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 have worked and paid taxes all my life, and every one of my paychecks has had money deducted from it for social programs. If I ever need those social programs, I will be getting my own money back and not feel bad about it. Mitt needs his nancy-boy butt kicked.
Threatening a candidate with secret service protection is not very smart. I would assume CNN will be banning you soon.
Not everybody works their whole life like you did....thats what he was saying.
Also, all that money you paid in has already been spent...we are borrowing billions per day to write todays checks.
We, Americans are a bunch of uneducated, stupit people. The govertment take our taxes in exchange of nothing, but lies. Neither party is good, they all are the same.
"We, Americans are a bunch of uneducated, stupit people" What do you mean 'We,' Abdul? Go feed your goat.
"We, Americans are a bunch of uneducated, stupit people"
Shine on you crazy Diamond....
You do have a point,we pay for wars,boondoggles,pig odor research, but if we ask for just a little healthcare security so we don't lay there and die in pain we are called socialist.But heaven forbid the rich have to contribute.
Just like 2008 was all about voting for anyone who wasn't Bush, now it's time to vote for anyone who isn't Obama. There is no reason to keep rewarding bad representation. In the meantime, these two clowns will continue to say and do what it takes to appear to sections of the electorate and it makes zero difference. As we found out since the 2008 elections, what Obam said and what he did were not the same.
"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." NO just the 47%
47% is a very inaccurate number, just like most made-up GOP drivel. It is closer to 5%.
Also if you lump the unemployed in the mix, keep in mind those are people that WERE EMPLOYED AND LOST THEIR JOBS. They are NOT freeloaders. The BUSH recession cause a lot of hard working people to lose jobs and they will gladly take any job they can get, but the REPUBLICANS need to stop blocking ever single piece of legislation, just to try to hurt the country so they can justify Republican leadership. In November there are gonna be a lot of out the door GOP goobs, as more people find out just how many lies they have been told by Romney and his cronies.
CNN is the most bias website on the internet..... Look at the home page and see how much they diss Romney compared to how much they praise Obama... Hahahahahahaha this website is a joke
Romney says silly things that make news. He is not very bright. That is news, and makes good copy. Obama saying things that make sense is not news, as everyone who pays attention knows he is a good leader.
Keep in mind that more than 85% of all media is REPUBLICAN owned and only Fox is willing to lie about the candidates. CNN just reports the news, and researches it to make sure it is fact-checked. FOX does not care about facts, and I am sure that is what you watch.
I agree. I come in this site for entertainment. Many bloggers just write dumb unsubstanciated statements just to irk the person on the other aisle. How entertaining is that.
CNN starts with facts and bend it to favor their cause. What a joke.
Part of being an effective leader is the ability to be diplomatic. From his comments in London to his comments about the notorious 47%, Romney has shown that he lacks the diplomatic skills required to act on the world stage. Sad, because he probably does have the business skills to impact the economy in a positive way. But if you can't say anything without offending folks, it's a worthless skill.
"if you can't say anything without offending folks, it's a worthless skill." His runaway mouth will be getting people killed if he ever gets into a position of power. Luckily, that's not going to happen now. Who'd vote for THAT?
The truth will sometimes hurt other people. Yes, it's admirable to be able to go around and say it differently or not say it at all. But there's no honesty in that. Your statement "if you can't say anything without offending folks, it's a worthless skill" – if people will follow your lead, you end up with a bunch of hypocrites just like the other bloggers who thought they know better.
Maybe the republicans are rethinking slavery now,that's seams to be what they want from all of us 47%.How long will it be before we are saying "please don't beat me master"
Playing the race card so soon? Is that what Biden meant about putting you back in chains? Pathetic.
rico.....I wasn't talking about black or white I was talking rich and poor,you would have me working for a few pennies a day if you could.and laugh at me when I was sick,tell me to go sie and get it over with,your kind only see green
Huh? How is it "slavery" to ask that you go and work for your own? Is it "not slavery" to just take care you your whole life and make you dependent on someone else for your meals, care and comfort? Hmmm... which sounds more like slavery to you?
c'mon, give romney a little credit here. i agree he was wrong to caught off tape making that comment, but at least he's not backing down on what he said. this country is full of losers sucking the blood out of my hard-earned taxes and i RESENT our government for allowing it. we need someone who actually has a pair to say what he said. maybe it's not 47%, probably more like 30% minimum....not much better!
great, pass that message on to all the freeloading republicans in the south. Almost all repub. states take way more out of than they pay into. You freeloader.
It is 5.13% to be exact. GOP candidates are not very good with stats. Also, would YOU try to support a family on $15,000 a year? Most people on welfare want to get off of it and get a job but the GOP keeps the minimum wage down so the system keeps slogging on.
I'm voting third party, Gary Johnson. Romney is an elitist and Obama blows smoke to screen his agenda.
The people need to be free to make their own decisions in life AND in business...not one or the other.
Based upon your question posed, the comments are both. They represent the plain truth, at least as far as Rmoney sees it, and getting caught on tape saying it was a huge mistake.
First, the truth. In every election there are votes you can't get. The old numbers were 40% you can't get, 40% you can't lose, and you're playing for the 20% in the middle. In that context, he was right. However, his reasoning was offensive...needlessly so. He generalized about why he can't get those votes, and rather than point out simple political and philosophical differences, he demonized that group, describing them in such a way as to include voters that might support him, and then making them all just "useless mouths."
