Comments by Mitt Romney that 47% of Americans who support President Obama view themselves as "victims," released this week have caused a firestorm for the GOP nominee.
A top campaign supporter of Romney's, Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) said this morning on Meet the Press that those comments would not be how Mitt Romney would lead as president.
"That certainly was a political analysis at a fundraiser, but it's not a governing philosophy."
Our roundtable had a broader debate about the current state of Mitt Romney's campaign after a couple of rough weeks including polls showing the president ahead in important battleground states and the release of the fundraiser video. The question was: does the Romney campaign need a re-boot?
New York Times columnist David Brooks said he thinks Romney is "faking it."
"Mitt Romney does not have the passion for the stuff he's talking about," Brooks said. "I think he's a non-ideological person running in an extremely ideological age and he's faking it."
He suggests that Romney become "the PowerPoint guy," and try to sell the American people on the details how he can get them back to work.
Romney adviser Bay Buchanan said that the campaign is "bringing out those details as we speak," and had a more optimistic view of how the race stands today.
"We are in a dead heat nationally. We have two polls showing it a dead heat, a tie. And the momentum is ours. You see that the president's numbers have come down. Mitt Romney's numbers are coming up."
You can watch the entire program on our website to head more from our roundtable including why Joe Scarborough thinks the president is starting to act like "Elvis in '76."
We'll be back next week. If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press.
Leave a Comment:
Sen. Ayotte should be running in place of Romney (but her defense of Romney makes her look pathetic in my view). Great round table but what a load of hooey from B. Buchanan! She needs to take her gaudy gold jewelry back to her spider hole! Romney’s tax return shows me we need to MAKE CAPITAL GAINS TAXES PROGRESSIVE! That someone can make $20,000,000+ and only pay 14% CGT is obscene compared to someone who actually worked for their money and pay 30-35%! Romney decries the 47% but what about the subsidized rich & corps. getting preferential tax treatment? I agree with one thing I heard a Republican say last week …Congress needs to sunset the current tax code and restart from scratch.
You don't understand why the capital gains rate was lowered from the wage rate. It's because corporations already pay tax on this money. In fact those with capital gains pay upwards of 50% all told. But I can agree that a flat tax, which would nevertheless mean the middle class pays more is a better alternative.
George, You need to pay attention to the details. Romney paid an "Effective Tax Rate" of 14% and paid $2,000,000 in taxes, as well as giving over $4,000,000 to charity. Romney paid Federal (and other) Income Tax on his salary over the years at 35% and higher %, and what he was able to invest (which everyone is able to do) and pay tax on the interest at the "Capital Gains Tax" (a lower %, because it is money that has already been taxed once). Liberals love to talk about the Effective Tax Rate because it's not relative. Half of Americans pay NO Federal Income Tax, and their ETR is less than 0, because they get a refund without paying in. The wealthy, and corporations aren't subsidized, the tax code is law, if you don't like it, change your elected officials.
You may want to take money from the wealthy at every turn, but it won't make you wealthy, it won't help the economy. You have fallen into the LIB DEM/ Obama wealthy envy trap, from which there is no escape.
Please educate yourself about capital gains and how they work before spouting misinformation. In many cases, capital gains have nothing at all to do with corporations.
For example, when Mitt Romney sells one of his many mansions, he will have capital gains from the appreciation. No corporation will have paid taxes on those gains ever. Yet Romney will pay 15% on the millions he will receive, while people working for a living as teachers, cops, and convenience store clerks will pay a much higher tax rate on their hard earned money than Romney will pay on money he receives for doing nothing.
Nobody but a brain-washed apologist for the ultra-wealthy can think this is fair.
I agree, but Congress is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the corporatocracy, so don't wait for the tax code to be re-written. What no one keeps rubbing in their faces is that marginal tax rates were much higher under Republican administrations earlier and everyone did better. What's wrong with going back to the Clinton era rates?
The fallacy that capital gains tax should be"(a lower %, because it is money that has already been taxed once)" is a standard conservative talking point, but it is incorrect and would not survive a moment's consideration.
Nobody is proposing taxing the capital invested, which has indeed been taxed once, but only the new profits received, which obviously have never been taxed before. If I buy a stock for $1 and re-sell it for $200, I have a new $199 capital gain, which has absolutely never before been taxed.
I don't understand how people can repeat such obvious falsehoods with such assurance.
Hey pal! Rmoney works HARD for the money! It is BRUTAL, hard work to try and keep six homes maintained and adding car elevators and Mormon bomb-shelters to them! And all the meetings in Gstaad and the Cayman Islands with the accountants! Jeez! It's a wonder he has the energy to campaign at all!
Tell that to the dumocrats who also pay the same rate! Also, the rate is not on income, but investment earnings, which BTW, the dummocrats pay the same rate. I notice Romney paid almost $2MM in taxes, or about 20% of this total. How many of your dummocrats can boast that, including an additional $4MM to charity. Oh!... did you see Biden paid a measly $1500 to charity. Talk about cheap, for the kind of money he makes. Also, I'm not offended by the 47% comment (which alluded more to the country's political division than to the number of freeloaders... but here again the dummocrats got it wrong). Unfortunately, we too are registered dummocrats, but intend to vote for Romney, ... we're just not impressed that Obama can't get beyond 47% in the polls, can't seem to fix domestic or foreign policy, and sure as hell hasn't added good-paying jobs to our economy. Every single hard-working Hispanic family, every military member that we have talked to, and every body who still believes in America has told me the same thing: Romney for 2012!
