Obama campaign manager Jim Messina Photo credit: AP
In an official email sent to supporters last night, Obama campaign manager Jim Messina addressed the leaked Romney video, where the Republican Presidential candidate factually stated that 47 percent of people in America don’t pay taxes and are dependent on government (a figure the Tax Policy Center supports and breaks down). According to Messina, the statements by Romney means he demonstrates a “disgust and disdain for half of our fellow Americans.”
To refresh, Romney says in the video:
“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.”
The Obama camp response was swift and brutal. In an email entitled ”You won’t believe this,” Messina blasts Romney and then uses the words to solicit a donation. A copy of the email can be seen below:
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Comments (242)
Nolooters
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:18pmAny politician that thinks it’s OKAY for 47% of Americans to depend on the government needs to be thrown out of office. Romney didn’t create these numbers and he shouldn’t be condemned for stating the truth.
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Ben__Franklin
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:23pmThe problem is he is wrong. I have many friends and family in the 47% group he just stereotyped. They will be voting for him. In my circle of friends, family, and co-workers – I have yet to hear any of them support this President Oblamo. They are all tired of listening to him look into the TV Camera and lie. Their votes are already decided.
All Mitts doing, is making himself look a fool. He needs to leave that job to Biden.
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DarkJello
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:30pmThe vast majority of those folks would vote for Obama even if Jesus was his opponent.
Last night he stated many will guaranteed vote for Me, many others will guaranteed vote for Obama, and so I hope to persuade those in the middle that my plan is better for America.
An entitlement society CANNOT succeed! The root of Romney’s statement is correct.
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Marine25
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:37pmSocial Security recipients, retired veterans, college kids with loans, disabled Americans, families with kids with Down’s or autism. medicare patients, need I go on? The ignorant far-right can celebrate “he!! yeah!!” all they want, doesn’t change the fact that the rest of America is going to have a very different reaction.
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Nolooters
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:39pmThe fact of the matter is there is nothing Romney can say that won’t be criticized. Certainly some portion of Americans need some type of assistance but when the number is 47%, that is simply unsustainable and Romney, the number cruncher, realizes this. Should he win the election, I think he will probably bring a scalpel; a hammer and a bulldozer to start to clean up the mess he has inherited.
Barack Obama is a cross between American Idol, Barney the Dinosaur and our Dear Leader.
I will take Romney any day because at least he has a moral compass and is willing to face the media when they get their panties in wad.
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johnjamison
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:54pmNo Ben he’s not wrong see 100% of those collecting unearned entitlements will vote for Obama,Romney’s mistake was not clarifying the difference betweens citizens being paid back after decades of paying and those who are the entitlemnet class collect something they never earned.
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SoNick
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:56pm@Nolooters
You’re exactly right. Anyone who thinks it’s normal for 47% of Americans to earn too little to pay income tax has a serious problem. And you’re describing Mitt Romney, who seems to think it’s normal that hard working people get less in less in wages and benefits for more and more effort. http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/11/business/la-fi-family-worth-20120612
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floridareader
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:57pmThe cynicism that comes from Obama’s campaign is amazing.
Messina says in the memo “thank you for being in our side”.
Excuse me, but a presidential campaign and a president that thank people for being in “his side”, is not looking after his voters but only his own interest. Even in that simple memo the selfishness, the arrogance and the narcissism are palpable.
And that is the man that expect to continue leading the country to its destruction.
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JohnTwoFeathers
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:01pmI have heard that the federalist government is planning on adding two new faces to Mt. Rushmore. Husein Obama and Barry Santoro. The first two faced S. O. B. president ever to be elected in the United States.
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HKS
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:11pmStrange how liberals want average working folks to think that the majority of Americans living off the government is a good thing. Pitiful, just pitiful.
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michael48
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:19pmthe only hate I see being put forth is the hate the jiveAzz LUSH in chief has for folks who work, save , invest and PERHAPS get fortunate…in other words …this POS thinks America’ existance and history is wrong and wants to redistribute our treasury and accomplishments to PUNISH the citizens…after all his Fabricated delusional crap has to be OUR FAULT…I’ve had enough of these dem-wits trash…go to hell, that’s where your pig sucking kind are waiting for you!!!!!!!!!!
