OBAMA To ROMNEY: 'It's hard to serve as president for all-when you’ve written off 1/2 the nation'

[kpete]

Obama campaign manager Jim Messina releases a statement on the newly surfaced video of Mitt Romney telling wealthy campaign donors that nearly half of all Americans are worthless freeloading moochers who don't pay any taxes:

It's shocking that a candidate for President of the United States would go behind closed doors and declare to a group of wealthy donors that half the American people view themselves as ‘victims,’ entitled to handouts, and are unwilling to take ‘personal responsibility’ for their lives. It’s hard to serve as president for all Americans when you’ve disdainfully written off half the nation.

MORE:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/17/1132918/-Obama-campaign-says-Romney-has-disdainfully-written-off-half-the-nation
VIDEO AND MORE HERE:
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/secret-video-romney-private-fundraiser
TAX POLICY SHOWING MITTENS IS A HEARTLESS FOOL:
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxtopics/federal-taxes-households.cfm

[hollysmom]

1. vile disgusting little bully.

I wish I believed in reincarnation. I want him reincarnated in some horrible place as a slave. Maybe a sex slave, n ot sure, but not a good life.

[Kookaburra]

7. Robots can't be reincarnated

He needs to be reprogrammed.

[treestar]

45. Born to a very poor family

[Wednesdays]

99. Surrounded by filthy rich people who do nothing but sneer at him

Perfect karma.

[EdwardKingSolomon]

46. A Disgrace that is Representative of the Entire Wealty Elite of this Nation.

The time shall soon come, when the hard working man can no longer feed his family, his children deprived the opportunity to higher education, the social order stagnate, and an era of American Aristocracy takes reign; however, this reign will be short-lived, as history will repeat itself once again:



Bring forward the wicked and cruel, and allow the Guillotine bestow its divine wisdom upon them, for they shall be judged fairly.

[Hotler]

56. Kicking just for this post right here. n/t

[lastlib]

65. .

hear, hear!!

[chemenger]

89. Ignorance and Want

Charles Dickens warned us:

'They are Man's,' said the Spirit, looking down upon
them. 'And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers.
This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both,
and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy,
for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the
writing be erased. Deny it.' cried the Spirit, stretching out
its hand towards the city. 'Slander those who tell it ye.
Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse.
And abide the end.'

IMHO this summarizes perfectly the destructive path that Republicans would take us down. If they continue on this path it will bite them right on their asses one day. Unfortunately, it will bite us on ours also unless we stop them.

[Scootaloo]

69. Don't wish that...

That's a wish for such slavery to exist in the future.

Wish for him to be... hmmm. A lung fluke. Dude's already a vile, destructive parasite, might as well make the outward appearance match the in!

[grasswire]

76. yechhhhhhh n/t

[Lisa D]

2. I can't wait to see Romney

try to backtrack on this one. My guess is he'll go with the "taken out of context" excuse.

[tavalon]

72. Nope

He doubled down.

I can't figure out if he has a really stupid campaign team or if he chooses not to listen to the hired help.

He should not have, under any circumstance, done a press conference and yet, he did. It's painful to watch him bluster through and defend, yes, defend, the indefensible. Amazingly stupid move.

Game. Set. Match.

[loyalsister]

77. I am reminded of the last season of the West Wing

Both candidates go off their scripts and America responds proving their handlers wrong and it results in a happy ending.
I can't imagine any kind of experienced campaign consultant giving him the go ahead on this rhetoric. Remember when Obama got caught dissing guns at a private fund raiser?
I think he's probably accidently or obstinately saying what he thinks.

[JHB]

84. I, for one, would like to be the bartender for his team...

...or at least their liquor dealer.


I get the impression they get by with a lot of help from Jack Daniels.

[nc4bo]

3. oooh that didn't take very long at all LOL!

That video/audio is pretty damning.....if I don't say so myself.

[C_U_L8R]

4. Bye bye Mitt

He's got some fast talk explaining to do.
Gotta go refresh the popcorn supply for this one.