You should not tell people what they do or do not understand. Someone who is paid a salary & receives capital gains pays a higher effective rate due to taxes on their salary. I understand the double taxation issue. What I disagree with is the way the system is structured. My argument is that if an individual receives such a large portion of their income from capital gains, they should be paying more than just the lowest capital gains rate and that rate should be progressive.
Romney only paid 14% but according to tax experts he doctored his returns. According to current tax laws he could have only paid 9% Taxes. I am convinced that he will resubmit his returns after the election (next years) and get back the millions he is entitled to. Pathetic...
You do not have any idea about the effects of capital gain taxation or the public policy it supports.
For example, the corporation already paid a very high income tax, reducing profit (the key factor in capital gains for the companies that Romney invested in).
Moreover, anybody who paid above 30% taxes is obviously not planning correctly, nor are they helping in capital formation so as to lead to increased productivity and jobs.
Please stick to playing video games.
You say, "Someone who is paid a salary & receives capital gains pays a higher effective rate due to taxes on their salary. I understand the double taxation issue. What I disagree with is the way the system is structured. My argument is that if an individual receives such a large portion of their income from capital gains, they should be paying more than just the lowest capital gains rate and that rate should be progressive." That is not an argument, it is only an unsupported opinion. What is your argument?
Average cooperation pays 22% in taxes on profits. GE and many others paid 0. If Romney would show us his tax returns, we could figure out what percentage was paid on the money he made. I can't believe he is a getting a pass on this.
It is better to refuse to release your tax returns and be thought a criminal than to release them and remove all doubt.
Ozzy: Nap time!
It does not matter that "corporations already paid taxes on the money one time."
The reality is, the money the corporation received was already taxed once too. People (real live human beings) are taxed on their income, they then spend money with corporations, and that is what the corporation people get taxed on.
The argument is a false argument. A big corporation is a an entity which is distinct from its owners. When it is large enough and has enough capitol of its own, the owners of a company do not guarantee the debts of the company. Once that happens, the owners and the company no longer are one and the same and each needs to be separately taxed AT ORDINARY INCOME RATES.
The reality is the biggest beneficiaries of the capital gains rates are investment bankers and hedge fund managers. They convert what would otherwise be ordinary income into capital gains, do not pay SS or Medicare taxes on the income and also pay extremely low tax rates.
Romney made the remarks, which were about campaign strategy incidentally, in May, so it is hard for me to see in what way they say anything about how his campaign is currently being run, even if they haven't been absurdly misinterpreted, and the governor stood by them. The opposition is going to take every opportunity to show the public that he's politically incorrect. And that's really what the issue is.
Then there's the polls. Polls can be made to discover whatever the questioners want and have always been so used, from the Whig reformers in the 1830-40's in England and America on. With them the glass is always half full, the wife always beaten. If 2% are well off, they'll squawk about the 98%, and if 98% are well off, about the 2%. It's more about equality than about condition. Brookings reformers will argue alright that "a rising tide lifts all boats," but insist on inflation to do the job, feeling with Keynes that anything else is hoarding.
But on the issues, many in the GOP and the punditry see themselves as compassionate conservatives, not substantially different from the way the president has governed, and want Romney to follow suit. They complain that the party and its candidate have been hijacked. It was, but by Reagan.
Eisenhower was not a compassionate conservative. He was an old-fashioned Kansas Populist, who believed in sound money, balanced budgets and genuine help. As he wrote in 1964: "For the hard fact is that under many years of Democratic Party leadership our country has been lured into the 'easy way,' a path of federal expediency which, like a narcotic, may give us a false sense of well being, but in the long run is dangerous to our future, our basic rights, our moral fiber and our individual freedom....Or let us take the ingrained habit of Democratic Administrations to over-spend, to follow risky financial policies, particularly under the guise of 'stimulating the economy.' This process already has eroded away a basic right of every citizen: the right to have sound money, a dollar that is worth as much today as it was yesterday. I know that anyone who speaks up against deficit spending is accused by the 'sophisticated' liberals of being more interested in money than in people. But I ask, what is more inhumane to more people than deliberately taking away the value of the money on which they must live in the future?...In action, this means attacking our national problems at their roots, believing that only in this way, not by poulticing symptoms, can we advance our country steadily and solidly. We Republicans have sought by balanced programs to improve the national standard of living, assure civil rights for all, provide better education for our youth, and promote a sound, forward-looking economic climate that is essential to national growth and fullest possible employment."
RE Mant: I want some of whatever you are smokin', pal...........
Let's stick with your "rising tide" metaphor, ok? If that is true, then the financial tsunami caused by the sponsors of the Republican-Obstructionist Party has sunk most everyones little dinghy........ so who should make it right? For the Repubs, it's the little people........
"We Republicans have sought..."
