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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I cannot believe the number of posts (people) here that belive the 47% is made up of welfare cases. How utterly stupid are you people? THe Bulk of that number is people who have enough write-offs (e.g. Romney) to pay zero tax and the elderly.
Scarey that people are that dumb in a modern country.
what do you mean you like his social views–you just heard them and was insulted. I guess people like romney's views as long as they don't pertain to them. hypocrites
My shoulders hurt. When can I put the burden of the 47% down? Oh, that's right, NEVER. Nor would I want to. We all have to do our part. Are you listening 47%?
Maybe when you pay them a decent wage?
With what money? The government took it all. Perhaps if my taxes were lower, I could offer job opportunities. Romney may have only paid 14% in taxes last year (a mere few million dollars), but how many people are employed by him AND THEMSELVES PAY TAXES? Trickle up poverty does not work.
Romney paid over $250,000 in taxes last year – PLUS what he gave to Charity! Get a grip. The wealthly represent over 90% of all taxes paid in to the system. I helped by two kids understand it better. I showed them how much they paid – it was nothing – and they have full time jobs. BUT I explained that the government gets some benefit from them working. The government doesn't have to take care of them. They are doing their part!!!!
You should vote Republican if you are Independently Wealthy. You should vote Democratic if you are poor and need help.
I think there are a lot of people that reside between those two descriptions. Who do we vote for?
I find it amazing how when Romney speaks the truth he is crucified by the mainstream media. Where is the coverage of Obama's "redistribution of wealth" video? We are headed for a socialist country. The mainstream media is already operated by the White House. Just remember "takers" eventually the "makers" will get fed up and quit trying. Then your gravy train will dry up!
That video was in 1998. Give me a break. Okay. Granted, Romney spoke honestly and was being truthful in his own eyes. And it was ugly. I don't know, as a citizen of another G8 whether to laugh or cry at the U.S. election.
You are transparent Teresa.
There are 4000 millionaires who are part of the 47% who pay no federal income tax. It would be priceless to find out that Mitt Romney is one of them. After all, Mitt is taxed on carried interest, and he maintains that he has been unemployed, for how many years exactly? If that is true, then yes, he is just as guilty of relying on the government. He has taken a $70,000 tax deduction for his dancing horse, is that acceptable?
My child is an active duty member of the military. If my child contributes around $3000 this year to an IRA, all of the fderal income tax paid this year will be refunded. Mitt Romney mocks my child, who is part of the 47% and serves this country. Mitt Romney is a disdainful coward who thinks he is superior to most Americans, and therefore, will not show us his tax returns. What are you hiding Mitt?
Do you really want to go back and review the things Romney was saying in 1998? Ok, we can play that game. Something tells me his comments then weren't "severely" conservative.
Truth?? what truth is Romney speaking?
Rational – Your children are doing their part. They are not being talked about. They aren't dependant on the Government. Use your head.
There was truth in what he was saying. However, I think those that feel they have been "written off" – should reconsider the message that Romney is communicating. You may not like what he said – but it's something that we, as Americans, need to address. 11% of that number are seniors – which I don't think anyone would have issues with their contribution toward taxes. It's the other 36% that we need to address. There are some that receive assistance that don't want it and some that receive assistance that are perfectly content with it. As a nation, we should be striving to get everyone out of this 36%. It won't happen by raising taxes, that's for sure. But it will happen if the country can make a direct path to job creation. Most of the 36% don't want to be there – they want control over their lives and to be able to contribute back. That is the issue we should be discussing and, frankly, we should demand that both candidates give us their plan on how to make that happen.
One point of clarification – I can't speak for everyone else, but I don't think anyone would have an issue with those receiving disability payments or veteran benefits as a form of assistance contributing less taxes.
Thank you. Though I feel we may disagree on how to do it, this is quite possibly the most rational thing I've heard anyone say about this to date.
Huge Mistake - He is finished and with good reason. First, muddled thinking. What he said did not really make any logical, consistent sense. Second, denigrating, belittling and disparaging the character of almost half the country is a clearer reflection of his character than that of any of the low income people he is attacking. Third, his comments show just how out of touch he is with current situation in America. Where anyone from any socioeconomic background can find themselves, hopefully temporarily, in a group that does not pay taxes in any given year. Finally, he just does not understand the job that he is trying to get. The critical success factor for the Presidency in this election year is to figure out how to get the middle class (which contains many of those he attacked) and, thus the country, moving forward.
First of all, he didn't "attack." Secondly, he speaks the truth!!!
The brother who repeatedly asks for a hand supporting his kids is totally different than the brother who repeatedly asks for a hand in supporting his habits... after a while you get tired of supporting the latter and tell him, "get a job!" I think THAT was his point.
ucsb1975
Spot on.
Only a liberal would call that "attacking"... Maybe we should sue him for emotional distress right? How sensitive are you id ! ots in this country. Try that one on for size. Bunch of whiney, gimme, take what I can get, contribute nothing, no accountability, cry babies..... That's probably 27% of the country right there.
