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Subscribe to RSSConservative writers, pundits, thinkers, and strategists are coming down on both sides of the Mitt Romney video controversy -- critical or supportive.
David Brooks in the New York Times delivers outright criticism; The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol is critical of the statements but likens them to President Obama's "bitter" clings to guns and religion remarks.
According to the Tax Policy Institute, although 47 percent of Americans do not pay federal income taxes, they do pay payroll taxes. And contrary to Mitt Romney's claims, those people are not living off the other 53 percent. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
Related: Leaked video is the latest hit for Romney
Others like Erick Erickson strongly defend Romney; National Review's Jonah Goldberg is somewhere in between -- conceding Romney's wording is problematic and off base but that the general argument Romney was trying to make holds true. Some, like Michael Walsh at National Review, say Romney should "double down" and make the case in the national spotlight.
Charles Dharapak / AP
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney boards his campaign plane in Santa Ana, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, as he travels to Salt Lake City, Utah, for campaign events.
Here's a wrap:
CONSERVATIVE CRITICISM:
David Brooks, The New York Times.
Headline: “Thurston Howell Romney.”
“This comment suggests a few things. First, it suggests that he really doesn't know much about the country he inhabits. Who are these freeloaders? Is it the Iraq war veteran who goes to the V.A.? Is it the student getting a loan to go to college? Is it the retiree on Social Security or Medicare? It suggests that Romney doesn't know much about the culture of America. … The people who receive the disproportionate share of government spending are not big-government lovers. They are Republicans. They are senior citizens. They are white men with high school degrees. …
“The Republican Party, and apparently Mitt Romney, too, has shifted over toward a much more hyperindividualistic and atomistic social view - from the Reaganesque language of common citizenship to the libertarian language of makers and takers. There's no way the country will trust the Republican Party to reform the welfare state if that party doesn't have a basic commitment to provide a safety net for those who suffer for no fault of their own. …
“[A]s a description of America today, Romney's comment is a country-club fantasy. It's what self-satisfied millionaires say to each other. It reinforces every negative view people have about Romney. Personally, I think he's a kind, decent man who says stupid things because he is pretending to be something he is not - some sort of cartoonish government-hater. But it scarcely matters. He's running a depressingly inept presidential campaign.”
Bill Kristol, The Weekly Standard.
Headline: “A Note on Romney’s Arrogant and Stupid Remarks.”
“It's worth recalling that a good chunk of the 47 percent who don't pay income taxes are Romney supporters—especially of course seniors (who might well "believe they are entitled to heath care," a position Romney agrees with), as well as many lower-income Americans (including men and women serving in the military) who think conservative policies are better for the country even if they're not getting a tax cut under the Romney plan. So Romney seems to have contempt not just for the Democrats who oppose him, but for tens of millions who intend to vote for him.
“It remains important for the country that Romney wins in November (unless he chooses to step down and we get the Ryan-Rubio ticket we deserve!). But that shouldn't blind us to the fact that Romney's comments, like those of Obama four years ago, are stupid and arrogant. Indeed: Has there been a presidential race in modern times featuring two candidates who have done so little over their lifetimes for our country, and who have so little substance to say about the future of our country?”
Another Weekly Standard post wraps some conservative criticism.
Headline: “Conservatives Agree: Romney's Wrong.”
CONSERVATIVES SUPPORT/DEFENSE/ADVICE:
Erick Erickson, Red State.com on Twitter:
“Seeing these undercover videos actually make me wish Romney would talk more about this issue on the trail.”
More Erickson, from Red State:
“Bluntly, the general rule for Team Romney should be to treat the press as an enemy collaborator with Barack Obama with exceptions only as appropriate. ... The Romney campaign should double down on what he said. They should own it. The trouble for the left and media (but I repeat myself) is that most Americans agree with Mitt Romney. Most Americans consider themselves part of the 53% and it is not a winning proposition for Barack Obama to convince Americans they are less than they think they are when most Americans already recognize he has made them less than they were. Team Romney should force this debate onto the national stage. They should not walk it back. The American people are with him.”
Jonah Goldberg, National Review.
Headline: "Quick Thoughts on Freeloaderdammerung"
“To read many of the reactions on Twitter, you’d think Mother Jones had just found video of Mitt Romney strangling a hooker with her own pantyhose.
