If there was ever any doubt as to what Mitt Romney thinks about most of the people in this country (and about Barack Obama supporters in particular), it can be put to rest. Romney was caught during what appears to be a fundraising dinner at the Boca Raton home of controversial private equity manager Marc Leder saying unimaginably entitled, out-of-touch, and downright cruel things about the American people.
Romney has never tried to appear warm and fuzzy. He is a business man who made his (vast) living tearing other people down for his own gain. But even for a Master of the Universe like Romney, his off the cuff comments seem callous and breathtakingly unaware of his position.
Essentially, he believes he would have a better shot at being President if he were Mexican. He believes 47 percent of Americans are entitled moochers. And he believes Americans are too dumb to want to listen to "intellectual" arguments. This is the man you want to elect? See below:
Look, Romney doesn't have to be likable. He doesn't have to be a guy you want to get a beer with. George W. Bush was that and look how well that turned out. He does need to be HUMAN, though. And he has failed at that in the most basic way.
The idea that a man making as much as he has made in his life balks at people feeling entitled to, I don't know, FOOD seems so unimaginably out to lunch, it's like a joke about rich people. His clueless cruelty begs comparison to all kinds of entitled, out-of-touch wealthy people throughout history. Maybe we should ask Marie Antoinette how ignoring plight worked out for her. Oh wait ...
More from The Stir: The 47% Responds to Mitt Romney in 15 Quotable Zingers
I also take his comments personally. I am an Obama supporter and I have paid an ungodly sum to the IRS this year. I have never once taken any kind of government assistance. My family votes in the same precinct as Romney for god's sake. We aren't victims. We aren't entitled. And we don't expect government handouts.
We believe that it's the responsibility of those of us who were born into lucky circumstances and who availed ourselves of clean water, paved roads, good fire and police forces to give back. That might mean higher taxes. I would pay them. I am comfortable enough in my life and circumstances to WANT to pay taxes so that others might have chances at education, food, housing, and all the other things our taxes cover.
Moreover, as David Brooks said so eloquently in his column today in The New York Times:
The people who receive the disproportionate share of government spending are not big-government lovers. They are Republicans.
It's easy to dismiss Obama's supporters as whiny, entitled moochers. In fact, that couldn't be more wrong. The Obama supporters I know are all hard workers. Most have master's degrees or higher. Most are paying upwards of $30,000-50,000 in taxes in the past year.
You are wrong Mr. Romney. And because of that, you will lose. You should lose. A president who thinks like Romney is dangerous, indeed.
Do you find Romney's comments offensive?
Image via MotherJonesvideo/YouTube
Tie-Dye for the Fourth of July!
Mom Survives Horrific Domestic Abuse
Kim and Kanye's Baby Name Predictions!
Moms Love Birthday Parties, Too!
Comments 154
I agree with Mitt Romey also and he will get my vote! We do need someone in the office of president that will look at the problems and start fixing them! As jobs are created, people will go back to work, I can assure you of that. Those unemployed and those unemployed and quit receiving checks will also return as quick as jobs are available! Romey must and will focus on creating an atmosphere for business startups and growth, this will begin to put people to work and then they can pay their share of income taxes when will help our government to stablize! I cannot bare to think of where our government will go with 4 more years of Obama as president. People, you must focus on the major problem of jobs, debt, freedom, safety and freedom of religion for us, our grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. Help by voting, ask your neighbor to vote, see that your kids vote (if old enough), family and friends. This is the most important election in American history. It will decide our future, whether free and enslaved to UN control or others country's. It is your chose, make sure you have though it through!!
I am not offended either and I think he has a point. Our society has a HUGE entitlement problem. And it is a problem.
alise, if your income is under $50K, you are not paying income tax. And I'm amused that you think a smartphone is "free" if you're on the right plan. If you have extra money to pay the monthly bill for a smartphone while taking assistance for medical bills, you are the definition of 'entitlement problem'.
I'm not offended either. Right now my family is part of the country who is getting support from the country, that does not mean that I LIKE it, or that I want to do this forever. I agree with him and that more people are expecting to sit on their butt while the rest work. I am working but cann't make all the ends meet, so what he does not want to concentrate on are the people who do NOT want to work, not the ones who are.
I am not offended at all. He is not dismissing the 47%-he is dismissing the fact that he will not be able to get their votes. He is being realistic. He is talking about the votes he needs-not the whether or not the people themselves matter.