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Obama Snake Oil Co
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:30pmThis is nothing more than diversion to Libya (that beautiful, spring smell Arab Summer), the Feds and the rising cost of gas. Just like the video is the diversion to Libbygate. Romney has more ammo for his weapon but is either holding back for the right ambush or being told to be soft on Obimbo. I say, both barrels right from the hip. I have been blogging on all kinds of news stations, especially, NBC wanting to know why they filter the stories from us on Obama or why their opinion stories seem to focus on Romney and not the failures of the man in the whitehouse. The big answer, they post stories as NBC allows them with the exception of local events and news. Even Fox could do a better job on reporting and getting the details out there but they need to focus on the news from 5-7 pm. The five is OK but should be moved. Just an opinion.
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MDDAWG
Sep. 18, 2012 at 4:09pmRomney is not the president right now. He is campaiging. He shouldn’t be concerned what people who are convinced that Obama is their lifeline think.
He’s focusing his campaign on those that are unsure of who they should vote for.
It was a little too much of a generalization, however. I’m sure there are many older folks who are retired, living on SSI, who paid into the system who are in the 47%. Some of those may still believe in a strong America. He might have offended some. Hopefully, they understand what he is trying to say. I respect him more for saying what he did. He really does believe in “rugged individualism.”
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DarkJello
Sep. 18, 2012 at 4:17pmMarine: “Social Security recipients, retired veterans, college kids with loans, disabled Americans, families with kids with Down’s or autism. medicare patients, need I go on? The ignorant far-right can celebrate “he!! yeah!!” all they want, doesn’t change the fact that the rest of America is going to have a very different reaction.”
You are putting an awful lot of words in Romney’s mouth, fyi. Do you think the SURGE of entitlement spending is good for America’s long-term success?
Here is to hoping you will stop the hyperbole and join the rest of us on the deck of the titanic. We know 100% that the iceberg is just ahead. Will we let Obama speed up and ram, or will we choose the team that wants to try and change course???
I was helped greatly by many sources as a college student. We don’t want to trash these programs, but we DO want to trim back to a manageable level. Entitlement = slow death of America.
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Verceofreason
Sep. 18, 2012 at 4:45pmWho do those old people, children and veterans think they ARE!!!
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AvengerK
Sep. 18, 2012 at 5:11pmI’ll tell you who they are VERCIE…they’re the same people who under Obama can’t find a job.
You do recall that Obama has the highest underemployment rate since WWII don’t you tiger?
Let me add a little to that…..Last month..Obama’s stagnant economy added just 96,000 jobs…no, no..wait for the kicker before you start popping the Moet Et Chandon VERCIE…the economy also lost 385,000 workers who dropped out of the workforce last month because they can’t find work. The previous two months had similar numbers. Now…96K found jobs while 385K gave up looking for jobs and dropped out of the workforce entirely..and that’s only one month’s numbers. Weigh it up little guy…this is desirable to you? This is on the right track to you is it VERCIE?
Ok VERCIE..pop the champagne..let the good times roll…..woo hoo…96K got a job (sorry 385K…you’ll have to enjoy food stamps booze instead).
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MPetrie
Sep. 18, 2012 at 5:45pmPeople are misinterpreting what he’s saying. Is it easy to misinterpret it? Yes… but here’s what he’s saying: Obama starts off with 47% of the population. Within this 47% are people who are dependent on government, has an entitlement mentality, are not swayed by lower tax proposals because they already pay no tax, etc. He’s not saying that ALL 47% of those people have the same mentality and are dependent on government. He’s just saying that those within that 47% will never change their mind no matter what. So, instead of try to convince those within the 47% to switch their vote, he’s focusing on earning the vote of those in the middle who have not made up their minds yet. Having said this, once again, Romney gave the Dems some fodder to use. While I agree with his underlying message, it was not elegantly stated. But then again… we have someone in office that DOES state thing elegantly… how’s that working out for ya?
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Git-R-Done
Sep. 18, 2012 at 6:27pmMarine – You’re just providing more evidence that you Marxists want as many people dependent upon the government to provide for their needs as possible. How else will your side obtain more and more political power if people aren’t dependent upon the government for their needs in life?
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Wyerd_001
Sep. 18, 2012 at 9:36pmThank you BEN, I concur with you to a point, but keep context in mind… The point i got was that the people not paying taxes are not effected so much, thus are worried about lower income tax speech…how much lower can you go from zero?
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KURT1010
Sep. 19, 2012 at 3:12pmWhy the big deal, these people have NO money and are not going to give to Obummer anyway…
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mersey
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:15pmOh yeah, the 47 percent who can’t afford to pay any income tax at all can afford to contribute to the regime? This should be interesting.
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The_Cabrito_Goat
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:12pmWe should all be thanking both Mitt and Mother Jones for finally bringing this debate to the forefront.
