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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As a person that pays 28% of every dollar I make I am insulted by the folks who do not pay taxes at all. My wife and I have decent incomes totally below 150k combined. We pay over 40k per year in taxes so that some jerks can sit on their butts collecting our money. We lost our home a few years ago after the market collapse and we are still rebuilding our credit. So it is we don't have any write-offs including my extensive bills for my cancer therapies. So it is that we are middle class, we pay the highest possible tax bracket and the current government is on the offensive against us...
I am in the same boat you are in. Medical bills and pay all our taxes because we have no deductions. But do we really want a president in that makes millions and pays 13 per cent because of his deductions. I don't!! He doesn't have a real idea about the working class of America. I am Republican and at this point am ashamed to admit it! Both parties need to start working together, quit criticizing the American people and bring our country back to it's greatness.
Gee, sounds like you need ObamaCare. . .
Total 2012 federal tax bill on $150,000 married combined is $29,799 before any deductions or credits. How exactly are you paying $40K
"pay all our taxes because we have no deductions"
My wife and I have a $250K combined and still have multiple credits and deductions. You should look for a new accountant.
I can't believe it but what you say confirms that those that go along with what Romney is saying here really believe that 47% of America are just sitting on their butts collecting from the government. I get the feeling you really haven't thought this through. What about people that live only on their Social Security retirement with no other income. Those in the military don't pay federal income tax. Most of the rest of the 47% also have jobs that don't pay well, are part time, or both.
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......so,republican prejudice against low income people is to be expected,especially when so many wealthy and middle class are prejudiced themselves.Saying all low income are leeches is like saying all african americans are criminals,and all hispanics are illegal immigrants.Prejudice never makes much sense.
Most folks on facebook are socialist,head in the sand, neanderthals anyway. They'll be the first over the cliff, to drink the Jim Jones koolaid, and blame the death on Romney. What a bunch of cry-baby, suck-ups in the Dem. party.
Mr. ROmeny, you and yours are part of the lucky sperm pool. Most people aren't born to wealth and do not happen to be in the right place at the extraordinary moment when everything goes right and if they go along/follow through, they will hit the financial jackpot. Most of us are work for your worth or what someone else is willing to pay for your services or wares.
Mr/ Romney, you seem to be a follower of Marie Antoinette, who had no idea what the masses were experiencing, but presumed she knew and understood all– after all, if they couldn't afford bread, just let them eat cake....
Mitt is right, people are depending too much on the government to take care of them. I don't have a problem with helping people that are truely in need but those they don't care to take care of theirselves don't deserve government support. For example people that bought houses they knew they couldn't afford and now expecting the government to help them shouldn't get help because of their mistakes. They are not taking responsibility for their actions but letting the government take responsibility to bail them out because they don't want to do what they need to to fix their own problems.
Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for you country, JFK 1/20/61.
I find it interesting that people are concerned about his comments caught by a hidden camera. How come no one talks about the fact that it was a democrat obama supporter with a hidden camera hoping to catch something they can use to discredit him? if it had been a Republican at a Obama event every one would crying 'watergate!' and saying how dishonest the gop is. why no out rage at the fact it was the other party support that did the sneaking around?
wrong! if it had been OBAMA caught saying something on tape, I doubt we would even hear about it. Certainly not on CNN.
If Obama said something you'd hear it. The teabaggers wouldn't shut up about it.
Rmoney did say this though. Don't try to deny it.
not denying it in the least. Because he was right!
"not denying it in the least. Because he was right!"
No moron, he was statistically wrong. 47% of the public is NOT taking a federal handout. 18% take federal benefits, 29% work, but fall below the minimum tax requirement, and about 9 percent at any time are on welfare, or receive some other form of federal aid. Most of those are young unmarried white women in the southeast......who vote republican
You can see the welfare stats at the census website.
Romney is telling seniors, students, and everyone else who doesn't currently pay federal income taxes that they are lazy moochers who don't have a sense of personal responsibility. His words were both condescending and massively ignorant. Someone with such disdain for those who don't support him has no business being President of this great country.
you really think that's who he was talking about??? Not the huge percentile who have been on welfare / food stamps most of their lives? And who will vote democrat if they vote at all? He was right! Why should he even try to go after their vote? Since when is telling the truth such a bad thing? Oh yeah, when it is a republican doing it.
Lisa,
You are an idiot.
There is no such thing as a "huge percentile" of people on welfare. Before you say something so patently stupid I suggest you check the census.gov website for welfare statistics.
Welfare recipients make up single digit percentages of people receiving government assistance. Seniors and soldiers make up more than welfare does.
Romney was referring to the "47%" who pay no federal income tax. Like seniors, vets, disabled and people working in low paying jobs.
