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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The states with the highest non-Federal tax payment rates are all red states. He may not have realized it, but he just disparaged much of his base.
Neither he or they are quite smart enough to realize that.
So, how is this for irony? Romney pays a very low tax rate and explains that he is just following the tax laws that allow him massive deductions, loopholes and tax dodges so we shouldn't question him. Poorer people don't make much money and because the tax code is set up so that they don't have a Federal tax obligation (but of course do pay property taxes, sales tax and other types), Romney somehow decides that these people consider themselves victims? It is not only highly offensive but wrong. Even though less than 2% of the population is on welfare, he infers that 47% of the population is completely dependent on the government for assistance. His tone in that recording is chilling in how he dismisses anyone of a lower economic class than himself.
Same here, and agree.
If you're in the market for a new home, why not think big and buy a castle? There are several for sale in Ireland and now that middle income has been defined as up to $250,000, many are within the means of the middle class. - Gadling travel site
Depends on whom he is speaking... This just wants to be president by any means necessary
I am a "bottomfeeding" grad student at UCSD. My student loans keep me and my wife from affording the full cost of our apartment. I am studying for my PhD. I fit in the 47% because I have to use food stamps.
ONCE AGAIN... IM A "BOTTOMFEEDING" GRAD STUDENT AT UCSD. MY STUDENT LOANS KEEP ME AND MY WIFE FROM AFFORDING THE FULL COST OF OUR APARTMENT. I AM STUDYING FOR MY PHD. I FIT THE 47% BECAUSE I HAVE TO USE FOOD STAMPS.
WHY DO I SUPPORT OBAMA? I support someone that does not get caught telling what is really on his mind. I support someone that actually does care about middle america. I support someone that was once in my position and remotely understands the struggle of paying student loans and buying groceries. I am hungry right now because there has been no food in my house for the past two days. I wonder when this country's politicians learn that there are more dialogues and stories than the 47%.
Why is it okay that I'm forced to pay taxes so you and your wife can do whatever you want??? Of course you think Obama is great, when your the one reaping the benefits of our tax system and government spending binge. "Rich people" already pay 80% of all taxes, how much more do they need to pay? How much more do you think you deserve. How much more are you willing to take from me so you can do whatever you want? When is enough, enough?
Come on, Donald. You've just proved one of Romney's many points. It's not up to us to support you on food stamps while you go get your PHD. My husand got his associates, gave five years to the Army and in return they gave him two more years of college. He spent time in the DMZ to earn that degree. He then went on to get his masters at 30 years old. If you need to take a break from college to work and earn more money, than you do it. Welcome to the real world.
Well done sir.
Oh, please. You've already shown you make bad choices, including voting for Obama. What the hell kind of student loans do you have where you're paying as a student? You got suckered bud. Also, nobody is forcing to you live in SD and pay the exorbitant cost of living. Additionally, nobody is forcing you to go to UCSD and pay a fairly high cost to get your Ph.D. What's worse, I'd be willing to be you've got no funding or grant money, which means you've chosen a relatively useless degree that may not be worth the paper it's printed on by the time you graduate.
You think you're owed something, and you're not. Learn to take responsibility and make the hard choices, and quit playing the victim. Romney's got you pegged bud.
Everybody knows the republicans favor the rich......Romney is no exception.So his remark is in essence saying.....why even bother trying?Not everyone is looking to scam out the gov't.There are a lot of people who truly need help,are trying their best and simply can't do things on their own at this time.The economy is at an all-time low,and even middle class are dropping to low income,including those with college educations.
I think it is very telling that Mr. Romney is commenting on this 47%. Has he asked himself why they are like they are...No...to him they appear to be some sub-human species that isn't deserving of assistance. Your ecomonic plan won't help any of them either with giving further tax breaks to the 1% giving the government even less money to help them with but the rich will be okay so that's what's important.
So do you feel the same way about people making over $250K that have worked their as*ses off for it and sacrificed a lot – their money should go to those that are not as successful? Or even if they inherited it – someone along the family line worked and sacrificed for it. Where you outraged when Obama said "You didn't build that?" We all know what Romney was saying. The very young, the very old, the physically and mentally disabled – they are the ones that need our help. Beyond that – get to work.
I am a "bottomfeeding" grad student at UCSD. My student loans keep me and my wife from affording the full cost of our apartment. I am studying for my PhD. I fit in the 47% because I have to use food stamps.
ONCE AGAIN... IM A "BOTTOMFEEDING" GRAD STUDENT AT UCSD. MY STUDENT LOANS KEEP ME AND MY WIFE FROM AFFORDING THE FULL COST OF OUR APARTMENT. I AM STUDYING FOR MY PHD. I FIT THE 47% BECAUSE I HAVE TO USE FOOD STAMPS.
WHY DO I SUPPORT OBAMA? I support someone that does not get caught telling what is really on his mind. I support someone that actually does care about middle america. I support someone that was once in my position and remotely understands the struggle of paying student loans and buying groceries. I am hungry right now because there has been no food in my house for the past two days. I wonder when this country's politicians learn that there are more dialogues and stories than the 47%.