That may have been true of Republican thinking in the past.But today Republicans like you talk about are an endangered species.The Republicans today are a right-wing religious base,with oligarchical corporate leaders. As sad as it is that's Republicans today.
Seeing that he flip flops so much you have a point how do we know how he feels now about the same subject as he did ten min. ago. But do you REALLY want that kind of person running the White House? I know I don't, and you should not either whether you are republican or democrat, we really don't know what is in Mitt's heart and I for one don't trust him.
Romney needs surrogates to explain his condescending remarks because, as his running mate, Paul Ryan, says, he is inarticulate. That is just a nice way of saying he can't open his mouth without sticking his foot in it. If you teabaggers think things look bad for Etch-A-Sketch now, wait until President Obama dismantles your candidate in the presidential debates!
President Obama by default! There doesn't seem to be anybody running against him!
Thanks to the producers for bringing the wheezing, gesticulating gasbag Bay Buchanan on the show. She perfectly reflects the intellectual bankruptcy of the current Republican establishment. Did she really think she was going to win a verbal battle with Joe Scarborough? Amazing!
Wow - did the Romney campaign really think she would represent well on TV? Whining about who was on the panel, able only to recite (false) talking points, unable to answer questions but only able to rant. TV is definitely not the medium for her - not sure what would be - maybe telegraph.
I loved it! Joe unloaded on her in a hurry and he was clearly pissed! I'm no fan of Scarboro but I do watch his show sometimes hopeing Mika will let loose on him! You can see from the facial expressions she sometimes has that she's not to happy with him!
ozzy, before your ask that question, you need to do a little research and figure out what "flat tax" rate would be needed to continue running the government. You won't like it unless you are very wealthy. I'll give you a hint. We have a 15 trillion dollar economy and we need to come up with 3.6 trillion or 24%. So, if you make 20,000 a year, your tax will be 4800.00. While a flat tax sounds good if you are not good at math, it is considered regressive, that is why the rich are always talking about it and like it so much.
I tried to watch Meet the Press, but I can't because it is obvious that no one is really talking to real middle class Americans. Under Obama I am not sure where the job growth comments are coming from. We have personally moved from Indiana, to Illinois, to Nevada looking for work and not all middle class Americans have the means to move their families for work. When you talk to actual out of work Americans you'll find out they have given up looking for work and have needed to take advantage of housing, food, and medical. It's funny but the Obama campaign touts job creation and unemployments claims are lower showing the economy is getting better. The truth is Americans are giving up, look at the number of people now getting benefits, the number jumped from the 20th percentile to the 40th percentile since 2008 when Obama took office (Meet the Press numbers). So under Obama we are now taxed for forced Healthcare, there are less jobs, the deficit is alarmingly high, and foreign policy is noticeably worse.
Romney doesn't get it either, and has a habit of putting his foot in his mouth. I didn't take his comments on the 47% of Americans as insulting as most on the panel. We get so hung up on context these days that no one stops to really ask what the person means, and if they do they don't believe the answer unless the answer agrees with their argument. There are too many Americans living off the government, ask the middle class because in the end we pay the bill.
Clearly there aren't any good candidates for the 2012 election. Both candidates have repeatedly shown they are not qualified as a true leader. The Federal government and the Supreme Court are politically divided. Right now the strong middle class is giving up. We want something to believe in, we don't want to live off the government. If middle class continues to give up and have nothing to believe in America is done. There are no candidates this election showing a promise of uniting this nation and unity is desperately needed.
So who are you voting for?
Good question, I don't have an answer right now.
Unfortunately we are basically forced to side with one party or another even if we don't like either during this election. It's almost like that Eddie Murphy movie where he campaigns for "None Of The Above".
Well there would have been a lot more jobs if the republican party had not stopped everthing. I would like to see a follow up question to the right track/wrong track question on these polls. the follow up question should be "Who do you blame for this?" I think they will find 80% of americans who say we are on the wrong track also blame the Republicans for that track rather than Obama.
If 80% of Americans blame Republicans rather than Obama then why did Americans vote Democrats out of the house and nearly the Senate mid term? No the blame falls on both parties for not acting in the best interest of the American people. I think if you start looking around the only change you are going to see is a lack of party affiliation. The bottom line is the American people are sick of both parties. If I am forced today to pick between Romney and Obama I can't choose Obama, which means I'll have to vote for Romney even if I don't want to because there is no one else.
You didnt find romneys statements insulting! I have listened repeatedly to what he said, the way he emphasised the word "entitled" and paused afterward told me all I needed to hear to figure out he was not mispeaking and it has not been taken out of context! Kind of like Queen Ann and "you people"!
Funny, the last I heard more Republicans will be voting for Obama due to their dislike of Romney, but not the other way around.
Eisenhower truly was a compassionate conservative, and not just a pathetic representative of the 1% like Romney. Romney wants to lower the top marginal tax rate (paid by millionaires and billionaires) to 25%, while Eisenhower enacted a 90+% tax rate on the wealthiest.