(However, Mother Jones realizes they needed to release this story as cover for Obama’s Libya-gate)
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MrSunshine
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:42pmThey most certainly contribute to the regime. They contribute their ignorance, their envy, their sloth, their apathy, their intolerance, their depravity, their avarice and their complicity in the absolute farce that is the Obama administration. Obama doesn’t need their money, he needs their immoral support.
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Dismayed Veteran
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:12pmI’m one of the 47%. I didn’t vote for Obama in 2008 and I won’t vote for him in 2012. I have grandchildren that shouldn’t be carrying the load of debt we have now. Hard things must happen to save the Republic. I will bear the impact to me so my grandchildren have a shot at growing old in a constitutional republic as free men. Romney wasn’t my first choice but he will get my vote. No more Obama/Biden ship of fools.
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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:20pmTHAT is an American. THAT is what our country is about. THAT is why I had what I had growing up. For generations Americans would take what life gave them in order to ensure that posterity would be better. Now we want “what is ours” and don’t bat an eye about stealing from our posterity to do it.
God bless you D_V.
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justangry
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:34pmAye, well said Rothbard.
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barber2
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:45pmJUST: who is the new avatar ?
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Brooks
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:19pmI don’t think you are one of the 47%ers. You served this country and more than paid your dues! The 47%ers haven’t paid income taxes and/or live off of the govt. dole – some of them are generational. Thank you for your service to help preserve this country – it will never be forgotten! We must “fix” this economy so people can get back to work and to again be able to contribute to the betterment of America.
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justangry
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:24pmOh, I created a second account to try to slip something past the Blaze’s Nazi moderators. And in doing so switched the pic on my main account by mistake and it hasn’t changed back yet. I was trying to poke fun at crybaby Beohner and the notorious teleprompter reading of “the ayes have it”. Stupid thing won’t change back.
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RedheadedStepchild
Sep. 18, 2012 at 5:19pmI am of the 47% and so is my disabled sister and we are not voting for Obama. Never would but I know what he is saying and took no offense. I am trying to get out of that 47% as we all should.
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barber2
Sep. 18, 2012 at 5:24pmJust: Why not Joe Biden as an avatar? He makes people laugh so hard they cry.
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justangry
Sep. 18, 2012 at 8:42pm@Barber, Yeah he certainly is one dumb SOB.
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wisehiney
Sep. 18, 2012 at 9:28pmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Macon
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Cavy from VA
Sep. 18, 2012 at 9:58pmWisehiney
Thanks for posting the Wiki on one of my familys founders. He did not believe in the goverment involvement in education … (he went to what ended up being Princeton) … He also helped establish Randolph Macon College … (Est in Boydton VA) … a private college … he was famous for voting against any public assistance of any kind. No 47% for him … you worked or you starved!
TEA!!
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progressiveslayer
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:08pmRomney’s right the 47% that pay no federal income tax,the parasites that aren’t paying their fair share will never vote for him. They’ll vote for the Marxist mulatto in chief who promises them all the freebies and everything will be just fine.Barry’s been using the class warfare BS since day one and he says he wants to help the middle class,BS he wants to end the middle class.
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AvengerK
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:12pmRomney has had gold land in his lap with this.
He can launch a campaign saying he doesn’t like 47% being dependent on government welfare..he wants to make that percentage a lot smaller. But under Obama..that percentage has grown.
Obama’s stepped on a landmine with this one.
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SquidVetOhio
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:19pmHere’s where you’re wrong, as is Romney. I don’t pay Federal income tax. You know why? I have 5 kids. Do I think it’s right? No! There are probably A LOT of people like me. I am a right wing, staunch conservative. He needs to clarify what he meant. I know what he meant. Many of these people would rather have a good paying job rather than a check. (Which I don’t, I work for a living). He needs to appeal to those people.
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progressiveslayer
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:21pmHe sure has and Romney should milk this for all it’s worth,do the pepsi challenge and taste the Marxism that the mulatto in chief is selling the bitterness and poverty that are assured against free market capitalism that Romney should be selling.
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DoseofReality
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:25pmDo me a favor and look at who those 47% are. Are you willing to take social security and medicare away from our elderly? Whats your solution? Just pull the plug on the “greatest generation” – let them die on the gutter? Is that what you want?
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progressiveslayer
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:37pmDOSE No I’m not saying end it I’m saying privatize as much social programs as we can because government screws up everything it touches.Setting aside the fact that social security medicare and medicaid are all unconstitutional we can’t simply pull the plug,but privatize social security for sure and the goal for welfare should be reducing their rolls until there’s nobody on it.