Politics and business are completely different, and Mitt is not a good fit for politics. In business, it's mostly about dollars and cents and what will produce the biggest bottom line. It largely is not about ethics or what the CEO believe. In fact, it's irrelevant. Politics though is all about ethics and core beliefs. Mitt does not get that. He feels if he says the right words, it will produce X number of votes. It's all a formula to him. Go back to Mitt's education. He combined statistics with business and produced the BAIN WAY. He doesn't understand the importance and value of being consistent and actually FEELING for people. He's a numbers geek at the core.
What he said wasn't any mistake. The 47% was not untrue – about that many people don't pay taxes – but lumping the entire group together as Obama-loving-government-dependent people shows either how out of touch Romney really is or how much he was willing to pander to the people in the room so they could give him money. Either way, it wasn't a mistake that he said it, it wasn't a gaffe. I'll bet politicians all say things they can't believe they said just to get someone to pay them big bucks. The context of "I'm not going to worry about them", in my opinion, meant he wasn't going to change people's minds about voting for Obama.
The other things – about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Hispanic vote, well, they were stupid, maybe, but neither amounts to a hill of beans, in my opinion. They don't reflect whatever his foreign policy is and they aren't racist. I do think these two things are blown way way out of proportion.
And I do pay taxes and I do intend to vote for Obama, and this neither reinforced or swayed my decision. (Although it did please me, because it might sway others.) I'm not registered with a party.
The American public is so used to hearing lies from Obama that they cannot comprehend the truth when its actually placed in front of them. Even though this was unfortunately stated it is the way things are going right now. This is not a slam to people that truly need the assistance but a wake up call before this country gets above the 50% mark of those dependent to those working. this country needs JOBS and since the current administration is standing in the way of businesses creating them then the American people should make way for someone who actually knows what they are doing.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) - Nobody's really talking about this slice of the pie, but Mitt Romney's "47%" who pay no federal income tax include several thousand of the highest-income households in the country.
The Tax Policy Center estimates that 4,000 households with incomes over $1 million ended up with zero federal income tax liability in 2011. Another 14,000 made between $500,000 and $1 million. WHAT A HYPOCRITE!
This country is no longer worth living in. Unless you are in the 1%. The rest of us are screwed if Romney wins. We the people (Corporations to Romney), in order to form a more perfect union, will ignore 47% of the population. Now why won't the American people buy that one? Hmmm...I wonder...the 1% who want more tax breaks, or the 99% out of a job with kids to feed. Yeah, they'll vote for Romney for that promised 12 million jobs. Oh, a job to Romney is making money without working. He meant 12 million more in his offshore Cayman Island account!
Romney makes people rich. Obama makes people poorer and somehow we are screwed if Romney gets in office? Take a wild guess at what the next four years look like with Obama's poor management and profligate spending. If you are poor now, you will be starving and homeless in four years.
Wow. So the bottom half of taxpayers pay NO federal income tax and the top 1% pay 37% of all federal income taxes, yet they have it better? This really is bizzaro USA.
I'm part of the 1% in wealth. I 'm a federal employee who saved his kopeks and didn't use my condo as a piggy bank like so many others did during the housing boom.
No way am I voting for RMoney. I can afford taxes, but his stance on women's rights, gay rights, poor people's rights...
Sheesh, I can't believe he's an American. His own grandfather used welfare, so Mittens is just being hypocritical.
didn't obama say ... multiple times ... that EVERYONE should pay their fair share??? does he mean just the RICH everyones?
What's really funny is that Republicans have repeatedly cut taxes to the point that 47% don't have to pay federal income taxes.
Now they are complaining about it.
When you spend twenty years cutting taxes, don't complain when people don't have to pay taxes.
I am 64 years-old. I accept my Social Security Checks. It's MY money. I paid into that account for 40 years, while paying MY taxes. Does that mean I am statistically among Romney's 47%, who depend on the government? In his eyes, probably yes. But I own my own home outright, have an adequate retirement income (that I pay taxes on, even though I already paid taxes on it when I originally earned it), and I don't rely on my government to feed me or pay my water bill. Yet Mitt pigeon-holes me into a category that he has clear disdain for. Well Mitt, while the hole in your foot is still smoldering, let me say that this one old Republican that has taken offence. I won't call you names or make hand gestures at the mention of your name. But will demonstrate how I feel about your detachment from working class America, in the the ballot booth, in November. KMA
he wasn't even talking about you! Why is it so hard for people to understand??? collecting social security after years of paying into it is NOT the same as being on welfare/food stamps for decades ... generation after generation.
And your FICA taxes paid for your social security. The top half pay federal income taxes AND FICA taxes. Learn the difference.
Do you know the percentage of people the live "generationally" on welfare? Its very small. A VAST majority of the 47% that dont pay income taxes are seniors, college kids, and the working poor...WHO ARE WORKING!!!!!! Look up stats before regurgitating what you hear from your propaganda machines.
he may have gotten the percentages wrong, but the sentiment is still right! Our country is broke, in large part, due to people living off of programs that were designed to be TEMPORARY at best. That does NOT include elderly, veterans, college students, etc.
Lisa,
With each and every post you make yourself look like more and more of a dolt. Total federal non pension assistance was 12% of the 2011 expenditures. Welfare is only one part of that. Medicaid, social security and defense make up nearly 80% of our budget. Poor people on welfare have a marginal at best effect on spending and debt.
The more you reiterate and support the stupid comments Romney made, the more the rest of us who actually understand federal budgeting think you are stupid.
Feel free to continue.