It is so disturbingly dishonest that Romney and Ryan pretend to care about the deficit while slashing tax revenue from those with the greatest capacity to pay. Their actions prove that they only care about slashing government services to the middle class and shielding the wealthiest from any responsibility, and they are happy to explode the deficit, as long as the rich get richer.
First of all - you're*
Second - reading both of these comments makes me picture two people who are too stubborn to see any other view on politics, so you'll just stick to your ways and try to push everybody else in the world that way too.
You know it’s a tough week for Mitt Romney when even the media plagiarists out there are criticizing him, as this funny blog post on the FluffingtonPost reports. But those plagiarists better be careful or Ann Romney might start scolding them like a bunch of rambunctious young Mormon boys. Enjoy:
Admittedly I have voted and supported Republicans for decades. But, like one of the writers here I can also say that the Party is nothing like the one I grew up with in my youth. It was not led by men like Tom Dewey, Dwight Eisenhower, or even Gerald Ford who was a compromising moderate.
This has all changed to a right radical philosophy further emboldened by the religious right, and the so called tea party enclave. In my opinion, the former has no business attempting to discard the separation of church and state, and the latter should not be considered serious because they apparently have no concept of the real world of economics or politics.
Romney emulates the typical elitist who spews up political sound bytes that imply his willingness to shore up the lower income classes. But, he is nothing but an opportunist searching for power, nothing more. He flip flops when the wind shifts, for example, he disclaims his own RomneyCare, the precursor to the Affordable Care Act, abortion, viewing Social Security as an entitlement where it really is an annuity paid throughout the working years, and many other issues.
The issue is how can anyone cast their vote for a Republican today whose policies are definitively against the lower and middle economic class citizens? I can't figure that out. Is it lack of education? Is it apathy or denial? What? You have the jobs act blown away by the Republicans, and even the most recent bill for returning combat veterans. How can one justify such a lack of humanity for those who fought for our country, or the poor who have no other choice but to be on the dole or starve? Even Romney's father was once on the dole. Guess it doesn't matter to the likes of Rove or the Koch Brothers.
The misconception of the Republican leadership is that everyone can be a millionaire. Not true. Historically every society had the greatest percentage of plebians (working class), and without them economies do not work. If a party has no concern for them, with their number one priority to reclaim power in the White House or Congress, as well as deliberately obstructing legislation important for America, then they have relinquished their position as a viable entity, in my opinion.
One can come up with many excuses. It would be refreshing if some biases and prejudices would dissipate, and if many citizens would simply THINK about the political scenario. America will never fully recover with a dysfunctional government, and unfortunately that is the watchword of Republicans today.
Well stated
"When you give a speech you don't go through a laundry list. You talk about the things you think are important."
—Mitt Romney, when asked about failing to mention the troops in his nomination speech at the Republican National Convention, Fox News interview, Sept. 7, 2012
all i will say is that nbc has become surrogates for obama and a joke of a news organization.. what ever happened to being fair and objective,, not with this bunch
Then why are you here, instead of at Fox (which provides the anti-Obama environment you are clearly seeking? Oh, wait, they disabled comments, didn't they?)
But why aren't you singing Romney's praises? Cat got your tongue?
I suppose Faux news is where you get all your news from.
Romney and others of his ilk have a sense of entitlement that is is difficult for most folks to understand. He evidently views all the money he receives as solely his; the Gov't. shouldn't really take any of it. After all he provides employment for so many folks. Infrastructure? National defense? That's for others to pay for. Probably has something to do with his religion-you know: We're the chosen people, we are going to become Gods and have our own planet, etc. It is really almost too wacky to believe but seemingly its all true. Of course it explains why he cannot connect with any regular person and now has virtually no chance of winning the election.
Don't forget Mormons also believed that dark skinned people were cursed by God. He is a high priest in that religion, and now he wants us dark skinned Hispanics to vote for him. Hell no.
Here is a very short list of lies told by your feeble-minded candidate, ozzie. Read 'em and weep:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/sep/20/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-redistribution-has-never-been-cha/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jan/18/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-us-navy-smallest-1917-air-force-s/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/sep/18/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-voters-who-support-barack-obama-a/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/aug/31/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-said-barack-obama-began-his-presidency/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/aug/07/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-barack-obamas-plan-abandons-tenet/
http://www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2012/aug/06/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-lawsuit-filed-president-obamas-ca/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jul/26/mitt-romney/putting-mitt-romneys-attacks-you-didnt-build-truth/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jul/20/mitt-romney/romney-ad-says-stimulus-money-went-buy-electric-ca/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jul/09/mitt-romney/health-law-puts-government-between-patients-and-do/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jul/09/mitt-romney/health-law-puts-government-between-patients-and-do/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jun/29/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-obamacare-means-20-million-americ/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/21/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-said-he-actually-cut-spending-massachu/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/may/15/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-evolved-significantly-his-position-abo/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/apr/04/mitt-romney/romney-obama-only-president-cut-medicare/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/mar/22/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-barack-obama-ending-medicare-we-k/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/mar/07/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-iran-released-hostages-1981-becau/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/mar/05/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-president-ignored-debt-problems-s/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/feb/27/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-obama-gave-away-car-companies-uni/
http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2012/jan/27/mitt-romney/romney-says-obama-castigated-israel-building-settl/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jan/08/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-once-again-says-us-inches-away-no-long/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jan/08/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-repeats-claim-repealing-health-law-sav/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/jan/05/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-ad-says-labor-board-tried-block-boeing/
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/nov/22/mitt-romney/mitt-romney-says-obama-said-if-we-keep-talking-abo/
B White: Are you serious?
