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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Mitt spoke the truth and Carter's little creep grandson only recorded a small portion. I want a president who helps people not enables them, like Mr. Obama's plan.
The wealthy get cut's? No thanks I will take my chances on the person who can make up his mind and tell the truth. Not the Romney wealthy machine that wants us to pay for their expensive deregulation of Steagal Glass and banking games.
He is going to enable you right out of a job,if it means a another dollar to his already rich buddies.
If you people didn't know it before, please know it now: Mitt Romney is an idiot! I am 55 years, I have worked for 42 years paying taxes, medicare tax, and social security tax and now that it's almost time to collect, I've been labeled a lazy ingrate who wants the government to take care of me. I can't believe that you idiots are still going to vote for this numbscull!
Romney told the truth, the truth hurts sometimes
Yeah doing that Romney desk job was hard. Taking businesses like the Marriott and cheating on their taxes- Son Of Boss was hard. Nothing like rewarding the cheaters of our society.
Romney is a pretty awful human being in my book.
Jesus praised the poor widow who gave her last coin to God comparing her to the rich people who loudly dropped their money into the offering (seeking praise for themselves).
This country is based on people having opportunities that they couldn't get elsewhere and working their rear ends off to participate in the American dream. Romney started wealthy and added to his wealth. The man has no sense and no humility.
E.J. Dionne said it well in the Washington Post:
"In his impatience with those he accuses of casting themselves as “victims,” Romney misses the real story of government in the lives of most Americans. So often, we combine our own exertions with a little assistance along the way — the GI Bill, student loans, Social Security survivors’ benefits, public education — to become self-sufficient and independent. And Romney said not a word about all the redistribution upward in a tax code that favors investment over labor income. That’s why Romney pays federal taxes at a much lower rate than do many in middle class — and why, given his stress on the importance of paying income taxes, he might usefully release a few more of his own tax returns."
Per dollar earned a middle class person gives more time and money to charity than a wealthy person who usually writes a check.
And we thought it couldn't get worse than baby bush,WOW.
Ruh-Roh Mitt, your numbers are falling – better do some Child Left Behind Math fast and figure out how your going to bring back all the indi's you just horked off...you know – the 19% of the 47% that don't pay any taxes, of the 90% that do – but not the 1% that don't – the really rich guys, like you.
What is something swing voters don't care about for $200.00 Alex?
Obama pushes his far left wing divisive class warfare rhetoric as he becomes a multi-millionaire while in office and takes more campaign cash from the evil capitalist fat cats on Wall Street than anyone else – and the Liberals love him for it.
Because Romney was not being divisive with his remarks about the seniors, disabled and poor? haahhahaaa Nice try to bring Obama into Romney's plunder of getting caught with his foot in his mouth, again. I guess insulting the Brits during the Olympics was not enough. lollolloolloollol
And in the mean time Romney is making 1000 time as much off the offshore money he has hidden and won't let you know about. Release YOUR TAX records Romney and prove us wrong or right.
Funny how so many of you never uttered a peep about an extremely wealthy John Kerry...guess it slipped your mind then. Hypocrites.
This is at NoBo: Google 'john kerry new york times wealthy', and read the articles printed about his massive wealth.
Its the only truth that self centered,divisive, voter supressive, stupid sob has ever said. But it was in a private setting.
Hello s kel friend. It was a fund raiser. So what he says about the middle to lower class should be kept a secret? Scottish Mama
Hello dear, no hes too much of a coward to repeat exactually what he said to the general public.
s kel long time not hear.lol I am glad to see you here. I have missed you. I do not get here very often. But I hope to see more of you friend.
Within the context in which he said it, how to get a bigger share of the electorate, it is the absolute truth! He can't worry about the 47% who are NOT going to vote for him. He could have said it in a MUCH more sensitive way, but it is the truth.
So all the wealthy bankers and oilmen should rule the lower class and take all their deductions so the wealthy can have more tax cuts. Your thinking is flawed.
