Stupid comment. Even if he didn’t intend it the way it came across, he just alienated a bunch of his supporters who don’t pay income tax, like me. And yes, I’m still voting for him, but I can just picture someone leaning towards voting for him and then saying, “wait, he just called me a lazy slob looking for a handout. Forget him.”
No he didn’t and it’s the spin that has it interpreted that way. Romney conflated two groups, those who don’t pay taxes and those who live off the government. Because he erroneously used the same percentage to refer to them both, they were lumped together as “Romney doesn’t care about anyone but the rich.”
His later press conference made this distinction and while he certainly phrased it poorly and is being droplashed by Right and Left, the reality is this:
He was speaking of strategy–there is a hardcore group he will NEVER get to vote for him so there is no point in trying to get those votes.
People who don’t pay taxes probably WON"T be attracted to his message of lower taxes.
That doesn’t mean they a) don’t want the economy or their state to improve so they will pay taxes someday or b) Romney doesn’t have other messages that appeal to them.
People who depend on the government probably WON"T be attracted to his message that he wants to cut the size and scope of government. That is reiterating the obvious.
The BEST thing for those with no jobs or insufficient income to feed their families is a growing economy. THAT is Romney’s goal. In contrast Obama’s response is to print more money to hand out. Which message appeals to those who really want to be self reliant and contribute to society?
So when you dissect what he actually said, not to mention wonder what is MISSING in the two or three minutes that were not included, you find a mangled message that is not what the Dems are trying to create.
I listened to a number of people in the categories above responding to the Romney tape and most of them understood that he was not calling everyone who doesn’t pay taxes a moocher and even makes the statement that those on the government “payroll” are there not because they are lazy bums but because Obama’s economy is so miserable.
Romney is not a very good politician. I’d rather have someone who is a good executive however than just a good speech maker…we have one of those and it’s not workin out.
Lisa