1. "his ilk have a sense of entitlement," his "ilk" pay the LIONS SHARE of taxes and create the jobs that the rest of us have to pay the smaller share of taxes.
2. "views all the money he receives as solely his" I'm sorry, it IS HIS. When I barter with an employer for a job, we come to an agreement for my services for a particularly wage (hourly, min wage, salary etc). I trade those "hours" of my life for that equivalent of money, that money represents my life. IT IS MINE.
You can bring religion into this, but you sound childish.
If you are right, there are a LOT of children out there who will NOT be voting for Mittens.
You are as misinformed as you are specious. Most taxes (by the way the lions share is all of it) are not paid by the wealthy but by the middle class. Don't confuse the income tax with all taxes. Religion-sounds childish? How's the weather on your planet? In case you hadn't noticed religion is a pretty big deal. Just ask the GOP of whom about half think Obama is a Muslim- is that childish? What if Romney were a Muslim-would that matter to you? What if he were a Christian? And yeah, people pay taxes-take a closer look at that paycheck-ITS NOT ALL Yours. Are you stupid or merely a right wing troll?
Republican TROLL please ignore this poster
Fact - the TOP 10% of wage earners (greater than $112,124/yr) earned 43% of all the income in 2009 but paid 71% of all the federal income taxes. Sounds like the lion's share to me.
Fact - The BOTTOM 50% (less than $32,396/yr) earned 13% of all the total income but paid 2% (not a typo) of all the federal income taxes. Half of those paid $0 income taxes.
You can do the math on the remaining 40% otherwise known as the "Middle Class".
No religion statements, so childish comments about what side of the political spectrum you or I are from. Just the facts as reported by the Internal Revenue Service.
So, if you or anyone else is going to profess a "fact", please site your sources.
btw, it 85 degrees with sunny skies here.
Just counting income taxes is a distortion.
How so santargina? Isn't that what this whole discussion is about? What are you referring too? How is it a distortion? These are the documented facts that I posted in response to someone's uninformed opinion. I didn't create them, the IRS did.
The bottom line is, there is and never will be a perfect tax system. It will never be "fair" so get over it. The governments, federal, state, and local can't run without it. So, it's our job, right, left, and everybody in between, to make sure our elected officials spend it wisely. When they don't, we call them on it.
People get all over Mitt Ronmey or some other rich person when he is a Republican but never say boo when it's Bill Gates or Warren Buffet. They make Romney look like a back alley dumpster diver. Wanna bet their tax rates are even lower? They make the vast majority of theirs from capital gains and other passive income so it is bound to be. It certainly won't be more. Did they break any laws? No.
every time i tune into Meet the Press...i never finish the program...David Gregory find your inner Tim Russert.
I watched the discussion entirely as well as have watched it again here and have come to a few conclusions. First, while Bay Buchanan is a very aggressive and pationate surogate, for her to try and sell the vidoo water that Mitt is gaining on the President, just doesn't wash. Consider that he MUST win Ohio to have a snow balls chance of winning while being down anywhere from 5-7 pts. down means she had better change her water intake. I respect David Brooks and Peggy Noonan immensley and their views reflect exactly the state of Mitt. To have numerous insidencts where Mitt has spoken similar terms about the "47%" truly reflects an attitude and policy he firmly believes in, this was not a one-time gaffe to high-rollers, he truly believes that. Then to refer to the chance of peace in the middle east as not obtainable and that he would just "kick it down the road." What type of leader of the free world talks and thinks like that? Not anyone that I certainly didn't serve in the Marine Corps for 25 years and want to lead this country.
I hope that David Gregory and the producers of MTP are able to read this. Has have been a loyal viewer for > 10 years now. I was a huge fan of Tim Russert. I gave Mr. Gregory a fair chance to see where he was going to take the show. But I can't take it anymore. Instead of a moderator who is tough and fair, I see one who shows obvious favoratism to the Republican side. The number of guests and composition of the panels, all have heavily favored Republicans. On the show today, the Democrats were barely allowed to speak; and when they did speak they were harassed and interrupted. I understand that the current Republican party are political bullies who don't respect the other side. But at least give my party some kind of a level playing field. Obviously, that's not going to happen. So it's time to say goodbye to a show that I've loved. We may never see another Tim, but maybe someday we can find another host to return MTP to what it once was.
Hmm ... I felt just the opposite --- that Gregory was being very hard on Romney. In fact the entire show was a discussion of things awry with Mitt, his campaign, and his policies --- with very little about either the good or bad of Obama.
What no one is talking about .....................
" If you actually listen to the whole thing (minus the 2-3 minutes that mysteriously got cut off, right when he was explaining the 47%), he said that people that get SS, Medicaid, Federal Retirees, and Veterans do not pay taxes, and JUSTIFIBLY SO."