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sWampy
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:08pmThese people don’t want a good job, they want to get paid $50 an hour to surf the web, or sell booze. If they wanted a good job, they would go out, work hard and get one, like I did, like my wife did, like my sister, my mother, my dad. If we pay these idiots the $50 an hour, you know what will happen, inflation, gas will go up, food will go up, everything will go up, the rich liberals in that control the “free” market will see they have more spendable income and raise prices accordingly.
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Verceofreason
Sep. 18, 2012 at 4:48pmThe Romney’s pay no federal income taxes.
Their money is bizzy creating jobs in the Caymens and Europe and Asia.
To be fair the ‘Job Creators’ never mention what continent they create jobs.
Is there something wrong with you people?
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Git-R-Done
Sep. 18, 2012 at 6:09pmVoiceofstupidity – Long term capital gains taxes count as federal income taxes, moron.
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yougottabekidding
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:08pmSo how does that compare to the 60% of Americans that did
Not want obamacare but they did not care
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Mrsnary
Sep. 18, 2012 at 4:20pm43% of people don’t want obamacare repealed. 4% out of the 47% has a little sense
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Verceofreason
Sep. 18, 2012 at 6:17pmObamacare will never be repealed. Move on.
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Git-R-Done
Sep. 18, 2012 at 6:24pmVoiceofstupidity – Since when have you Marxists ever been right? Your precious Soviet Union collapsed and every country that has tried your beloved socialism has seen disastrous results.
Move on that capitalism always has and always will work and that the taxpayers don’t owe you a living.
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voting-for-romney
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:07pmLets be honest, do you really think Mitt Romney was thinking he would get the level of support he has now, and say that the same way? Good grief, these people have thousands of statements a year, and he makes one statement that may not have even been said after he saw how powerful and successful his campaign has become?
I don’t think Mitt Romney can honestly believe that today, and if he does, what is wrong with saying to America, prove me wrong? The Democrats are only hoping that they can make that picture stick, the problem is the abundance of evidence regarding the agenda of Mitt Romney proves otherwise, that 47 percent of the people out there would rather have three times the value of what ever government assistance you might have to receive – or pay back?
Go ahead, compare government assistance compared to what you would make in the private sector, without government assistance and then tell me Mitt Romney does not care about Americans? If government was assisting people, we would not need food stamps? So much for college educations?
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KickinBack
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:05pmCalling them victims is better than what the liberals call the conservative supporters.
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GoodStuff
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:05pmWe Are the 53% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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DoseofReality
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:28pmThen your probably from a blue state right? Its well known (and if it isnt do a little research) that the blue states financially support the red states. All of you crazy right wingers are the ones sucking the country dry….look at where the money comes from vs where it goes. Next time you see a blue state dem, you should thank them for supporting your state, your family, your elders….but its OK, we have hearts and are willing to help those less fortunate. The republican mantra has now become that of a heartless, self serving *sshole.
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AvengerK
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:34pmCan you tell me what supporting California is doing?
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barber2
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:54pmDOSE: Let’s have this Red/ Blue discussion AFTER the next election….
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Marine25
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:03pm@avengrk
California contributes more to the federal coffers than it recieves. 9 of the top 10 states collecting federal monies more than they have contributed are reliably Republican.
http://www.taxfoundation.org/press/show/22659.html
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DoseofReality
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:04pmBarber – wht does that mean? We still will be supporting you guys…..
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DoseofReality
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:12pmmarine – dont go throwing things like facts around – it will confuse the neanderthals here.
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sWampy
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:19pmThe blue states suck the life out of this nation, they are on the damn coasts, so all the imports and exports flow through them, and they take a cut out of everything the rest of the nation wants, why the hell you think they want us to not have any manufacturing base in this nation? If they had to actually stand on their own without all the resources the steal from the red states, 75% of them would starve to death in the first year.
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DoseofReality
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:28pmSwampy- please let the adults talk – the child’s table is in the corner…
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AvengerK
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:55pmLOL…and how does California give more than it receives when it’s in a budget deficit right now?
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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Sep. 18, 2012 at 4:35pmDose and Marine,
You are wrong. Looking at federal expenditures (as of now undefined…defense? education? entitlement only?) It is misleading because A) we run deficits at the federal (and state) level. By definition, EVERY state gets more than it pays because our entire country does….by a landslide. That it shows some states as “givers” only further adds suspicion to the claim. SECONDLY, it is nominal. Cost of living differs greatly by geography. Average incomes are wildly different in Alabama than they are in NY. Nominal tax receipts (even per capita) are going to look very different state to state. You have to create an index or baseline rate and put all states on the same scale. This is very cool for blue states that have higher salaries and costs of living when making this comparison. However, federal expenditures are not state or geo adjusted.
