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Updated 2:22 p.m. - CHESTERFIELD, VA -- Vice President Joe Biden continued on Tuesday to hammer away at Mitt Romney's secretly-taped riff about the 47 percent of Americans who don't pay federal income taxes, ridiculing the GOP presidential nominee as failing to represent all Americans.
"When he said it’s not my job to worry about ‘these people,’ well, whose job is it?" Biden asked of a crowd of about 500 at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are our brother’s keeper, we are one nation under God, we are all in this together, and if the 47 percent doesn’t make it, the country doesn’t make it."
Biden, who delivered his first salvo about the taped Romney fundraiser comments this weekend in New Hampshire, offered an extended critique of Romney's own level of tax contributions and said that those in the "47 percent" still pay "a lot of taxes" like Social Security, state and local, and property payments.
"Look, instead of attacking folks who work for a living and pay their way, Romney should be respecting their hard work," he said. "That’s the job of a president: to lift people up, not to tear them down."
Reuters, Getty Images
In the final push in the 2012 presidential election, candidates Mitt Romney and Barack Obama make their last appeals to voters.
He also noted that Romney has been widely criticized for failing to release more detailed information from his past tax returns and for paying a lower tax rate than many middle class Americans. (However, Romney's most recent release of some 2011 data showed that the former private equity exec limited deductions from his extensive charitable donations and thus paid a higher-than-required effective rate of about 14 percent.)
"He, Romney? Attacking someone on taxes? I mean, woah!" said the famously rhetorically excitable Delaware pol. "That’s like me attacking someone for being passionate in politics!"
The trip to Virginia was Biden's first since the campaign swing when Biden sparked a firestorm after remarking to a largely black audience in Danville that the banking policies supported by Republicans would "put y'all back in chains."
The vice president did not use similar themes today, focusing instead on the Romney-Ryan ticket's reluctance to raise taxes as a way of addressing the federal deficit.
"These guys think compromise is somehow a dirty word," Biden said. "They are insisting and Romney is insisting on putting back in policies that produced the problem in the first place. “
Romney campaign spokesman Ryan Williams responded: "President Obama and Vice President Biden’s reckless policies have increased our national debt by $5.4 trillion and resulted in dangerously high unemployment, increased poverty, and plummeting incomes. This election presents a clear choice between Barack Obama’s vision of a government-centered society and Mitt Romney’s vision of an opportunity society. Governor Romney will spur economic growth and create more wealth, while President Obama believes in redistributing wealth. The Romney plan for a stronger middle class will create 12 million jobs and encourage upward mobility instead of more government dependency."
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Biden's an idiot and Obama's is full of s#&@! Dynamic duo along with Reed and Pelosi determined to run the country into the ground.
We have formed the debate here a week in advance to the actual words exchanged between the two men. Do we continue to plunge this Nation deeper into national socialism-nationalization of industries i.e. banking, automotive, energy, healthcare, etc. or do we return to the Common Sense of Thomas Paine and our Founders? Can a nation of dependents, back-grabbers, and victims restore America's place in the world? Can we stand another four years of apologizing for being America? This is the most pivotal election of our lifetimes and perhaps as great as the election of 1860!
Are we a failed experiment in governance or just at a very low point in our history as a people? Will we allow the cancerous growth of Federal government to kill the body politic and the American Spirit? Will the Land of Opportunity be no longer because we no longer have the will to be self-determinate?
Stop. THink. Vote R&R this Nov. for your Country.
No I'm talking about the 47%, you said their were free loaders you also said that their families should take care of them
I read where Clinton said that democrats had created about twice as many jobs as republicans in 50 years. I have heard no denials and I believe it is true. No matter how stupid you think Obama and Biden are they did not get taped at a fundraiser for people paying $50,000 per plate saying that 47% of the people would not vote for him. That much would have been fine. Then he went on to point out their character flaws. Conservatives and liberals act they are from another planet and we will all be better off when they move back there. All of this tough talk gets tiring from people who obviously were not taken behind the woodshed enough when they were children.
You know I bet you don't even know who the 47% is do you?
Amazing politicospeak Biden. You're part of this Administration, so instead of whining about Romney identifying a large group of individuals that are on the government dole, why aren't you focusing your time, instead, getting these individuals back in the work force. Isn't that your job? That's the biggest problem with Democrats, instead of taking responsibillity, they blame everyone else for their shortcomings.
You know hot-daddy that it took 11 year to recover from the great depression, and they said that this was the worst since then
I think that the republicans had plain this all along, the the great recession of 2009 and the reaction from stupid voters like all you romneylikes out there, the guy is lying about everything even the news reporter are saying so
Christian,
The "news reporters"? Is that what your calling Obama's cheerleaders? News reporters?
if fact Romney is all-ready in the white house, and has been for the last four years and he hasn't crated any jobs
You know Romney wanted to shut down GM how many jobs would be lost if that were to happen
I find it disgusting that 47% of Americans pay no federal income tax. Does that mean that the other 53% are carrying their weight? I say no more free rides!!! If it's because they have no jobs, then let's get America back to work!!!!