[Left Coast2020]

78. Its Over!!!

Wonder what middle America's reaction is to this? I'll check GMA or Today to find out in morning. Curious.

[ReasonableToo]

86. New rating

Politifact rates Pres. Obama "mostly false" because 47 not equal to 50.

[tk2kewl]

5. K&R

[JohnA1]

6. Fantastic!

Yeah baby! I'm glad they are jumping on this video so fast. Hopefully it gets all the attention in the media it deserves and helps stick that shiv in Romney a little deeper.

They need to make an ad with some of that video and let people see what that dirtbag really thinks of everyone but the entitled.

[catbyte]

8. Ouch, LOL. I can't wait until the next debate

[tavalon]

74. Next debate?

Uh, oh, did I miss one?

[JohnA1]

9. What a cretin......

Hes running for President of the UNITED states, not president of the RICH!

Forward!

[TheCowsCameHome]

10. Rmoney and Cheney must've been born with a siamese heart.

A pox on both of these evil bastards.

[BeyondGeography]

11. Political fish in a barrel

This is getting too easy.

[Kadie]

12. K&R

Great statement by the Obama campaign.

[loyalsister]

105. I look forward to hearing Obama himself on this

It seems like this kind of elitist stuff really pisses him off.

[Speck Tater]

13. This campaign just keeps getting better and better! nt

[zonkers]

23. Romney is so fucked! It is delicious. And

the Republican Party picked him. They are toast. First Palin. Now Rmoney/Ryan. Back to back clowns. They are a joke of a party. I love the campaign Obama's running. It's so measured. And reactive. Just amazing. I'd love to be in his war room.

[tavalon]

73. It's measured and active, not reactive.

Romney is the reactive one.

[zonkers]

80. You are right. I actually meant to say "responsive" but

you are absolutely right -- they are active.

[LonePirate]

14. Technically Rmoney would only be President for the top 1% after writing off the bottom 99%

[WillyT]

15. HUGE K & R !!!

[Bake]

16. Stick a fork in Mittens ... he's done.

Is there anybody left he HASN'T pissed off??? I heard Sheldon Adelson was even pissed at him!

Bake

[AzDar]

17. Let's make it a b-b-b- Blowout!!

Ruck Fomney!

[randome]

20. How about this scenario?

Could it actually get so bad that Obama will sweep the election? By that I mean ALL 50 states' electoral votes go to him?

[Harry Monroe]

22. I wish, but I sincerely doubt it...

...there are people who are voting for Rmoney no matter what he may say or do. Especially down here in the South. He could be Adolph Hitler reincarnated and Obama could be Jesus Christ himself and they would still vote for him. I wish there was a sensible and complex answer to this, but there isn't. The hate I see down here for Obama, for those who are against him, is simply rabid. There is no other explanation than Obama haters are pissed that there's a "nigger in charge". Sorry to phrase it like that, but they are outraged that there is a black man in charge. That is what it really boils down to. Oh, they'll tell you other reasons and all the stock Fox News talking points about why Obama is so bad. But if you actually confront them and try to get an intelligent answer from them, it is futile.

[randome]

29. Thanks for the considerate response!

[johnlucas]

58. You're exactly right, Harry Monroe

I also live in the South & I'm Black on top of that.
I know this INSTINCTUALLY. Knowing & sensing racist attitudes is like our Gaydar. It's part of every Black's upbringing.

It's a case of PWB.
Presiding While Black.
Nothing more, nothing less.
John Lucas

[Flatulo]

92. It's not just the deep south, sadly.

I'm in Massachusetts and you wouldn't believe the racist shit I hear in my travels. Oh they clean it up a bit and refrain from using the 'n' word, but the racism is there.

Because I dress like a bum, people mistake me for a blue collar guy and give me the old nudge nudge wink wink because we white guys are all in a secret club, and they let down their guard and then the true feelings come out.

Hopefully this is the last generation of hate; my son and his friends are all in multiracial crews. They even have an openly gay friend. These things just aren't an issue for them.