“Indeed, many people understand what Romney is getting at here, even if he’s saying it badly. Some may even welcome a little spark and snark from a guy who so often seems so polished he has no rough edges. Lots of people, most importantly lots of independents, understand the basic and irrefutable point that there are too many people who feel entitled to consume a lot more tax dollars than they contribute. …
“Some people — even people who don’t pay income taxes — will just hear Romney being passionate about fixing this imbalance and vote for him because of it. What’s best for the country, and not just for them, will be foremost in their minds. No, I don’t think this video is good news for Romney. But if Romney showed a little more of the spirit he shows in this video, I’m not sure it wouldn’t help.”
In another post this morning, Goldberg writes:
"In fairness to Romney, I do think he believes things. The problem is he doesn’t have an organic understanding for politics or conservatism — I think I was the first to say a while back, he speaks conservatism as a second language. So when he tries to express his ideas he either sounds too detached or as if he’s parroting the idiom of a language he doesn’t fully understand.
"That’s the problem with what he says in that video. It’s not that everything he says is wrong, it’s just that it’s wrong enough to both hurt him and make it hard to defend what he’s saying. Ironically, I think if he were less articulate (like George W. Bush) or even spoke with a foreign accent, this would be more clear. But it is precisely because he is such a precise speaker that he gets himself in so much trouble. ...
"No, I don’t think this is the end of the Romney campaign or that he’s doomed or any of the wishful thinking being passed off as sober analysis in the mainstream press. Many liberals hear Romney in the video and in their sympathetic condescension think the 47 percent will hear themselves being called 'moochers.' That’s not how people hear these things for the most part. But the clock is ticking. There are only so many days left until the election, and too often this campaign finds itself on defense or explaining what it 'really' means. There’s just not a lot more time for that sort of thing. 'Stay on course' doesn’t strike me as a winning strategy."
Michael Walsh, National Review.
Headline: “Mitt’s Gettysburg Moment.”
“He ought to own it. For sure, even Team Romney knows what’s coming next. The barrage of media criticism. The shrieks of ‘how dare you?’ The tsk-tsking of ostensible friendlies. The constant press corps demands for clarification or, better yet, groveling abnegation. … It’s going to get very, very ugly very, very quickly. …
“But now he has a choice — to back away from the implication of his off-the-cuff remarks, and try to blame his sentiments on infelicity, or to embrace the stark dichotomy he laid out and go with it. This chance encounter should be the thing that forces Romney out of his crouch, away from his krack kadre of kampaign konsultants, and fleeing from his over-reliance on conventional wisdom and polls. What he ought to do is step up and embrace the basic division in our nation, including the fact that nearly half the country pays no income taxes. Acknowledge it — and then explain why, morally, this is not a good thing. …
“Will Romney rise to the occasion and fight? Or will he retreat? Only one path can lead to victory in November. The fate of his candidacy will hinge on the answer.”
And Walsh dismisses Brooks as having “faulty logic.”
“Already, both lefties and house cons like the New York Times’s David Brooks have their knickers in a twist. … There’s plenty to say about Brooks’ faulty logic, including his assertion that Romney’s comments somehow indicate that wicked Republicans want to rend the safety net and turn it into tying rope for their yachts.”
Laura Ingraham on FOX:
“The idea that you’re declaring, ‘Well, the race is over. Mitt Romney doesn’t care about people,’” Ingraham continued. “Meanwhile, you have a president whose policies have undermined the 47 percent. … I’m very pumped up about this. I think it’s ridiculous that people are seizing on it and that we’re even giving all that much airtime to it, frankly.”
Rep. Allen West (R-FL) on FOX:
"Mitt Romney probably could have better explained himself. I think he was a little clumsy in doing this. …
"I think that when you look at us moving toward economic dependence instead of economic freedom ... the fact we had [a] 46 percent increase in food stamp recipients, more Americans in poverty over the last three and a half years thanks to the Obama administration, the unemployment that is probably actually closer to 14.7 percent with the computation. …
"I think most of us are still focused on what is happening overseas, the fact that our embassies are being attacked and people are chanting, 'Death to America.' "
Republican strategist Rick Davis (formerly McCain’s 2008 campaign manager) on CBS This Morning:
"Obviously it's a bad day for the Romney campaign. What he does with it is going to be very critical…. "This is a character building moment," Davis said. "It may be a fresh opportunity for Mitt Romney to try and connect with voters. This is an opportunity that he can try and do better. Now he is going to have to take a step back a little bit and say the reason I have these views about my economic plan is because of who I am. He's going to have to double up that message a little bit.”