Sheesh people. He is NOT honest. He skirts the tax codes and has money stashed in offshore accounts and blind trusts in his wife's name and on it goes. He is a very greedy man. Period. Not fit to represent our country. He did not get rich by himself, by the sweat of his brow. He got rich by back door insider dealings and the sweat of the 47% brows......
Now who is indulging in class warfare ? Not to mention abandoning the hope for peace between Palweestine & Israel.
Mr Romney seems to see things negatively . When I believe that politicans need to see things positively and always sfrive towards hope . Hope not fear , remember FDR;s tagline "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself"
I agree with Mitt. Lazy ase people don't like it, but who is surprised by that.
So you consider retirees who worked and paid their taxes all through their working lives and now receive Medicare benefits to be lazy ?
How very thoughtful, a lazy comment from a lazy mind. Twitch much?
i guess that you are an elitist like romney. i know a young mother 26 years of age with 3 children. she has just been diagnosed with cervical cancer. she asked for time off from her wal mart job so she could get medical treatment. wal mart laid her off.she is having to go to a community clinic to get help. she applied for food stamps so she could feed her children. i guess that people like you would call her a slacker. may god have mercy on people like you.
Short answer: Both
Just as those on the right vote with their bible, those on the left vote with their emotions.
Just like all Americans are stupid and all Muslims are violent. Generalizations are great, right?
You are only telling us that you are still a two year old afraid of the boogeyman and always will be.
The so called christian right are not christians at all. if they were they would never act the way they do. sure they go to church and read the bible but they do not follow the bible. if a elderly person fell on the street they would walk over them and will not stop and help. if a person on the street were to ask them for food they would tell them to get a job. the very wealthy would never lift a finger to help someone in need. there is not a christian in the bunch.
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's a good point. I am involved in hiring close to 1,000 people a year and it is always a struggle / concern that we are not going to get enough candidates. The jobs are out there. The question is are the people who are willing to work out there?
That's exactly what he was talking about. Why vote Obama out when Romney will force you back to work!
Be careful. CNN will be reporting that you think all fishermen are on welfare. Good thing your not a politician,
How much are you will to pay people,healthcare,401k,anything. Your probley like Walmart and tell your employees how to get welfare but don't pay a living wage.If you even have a business in the first place!
how much is the pay?
No different than Africa either. I really feel for those people. Our generosity has kept them under cruel leaders and in some of the conditions they are in. The leaders use the food as leverage and the people take what they can get. It is a failed policy.
The guy was fishing and making money. How much do think I would have to pay him to offset that? Get a grip!!!
It shouldn't matter what the pay is. The bottom line is that it is something. Boo-hoo if it is not enough. Go find more if you want to, but don't expect the government to float you while you look. You don't have a "right" to a certain standard of living – you earn it.
How about $13.50 plus 30% Benefits on Top. Yes Health care. Yes 401K. If the government is will to pay a guy $10/hr to fish and give him Food Stamps – and give him Housing Assistance – and give him and his family free Emergency Room health care. Do you really think a good paying job with good benefits is likely going to get him to put that fishing pole away and go to work? It's only when the government tells a person = No more Free Living. That's when he starts looking for a job.
That's right. It is human nature to rise to a challenge that is put before you. And what's more, the self-worth and feeling of accomplishment you gain in the process is invaluable. Pull the needless safety net away from these individuals and watch them scramble, fall sometimes, get back up, then feel the pride of accomplishment. THAT is priceless.
I agree, Obama is trying to ruin America economically, spiritually, financially, physically and racially. And the media is helping him. CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, Comedy Central, are all biased against conservatives. Where is the muslim outrage against the attacks against america? Where is the footage of Obama saying he is for redistribution of wealth? Why won't the liberals vett Obama like they are vetting Romney and Ryan?
When it seems like the whole world is against you, that everyone else is wrong as you lay out, maybe you need to look in the mirror and rethink your perspective.
I would like to know how Obama is racially ruining America. Furthermore, what Obama said about redistribution was as follows: "I actually believe in some redistribution, at least at a certain level to make sure that everybody's got a shot". You say that Obama is spiritually ruining America, but is that not a full-throated endorsement of "Love thy neighbor as thyself" which is, after all, the most important message in the New Testament
I love how you include Comedy Central in there. You are soooo right. They often get a pass, but they are driving America down just as fast as any of those "news outlets)
Not a "huge" mistake at all, he's just reporting the facts. It's just another in a long line of basically dufus moves.
How patriotic is it to hide money in foreign countries when America's economy is ailing?
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How patriotic is it to evade taxes when brave veterans are returning to unemployment?
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How patriotic was it to dodge the Vietnam draft on a "mission" in Paris?
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How patriotic is it to label people less fortunate than you as parasites?
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How patriotic is it to vote for someone like that?
How patriotic is it to follow someone blindly because you are a democrat? Question things on both sides and you will be alright. Trying to bad mouth Romney will not help your patriotism.
Nathan: Why are there only two sides? Is that all you can handle at once? Were you born yesterday in the delusional world of the All-American Dumbing Down movement?
Nathan– the same can be said abuot Republicans who vote the party line "No matter what" - it goes both ways and thus not a meaningful statement.