Mistake? Yup. Just the same as his wife Ann saying "you people." He demonstrated his utter disdain for people who aren't like him, or at least he perceives they aren't like him. They don't value money over everything else, they haven't been given the "rich life" and they will never be millionaires. He has no use for people like that, and it shows. As a candidate it's clearly a "mistake." As a human being, it's more like a "joke." Rmoney has demonstrated that he is everything most of us hate in a fellow human. In short, he's disgusting.
I guess the truth really does hurt the 47%........
5.13 % you mean right? Romney doesn't get it, and he does not know the actual figures. Have you ever calculated how much of your income goes to welfare, etc? Now think about those rich folks who pay less % than you... add that all up and it ain't very much, because welfare people don't get a lot of money in the long run. They barely survive on that amount. Now quadruple it and that is what you pay for bullets and bombs. We have a 1st class society slowly decaying into a plutocracy run by the rich and all it takes is simple dishonesty by the GOP to keep half the people snowed and voting for them. Soon Walmart will own your bottom, and all that Walmart stuff comes from China, so where is your job?
Good point. Since when did journalism become about getting two random people to spout their opinion (which happens to suit the needs of the "reporter", by the way). Why do people even go to this site. Wait! Why am I here right now?!? Gotta go.
OK youre not part of the 47%, Are you tired of paying for the 47%? Is it OK for you to be dependent on the Gov't or should you as an American get off the couch and make something of yourself? I guess the truth hurts.........Here some more TRUTH – $$ Were Broke $$ !!!!
nice, pass that message on to all the freeloading republicans in the south.
That would be "we're broke"
Its a shame that tax money was used on education for a tool like you.
Romney's current tax rate would be reduced to 0% under the Ryan/Romney plan.
But thanks for being a tool.
Excuse me Mr. Dumb, but CNN and numerous polling agencies stated that uneducated whites vote more often for the democratic swish swish party.
and Mr. Dumb... use "you're" instead of "your". Just say'n.
So guess we just cut of social security and medicare – kick granny to the curb?? And, maybe the disabled vet?? Oh, I know let's get rid of the morgtage interest deduction – homeowning parasites.
Bingo 1termlimits...shockingly 71% of CNN readers "think Romney should apologize...", for what? Telling the truth? Wake up America we're going broke!
Federal income taxes don't pay for Social Security and Medicare, payroll taxes do. Or at least until they don't take in enough to pay for it, which is where I believe we are at or close to with Medicare now and will be with Social Security soon. So, we're not talking about not paying for a disabled vert or kicking Granny to the curb.
Democrats like to keep you ignorant about the facts, thinking that they are the defenders of the working class. They're mainly all lawyers; since when is a lawyer one of the working class?
Bottom line is this. We are worse off than 4 years ago and its getting worse, so what are we going to do about it? More of the same? The last 2 years of Bush's term the Democrats controlled both houses of Congress, they controlled it again for Obama's first 2 years, and they have controlled the Senate for the last 2 years. So, obviously it is still Bush's fault, right?
"We are worse off than 4 years ago and its getting worse, so"
NO WE ARE NOT.
4 years ago we were hemorrhaging jobs at a rate of 800,000 a month. Now the private sector is ADDING jobs every month. The public sector is losing jobs DUE TO GOP CUTS and local cuts in government.
4 years ago our auto industry was failing and about to be lost along with millions of jobs, but thanks to the DEMOCRATS and OBAMA, the industry is back and doing well.
Wall street is doing better, housing starts are doing better, jobs are better, healthcare is better, and FOX continues to snow you people into thinking that a commentator is the same as a news person. They aren't because commentators, particularly with FOX, are not very truthful.
I am 69 years old and my only income (other than savings) comes from social security. Unlike this writer and the spate of other left leaning writers (and this network has a plethora of them), I fully understand what Mitt Romney is and has been saying. Anyone,such as the instant writer who professes not to understand Mr.Romney's message is either completely uninformed of the current political miasma or prefers to lie to himself and to his readers. I suppose that he believes in Obama's redistribution of wealth concept. The thief who shoplifts also believes in redistributing wealth. Simply put, Mr. Obama wants to steal from those people who have been successful and give the spoils to those who have not labored hard or long enough. THAT IS THE THEORY OF REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. Take from me and my children and give it to to people who laughed all the while I was stupid enough to work.
I am in my sixties too and cannot believe anyone would vote for Romney.....they don't get that millions are without health care, 48,000 a year are dying and so much more. As to jobs, when the middle class is destroyed you kill the market that makes the jobs and the wealthy wealthier!!
Frank, you view or read too much CNN and other mainstream media. CNN is too biased. I hope the presidential debate will give us a good indicator (if the moderator will not take side). Be the judge of their (Obama and Romney) statements. Not just taking it from news media. The most partial that I know is CSPAN who airs lengthy debates in the House (not just portions), etc.
Poor Romney he can't help it.................he was born with a silver foot in his mouth.
JEB, Look who's beeing the TOOL now...
The fact that Mr. Romney it's rich does not affect the economy of this country. We don't need a Mr. Simpathy as President, we need somebody who knows how to fix things that obviously are in the wrong track; maybe Romney it's the one; if he creates jobs less poverty and more taxes to support the programs created by the government.