Yesterday, before the tapes came out, here was Bill Kristol:
“Early Friday morning, September 14, a movie-loving and Romney-supporting friend emailed: ‘I'm starting to panic. Tell me not to.’ I sent back the obvious response, citing the great Aladdin: ‘Abu, this is no time to panic. . . . Start panicking!’ … So if it's time to panic, it's time to panic about the prospect of four more years of Barack Obama as president.”
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You would think with all those billions he could afford a better fitting suit. But I guess since it costs a million it doesn't matter as he probably figured out a way not to pay tax on it. He surely doesn't look presidential. He's only going to be for part of the people of the US anyway, I guess it doesn't matter.
Romney's words are not that much different than what a lot of his supporters think. This may galvanize his Tea party pals, and others on the far right. But, there is a great many Republicans who don't have this view of America and I am sure it disgusts them.
The working poor pay about 6.7% of their income on federal taxes for Social Security/Medicare--a flat tax, so beloved by conservatives.
The self-employed pay closer to 13% to Social Security/Medicare--until they reach about $108,000 taxable income. Not to mention State & local taxes, which partially-fund Federal programs.
Who does a 13% tax rate on gross taxable income, remind you of?
Each time Bush, Reagan, et al. wanted to reduce the taxes on the wealthy, they also reduced the taxes on the lowest rungs. Now they are running against those people.
Most people who pay no income taxes, wish they could make enough to do that. Problem is, with the Unions pretty much gone, most cannot.
If that is former-Gov. Romney's secret speech on Social Security, do you really want to find out what he truly thinks, over the next four years?
Hey Romney? I have a job, i pay taxes, i go to school, i go to church, i give to the poor when i can, i look out for my neighbors when theyre away, i hand a 5-spot out the window to a nam vet, i am my brothers/sisters keeper.
According to you im a parasitic leech! What are you? Lets see those tax returns!
And one other thing....go FK yourself!
Irregardles of your political affilication, Does the country really need a guy that as clumbsy as this guy, the money interests will have this guy dancing on strings, while he slobbers all over himself trying to communicate a rational thought to foreign governments. We thought GWB was incompetent, and we're going to give this guy the launch codes. What a goof.
47% is a little high I think - I could see 15-20% of the population as whiney slackers. The rest are working poor, even more than before thanks to the greedy bankers giant ponzi scheme that finally puked in 2008. EIC should go away.
At least Romney is precise. 'Death to 47% of America!'
Why are the Republican's and their candidate always under damage control?
Obama/Biden 4 More
ROMNEY CF. OBAMA PRIVATE FUNDRAISING STATEMENTS TO DONORS: WHAT POLITICAL HACK/YELLOW JOURNALIST ANDREA MITCHELL WOULDN’T TELL YOU.
About four years ago, Obama made revealing statements to donors at a private fund-raiser in San Francisco that till today is still dogging him. He was talking about working class voters in Pennsylvania who “cling to guns and religion” he is finding difficult to persuade to vote for him. COMPARE THAT to Romney’s recently revealed video, and the difference is stark.
1.) Obama was clearly frustrated that these people were working against their own interests by not voting Democrat. But he never said he has abandoned them or trying to persuade them. In fact, he did and later won Pennsylvania. Romney on the other hand said flatly that he wouldn’t bother about those who he called Obama supporters and went further to slam all of them as dependent upon government support.
2.) Obama always aimed to be the President of all the people; Romney always said all he needs is 50+1%, by whatever way he can get it. In the video, he re-stated his strategy and policy for this group in cold, callous words.
3.) Obama never said anything that was factually untrue, though his words may be politically incorrect. Romney, on the other hand, based his whole generalization and modus operandi on false facts and assumptions. For that, many including fact-checkers, have roundly criticised him. Conservative New York Times columnist David said that Romney was false in logic, false in his assumptions and false in his conclusions. Further, he writes that Romney presents a “country club fantasy” that shows his lack of understanding of America and its unwritten “social compact”—lacks understanding of the ambition and motivation of most Americans, lacks understanding of the social and political culture.
4.) Obama’s basic approach is inclusive; Romney is exclusionary. Romney doesn’t care about certain people. We see this as a prominent feature of his recent campaigns in which he has clearly succumbed to the lures of dirty, racially-based maginalization of certain groups to serve his political goal. Brooks points out that indeed Romney has become a divider, not a uniter!
Obama the Uniter!!!... Yeah we all get to unite and get in the unemployment line.. that "unites" with the welfare line that "unites" with the Healthcare line.....
