Unfortunate that only a small portion of what Romney said went viral. Gotta love the liberal media and Obama supporters. Kings and queens of the soundbites. Fact is, Romney wasn't wrong. Those people aren't paying taxes. He's using a fact to raise cash for his election. What's the problem here? Instead of getting up after being knocked down, people point fingers, blame others and give up. Zero work ethic. We're a doomed society.

That is one of the most absurd assumptions I have ever heard. Thanks for the good laugh!

61% of the 47% of Americans who Mitt says don't take responsibility for themselves have JOBS and pay federal payroll taxes -- medicare and social security.

10% of the 47% of Americans who Mitt says don't take responsibility for themselves are retired.

No, that is incorrect. 46% of Americans do not pay *federal income* taxes. A very large fraction of them pay payroll taxes and have an overall effective tax rate on the order of 17-21% (http://ctj.org/ctjreports/2012/04/who_pays_taxes_in_america.php), which is GREATER THAN Mitt Romney's effective tax rate of 15%. Even if you assume he paid a full 5% in state taxes, he's at 20%.

And assuming you're kind enough to give the retirees a pass for their dependence on the social security they paid into all their lives, you're left with around 36%.

To your point that these non-retiree, low income people have zero work ethic and are prone to blaming others for their situation, most of the states they come from go red every time:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/mitt-romney-caught-on-video-tape/2012/09/17/38578a5e-012f-11e2-b257-e1c2b3548a4a_blog.html

So this lower income group is very probably comprised of many, many Republicans. But of course without knowing the actual data, you'll always be free to conclude that all of these people are liberals living in the red states... every single one an entitled liberal that wants to take your hard money away from you.

(my reply above is in response to Joseph's reply)

Quite the assumption Jay that just because they live in a "red" state makes them Republican. A majority of payroll taxes are given back when taxes are filed. I know I always got money back when I filed, as still do! And my point about getting knocked down and pointing fingers, how can you tell me I'm wrong? Do you watch/read the news? A majority of news outlets, as well as Obama's words are pointing fingers and creating a class warfare. Blame Wall Street. Blame the banks. Umm, do people even realize that a majority, if not all money to bail out the banks has been given back and the government (taxpayers) made money!! Can you say the same about the auto industry? Nope. Sure can't.

Listen. We're never going to agree Jay. You're left, I'm right (fiscally mostly). This is what I know - More people need to pay taxes and entitlements need to be cut/reformed. We don't have the revenue to pay for all of this. Our country is leveraged beyond the grasp of reality, where interest on our debt can't be paid! We're a broken corporation that needs fixing. And that fix my friend is to hire a business man that knows how to turn a company from the red to black. That is the bottom line. G'day

I think you're having a little trouble with reading and comprehension, Joseph. I didn't make the assumption "...that just because they live in a "red" state makes them Republican." I said that "this lower income group is very probably comprised of many, many Republicans."

This means that I'm assuming that because they are in a red state that some significant proportion of them are Republican - possibly a majority, but I wouldn't actually wager a guess. But then I went on to imply that you are likely to assume an alternative hypothesis - that every single one of them is a liberal living in these fine red states... likely freeloading off hard working self-made men like yourself.

Here's some 25 of the top Corporations in the US who don't pay taxes either. In Fact most of them get a tax refund or subsidiy. "Corporations are people too"

How 30 No-Tax Corporations
in 2008-10 Fared in 2008-11
Federal Income Tax Rates on U.S. Profits