Everyone wants to have fun with nominal math. It is a useful tool when crafting lies…er…opinions. Truth is that you have to account for the federal deficits and total spending. Secondly, these lib blogs never deconstruct the spending on an entitlement level only and lastly the would never index nominal tax dollars because it takes away from their contrived story. This is much like Dr. Mann’s “trick” on the MMGW “hockey stick” or Krugman’s manipulation of spending and unemployment data to cherry pick timeframes rather than full longitudinal analysis.
Nice try fellas.
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barber2
Sep. 18, 2012 at 5:36pmDOSE: You are such a typical, arrogant Democrat wise-guy. The ” good job” crowd. No manners and sense to match. Life has much to teach you. Good luck.
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Git-R-Done
Sep. 18, 2012 at 6:26pmDoseofidiocy – All of the state and federal government jobs that are in your precious blue states don’t count as contributing, moron.
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voting-for-romney
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:58pmThat’s right Mitt Romney is not going to worry about convincing Americans they don’t have to vote for a political party that is destroying the economic fabric of the country? Mitt Romney is not going to worry about convincing Americans that they live in poverty largely due to the tax policies that choke economic freedom and job growth, they know?
Mitt Romney is not going to convince Americans that gay marriage is an attack on an establishment of religion? They know? Mitt Romney is not going to worry about convincing Americans they should give up their guns when it is proven the police can not protect them?
Mitt Romney is not going to worry about convincing Americans that foreign policy that makes common sense matters, they know? Mitt Romney is not going to worry about the stories in the that distort the assertions that established social programs are going to be saved by the policies of Mitt Romney, they know?
Mitt Romney is not going to worry about Americans being convinced he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, they know? Mitt Romney is not going to worry about his foreign bank accounts, deposited after taxes, gaining better returns than corrupt US banks, they know?
Mitt Romney is not going to worry about what they think of his Mormon faith, because when they think about Harry Reid, they know, that Harry Reid is not getting a return on the monies the Lord gave him to steward, they know?
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crazyrightwingmom
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:13pmWhat??
Why don’t your make your posts more confusing….
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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:55pmMy disgust and disdain and contempt for Mr Obama is beyond 100%
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Cabo King
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:03pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tCAffMSWSzY#t=28
click link, and pass it on !!!
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CatB
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:03pm@SNOW .. did you hear they say that Obama represents all the people .. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry .. they report this CR*P … he hasn’t represented ME … he and his regime have called ME (TEA Party member, Conservative, Christian, etc.) names and made threats.
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Lloyd Drako
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:14pmThs “disgust and disdain and contempt” are all on one side here: on the side of Romney, who pretty clearly feels disgust and disdain and contempt for nearly half the population.
His own words reveal his belief that people always vote solely on the basis of their material interests.
If this were so, then many low-income Republican values voters would vote for more redistribution of wealth, instead of voting their principles.
Likewise, wealthier academics, Hollywood types and liberal business people (there are some, believe it or not) would vote for having their own taxes lowered, instead of supporting progressive policies that they believe are best for the nation.
But Romney evidently thinks his fellow citizens are like rats in a maze, always going where they believe there will be more cheese, a simplistic view of the world, to say the least.
I thought he was at least smarter than that!
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crazyrightwingmom
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:14pmditto!
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crazyrightwingmom
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:20pmCabo…watched that video again….it is even more scary now than a year ago! So obvious his intentions!
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crazyrightwingmom
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:22pmHey, Lloyd, troll. He knows 47% of the people are owned by the govt…you DO know that, right?
He wants them to have job! Not a handout…is that better or not??? Probably better if you like sitting at home, probably not, if you have some self esteem.
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crazyrightwingmom
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:24pmSnow: My ditto was to you, certainly not to the troll Lloyd!
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DoseofReality
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:30pmIts soo funny – Ill have conversations with some older right wing relatives who rail against the entitlement mentality, who hate handouts and how its ruining the country. Where do they get their money frmo? Social security. Where do they get their healthcare from? Medicare.
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progressiveslayer
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:31pmLloyd Yeah I know what you mean Romney gave his entire inheritance,millions of dollars to charities because he has disgust and disdain for the poor.Don’t you know most people act on their own self interest? I heard Milton Friedman say that years ago and it’ll always be true.Your typical Obamazombie lives for the day and get’s their ‘news’ from the msm,they could care less about the future of the country as long as the freebies keep coming they’ll vote for whatever jackass promises to take from the evil rich.