According to Price water house, reported by the wall street journal.. In the past two decades, Romney gave 50 million to charities alone. That is a lot of money Folks. He also
gave to charities that he did not even deduct. I would say he, cares about poor people,
but thats is never enough for you liberals out there.
Exactly who did he give this money to? His Church the church of Jesus christ & latter day saints, which mandates that ALL members give 10% of their GROSS income.
So know what you are posting about! That money was donated to HIS church which does not give it to the POOR. The LDS church is one of the richest organizations in the world and TAX free too! As far as not claiming it all how much you want to bet after the election he files an ammended return to get that additional money back. You republicans think we are that stupid don't you, we see right through your LIES and propaganda. go take a long walk off a short pier.
Danno, who do you give your money too? Do you give at all? Btw, what business of it of yours WHO he gives his money too? If he gave to HIS church, SO WHAT! It's still a free country, maybe not as much as used to be but still free. In this country, I'm free to give as much money away to anyone that I want regardless of what someone else thinks. Cool concept, eh?
If you really have to know who he gave HIS money too, he has disclosed it, look it up.
All of the profits from President Obama's third book, Of Thee I Sing, are being donated to a scholarship fund for the children of disabled and fallen US servicemen.
So I've been reading the above comments and I too would like some of whatever you are smoking, but I'll stick to my wine & martinis. Moved to Florida with my husband in 2007. I have been a Volunteer to Reelect President Obama for quite a few months now. I find it hard to believe that some folks are still Undecided. First off, President Obama INHERITED A MESS. He didn't create it. He has had to deal with The Fat Cats in the Republican GOP undermining practically everything he tries to pass. However, ever under those circumstances our President was able to pass, "Don't Ask Don't Tell" , saved GM from Bankruptcy, made the move to take out Bin Laden, passed the Lily Ledbetter Act which states Equal Pay for Women doing the same job as a man, is for Women's Rights, Equality in Marriage, Expanded stem cell research for Parkinson's and MS, reformed credit card act, not to mention Passing the Health Care Reform (Obamacare) Medicare and Social Security. He believes in the Middle Class,Kicked Banks Out of Federal Student Loan Program and Expanded Pell Grant Spending, Increased Support for Veterans, though the GOP refused to Pass the Bill to help Veterans' Employment, Passed the Stimulus to spur economic growth amid the greatest recession since the Great Depression, Eliminated Osama Bin Laden, Tightened Sanctions on Iran, Began Post-Post-9/11 Military Builddown, Expanded Health Coverage, to name just a few of Obama's Accomplishments, and let's not forgot that He Ended the War in Iraq and Began Drawdown of War in Afghanistan. He remains a major supporter and friend to Israel. Oh and He doesn't think that 47% of Americans Don't pay taxes and are leaches who just take from the Government. Worked all my life, as my husband has and everyone I know and we've paid taxes and put our money into Social Security, Medicare and speaking for myself, a Pension. And that's my take on it!
nevermind that he fudged his numbers to reach 13%, to make sure he lived up to the statement that he has never payed more then 13 (and we'll never know, because like everything else.... you won't understand, its a secret). And the worst part, speaking of out of context, NONE of the morning news shows mentions how he wishes he was born Mexican, so he could benefit from it, since the hispanic vote is now going the same way as the african american ( his words ) and how he doesnt want to overexpose us to ann romney because we could get tired of her... his wife.
I'm already tired of her with that "YOU PEOPLE" statement.
Even though the government allows it I think categorizing donations to the church or religion you are affiliated as charitable contributions is disingenuous.
How much you want to bet that after the election when Romney loses, he will revisit his tax return and file an ammended return to get back that additional 3% he didn't claim ? That should come to a couple million dollars or more.
its a sure thing. not even the mob would bet against that.
And if he does, SO WHAT...still a free country and your government makes the tax laws, not him. For that matter, the president doesn't either! He just signs it, or not.
You folks are missing the fact that most of us don't give a damn about HIS taxes. We're concerned about where OUR next paycheck is coming from. I'm concerned about whether I'm going to have a job by election time. His tax returns only seem to be important to those who have no intention of voting for him anyway so WHO CARES? You're not going to change it. I'm not going to change it. He filed his taxes in accordance with Federal law no matter what your uninformed opinion is and the IRS agrees with me. Even if he files an amended return, he still has to follow federal tax laws so get over it already! If he gets another couple million dollars back, GOOD FOR HIM! It wasn't the government's money anyway!
I'm concerned about his taxes, when he says 47% of Americans don't pay them, and are playing "victim". And sorry we can't all sit on our money and let it pay us with yearly interest. So isn't him using a loophole now or later (one of victimizing entitlements), or one of the so called loopholes he wants to close but never explains. If he takes his money back, its just him being in character, looking down on 47% of the nation that don't pay taxes like: people in the military, the families of 5, the greatest generation, and children.