08-10 Ta 08-11

Pepco Holdings –57.6% –39.5%
General Electric –45.3% –18.9%
PG&E Corp. –21.2% –18.4%
Wisconsin Energy –4.9% –13.2%
NiSource –16.4% –13.0%
Paccar –32.8% –13.0%
Integrys Energy Group –11.3% –11.6%
CenterPoint Energy –14.7% –11.3%
Atmos Energy –11.6% –9.6%
Tenet Healthcare –11.6% –8.2%
American Electric Power –9.2% –6.4%
Boeing –1.8% –5.5%
Ryder System –7.3% –5.4%
Con-way –9.1% –5.4%
Verizon Communications –5.2% –3.8%
Duke Energy –3.9% –3.5%
Interpublic Group –3.3% –2.5%
NextEra Energy –2.2% –2.0%
CMS Energy –2.2% –1.4%
Navistar International –2.0% –1.3%
Consolidated Edison –3.0% –1.3%
Mattel –0.9% –0.9%
El Paso –1.0% –0.9%
Baxter International –7.1% –0.6%
Apache –1.5% –0.3%
Corning –0.2% –0.2%
DTE Energy –0.7% 0.2%
Honeywell International –0.7% 2.0%
Wells Fargo –1.4% 3.8%
DuPont –3.4% 10.9%
Totals –7.1% –3.1%

This is exactly the irony I see embedded in the entire GOP campaign. I believe many of the loudest voices supporting Romney are undermining themselves and don't even realize it. The quiet supporters funding the GOP with their 'self-made millions' are laughing all the way to the bank.

Joseph,

You have the typical conservative attitude: everything is in black and white, and everyone who is not as successful as you is a deadbeat. Way to support your fellow American.

Here are some statistics for you to chew on. I'm sure you'll come up with some reason that they're wrong. But hopefully you'll step out of your conservative world of absolutism.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/09/19/wonkbook-the-47-percent-by-the-numbers/

Owen, fiscally conservative, you better believe it! As should you be! What's wrong with looking at things in black and white or even black and red? I don’t believe being $16Tril in debt is a good thing. http://www.usdebtclock.org/ The problem with the likes of you is you think the US can just print and spend all the money we want. Start reading some foreign publications. Check out the Financial Times or The Economist. It will give you a much different perspective. You familiar with what’s happening in the EU? Fiscal Cliff? Greece? Spain? These current events sound familiar? They should. We’re very close to being in the same crisis.

We, as a country, cannot afford to continue this spending spree. Obama has yet to pass a budget in his years in office. Whether you like it or not, the United States IS a business and needs to run as such, at least for now or until we fix what’s broken. Should the government help out retirees and the elderly, yes. Should they be offering handouts to people that took themselves out of the work force because they had too much pride to flip a burger or bag some groceries, 100% not!!

Listen, I’m disgusted with our current politicians, never crossing party lines, never agreeing to vote together. These f**ks don’t give two $hits about you, nor me. It’s disgusting. Both sides of the isle. If they’re unable to get things done, get someone in there that CAN and IS WILLING to make the tough decisions, whether we like them or not!!

It is not that they are freeloaders. It is the point that when you become reliant on Government it is harder to get out of that rut. The real problem is jobs. Look at the Government as the middle man if you have a middle man than there is less money to go around. Companies make money when the economy is good government makes money when the economy is bad. I prefer the Capitalistic approach with its flaws.
Oh and for the point about the internet. Yes, defense spending created the Internet but the boom years during Clinton's administration was created by business and investors not the Government. And the surplus was created by reductions in Governement spending and revenue increase due to low unemployment. Here is another tid bit. Although George W. Bush had the ".com" bubble recession and 9/11 he was able to get the unemployment rate to within .4% points of Clinton's best unemployment rate. Then the Dem's took over Congress.
What people need to understand is that there is no such thing as utopia and what has made this country great is when it's government is business friendly. If the government believes that they really know what is best for us all. Then we will become the a country much like the ones everybody has immigrated from.
let the states govern themselves and the federal government protect the United States. Let's get back to the basics with a limited Federal government and a strong United States.

That was'nt even the point "that he (Romney can't stand the 47%)". Romney simply stated the FACT that there are 47% of people who are satisfied with their status and do not want to hear Romney's speach on taxes. That he won't appeal to that portion of the population because Obama has them convinced they are victims and they need the support he gives them. So he will focus on the the other 53% during the campaign (NOTE: DURING THE CAMPAIGN!).