[johnlucas]

109. It's not the last generation of hate. But that hatred will be in decline soon.

It's better in some ways than it used to be but it's worse in some ways because it gives some folks the false security that all of that ugliness is in the past.

It's gonna be with us for some time.
Different levels of it. Mild to Severe.
The whole country was built off of putting 'White' above all others.

But with more exposure & more push for equality, that view will get weaker & weaker each generation.
But the ones with that White supremacist view will teach it to their young & the tradition will spread to their new generations too.

It's a matter of who takes control of the national thought first.
What is acceptable & what is not.

Try hundreds of years, Flatulo.
John Lucas

[Flatulo]

110. Every little victory is a step forward.

But you're right; it is in the hands of the parents. Children come into the world color blind.

[loyalsister]

49. That's a high bar

But it would be delicious!

[Whovian]

18. This man has no ties to reality.

[Douglas Carpenter]

19. a story the whole country and the whole world needs to hear

[randome]

21. Uh, let's not embarrass ourselves TOO much with the rest of the world.

Romney is like the loud-mouthed brother-in-law you admit to only at family gatherings.

[RickFromMN]

24. I suspect a number of Republicans actually believe half the country are freeloaders.

sarcasm on....
Of course no Republican could be a freeloader.
sarcasm off....

[Stryder]

51. Thanks,

Haven't found the little sarcasm thingy button yet.
Mind if I go with sarc on...Sarc off...
Actually, maybe some clever DUer could design some
"sarcasm quotation marks"

That said. I can't fathom how this isn't the TOASTED! moment
for Romney.But they gotta keep it a horse race.
So stay tuned dear viewer.
This spin is liable to spit the planet out of orbit.

[BarackTheVote]

62. The last botton between "reply title" and "message text" is "smiles"

click that... a bunch of emoticons will pop up. After the last one (:thumbsup , there's a button that says "..."; click that. The sarcasm graphic will be the first one of the batch the "..." button brings up. Or... it's code is "sarcasm" with colons instead of quotations. Hope that helps!

[jeff47]

96. :sarcasm:

That's a colon on either side of sarcasm. (It doesn't work in titles, so you can see it there)

Results in

[jsr]

25. No kidding

[Indpndnt]

26. I love, love, LOVE that the Obama campaign already responded to this!

[sky imager]

27. Mitt Romney is a corporation impersonating a human being and he quite can't pull it off

[askyeshua]

28. Can't Wait to See Obama Mock Him on This in a Stump Speech n/t

[nolabear]

30. He's talking about US, Ethel!

Yes he is, Grandpa. Yes he is.

[malaise]

31. WilLIARd Rmoney has no core

It's true - fucking blind ambition.
He will never be President.


If 47% of the population are moochers and only 12% are African American - he's publicly dissing the poor white people of America.

Fuck that fucking ReTHUG scumbag.

[Major Nikon]

32. Freeloading moochers

Most of them are old people on social security. The same group that Rmoney enjoys a 60/40% advantage with.

So most of those he calls freeloading moochers are predominately voting for him, not Obama.

[Beartracks]

33. Nonsense, he'd be President for ALL citizens...

... if you define "citizen" as "person with at least an 8-figure income." (And don't forget, kids: "persons" includes corporations!)

=====================================

[ThoughtCriminal]

34. Hey Romney. Prove to us that YOU paid taxes.

Not willing to do that? STFU!

[Voice for Peace]

61. YES! this is a very good time to bring that up.

[sarge43]

83. Yup. That was falling off the radar

This will bring it right back to dead center. So Mitter, how much have you kicked in? That write off for the dancing horse was ten times more than I pay in annual income tax.

[Liberalynn]

36. You tell him Mr. President

[bucolic_frolic]

37. Survival-of-the-fittest Social Darwinism On Parade

It just doesn't get any better than this.

What happened to all those "self-made" billionaires?

How did they make so much money if half of America
wasn't contributing to the economy?

Oh! I get it! Those billionaires must have REALLY been
ALPHA Super-humans anointed by GOD himself, don'cha think?

And MITT, Mr. MITT, Bain Capital Superstar, he must be WAY UP
there at the head of the pack!!