Have you ever actually looked at welfare statistics, or are you just yapping our of your a s s?
"Why should he even try to go after their vote?"
You are correct about that.
He does not need to go after their vote, because they already vote republican. In the last election 8 of the top 10 "welfare" states voted republican. 8 of the bottom 10 welfare states voted for Obama. The people who make up the 47% already overwhelmingly vote republican.
When did America become this damn dumb.
What stinks is that anybody of the 47 % takes this too much to heart. Think of your country first. Think of whats going on when you see the number of dependent persons rising above the clouds. One day, the bill will come due. What then?
Payroll Tax collection are wrong and illegal, for state taxing corporate profits are legal and taking wage earners wages is illegal..
taxes are supposed to be voluantry ..
Why is the news still covering this??? Shouldn't they be looking at what happen in the East, and how the White House had a 3 day heads up. If that was Bush CNN would of had 30 articles on him. Bias, CNN is as bad as Fox. At the very least report honestly.
The bigger problem is the first guy (and people of similar mindsets) who was speaking in this article said he's offended by Romney and is currently on Food Stamps. But, he'll still vote for Romney because or Romney's social stances (abortion and gay rights). As if abortion and gay rights are more of a national problem than having a president who has no clue what it's like to struggle in this economy.
ANybody with money and power can buy a birth certificate..............
I just want to ask CNN, MSNBC, ABC - where is the video with obama talking about how he likes redistribution of wealth? I heard the tape of Romney minus the 2 minutes that Mother Jones chose to cut and NEVER heard Romney call Latinos "Taco Jockeys." What b.s. - then there was Obama saying people from Pennsylvania held on to their guns and religion - but that was okay for the liberals. The stupidy of the commens - like Romney didn't pay taxes - of course he did - when he earned the money and now on capital gains. Why are you all so obsessed with Romney - he is certainly not the only millionaire who has ever run for President - the Kennedy boys, John Kerry, the Clintons, Carter, etc. - also Obama.
yeah I pick 1 or 2 things obama said.... and ignore what mittens says day after day after day in PRIVATE cuz he is so out of touch...
Honestly, it's like smoke and mirrors. They talk out of both sides of their mouth.....amazing!
The Media is not liberal.....yeah, right.
with this bunch you will never hear a bad word about obama. the death of 4 american is takeing a back seat to a hidden take of man at a fund raising dinner, if this would of been obama it would of never made the news .
The redistribution of wealth has already occured moving from the Middle Class to the Upper Class. Most of this redistribution ocurred during the Bush Administration. This country is struggling because the Middle Class is struggling due to their savings now being the savings of the wealthy.
How do YOU know Romney paid his taxes? Have you seen his returns? In fact, has ANYONE seen them?
No he's the only one with the nerves to make such a comment then actually believe it, and make it part of his core running message.
That comment of redistribution was 14 years ago. If you want to go back 14 years then remember that Romney was pro choice then. He was also pro planned parenthood. He was also pro contraception. He was also a moderate who talked about the need of government to help people when necessary. But if you want to discuss just distributon the tax laws in this country have allowed for the largest redistribution of wealth in our history from the middle class to the wealthy. Look it up before drinking Romney's and the wealthy's kool aid.
Well said flyfree. Romney spoke the truth and the people get mad, well then stick with obama and his lies. see where it gets you in four years vote for him you are all going to regret it and don't complain then. Obama is a liar with no values and morals , we don;t even know what is his religion is or is he a muslim too. Wake up people Romney is not perfect but we should give him a chance.
The President spoke of redistribution BEFORE we elected him the FIRST TIME. He will be elected a SECOND TIME.
I have been on public assistance for 5+ years fighting a disability case. What all you stuck up people got to say about me? What I'm looking for hand outs etc... If it were up to this man, I'll probably be taken out back and eliminated as a burden to the well off. You know what, it is what is, deal with it I do. Anyway Romney what you care your rich. Right
I'm a 100% service-connected disabled Veteran. I wonder what he thinks of me for being part of that 47%? I'm a registered Independent, but vote primarily Republican. I'm going to have an impossible task of deciding to vote for Obama over Romney. At least Obama mentioned Veterans in his DNC speech, on his election website,etc. Try to find a link to Veterans issues on Romneys. I'm so lost on this election.
News for you. Obama may have given you "access to health care" with his law, but you will be waiting in a long line in to get any care a facitlity and probably not get the care you expected. There will be people on a panel deciding your fate. Sorry about your condition, but maybe the government can next pass a bill giving everyone disability insurance, homeowners insurance, and auto insurance soon.
Repubdoc, funny you should mention healthcare...seeing as most of the industrialized world has social medicine does Romney include the citizens of countries like Canada, England, Australia, Germany in his little speech there? Nice foreign relations.