It’s all class warfare Barry’s engaged in from day one and he’ll use it as long as he thinks it’ll work on the mind numbed zombies who believe his BS lies.
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MDECKER
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:37pmNo, your disdain for Obama is only 94%. If 47% is “half” of something. That Chicago education is something else!
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barber2
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:56pmDOSE: And who paid into those systems with their tax dollars for all of their working years ??
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Lloyd Drako
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:08pmThere’s quite a bit of confusion here.
For the sake of argument, let’s accept that 47% of the people pay no Federal income taxes. As many of my fellow trolls have pointed out, that does not mean that they pay no taxes at all. They most assuredly do: sales taxes, property taxes, and payroll taxes for SS and Medicare, to name but a few. I think they should be made to pay Federal income taxes, too, if only to shut up conservatives who love to use this shopworn talking point–as if making these people pay would somehow reduce the deficit!
Then there’s the % of Americans who are dependent on government support. These include Food Stamp recipients, of course, and people on TANF, anyone on Medicare or Social Security, whether poor or wealthy, veterans receiving veterans’ benefits (including America’s only truly socialized health-care system), and many others. I suppose we should include not only government employees, but also employees of firms that get special government favors, whether because they are defense-related, or drilling for oil, or developing “green” energy.
These 2 categories of people overlap but are not identical. The second surely accounts for millions more than the first!
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DoseofReality
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:11pmThey did – but as of now Romney has clearly stated hes not concerned about those people, they dont interest him. hes not concerned about my great uncle, a WWII vet who probably hasnt paid any income tax in 25 years. guess hes not of concern to Romney. hes not concerned about someone who was born disabled, after all they are just sucking the rest of our money away – those no good lazy leeches. And yes, there are tons of people who are poor and dont pay income taxes…they pay payroll taxes if they can find a job, they pay sales tax, etc. i dont know what fantasy world you all live in, but most people who much rather have a job then just get by on the meager scraps of handouts. Maybe if the Romneys of the world didnt shift the “uneducated” factory work overseas to make their stock price increase a few points, these so called leeches would be able to find work. You are so backward in your thinking…your mad at the wrong people.
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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Sep. 18, 2012 at 4:25pm@Lloyd
“For the sake of argument, let’s accept that 47% of the people pay no Federal income taxes.” Really? You a 9/11 truther too? It’s an indisputable fact man.
http://www.irs.gov/taxstats/indtaxstats/article/0,,id=133521,00.html
“conservatives who love to use this shopworn talking point–as if making these people pay would somehow reduce the deficit!”
Conversely, given IRS data if we taxed everyone making 200K a year at 100% tax rate we wouldn’t balance the federal budget. In fact, to balance the budget we’d have to tax everyone 200K and up at 100% and everyone at 50K to 200K at 50%. THEN, we’d have to somehow collect state and local taxes in there. This also assumes that someone making 300K a year would essentially keep doing exactly the same thing for 0 per year.
http://www.irs.gov/uac/SOI-Tax-Stats—Individual-Statistical-Tables-by-Size-of-Adjusted-Gross-Income#_grp1
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barber2
Sep. 18, 2012 at 5:34pmDOSE: Here’s some REALITY for you: Know why those evil “capitalists” that your Democrat brainwashers have you hating shipped so many jobs overseas ? Primarily because U.S. taxes and regulations being so much more onerous AND the union wages , benefits, and restrictions have made it so difficult to manufacture in this country. The Democrats always blame the banks, the corporations, the CEOs. That is just what Democrats do. Those groups are the targeted “jews” of the current Democrats who target, freeze, demonize in order to stir up their angry base and to consolidate their political power. This current group of Democrats is the most DIVISIVE I have ever witnessed. They go way beyond partisan politics into the Land of Character Assassination and Personal Attack.
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Lloyd Drako
Sep. 18, 2012 at 5:56pm@crazyRightWingMom: Not paying Federal income taxes is NOT the same as being “owned” by the Federal government. Plenty of the people in this infamous 47% will be voting for Romney this November. Some will do it under the impression that he really cares about them, instead of trusting their wealthy betters to care about them, or at least to give them jobs.. Others will do it because of what they perceive to be his views on abortion, gay rights, gun rights, and the like. If you think the “typical” Obama voter will vote Democrat because he is on some sort of gravy train that he wants to keep rolling, you are much mistaken. Human behavior is more complex than that. To put it another way, people are more than machines calculating in dollars and cents.