Let's not let them know that we've figured them out. We would like
them to just keep PATTING THEMSELVES ON THE BACK from now through
Election Day!

[treestar]

48. That's a pretty good point

47% is pretty high. If we got our just "desserts" and didn't have the government "supporting" us, we'd die or at least not have money to buy their products, and it would drag another large % down.

[humbled_opinion]

38. Well the Teaheads...

at my job are happy this video surfaced their take is it opens up this debate on government entitlement and will expose democrats as the party of bribing the electorate with benefits that they simply cannot pay for.... Not addressing the fiscal problems that this country faces that will take serious cuts to government programs to fix will mean an end to many of those same benefits through austerity, they point to Greece as the model of what happens when we over promise benefits and face economic downturns.
They argue that taxing the rich cannot pay for all the free giveaways, stimulus, grants, deficits in SS and Medicare, welfare, etc, etc, and that the rich have the means to move their money and pass costs on to consumers (middleclass) for increased taxation.

I get hit with this crap everyday so I am pretty much worn out trying to explain a balanced approach, the President can do a much better job then me, but look for this to be a key debate topic.

[ProfessorGAC]

54. Don't Explain. Very Simple Answer

"You can't really be this dense. You would be dumb to have a job otherwise. You're just being selfish."
End of discussion.
You can explain anything to people that willfully ignorant.

[mac56]

90. This.

Right on, Professor.

[JDPriestly]

70. I went to the senior citizen's center near my home for a lunch and discovered that most

of the seniors who were getting a subsidized meal were Republicans.

The people who rely on government money for their subsistence are to a surprising extent Republicans. In the unlikely event that Romney should be elected, these impoverished Reagan Republicans are in for a shock.

[Skittles]

71. were they white?

a lot of white republicans really see "handouts" as only received by, you know, "THOSE PEOPLE"

[Wednesdays]

100. Extremely unlikely they were NOT white

Remember, Romney is polling ZERO percent among African-Americans.

[JDPriestly]

107. Mixed.

[Skittles]

108. now now, JD

I've been informed that there are only white folk and African Americans - it's all black and white, you know

[newspeak]

93. the teahead, randians are either sociopaths or totally clueless

what they don't realize is those "screw you, I got mine" randians don't want to help those who have been harmed by their own damn policies while further enriching those who already have enough at our expense. they scream too much government, can't help those we've helped destroy; however, they are more than willing to funnel more and more of our money into programs to control us, like homeland security. the more of the social safety net they want to take away, the more they have to control the plebes. and that's what the teaheads don't get or they just are so controlled by authority, they fall in line.

why would anyone, especially with the lack of DECENT jobs today, want to see whole families starving on the streets? I mean you'd really have to be a heartless arsehole to want something like that. or see the elderly, the disabled dying.

they've drank the kool aid for so long, listening to the becks and limpballs of the world, that, like zombies, they repeat every spiteful, sociopathic thing from their masters. and if they ever find themselves in a position of vulnerability, they'll just take it-it's their fault that the company shipped those jobs overseas, it's their fault that the company got rid of the union, it's their fault they lost their home because they couldn't pay, it's their fault that the children got sick from eating tainted meat and it's their fault that the company poisoned the water. because, predatory capitalism weeds out the weak from the strong and that's all that matters to them.

[jeff47]

97. Ask them why they hate Ronald Reagan.

He pushed through the EITC, which is one of the larger reasons that 47% pays 0 income tax.

The other major reason is called "the elderly". So you could ask 'em how much they want to raise taxes on their parents.