The problem is that as a whole, this country is not it's brother's keeper from top to bottom. To forge this nation rich and poor had to come together to fight for our freedom. What needs to happen is rich people need to decide that they will pay decent wages to poorer people who actually are willing to earn their wages. There are people who are excellent workers that earn less than $30,000, but they don't have the support from the uppercrust to make that 45,000 or 55,000 a year. That is what the government is trying to do, but they are also helping those who deserve no help because they do nothing for themselves. I guess the question is, if we had more people on the lower end of the totem pole that would be willing to do for themselves, would the upper crust, private sector Americans reward them with higher wages? I'd hope the answer would be yes, but in our capitalist society saying "no it's mine" is the mentality. I'm not a socialist. I believe there should be reward for hard work, but is that really what is going on in this country? What is really happening is the people with the power are naming their price at the expense of thousands of other Americans. Pay a man a decent wage for a decent days work, and this country will turn around. We are too blessed in this nation to be selfish!
Romney got eviscerated this morning on Meet the Press. It looked like David Gregory was steamed up about Romney's insult of 47% of Americans. Bay Buchanan did not do a good job defending him, but Kelly Ayotte did. Regardless, the whole show was a discussion about what's wrong with Romney, his campaign, and his policies. For the GOP ticket, that's a disaster.
But Mitt's main problem besides having a lousy campaign organization, is that he offers nothing worthwhile --- a Medicare voucher program, tax increases on the middle class to give tax breaks to the wealthy, cuts to programs for the poor, a war on women's reproductive rights, a repeal of Obamacare which finally provides a path to insurance for 32 million, unnecessary expansion of the military, a disdain for 47% of Americans, and an out of touch gaffe-prone personality.
That's a lot to turn around --- especially since Election Day has been moved up to Election Month starting in October in 32 states.
The only thing that the Romney campaign is bringing out is its latest stand on a given issue until it has another one. This man has proven incompetent in every way. It goes to show that priviledge is very forgiving. It is sad to see intelligent people selling their souls to spin this Romney debacle of running for president. Republicans should save themselves for a better fight like 2016.
Jeb Bush and the old karl rove crew would never run a campaign this incompetently; Reince Priebus, thank you for Romney 2012, it's sad when Michael Steele is a better chairman.
The republicans closed ranks today, but still couldn't communicate substantive criticism of Obama. They parroted the Romney campaign strategy of disparaging the Obama record with Bay Buchanan playing the crazy fringe right-winger and Brooks playing the "reasonable" republican. Sorry but blaming Obama for ALL of the countries woes is simply nonsense. The fact that they continue to assert that Romney can win is testament to their (and Romney's) belief that voter suppression efforts in swing states will prove decisive and their belief that the overwhelming money advantage from right-wing PACs will be able to propagandize the electorate. The question should not be "why isn't Romney doing better?" but "why does anyone still take this guy seriously?" This election is a sad commentary on the state of American democracy.
Nonsense. The economic debacle caused by republican's incompetence was the worst since the great depression. Four years and republican obstruction won't fix that mess. Nobamastank has nothing substantive to say - just name calling.
Hmmm,I am curious to what the proper response should be if Romney were to steal the election through voter suppression.Should people just say "oh well there's always next time",assuming we live through another 4 years of Republican destruction.Or maybe the "1776" option is the one to go with.Very tough question.And one the Republicans need to consider in their trying to suppress voters.
It is sad when propaganda and voter suppression coudl create the winner and not because voters have done their research of the facts and have an understanding of issues that create the winner!
Romney is sooooo toast and he doesn't seem to know it yet or just denying it!
A heartfelt but sober message to the White American Middle Class…
Let us start with our fears, an article in the Daily Titan (Torres, Renee, Daily Titan, November 16, 2011) Rich Benjamin, Ph.D. sums these fears up best. “White Flight” is occurring today. In a room overflowing with people, Rich Benjamin, Ph.D., brought this ongoing phenomenon to the attention of students and faculty (California State University Fullerton) Tuesday. People stood in the back and sat on the floor.
Benjamin is a journalist, scholar, social and political commentator, author and a senior fellow at Demos, a non-partisan national think tank.
Benjamin’s website explains the premise of his novel on “Searching for Whitopia,” Whitopia being a combination of “White” and “Utopia” and to describe the growth of white flight.
“By 2042, whites will no longer be the American majority,” said Benjamin. “A related, less reported trend is that as people of color, especially immigrant populations, increase in cities and suburbs, more and more whites are living in small towns and exurban areas that are predominately, even extremely, white.”
This my friends is the big PINK ELEPHANT in the room. It is this fear that makes an intelligent and thoughtful white Middle Class electorate vote against it own economic priorities, interests and wellbeing. Estimates are that 80% of minorities, Hispanics, Blacks, Gays, Women, Asians, Indians, etc. will be voting for President Obama. My guess is that they are not voting for President Obama because he is a Black Man, but they are voting “THEIR” Middle Class economic priorities, interest and wellbeing. The fear of a Non-White Nation has no effect on their vote. They can freely choose to vote for American Middle Class economic interests without racial bias.
The Republicans have used this fear in White America to their advantage, but know full well that the time will come when the numbers will not bear this strategy a winning one. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham told us everything we need to know about the Republican Party when he made this statement during the RNC: “We’re not generating enough angry White males...” The ARITHMETIC bears that out; in 1984 Non-College Whites comprised 61 percent of all voters. In 2008 they comprised 39 percent.