@ProgressiveSlayer: Unless I’m mistaken, most of Romney’s charitable giving is his religious obligation as a Mormon (not that there’s anything wrong with it!), and the rest follows channels dictated by the possibility of tax writeoffs (not that there’s anything wrong with those, so long as our tax code retains its present form). Yes, most of the people act most of the time on what they perceive to be their own self-interest, but not all the time, and not necessarily in their role as citizens rather than consumers or investors. That is why Obama will have a lot of wealthy and middle class as well as poor voters.
@Rothbardian: Down, boy! You are absolutely right on all these points. Which brings us to the tax code. . . .
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MDECKER
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:54pmDoes Messina mean, “half” the people in 57 states or 50 states?
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teddrunk
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:52pmSo they’re upset because someone actually told the truth and called them deadbeats?
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mcsledge
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:51pmAlthough this may not have been the smartest thing to say aloud, the facts are the facts. We are becoming a pathetic nation where almost half of Americans rely on the other half to pay for their sustenance, social costs or both.
And guess who screams the loudest that the rich aren’t paying their fair share. You guessed it; those paying nothing.
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Tri-ox
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:49pmTHEY are the 47% – WE are AMERICA! Don’t be a FLUKE – Vote Romney/Ryan!
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CatB
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:54pmDonate to Romney/Ryan here …..
https://www.mittromney.com/donate
Any amount .. you can fill in your own … even a few bucks will help .. especially if you are a new ‘First timer” … show them you care about America and want Obama OUT!
R & R 2012
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Popp40
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:49pmAccording to Messina, the statements by Romney means he demonstrates a “disgust and disdain for half of our fellow Americans.”
So what about the comment Obama made to those who “stick to their guns and bibles”….I am so tired of this adminstration being so damn hyprocritical and the MSM not covering the truth. I would like to think that my fellow americans have some sense of inteligence, however, I hear the majority of people out in public saying they get their news from MSM. It is beyond sad.
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13th Imam
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:49pmJimmy has Lewinsky lips.
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hold_my_stones
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:00pmJimmy sure has a purddy mouth!
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hornz
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:48pmWhy do Republican state suck up most of the welfare compared to Democratic states? Why do Democratic states pay more taxes then Republican states?
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Tri-ox
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:54pmState——-% of Pop on Welfare—–Spending on Welfare—-Total on Welfare—–Unemp
#1. California……………3.30%………………$3.28 BILLION………..1,212,893…….11.5%
#2. Maine………………..2.37%……………….$61.73 MILLION………..31,148……….8.3%
#3. Tennessee………….2.15%……………..$91.28 MILLION……….133,505……….10.7%
#4. Massachusetts…….2.09%…………….$295.29 MILLION………136,033………8.2%
#5. Vermont…………….2.02%……………..$30.92 MILLION………..12,543……..7.3%
#6. Wash DC…………..1.99%……………….$18.67 MILLION………..11,806………..10.7%
#7. New York…………..1.92%………………$1.47 BILLION…………..373,305………8.2%
#8. Minnesota…………..1.88%………………$106.29 MILLION………98,028…….8.2%
#9. Washington…………1.86%………………$265.88 MILLION……121,864……..9.4%
#10. New Mexico……….1.83%………………$58.87 MILLION…….36,322…………..6.5%
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mcsledge
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:57pmYour logic is flawed. Although more welfare is collected in a red state, those collecting are primarily Democrats. Although more taxes are collected in a blue state, those paying the majority of taxes are Republican.
It boils down to one simple principle: Self-reliance vs. State-reliance. Republicans for the most part believe in self-reliance. On the other hand, the majority of Democrats believe in government assistance. It’s that clear!
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13th Imam
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:03pmMc
Please don’t confuse the dolt with facts, it’s head will explode.
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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:14pmWell Tri-ox pretty much nuked your first point.
As for your second point, do you mean total taxes? Taxes per capita? Federal only? Nominal or adjusted for cost of living?
Wait, you don’t know do you?
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DoseofReality
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:43pmMcSledge – please show me some stats that prove that most federal money goes to dems and most taxes are paid by republicans. You cant, becasue you lie. You probably lie and make stuff up all the time though, thats pretty common on this site. I live in a very blue area, I can tell you that everyone I know works, works hard and pays plenty of taxes.
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hornz
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:58pmlol, no. Source your source.
Red states are welfare drags:
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-08-18/politics/30039546_1_blue-states-federal-taxes-red-states
Red states file the least amount of income tax returns, while Blue file the most:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/09/18/mitt-romney-will-probably-get-95-electoral-votes-from-moocher-states-obama-will-probably-get-5/?wprss=rss_ezra-klein
You mad?