[Robert Nagiel]

111. Why hate Reagan? Let me count the ways!

Ronald Reagan is the reason this country has lost its soul over the last 30 years. He is still the real leader of the g.o.p., even though he has been Purina worm chow for the last 8 years or so. Willard is unpopular in his own party because they know he didn't drink the Reagan kool aid, despite his recent comments, which reveal the same pejorative, dismissive attitude toward anyone who doesn't fit his narrow little world view the gipper made famous.
Reagan could have rid both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. of all nuclear weapons, but REFUSED! He fired All of our air-trafic controlers. He emptied the mental hospitals, putting thousands of helpless people out oon the streets. He gave tax cuts to the rich,but never raised the minimum wage in 8 years. He fed ketchup to poor children and called it a vegetable. He made it alright to be racist again. In 1980, the k.k.k. said his party platform could have been written by a klansman. And, perhaps, worst of all, he spawned a callous, arrogant, culture where the strong lord over the weak. And the guys with the guns and the bombs do what ever they want,unquestioned. Reagan built the broken country we still live in today!

[donqpublic]

39. I don't trust them...

as real as it sounds in voice and commentary, I am always concerned about them pulling a Rather. I repeat, it sounds like him and is exactly what I would expect him to say.

[beac]

68. Don't worry. Mittwit already admitted it's genuine:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021365748

[bluecoat_fan]

40. bam!

[liberallibral]

41. Mitt The Twit....

'nuff said!!!

[underpants]

42. He shouldn't talk about Alabama like that

http://www.city-data.com/states/Alabama-Social-welfare.html

[sulphurdunn]

43. There is a looming

unanswered question regarding how much this rich, pampered freeloader pays in federal income tax himself.

[jimlup]

44. Romney is toast

[part man all 86]

50. We all pay federal income tax if you work.

It comes out of our checks every payday. The government keeps it for as much as a year before giving it back if you qualify without interest. So some of us get it down to 0 and others get down to the lowest that they can, shows how intelligent we are to know the tax codes. We all pay federal income taxes and the government pays no interest on the money used when returned, that is a civil duty.

[IDemo]

52. Romney for DNC chair

He's hard to beat for drumming up votes for our side!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

53. Touche'

[lumpy]

55. I am one of those who doesn't pay taxes anymore cause I am of an age, on Social Security.

Romney includes me in his phony figures and I heartily resent him saying that I feel I'm a victim after paying into the plan and paying my Fair Share of taxes during my working career. He dosn't know a damn thing about this government or he is just a mean SOB, probably both. He has really exposed his true self once and for all. Yes, he is an ignorant, unAmerican, mean SOB.

[Canuckistanian]

57. No fucking kidding

I'm so SICK of this "taking personal responsibility" BULLSHIT

People fucking WANT to work, but they CAN'T, because there ARE NO FUCKING JOBS.

Is this fucking 3-dimensional fucking chess to these pampered, powdered fucking 1%... no ZERO POINT ONE PERCENT assholes who fucking get to to decide how we get to live our lives?

Fucking A to Obama. He gets it.

[oldsarge54]

59. Why Not, Mitt

It IS what your supporters have been telling us on yahoo for a couple of years. Nice to know you represent YOUR base, the Elite Nattering Nabobs of negativity. Take that Spiro, it's not the media, it your party.

[The Old Creak]

60. Obama himself

didn't say it. Important point. There's class, then there's Romney.
I look forward to the debates.

[pepperbear]

63. That took precisely 10 seconds.

bravo.

[DallasNE]

64. Romney To 47%, You People Drop Dead

No wonder Romney's staffers have been having so much trouble with the campaign. They have an empty suit for a candidate. And not just that but one that is terribly flawed as an individual. When Nixon was having problems connecting with people he decided to engage some war protesters and Nixon wanted to talk about college football. Well, Romney now looks like the second coming of Richard Nixon.

[lastlib]

66. Romney/Ryan: Nixon/Agnew with better hairdos.

Nixon: secret plan to end the war (we all KNOW how well THAT turned out....)

Romney: SECRET plan to end the deficit. Does anybody REALLY think that's what he wants to do????

No, he just wants to fuck up the "entitlement" programs so they don't help anybody, then privatize them all so he and his rich friends can pick the bones clean, like the vultures they are.

[harun]

85. Accurate comparison. Well put.

[Jamaal510]

67. I have to give thanks to Romney for what he said today;

He is clearly doing his best to piss off the left and to get us to come to the polls with all his asinine comments. Obama shouldn't have much problem with voter turnout now.

