Rob Long · September 18, 2012 at 7:34pm

Mitt Romney and the Gallup Organization agree:  Obama's got the 47%:

Untitled 2

A thought: this is where we find out just how much like 1980 this election is going to be.  If you'll recall, Reagan was pretty tough about "welfare queens."  He was insensitive and dismissive and he was going to turn a lot of voters off.

But he didn't back down.

And while it's true that a lot of Americans who do not pay federal taxes are students or the elderly,  I'm willing to bet that they understand exactly what Mitt Romney was getting at.

If he doesn't back down.

Comments:


Pseudodionysius
Joined
Sep '10
Pseudodionysius

Don't go wobbly, boys and girls.

Sleep Viking
Joined
Jun '12
Sleep Viking

He needs to come out with his "eloquent" explanation and do so effectively and quickly. The media is having a field day with this.

DocJay
Joined
Jul '11
DocJay

That's a big if.  Romney needs to be a man and say he stands behind his statement.

  "If you believe in an America that can work then you should vote for me".

"If you want the government to run your lives then vote for him".

Capt. Aubrey
Joined
Sep '10
Capt. Aubrey

One of the imbecile talking heads - maybe it was Joe Scarborogh - intimated that lots of moderate, undecided voters would be turned off by this horriffic insensitivity. I dare say there are as many if not more who find it nothing more than a truism and not offensive to anyone but the professionally offended. Maybe that group is a majority now but I refuse to believe it until I see it.

Joseph Eagar
Joined
Oct '10
Joseph Eagar

I must admit, I have a hard time taking the media furor of the past few days seriously.  Really, Bill Kristol?  I don't think anyone is paying any attention to the apoplexy of media elites.

DocJay
Joined
Jul '11
DocJay
Sleep Viking: He needs to come out with his "eloquent" explanation and do so effectively and quickly. The media is having a field day with this. · 0 minutes ago

One more thing.  

"Those who say I am unconcerned about 47% of the voting public are lying to cover up for their president's embarrassing job performance".

He needs to use the word liars every chance he gets. 

Valiuth
Joined
Apr '11
Valiuth

I'm a student. I pay taxes. 8% of my income goes to the federal government and another 3% goes to the state of Illinois...I see it deducted from my check every month. 

Steven M.
Joined
Aug '12
Steven M.

Backing down will only make his statements look worse politically. 

More importantly, the statistics of those who are dependent on the government won't change, unless people tell the truth about what is happening.

Romney needs to explain his stance about this, and everything else for that matter.  Circulate it on youtube.  Send the video links to his supporters.  Encourage people to post on facebook and email their friends.   Subvert the media. 

On a personal basis, this is a great opportunity. If you hear someone talking in a derogatory way about Romney's statements, ask them what is actually wrong with what he said. Dismantle the spin that the media has put on this. 

Edited on September 18, 2012 at 8:09pm
BrentB67
Joined
May '12
BrentB67

Backing down doesn't win any support or respect from the left and only make the right less enthusiastic.

I don't think it is possible for Gov. Romeny to be over the top conservative.

Crow's Nest
Joined
Mar '11
Crow's Nest

That piece of rhetoric may play well in the room that he was seeking donors, but as Jonah, as many others, details

1) There are numerous reasons, the child tax credit highest among them, that this is the case. The idea that it is only dependency programs is wrong.

2) There are weak Obama voters, in addition to undecideds, that are going to have to swing Romney to win in November. Does this help or hurt?

Romney has to own the comment, he's going to be tarred with it either way. See John O'Sullivan's response as a way he can clarify and make the part of the wider point on which he's on solid ground, without abandoning half the electorate....

Mel Foil
Joined
Jun '10
Mel Foil

I think any of the 47% that are offended by Romney's moment of candor, were already offended. I don't think Romney lost anything that wasn't already lost.

Douglas
Joined
Mar '11
Douglas

DocJay: That's a big if.  Romney needs to be a man and say he stands behind his statement.

  "If you believe in an America that can work then you should vote for me".

"If you want the government to run your lives then vote for him". · 46 minutes ago

Amen, Amen, and Amen.

Butters
Joined
May '11
Ningrim

Forget the polls, early voting has started in NC and the data is rolling in:

http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2012.html

http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2008.html 

D (2012/2008/2004):  43.3%/51.4%/48.6%

R(2012/2008/2004): 38.8%/30.2%/37.4%

Huge improvement from 2008 and better than 2004.

In the coming week we will start to see early voter data from places like Michigan and Wisconsin. 

http://reed.edu/earlyvoting/calendar/ 

Edited on September 19, 2012 at 11:43am
dittoheadadt
Joined
Oct '10
dittoheadadt

Backing down would be roughly analogous to the Obama administration's words and actions in response to the Egypt and Libya attacks.

Albert Arthur
Joined
Oct '11
Albert Arthur

DocJay: That's a big if.  Romney needs to be a man and say he stands behind his statement.

  "If you believe in an America that can work then you should vote for me".

"If you want the government to run your lives then vote for him". · 2 hours ago

Luckily, that is what he's been saying for over a year.

Rob Long

Ningrim: Forget the polls, early voting has started in NC and the data is rolling in:

http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2012.html

http://elections.gmu.edu/early_vote_2008.html 

D (2012/2008/2004):  43.3%/51.4%/48.6%

R(2012/2008/2004): 38.8%/30.2%/37.4%

Huge improvement from 2008 and better than 2004.

In the coming week we will start to see early voter data from places like Michigan and Wisconsin. 

http://reed.edu/earlyvoting/calendar/  · 1 hour ago

This is cool!  Keep coming with this info, love it!  Thanks...

Rob Long
Valiuth: I'm a student. I pay taxes. 8% of my income goes to the federal government and another 3% goes to the state of Illinois...I see it deducted from my check every month.  · 2 hours ago

Good point.

Doc Stephens
Joined
Aug '10
Doc Stephens

Rob:  Gallup is registered voters.  It is a seven-day tracking poll, and they oversample Democrats.  Don't believe it! Rasmussen is a three-day tracking poll of likely voters and is historically among the most accurate.  The Governor has been leading in the Rasmussen Poll for 6 days straight by an average of 2 points.

Furthermore, if you define "bounce" by comparing the average tracking poll numbers for two weeks before to one week following  a convention, then Governor Romney had a greater bounce, 1.94 points compared to 1.55. 

Finally, if you look at the trend lines following the convention, Romney has a positive slope while Obama has a negative slope.  Romney has been in the lead in these states for three straight days.  It's close, but he's leading.

The polls being reported on ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR, and CNN all over sample Democrats, some by a very large margin.  Their reporting is strategic.  Don't repeat what they report, you just perpetuate the false story. 

The media (aka Court of Eunuchs) are panicking.  The more they distort, the more it means we're winning.

Doc Stephens
Joined
Aug '10
Doc Stephens

Doc Stephens: Rob:  

Finally, if you look at the trend lines following the convention, Romney has a positive slope while Obama has a negative slope.  Romney has been in the lead in these states for three straight days.  It's close, but he's leading.

This describes the Rasmussen tracking polls in the swing states.

Doc Stephens
Joined
Aug '10
Doc Stephens

By the way, I'm "elderly" and receive Medicare and Social Security and I loved what the Governor said.  I do pay lots of taxes though!  Lots of taxes!


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