled, soliders, sailors, marines, airmen, students, and single moms are in that group and they are not moochers. It's never good to make generalized statements like that, Mitt.
Mr Romney just said what all americans already knew Welfare and other goverment programs are sucking us dry . When President first presedented his great society everyone was on board sounds good every one needs a little help at times who knew it would turn into billions of dollars per year .Partys and politicians have used these people like ponds .Now illegals have taped this well the democrat party have used these people for years Bill Clinton would go to black churches in a election year and offer them a nikkion dollars and never give up the money Clinton used these people well now obama is doing the same thing the democrats know the don't have to come threw for welfare people white and black the will vote for the democrate party all that has to be done is make these people turn out.Romney will not get this 47 % and I think obama has lost them or at least most of them this time around.Romney was right and the people of this country know hes right this is why in Nov. when the real true poll is taken Mr. Rightway Romney will win he has never been behind Romney is up by 8 nationwide.
It's both. Romney can believe this and so do I in some ways, but you have to watch what you say or do ANYWHERE at ANYTIME if you're campaigning, especially for a seat in office with this much power.
Remember Robmehood comes from inherited wealth. He did not start out from "0". No wonder he disdains the middle class. He was also a hater in boarding school, holding down another student to cut of his hair and calling him gay. He has called hispanics "taco jockys". He feels he is too good to show his tax returns. The list goes on and on. This is not Presidential material. Maybe he can go to Salt Lake and open up a Burger King on Temple Square, then he can say he's a job creator.
Libs are desperate. Romney in a landslide
I agree – with every passing day Romney is getting stronger and even the liberal media can't massage the poll data enough...
And which halucinogenic is your drug of choice?
So this fossil thinks that voting to keep committed loving people from getting married is more important then voting to keep wall street in check and to get our economy back to the Clinton days? ....what a moron. At least these good for nothing conservative AARPer's will be leaving this world soon to the hands of a more sensible youthful leadership/voters to usher in the freedoms and democracy this country and world have yet to live up to.
I wasnt aware gay marriage and wall street legislation was a binary chocie – silly me... Ah yes, the Clinton days – you mean the President who was indicted and who signed the legisalation that led to our current economic isues? That guy?
It is about time someone isn't afraid to speak the truth. Of course corporate media is going to sway the opinions of everyone. The people that are at the heart of the matter are those that are still capable of working but mooch off the government. Just the other day my wife told me of someone who is on welfare and medicaid that listed things like snowboarding as regular activities. If someone has to be on welfare they shouldn't be able to afford snowboarding so that is a prime example of someone cheating the system. His numbers of 47% may be exaggerated but there are people in this country that abuse the system and stay on it way longer because they are lazy. If we are going to get our country out of this slump we need someone that is going to give us the brutal truth not sweet talk us back to a dazed stupor like Obama did four years ago and is doing again today.
I have always said ... stuff cotton in that guys mouth
You got that right! Has he ever released his 2011 returns yet?
Romney is just disdainful of anyone that doesn't go to his country club. That's ok. I have seven more weeks of giggling at him until his death star implodes.
There are hundreds of thousands of good hard working people who are having hard times do to the economic conditions,they are on the verge or already now in the lower income bracket that the majority of low income families find them selves. They work hard for basic needs yet are paid so low they do not pay income tax but do sales tax and if they are lucky to have a job pay payroll tax and into the social security and medicare fund.
Yes there are people who take advantage of the system but don't we all in someway.
The Majority of US citizens who have in one way or another avail themselves of government help that is available to all to use as they deem fit. programs like Social Security ,Medicare low interest education loans and tax deductions for home purchases, child education, married couples,
Corporations get huge tax breaks farmers get subsides.
The middle class are fighting to maintain a decent way of life but the coast of living keeps raising and wages are lowered and yet still have highest burden of taxes while the and the upper class gets most of the huge tax breaks. the lower class is just bring to survive
We agree on that but who create the tax system the GOVERNMENT; this is the reason why we need small government.
Romney remarks are the truth, but there are some rallities that we don't want to hear.
Margie, you never gave a reason a reason as to why we need small government. Stop listening to all those Corporate sponsored Romney ads and learn how government works.
What he was talking about is not worrying about getting their vote because they will vote for obummber regardless of what Romney says....and he is right. He did not say he would not worry about those people if elected. You people can spin anything!!! Get real!!!! He did not lose any votes. The people he upset would not vote for him anyway.
Dude, if 47% of the American population vote for Obama, while considering turnout will probably be 60%, your Saint Romney is crewed BIG TIME and apparently he thinks so too.