[Cha]

75. It's like Eastwood talking to The Chair..and

a made up version of Pres Obama. Mitt is making up who PBO's supporters are. Revenge of the TAX PAYERS!!

Like Revenge of The Chair!

[King_Klonopin]

79. Breath-taking in it's condescension

Good Gawd - These folks are sooooo skilled at giving words special meanings
that usually imply bigotry, hatred, and a not-so-subtle hidden code that completely distorts
and perverts a word's true meaning and/or intent.

This one is the most enraging; "ENTITLEMENT"

Special meanings: poor folk, welfare queens, black folk, moocher class, dead-beats,
phony victims, your money being given to bad people, undeserved,
unearned, selfish, bad attitude, hand-out, freebie, panhandler

Count me as one of the 47%, Mitty (where did you get that figure, anyway?)

I have been in the work force since 1977
I have never received govt. assistance in terms of unemployment insurance, Social Security, etc.
I have been CONTRIBUTING to our "welfare" system (morally responsible safety net, to me) ever since.
I put myself through school with help from employees and Pell grants (until Reagan nixed them, that is)
I make $100K/year and pay a higher tax rate than you do.
I am not "urban", as if that makes any difference.

BUT when I come of age for SS, Medicare, etc. I expect my money to be RETURNED TO ME,
because it was MY MONEY that I CONTRIBUTED into this system for over 35+ years (thus far) as a
PARTICIPANT-PAYED BENEFIT. It is not a "freebie" to the majority of us 47%. It's a benefit we paid for.

For those who receive benefits (i.e. hand-outs to you) due to disability, unemployment, etc.
I am GLAD these benefits exist to provide a floor beneath them (and me, potentially) people such as my siblings
and parents, and the poor who "don't pay any taxes" and are living large .... on $20K/year and food stamps.
Those wretched moochers, every one of 'em!

Don't worry Mitt; No one is taking the blood- money from your pockets. We deposited our own money.

BTW, go fuck yourself -- you twisted and truly entitled creep.

[PossumSqueezins]

81. If only the disgusting poor people no longer existed.....then it would be all rich people!!!!

And Ann Romney would have to bake bread and sell it door to door for $30K a loaf and Mittens would have to take a job as a groundskeeper for Bill Gates for $4000 an hour.

[mimi85]

82. And His Hair

wasn't perfect tonight. Apologies to the late, great Warren Zevon.

[Walk away]

87. Great news! Romney is voting for Obama!!!!!

Mitt didn't pay taxes from 1999 to 2009. That 10 years of no taxes!

He's talking about himself!!!!

[Mr Dixon]

88. GOOD POINT

Body blow, KOCKOUT

[allan01]

91. re:OBAMA To ROMNEY: 'It's hard to serve as president for all-when you’ve written off 1/2 the nation'

a clear cut case with foot in mouth , mouth engaged before brain .

[sarge43]

94. No, don't think this was a verbal faux pas

He spoke his mind{sic}. That is what he believes, that children should go hungry before they're given food paid for by taxes.

[Blue_Tires]

95. game...set...match....

[Liberal_Dog]

98. K & R

[SpankMe]

101. Repubs will just tighten security at private events

If this was 2 weeks before the election I'd say Romney is done. But, there's still a lot of time left for the conservative super-PACs to buzz the airwaves with their billion$ and influence the flaky independents.

The results of this episode aren't that conservatives will be weakened or that they'll become less bigoted, more open-minded dirt bags. All it will do is cause the cons to tighten up security at private events and make it harder to catch them in the act of becoming dirt bags.

[valerief]

102. Hey, Mitch!

[Berlum]

103. Ptoooey on the Republican Socialist Handout for the Rich Cabal

Ptoooey

[felix_numinous]

104. But....Romney represents 100% of these people!!

MITT ROMNEY (R)
Top Contributors

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http://www.opensecrets.org/pres12/contrib.php?id=N00000286

[Tommy_Carcetti]

106. He then said, "Good night everybody!" and walked out the door.