"United" States of dependency... oh I mean
United Stated of America.... cheers for Obama in 2012
Not one local TV station in the central Texas area-we have 4 ABC CBS NBC FOX-has the story of the 47%!!!!!!! welcome to the Republican jungle.
It was played on fox news .. get cable and stop being one of those 47% that pull in free local tv lol.
You could always move to those democratic states in blue.. the ones with high rates of unemployment.. sky rocketing costs of living.. Homes no one can afford and can't buy or sell.. Oh wait maybe you live in texas for a reason? Maybe a more conservative lifestyle and view offers more opportunities to people to afford to live.
You can move to Maryland. We're doing just fine.
I wish you no good seniors, vets and republican HS educated white trash would start paying their fair share instead of bitching about Obama..
Well, Mr. Walsh, by the tone of that statement, one would think you wanted to use a different, more inflammatory, word in place of 'con' to go along with 'house'.
We are only acknowledged in derogatory remarks,well thats no surprise,thats exactly why Barrack Obama is our President.Silly GOP,we already knew.No need to defend or spin,we understand.Its not their fault,they only communicate with money,and we are leeches not money.
how cute of mitty romney, i believe he is talking about himself!!!
he doesn't pay taxes
he wants a free house: yeap, the white house!
he wants food for free: yeap, gourmet by the way and 3, from the white house chefs!
mental health for free??? mmmhhh :d
very assertive comment, mitty!!! clap, clap, clap!!!
The average person can not handle social facts.. Its hard to keep emotion out of these topics..
Social fact that 47% of Americans dont pay taxes.. Why would they vote for someone that might evaluate that more closely and potentially change that?
Social fact that men marry at or below their education and Socioeconomic status in America... Do you know how many women's lib people would get all worked up emotionally over that.. Still doesnt change the social fact remains true.
Romney was speaking to a specific group of people about this social fact and his campaign strategy to go after the "thoughtful" perhaps open minded or those that have not already made up with mind who they are voting for before the campaigns and debates.. To me that would be the better definition of "thoughtful"voters.
"Social fact that 47% of Americans dont pay taxes" is actually income taxes.
Only 18% of Americans do not pay payroll taxes or federal income taxes. These are made up of senior citizens and the working poor. In other words, retirees and people making less than 20K per year (like working at jobs at Staples and McDonalds).
http://www.businessinsider.com/mitt-romneys-47-who-are-dependent-on-the-government-2012-9
I was quoting from the statement that others have used.. I understand the break down in unpaid taxes and the difference.. still a social fact that no one wants to hear a president call the country out on and speak about how to not waste time campaigning to people that are unwilling to vote for this type of change.
Wow..2 degrees from Harvard & a net worth of a $250,000,000.00 & yet "DiMwitt Rob-me" still says the most clueless, disconnected & idiotic things to say as a Presidential candidate..
I would say I feel sorry for those RepubliCANT's (the Elderly, Retiree's, Students, collecting unemployment & War Veterans) who will want to VOTE for him..but I don't..you reap what you sow!!!
Not only "suffering through no fault of their own" but suffering because of the disastrous housing policies of the last Republican president. George W. Bush is truly the food stamp president. No previous president has put more people out of work and on the dole than George W. Bush.
Now Republicans call them lazy and shiftless because failed Republican policies trashed the economy and eliminated jobs? Morons!
Really? The economy wasn't anything to brag about from 2000 thru 2006 but it was, at least functional! The Average Annual Deficit increase for those years was + 2.7%, too high for my tastes, but just .01% above the established Average of 2.6%. Mid 2007 it begins a meteroric rise that culminates in mid 2008 at over 6%! What the He!! happened ? I remember, the 110th. Congress was sworn in! Nancy Pelosi (D) California- Speaker of the House and Harry Reid (D) Nevada - Senate Majority Leader! The collapse occurs a couple of months later!
By the Constitution Article 1 , Section 7 , Clause 1, well it's clear when, where, why and who caused the problem!
re:crawford tx, same in austin tx. the local rag has a tiny article in the center of the front section. SO much for lib media in texas
was this the republican or mormon talking. either way im in the 10 per cent he is after and yet another cold speech revealed his true self. im out!
I pay taxes and I vote for Obama.
" The shaft of the arrow had been feathered with one of the Eagles own plumes. We often give our enemies the means of our own destruction" Aesop
He who shuts his ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in his own time of need.