Not unlike Obama when he said that "those bible thumping and gun toting christian republicans, you know those kind, well, we'll neve agree on anything and that's just fine with me."

Really? Romney discussing a campaign stradegy that is honest and the President of the United States calling Americans with Bibles and Guns' Well you know those kind", but here we are talking about Mitt. Meanwhile the Middle East, India, Parts of Asia and Africia are burning down sovern American Foriegn Post and the POTUS is on Letterman and then off to Beounce and JZ.

Nothing happened to it. It's alive and well. Telling people its gone is just a narrative Republicans are peddling. And you gobble it up. Bon appetit, Joseph.

You're full of crap Jay, and you know it. Please don't tell me you buy what you spew? G'day

I did not know I was full of crap. I buy my spew. Do you buy what you spew?

I listened to that three times and never heard the word "Wealth" He said pool resources and redistribute, I believe in redistribution. OF WHAT? Cupcakes? I believe in redistribution of cupcakes, everybody should have a shot at having a cupcake. I want a cupcake too.

Three years ago my wife landed a real good job. Together with my income we passed the $100,000 mark. I was so happy, I thought "Finally we are in the upper middle class" Then Romney comes along and defines 'Middle Class' as incomes over $250,000. How depressing.

One more time. Romney was/is not writing anyone of. He was talking about campaigning. He was addressing who he needs to address, approach, spend time on, spend money on, work hard to get votes from. He was explaining that there is 47% that is getting government benefits, which they are very happy with, that won;t like his conversation on taxes, etc. so he needs to focus the next 46 days on the other 53% of the population that are much more open to his message. Do You All Get that Now? Listen to the friggin tape again.

For goodness sake! Why can't Politicians, Hollywood stars and Policemen realize that everybody, and I mean everybody, has a camera and/or a video camera in their pocket? If you say or do something stupid, it will be on the internet and television in 24 hours.

Completely disagree. This is about getting votes only. The point is that a large portion of citizens rely on government. And with the President continuously pushing the point that business are the devil it will be hard to get those votes. Businesses thrive when the economy is good and when the economy is good then unemployment is low. This administration has failed period. I wonder what would have happened if a right wing magazine secretly taped an Obama meeting with his backers. Oh wait Obama's either arrogant or stupid because he says things out in the open like "I can be more flexible after I win the election" or "..they cling to their guns and religion."
Mitt Romney stated a fact get over it.

Where, Please tell me where on the tape you heard the word :"deadbeat?"

Not one time was that word mentioned on the tape I listened to. Why are you inserting that into "your" take of the audio? Do you work for Huffington Post? The View?

So very true. His lifetime ambition was to validate his father. He started by going after Ted Kennedy's seat. Ted was vulnerable.

He lied and kept changing positions, he's pro life, pro choice, he's from Mass, he's from Utah. He says whatever his audience wants to hear not mindful the press tell the other people what you said.

And about the 47% who don't pay taxes? I'll bet he's one of them himself.

Romney is a business man and thats why we need him, not a community organizer, to fix the economy! Seriously, what experience does Obama have that qualifies him over Romney to stabilize the economy?
Romney pays more taxes in one year than most of us will pay in our lifetimes.

Oh so Obama who insists that anyone making too much money should be forgotten too. You listened to Pres. Obama's comments and you are mesmerized to say them too. Obama is everyone's President? He is working for us all? I do not think so.
Mitt Romney has not written those people off. He just knows that a number of them have bought the "the government will take care of me: Businesses and rich people are evil" approach which is not sustainable. Mitt Romney would prefer to see everyone who can working again.

Peter, Iagree with you and was only stating what Romney was certainly not that we need him as Commander-in Chief.He can no longer be his own man he has taken too much from the Millionaires. They want a return on their money. So as bad as it was in 08, there wasn`t any Citizens United $ and of course lets not forget the Koch Bros! Needless to say I support Barack Obama all the way.