Who are the 47%?
Superwealthy
3,000 taxpayers earning more than $2.2 million paid no federal income tax.
Doing Well
More than 20,000 taxpayers with gross income of more than $200,000 paid no income tax in 2009
Working hard
About three-fifths of the 47 percent are working and making less than $20,000 a year.
Red Staters
Eight of the ten states with the highest percentage of non-filers are solidly red.
Republican tax policies
5 million people off the tax rolls in 2004 due to the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.
Seniors
More than one-fifth of the 47 percent are senior citizens whose main source of earnings is Social Security.
College Kids
College students are a small yet significant chunk of the 47 percent. Most scholarships and financial aid are not taxable.
Combat Troops
Members of the military serving in combat zones do not have to pay federal income tax on their pay.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/charts-47-percent-romney-tax-data
Just curious but a lot was made about Romney's taxes in the past few months.
How much did Mr. Biden donate and also pay in taxes last year ?
How much did Mr. Reid donate and pay in taxes last year ?
I'd like to know before I vote.
RS-1363143
Biden would have donated more but he spends a lot on his Alzheimer's medication. That is when he can remember to buy it. When he made that speach about "Putting Yall Back in Chains" , he thought he was speaking at the SPCA Fund Raiser.
Deerhunter: Your comments made me think of a near nickname for Obama. Think about it:
Question: Mr. Obama, have you improved umemployment?
Obama: Well I was, but . . .
Question: Have you restored America's place in the world?
Obama: Well I was, but . . .
Question: Have you created a civil tone in Washington?
Obama: Well I was but . . .
OBAMA'S NEW NICKNAME: WASBUT
Biden is better than a bullet proof vest. The only thing that has kept Obama from a case of lead posioning is the fact that Biden would be in the drivers seat. Lord help us all.
Obama and his wife, Michelle, released tax returns earlier
this year showing they earned more than $4.2 million last year, about $4 million
of it from sales of Obama's two books, Dreams from My Father and The
Audacity of Hope.
The Obamas gave more than $240,000 to charity last year,
about 5.7% of their income, their tax return shows. Their charitable giving has
risen with their income; in 2000, when the couple made $240,726, they gave
$2,350 to charity, about 1% of their income.
President Obama and his wife, Michelle, gave nearly 22 percent of their income to charity in 2011, according to tax returns made public today.
Here's the link to the actual tax returns:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/president_obama_complete_return_2011.pdf
Romney is not a Man of the People.
Romney is a Man of the 1%.
Romney will send the 47% off to War in Iran when he nor any of his Five Sons will never wear a Uniform.
The Parents in the 47% will send their Children to War when Romney demands it and they will come home in Body Bags, but none of Mitts Five Sons will come home in Body Bags, they have more important things to do, they are the Chosen Ones...
More about that 47% comment? Wow, how much more evidence do you need that Obama Biden have nothing else to go with.
And please, man of the 1%? Obama spends more time with the super wealthy than Romney does. Romney donates millions to charity, Obama doesn't. Romney has been in business with people who make average wages, Obama never has. Quit being so fooled into thinking that Obama is there for us and Romney is only there for the rich. And your military comment is lame. How many presidents have had sons that serve in the military? Has Obama or anyone in his family served in the armed forces? It's a moot point, but again, one of the only things you guys have to hang on to.
Obama is running out the clock. They have tried their best to cover up the mess in the middle east. Every decision, and every meeting that does not relate directly to the campaign, has been put off until after the election. The only way to get near Obama during the next five weeks will be to appear on "The View."
I don't know why this man wants to be President. He hasn't done the job when he's had it.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/
Average of all National polls
Obama +3.8
Biden could screw up an empty parking lot! He is an idiot who works for the worst president in history! Dump them both for the sake of America!
Mitt Romney is not a Man of the People.
Mitt Romney is a Man of the 1%
He will send the 47% to War in Iran but his Sons will stay Home.
If Mitt Romney were allowed to, he would Flush 47% of Americans down the Toilet.
What are you talking about? After four years of Obama, we're already in the toilet!
Romney is the supper rich, and he dose not care about you!!!!!!
If Mitt Romney were allowed to, he would put 47% of Americans into Tree Shredders.
"ted & Chritian-american" go worship your Messiah Ni--r Obama.
I hope someone does a JFK on the "N"Obama.
Romney made more a lot more money in one year that Obama has in his working career And he says that some must suffer for people like him to have things, and that's probably your $20 dallars an hour broke-person that he's talking about
Ok, I admit it. The election is over. Madonna has endorsed Obama. Did you know that we have a black muslim in the White House? Madonna does.
What a skank.
Well you hope that someone dose JFK on Obama - I hope that doesn't happen to either of the candidate my friend what I terrible thing to say if all you Romneylikes think like that, then I for us all that Obama gets re-elected to end the war
Obama is not a muslin he is a christian
If Obama, you & the Obama media keep telling us then it must be true.