Proverbs 21:13
Does no one realize that Mr. Romney's continued gaffes on the campaign trail indicate a trend, that if translated into coming from the mouth of the Leader Of The Free World, would be disasterous? Mr. POTUS has stated many times in many ways that the person who sits in that chair has to measure his words carefully. (after all folks, his (Or her) words are flashed around the world and acted upon) Folks have implied that the current POTUS can only read from a teleprompter, (the facts of course escape them) but if Mr. Romney were elected, based upon current example, would not be able to speak with out someone telling him what exactly, to say. Which makes him a puppet. I do not want a puppet for my president. The leader of the free world has to be able to think on his feet. Based upon current example, Mr. Romney does not seem to be able to do that. I shouldn't have to bring up the example of his European / Israel tour where he often inserted foot into mouth.
The sad thing? There's no third choice.
after bush and bush and now romney.. I was GOP.. never again.. I was anti clinton anti obama, now I'm going to campaign for Obama/Biden and every dem I can for the house and senate.. I'm done with GOP. I can't wait to see the 2 gop fools get whipped in the debates.. I mean what can Romney say.. you win mr president I concede the election as I can't win.. I can't believe I was so foolish for so many years.. listening to fox.. did'nt see 1 report about the comments on fox at all.. like he never said it.. I'm scared of someone who really believes that garbage about my fellow man.. It's unreal that people would vote for this numbnut Romney.. the republican party should just fold..
" you can fool all of the People, some of the time, some of the People all of the time, but you can't fool all of the People all of the time" You fool no one any of the time! You've never voted for any Conservative in your entire life, but nice try Comrade!
Yes I always have been a republican Ted.. not now.. it's not about ideals anymore, it's about how do we survive.. as a nation.. sorry but I made mistakes and as to calling me comrad, my family landed here in 1630, with the puritans.. I have no faith in anything Romney say's .. if he's the best we have as a republican I will work for the other team, fold or get some real canidate I can believe in, like Reagan, and just saying anyone here meet a mormon.. they are like Cruise all screwed up and believin in fancy undies and planets that don't exist. By the way Comrad Ted.. YOUR MAN LOST ON HIS OWN.. what a fool Mitt is.. and Paul Ryan.. what a unlikable dork.. and idiot.. wait till the debate.. I hope you cry.. wait till the election.. Mitt will LOSE all the swing states by then of his own accord.. Obama should take a few weeks off , He can't lose.. and Mitt will.. he should just punch himself in the face instead of opening his mouth he might then get some votes from the jackass crowd.
Unfortunately, Romney is correct. Obama has create a massive entitlement group without jobs, many without intelligence. Obama will be reelected by the most ignorant people in the world. The US is now in decline. It is time for the intelligent people (rich) to leave. Democrats will win all elections with a 90% voter approval. The unemployment rate will be 90%. What country does this sound like? If you have above average intelligence, the US top 30%, where will you go? It is clear that Obama has destroyed the United States.
While I'm very, very far from being a richman, I've already made all the plans and all the moves that I can make. Should Obama win on November 6, my Wife and I will be gone by October1! It angers me to think that after serving my country for 5and a half years, two of them in combat in Nam and earning a Purple Heart with two clusters, that it will have to be me who leaves, while this creature of undetermined origin will not just remain but be in charge of this ONCE GREAT NATION!
" A democracy cannot exist as a perminant form of Government. It can only exist untill the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the Public Treasury. From that moment on they will always vote for the Candidates promising the most benefits from the Public Treasury, with the results that a Democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy and is always followed by a Dictatorship" Alexander Fraser Tytler 1787
No, he didn't "phrase it inelegantly". He phrased it exactly as he thinks. And that's the problem. He's a privileged, pompous, self-seeking egotist who wants to BE president, not DO it. He's given no specifics because you'd be repelled if you knew what he'd do. Do not give this guy the keys to anything.
Romney is only telling the truth. Americans do have a false sense of entitlement. Thanks to the democrats...
You can call it "a false sense of entitlement." The Constitution calls it "promoting the general welfare."
Romney sounds as if he's saying the 47% of moochers aren't entitled to proper medical care, food, or anything else, if they lack the financial resources to pay for it themselves. That's not a vision of America. That's a vision of Guatamala.
You're really crazy Dean-1796062? You put Romney and truth in the same sentence! Thanks to your Republican granddaddy poverty spread as a result of low wages and slave labor. The poor who built America saw little of the profit! Face it! This economic system is rigged to favor the rich; and fair and equitable, as words and reality, are not a part of it!