Much is made of the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court, but honestly if the American Middle Class were “UNITED” regardless of color or race, we really could take our Country back and make it work for us. Minorities are voting for policies that will benefit all in the American Middle Class; Education, Social Security, Medicare, Veterans Benefits, The Affordable Care Act, Disability, Clean air, water and food safety, and the safety net etc. “All” benefit from these policies apart from their race, religion, sexuality or ethnicity.
Stop for one moment my fellow Caucasian Americans, and think about the Republican Party’s veiled promises and let’s actually see what those solutions look like in BLACK and WHITE. Their mantra is “WE WILL TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK” I am assuming they mean back to a time when Whites were the majority and all laws favored them. Is this a “REALISTIC” goal for a US political party in 2012? Yes you could take this Country back, but it would entail, taking voting rights away from ALL Minorities including Women the full repeal of the Voting Rights Act; it would mean a mass round-up and forced deportation of “ALL” 11 million un-documented immigrants by our military and police; it would take the repeal of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, revoking EQUAL PROTECTION; it would take the rescinding of all anti-discrimination laws in employment, education and housing so that you could work and live in an environment segregated from all Minorities the implementation of apartheid in the USA; and God forbid some crazy horror of a human-being would suggest ETHNIC CLEANSING. No my friends this is NOT an HONORABLE or CHRISTIAN goal worthy of Caucasians. It is shameful and dangerous.
The Republican Party is playing with fire, but many in the past and not so distant past have done the same and it has ALWAYS been their undoing. There are Statesman Good and Just that are White, it is these White Males not the angry ones that have made this Country Great! George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodor Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Lyndon B. Johnson, George HW Bush, William Jefferson Clinton and Abraham Lincoln, all White and all Statesman and all have done much for Whites to be proud of. Which White Male are you, the STATESMAN or the ANGRY WHITE MALE?
It is time to let it go. This fear is doing NOTHING for the White American Middle Class, no good at all. It is time to undo the shackles of racism and to build a better future for the AMERICAN MIDDLE CLASS. It is time to exercise American Values, United We Stand, and Divided We Fall.
We have things to do, Mitt Romney has let us know in his SECRET VIDEO what he stands for, and it is not the priorities, interests and wellbeing of the American Middle Class. Quite to the contrary he looks down on 47% of us. Seniors, Veterans, Students, the Disabled, the poor and unemployed. Jesus Christ never turned his back on the poor, the sick or the disenfranchised; he spoke for them, Proverbs 29:7 “The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor; the wicked does not understand such concern.” It is you the White American Middle Class that appropriately reminds America of its Judeo/Christian Values…Proverbs 29:7 is from the Holy Bible it is a ‘Christian Value”; racial segregation, injustice, greed and avarice are NOT, those things are IMMORAL!
I am asking White Males to choose the better part of humanity in your nature…Reject Republican Senator Lindsay Grahams cynical and negative portrait of your race…
Our President has worked hard in the past 3 years to make things better for us and that is the “US” of all races and ethnicities including Whites. It is time for the American Middle Class to “UNITE” and fight for this man BARACK OBAMA, the President has done what he can to be our Champion, the Champion of the American Middle Class regardless of what color we are!!!! We must vote “OUR” own economic interest, priorities and wellbeing. Let us work together and build a Strong Middle Class Utopia…”TOGETHER” we have the strength in numbers…but it will take “WE THE PEOPLE”…idealism maybe, but isn’t that who we are a Country of ideals?
My sincerest apologies for saying it so frankly… May God Bless us “ALL”…Yes Bay Buchanan I am a CATHOLIC
There are a lot of white people voting for the President, including my 41 year old "baby" brother and my 71 year old mom. Also my 2 brothers-in-law (ages 58 and 40). I agree with your post for the most part, but the only people who the white males in my family are angry about are the Republicans. The stereotype (about white guys) might be true percentage wise, but there are plenty who will be voting for the President. And I don't know any women who are voting for Romney.
Before anyone posts an assumption, we are all working people and pay taxes.
Thank you Laura for your reply and for not responding in an angry way....I hear you and I am certainly meant no reflection on your family. My post is in response to the aforementioned article and the data. I KNOW "WE" are all working people and that we pay taxes....that is why "WE" all need to be "UNITED" for "ONE" cause the American Middle Class...all are successful with a STRONG American Middle Class....
I employ you all to put aside your biases and think for yourselves. QE3 was announced and the national debt is above $16Trillion, yes I blame Regan, Bush (Sr & Jr), Clinton, and Obama for this mess we are in. When the world dumps the dollar as the reserve currency we will all be pushing paper money in wheelbarrows, just like in 1930's Germany. It will be full circle and you can say "far right" or "far left" all day until your blue in the face but the outcome will still be the same. The American voter has become complacent as ever and has shown that we are incapable of a free society.
I blame the press, you will never be anything with type of
questions and discussion. You have cause the problem of confusion, what are the
important questions? I really don't care about the trash you spread. You need
to talk about the important issues. When was the last time you made news information
a positive point, a understandable point of view. This should be about news and
information about our country and the world.