@Obama Mama
Have you ever had an economics class?
The problem is a lot of the 47% vote Republican – not Democrat. Romney is assuming only the rich will vote for him.
@Catsh- If you take a map of the republican states and a map of the welfare states, the red states recieve more welfare and more tax dollars than put in.
Total truth. Funny to hear these whiny wimps who act all bu*t-hurt. I was unemployed for nearly 3 years. Romney was talking about people who want the government to take care of them.
This tape will ultimately put Romney over the top.
23% of "those" people were the seniors. And of those others that work, they still pay payroll taxes. He was talking about income taxes. Maybe the wealthy need to pay more to their workers or need to pay them a living wage.
Obama Mama: I'm 56 years old. I'm facing retirement one of these days. I also know people who know both Romney and Obama. Romney was talking about people whose perspective is to view the government as being responsible for pretty much all that is wrong in life. These people have Obama who can lie all day long to them in promising things that he either can't deliver, or he'll plunge America into debt to deliver it. I appreciated Romney's message. He said nothing to threaten seniors' social security or Medicare.
I'm just sick and tired of these whiny people who cry about being left to actually have to work and try to find a way to be successful on their own. Romney's taped comments just pushed me closer to voting for him. I definitely don't want Barack Obama's incompetent vision for America.
@B fact senior citizens are 23% of those he spoke of that do not pay income tax.
Romney just keeps putting his foot in his mouth....
The gift that keeps on giving?lol
Know what the difference is between the mindset and ideology of Obama and the Democrats in the US and the people that bankrupted Greece and half or Europe?
Neither do I.
Totally different than american workers. It was the banks that put us under and 2 wars. You need to learn about what has happened in Europe to understand their plight.
Under President Obama:
Every time Law Enforcement gets paid, that’s Redistribution!
Every time Senior Citizens get their Social Security from workers who are currently having this payroll deduction, that’s Redistribution!
Every time Wounded Warriors collect Veteran’s Disability, that’s Redistribution!
Every time Navy Seals get paid, that’s Redistribution!
Every time College & University Students get Pell Grant, that’s Redistribution!
Under Tricky Mitt Romney:
Every time Bain shut down a factory in a Right-to-Work State, that’s Redistribution!
Every time Tricky Mitt’s Foreign Investments pay him, that’s Redistribution!
Every time Gov. GW Romney gave Tricky Mitt $$$, that’s Redistribution!
Under Tricky Mitt, Redistribution will mean the Top 3 % of Wage Earners will pay less Taxes
While the Middleclass will pay for it, that’s Redistribution!
Vote in Nov!
Tricky Mitt Show US Your Papers!
¡Muéstrenoslos!
Lyin’ Ryan Had to Show U 10 yrs of Tax Fillings!
47% of people do not pay federal income taxes. That says unsustainable. Yet we are offended about this and that. Really. Why is Gold ay 1700 an ounce. Why doesn't the government balance the budget what for 4 years now. Why is the government borrowing 40 cents on every dollar with no cap. Can you run your house like this. if you do where does it end. Obama just said " The dept isn't a problem in the short run only in the long run" Do you believe that? All these facts. I'm going to reply the DNC Convention so i can feel better. Obama tell me how it is again. Ah yes that's better.
Because 23% of those people are senior citizens who paid into SS, and it was used as a slush fund for our government. It is not broke it was plundered and now Mitt and Ryan will end it and leave them and us on our own. But the republicans play banker deregulation and want us to pay for it. They want to amass their wealth and take it over seas and not pay taxes on it. Make a corporation a person and hide money to sway votes. We can never dream to be a vulture caitalist and make that kind of money. The American dream is dead, just like Rome. Republicans want to say we are greedy, make me laugh.
The government hasn't failed to balance the budget for just the last four years, as you state, but for the last 12+ years and for all except a few of the past 40 years. This is not new with Obama.