The anatomy of a quote
“There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it — that that’s an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. … These are people who pay no income tax. … [M]y job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.”
Governor Mitt Romney, 2012 Presidential Candidate.
This election year has been all about numbers. We had the Occupy Movement where the 99% stood up to the 1%. Polling numbers bounce up and down. Battleground states pop points back and forth. Now the American people are introduced to another number, 47%.
During a private $50,000 per plate fundraiser, presidential nominee Mitt Romney made some controversial remarks about 47% of Americans. He also made uncomfortable statements about Mexicans and flip-flops on whether he inherited his money or if he earned it.
Many people believe that the quote was given in a colloquial manner … seemingly good natured and not intended for offense. However, it was a bit naïve of him to consider that his race or lineage would alter the Latino vote assuming that all other aspects of Romney would stay the same. His beliefs, policies, etc. on immigration laws wouldn’t change.
Most people want to know where Romney got the numbers. Is it true that 47% of Americans “rely on the government?” Is it true that almost half the people of the United States believe they are “victims?” Do 47% of Americans think that they are entitled healthcare, food, and housing?
Others think this quote happened at a very bad time for Romney and should cost him the election.
“I don’t want to worry about (them)” in context of winning their vote was permissible, but to say that all the Obama voters, or all people on welfare or similar programs are lazy and think that the government needs to take care of them. That’s the part that is unforgivable.
Romney’s only consistency is the consistent flip-flop.
“I was born with a silver spoon.”
“Well, Ann and I didn’t use the inheritance, we gave it away…we earned everything the old fashioned way.”
Mr. Romney, you had the silver spoon. What a person can do with a silver spoon in their mouth at an early age is going to be much different than the hard-knocks life guy who wins the “lottery” of inheritance. Your father earned it all the old-fashioned way. And he earned it by first having the opportunities you claim to be “crutches.”
How can you write half of America off so easily? That silver spoon sure did a lot for your perception.