It about putting the economy first, not necessarily money. A healthy economy allows people to bring paychecks home, pay the bills, and feed their families. Putting the economy first is putting people first. I don't know how a society can run well without a healthy economy.
Because of the "evil" Koch brothers, many people (I don't know how many they employ) bring a pay check home every week. If only those evil koch brothers stayed home and out of business they would not have created so many jobs and we would be so much better off!

How wrong can you be? First off Mitt Romney has more experience for the Presidency than Pres. Obama by far. Money not the people caused the unemployment. No pushing for the everyone should own a house philosophy along with demonizing business and success.
So Obama being bought by unions and green energy companies for just starters is not the same thing? Why is it that people do not know that the car manufactures did go bankrupt but not in the typical legal way where all creditors get to get a percentage during restructuring. Obama stopped that gave the creditors nothing then handed over a large share of the companies to the unions and to a foreign company (Fiat). Oh ya whose in whose pocket.
Wake up you are being flim flammed.

NPR did an infographic explaining the 47% too: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/09/18/161337343/the-47-percent-in-one-graphic.

No, we ignore left wing bias you see. It doesn't exist, understand? Fox news is biased.

Romney required a 'number' of years returns from Pawlenty and Ryan and others. Romney submitted a 'number' of returns to John McCain as part of the vetting process. I believe just as Harry Reid said, he didn't pay any taxes for ten years. Nothing illegal about that, but kind of unpatriotic if you ask me. (I'd like to deduct $77,000 for a dancing horse too, but I can't.) It will all soon come out, Larry Flint has a $Million dollar bounty on Romney's tax returns, you know some one will roll over for a million.

What is Romney afraid of? His wife is proud to say they tithe to the Mormon Church. That is REQUIRED. Every year if someone is suspected of not tithing fully, they must sit with the Bishop and produce records. 10% or more of your Gross earnings. Just like an IRS audit. If they lie about tithing, they can be ex-communicated and lost their place in heaven. Maybe Romney isn't afraid of revealing his unpatriotic non payment of taxes, but rather embarrassing himself to the Mormon Church.

"Stupid People" like me watch TV interviews of Mr Romney and remember what he said especially if I find it "a bit out of touch"- -
Romney's comments came an interview broadcast on a Friday on ABC's "Good Morning America."

"No one can say my plan is going to raise taxes on middle-income people, because principle number one is (to) keep the burden down on middle-income taxpayers," Romney told host George Stephanopoulos.

"Is $100,000 middle income?" Stephanopoulos asked.

"No, middle income is $200,000 to $250,000 and less," Romney responded.

I'm one of those "stupid people", ra camp. But I still like to try to use math to think through things. For example, I know that 91K is less than 250K. And I also know that the median income is more relevant since we know that half of the people will have higher income and half lower than the median. In DC, median income is around 85K (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203752604576641683529031952.html). This tells me that nowhere near "almost EVERY couple will qualify for that new millionaire tax!" Not even in the ballpark of "almost EVERY couple".

And why are you mixing up the millionaire definition by the governor of Maryland with the Democrats' tax raising line? You got bent out of shape enough to start calling Joe names because you thought he misquoted Romney, then you go and mix the governor of Maryland's words with Obama and all Democrats. I don't get it. But since you're so much smarter you must have a good reason.

Also, hey what about that 250K line? I wonder how many years you'd have to save money to be a millionaire? Just bear with me for a second while I try again... if you lived off 150K and saved 100K - I know its pretty difficult in this economy that Obama created (all by himself, that jerk) - you could get there in 10 years! So it makes me wonder how many couples making 250K or more really are millionaires. Maybe by your math it's almost EVERY couple in DC.

Also I'm confused, why are we talking about Maryland and DC?

you aren't a leech then. you worked for many years and that was a savings program. Im talking about the ones who leech off unemployment and work the system, which is a lot of people. you paid into medicare, you deserve it, if you have kids they will never get that because it is run so poorly...and you should get social security too, I pay for that now and will never get anything back but I know even if I never get it, we have to keep paying into it because country would collapse without it. Most federally run programs are run poorly and we will see that with healthcare shortly...already costing way more than obama projected for obamacare...go figure...