Mitt Romney: 'I'm Not Concerned About the Very Poor’
Give him his due for saying it out loud what we all knew anyway. Questions about Romney's skills as a politician though will continue to be asked after this unforced error. And of course few people will also believe his tongue wasn't firmly in his cheek when he said he's not concerned about the very rich. Why else would he try to become President?
The thing that caught my attention though is that Mitt Romney seems to believe the middle class are the 90-95% of Americans. It'd probably come as news to him that 16%, or 49 million Americans, are now living in poverty, according to the latest census.
via Rachel Werner at the Washington Post:
In an interview with CNN Wednesday morning that should have been a Florida victory lap, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney made a fumble that could give rivals an attack ad sound bite.
Asked about his economic plan, Romney said repeatedly that he was not concerned with very poor Americans, but was focused instead on helping the middle class.
Romney explained that he was confident that food stamps, housing vouchers, Medicaid and other assistance would keep the poor afloat — he pledged to fix holes in that safety net “if it needs repair.” He repeated past statements that his main focus is the middle class because those people, in his opinion, have been hardest hit by the recession (President Obama also has focused many of his efforts on the middle class).
But Romney’s awkward phrasing could give fuel to critics who argue that he does not empathize with the poorest Americans.
“I’m not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there,” Romney told CNN. “If it needs repair, I’ll fix it. I’m not concerned about the very rich, they’re doing just fine. I’m concerned about the very heart of the America, the 90 percent, 95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling.”
Doubtless we'll hear the similar empty platitudes from the other side, albeit more deftly. The poor really are of marginal interest to both parties. One side takes them for granted while the other side doesn't even acknowledge their existence.
One third of that statement is true and the other two thirds is a lie. The true part "I'm not concerned about the poor".
Secondly, I thought right wingers didn't like government assistance. So he's saying he's not going to work to get these people off of Medicaid or Food stamps and just let them rot on these programs. That's not going to sit well with the teabaggers.
is intended to be a factual statement
..poor-bashing is what his ignorant base craves. This is 1% class warfare talk.
Teabaggers & right wing lunatics who vote in these primaries want to hear how the poor are sub-human scum. They demand to be told rich criminals like Romney are winning the class warfare against the disenfranchised.
Romney is just pandering to his base.
I don't see why everybody is so shocked Romney is being honest about his class warfare.
Romney's class declared war on the poor long ago, & they will not rest until the poor are crushed under foot.
When Fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in excess body fat & carrying a misspelled sign.
Stephanie Miller on her radio show constantly refers to this asshole as "The most awkward man in the world"
Over and over, ad nauseum, "we have to save the Middle Class" ..
Rarely if ever do you hear the phrases "Working Americans" or "Working Class" or "Working Poor" fall from their lips.
And you don't have to be "poor" (though I think the term "empoverished" is preferable) to feel you are not and never have been and never will be "middle class."
It is just plain tone deaf (or tragically honest) for Obama and the DLC to whine on about "saving the Middle Class" when (I'm guessing) some 40% of Americans do not and never will think of themselves as Middle Class.
WE VOTE TOO
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
Please produce proof exposing Obama stating that he doesn't care about the poor.
Some progressives lie on Obama as often as conservatives.
you must mean "Please produce a tape of Obama stating that he does NOT care about the poor." Yes? I find myself leaving that important little word or contraction off statements and it totally changes what I meant.
You were very nice to ask 'Please.' And I'll stop calling you 'Shirley' :D
me-oww!
...not the turds of this uncomfortable, simple, boring corporate rapist. I think that the altitude in the mountains hindered this dude's oxygen supply to his brain. Vom-mitt actually said that he did not care for the poor
care about the poor, the working poor, or any statement even remotely similar to that.
All I hear from him is "middle class .. middle class .. save the middle class"
And one more thing .. if you can't be civil .. go fuck yourself .. ok?
[Edit: Sorry. That should be "Please go fuck yourself .. ok?" .. no need to be rude!]
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
'I'm not concerned about the very poor’
...only because we haven't kicked your door down yet.
We know, Captain Obvious. And we know you don't mind creating more poor by buying and gutting companies. You're a mormon.org arsehole.
me-oww!
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