AP
The week started with a damaging account of the reported struggles among the inner circle of Team Romney, which the candidate brushed off as a "process story." This followed the fallout from Governor Mitt Romney's controversial response to the attack in Libya that left Ambassador Chris Stevens and 3 other Americans dead. Now Governor Romney remains on defense, responding to private comments that were recorded surreptitiously at a fundraiser in Boca Raton this May.
According to a recording first obtained by Mother Jones and later by NBC News, Governor Romney was asked by a questioner how he was going to convince voters that they need to take care of themselves. Governor Romney responded:
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.
The Governor added:
My job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives. What I have to do is convince the 5-10 percent of people who are independents, that are thoughtful, that look at voting one way or the other depending upon, in some cases, emotion, whether they like the guy or not.
The fallout from the surprise release yesterday triggered Governor Romney to call an unscheduled press conference in California last night, where he admitted his words were "not elegantly stated" but stopped short of disavowing his remarks at the private fundraiser.
At a fundraiser you have people say, "Governor, how are you going to win this?" And so I respond well, the president has his group, I have my group. I want to keep my team strong and motivated and I want to get those people in the middle, that’s something which fundraising people who are parting with their monies are very interested in knowing: can you win or not and that’s what this was addressing.
It's too soon to know the impact of this story, but with 49 days until election day, the stakes are high. We'll discuss it all at noon ET on NOW. In the meantime, let us know what you think.
PANEL
John Heilemann, National Affairs Editor, New York Magazine/msnbc Political Analyst (@jheil)
Glenn Thrush, Sr. White House Reporter, POLITICO (@glennthrush)
Karen Finney, Fmr. DNC Communications Director/msnbc Political Analyst (@finneyk)
Ari Melber, The Nation/msnbc Contributor (@arimelber)
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A Story from the American Middle Class
I would like to tell you the story of my friend Sam. Sam was born in the 1920’s. Having lived through the Great Depression as a boy, he helped his parents as did his other 8 siblings to make ends meet. Sam learned to be frugal and practical from his experience, he saved money and never ever wasted.
Sam married his High School sweetheart; he enlisted in the United States Army and was sent to fight in the Korea. When he returned, he had a son. To make sure he could care for his family he re-enlisted in to the United States Air-force and then was blessed with a Daughter. All was well and life was good for the new family. Sam worked hard, they struggled, but they were happy and life was promising. In the mid-60’s, Sam already in his 30’s was sent to Vietnam, where he “SERVED” his Country bravely.
While Sam was serving in Vietnam, some like Mitt Romney were receiving deferments, to do things like go on Mormon Missions in Paris, France. But not Sam, he was overseas serving the Country that he loved, leaving his family behind. Unfortunately, Sam did not make it back without consequence. He came back a Disable American Veteran.
For almost six months the military did not disclose what had happened to Sam, Sam’s wife, tried to find out…On day the Military Pastor took it into his own hands and said, he is in Wichita Falls, but will only be there for one day they are sending him to a hospital in California. Sam’s wife packed her two little children and went to Wichita Falls, by herself and she missed him, he has already been shipped out.
She never gave up on the love of her life, she packed those children up and she drove from Texas, to California all by herself and she found him.
Let me jump ahead a little to my point. Sam was released on full retirement after quite a few years. Sam’s wife worked two jobs to make ends meet. She took care are Sam but Sam never gave up. He went to college on the GI BILL and became an accountant. He could now take care of his family and again the future looked promising. Because the United Stated Military and the United Stated Government; did their part.
Sam and his family had a wonderful life, but Vietnam caught up with him and in his late 40’s could no longer work. His son in his last year of College, with bills piling up, his mother again work two jobs to make the families dreams come true.
His Son finished College and went on to become an executive not a Wall Street Brokerage but at the American Red Cross, Bio-Medical Services a NOT-FOR-PROFIT to give back for all that had been done for his father and his family. For this family that was SUCCESS.
Sam is now in his 80’s, he lives on Social Security and is with his son. His wonderful wife long gone……IS THIS THE MAN THAT MITT ROMNEY is referring too when he said this, “ 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government”?
Sam did his part and he served his Country and yes he is supporting President Obama, but how dare Mitt Romney look down on Sam, Sam served his Country. What has Mitt Romney done so far but LIE to us and LOOK DOWN ON US.
The whole notion of Makers vs. Takers is actually precisely the opposite of what the Republicans would have you think. The real makers are the working poor, making your hamburger, making your hotel room bed, trying to make a comfortable life for themselves. The Takers are the Wall Street elite who are willing to treat other peoples hard earned life savings like their own casino, taking advantage of tax loopholes, off shore bank accounts. Keeping the minimum wage low so they line their pockets. It is a story as old as the United States of America.
Just an editing note. That map we keep seeing on the states with the most and least citizens who don't pay income taxes, that's LEAST, not LEASE. Did anyone else notice this?
There are plenty of people that are part of that 47% but don't see themselves as such. When the Rs use these kinds of terms these people see some other segment of the population that they don't like. I recently had to explain to someone that was in support of a flat tax that their taxes would go up. They just didn't get it. But blaming someone else as the problem is always easy.
Fewer than 10% of American households pay no federal taxes. To say otherwise is an old GOP faux talking point. Many of these folks are our military and the elderly and some 7000 millionaires that have contrived ways to avoid taxes completely. Ironically, by slamming these 47%, he was attacking his base. The only demographic he is still winning is the elderly and he just named them lazy leeches on society.