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The_Cabrito_Goat
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:13pmHornz, you’re right. But we are trying to make it so nobody, even our side, is dependent on government.
Once all Americans can be a man and stand up on their own two feet without a crutch like big brother,
then, well, I dunno. I don’t remember a time WITHOUT welfare.
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progressiveslayer
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:14pmYou’re all missing the point here,welfare shouldn’t exist at all in a blue state or red state,it’s the BS that you can get something for nothing,it’s just that,BS. All welfare is unconstitutional but since when did our government recognize the constitution?
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thegreatcarnac
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:32pmBECAUSE…a lot of the red states are in the south and unfortunately for them, they have a larger population of blacks per captita…therefore…a larger percentage of their people on the dole.
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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Sep. 18, 2012 at 4:14pm@Hornz,
Your first link isn’t telling you what you think it is. It isn’t “welfare” it is federal expenditure (as of now undefined…defense? education? entitlement only?) Next, it is misleading because A) we run deficits at the federal (and state) level. By definition, EVERY state gets more than it pays because our entire country does….by a landslide. That it shows some states as “givers” only further adds suspicion to the claim. SECONDLY, it is nominal. Cost of living differs greatly by geography. Average incomes are wildly different in Alabama than they are in NY. Nominal tax receipts (even per capita) are going to look very different state to state. You have to create an index or baseline rate and put all states on the same scale. This is very cool for blue states that have higher salaries and costs of living when making this comparison. However, federal expenditures are not state or geo adjusted.
The second link doesn’t say what you are implying either. Furthermore, it doesn’t adjust for illegal immigrants who don’t file but are forced upon us southern states by all of you well meaning yankee federalists.
You want to keep trying to dig your hole deeper?
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48Straights
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:48pmWOW another news story? Thats like four today. Maybe Glenn woke up, made a call and kicked some ass.
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13th Imam
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:47pmWhat a sweet looking ? , Messina is. And fundraising out of the new “disability and welfare and foodstamp” comrades.
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Individualism
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:47pmall the two do is bash each other and not tell what good they will do, however Gary Johnson talks about what good he will do.
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13th Imam
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:52pmBut NOBODY”S listening.
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mcsledge
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:00pmGary who?
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GoodStuff
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:04pmGary…..bwahahaha.
Get out more dude
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2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:04pmPlease take your Gary Johnson fantasy and shove it up your cornhole. If you’re not going to live in reality, you are meaningless. Go vote for a unicorn, its as productive as voting for Johnson. If Obama wins, I blame you and others who were too stupid to set aside your “statement vote” in order to save the country.
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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:18pm@2,
So if/when Romney wins and the assault on the constitution continues with FISA, NDAA, Patriot, etc can we blame you? When the budget deficit is around 1Tr in 2 or 3 years can we blame you?
Does that work both ways?
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2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
Sep. 18, 2012 at 5:38pmRothtardian: Your question is nonsense. It fails to make a realist comparison. Tell me if you can distinguish the difference in the following two groups:
Group A: Mitt Romney, B.H. Obama
Group B: Gary Johnson, Bugs Bunny, fluffy bunnies, Ron Paul, any other person on this planet either real or imaginary
Here’s a hint: One of the two in Group A will win the election in November. Now you tell me about Group B.
What would you call someone who went to Vegas and bet his life savings on the Oakland Raiders to win the Super Bowl last year? (here’s another hint in case you are unaware, the Raiders were not in the Super Bowl last year and therefore had 0% percent chance of winning, same as Gary Johnson in November.)
Vote for a third party candidate, help B.O. get another term and then see what your chances of political reform are afterwards.
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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Sep. 18, 2012 at 6:19pm@2,
You’re point wasn’t about winning…it was about assigning blame for outcomes. You want to blame constitutionalists for an Owebama victory because we won’t vote for Romney.
I blame all of you RINO’s for giving me a government that infringes on my rights and makes me pay for it. You put a civil liberties nightmare on the stand…not us. You gave us all the RINO’s that vote for bailouts and TARP and stimulus and deficits and NDAA and SOPA/PIP and FISA and Patriot Act.
The difference is this. We both agree that Owebama sucks. I’ll even agree that perhaps us constitutionalists could cost Romney a victory. Where we part is this: so what? We care about the constitution, period. BOTH guys trample it. Owebama does worse than Romney but in BOTH cases my great grandchildren are going to be born with the tab of paying for me being groped, scanned, searched, irradiated, silenced and herded today.
Who gives a flying fart about tax policy on the 250K population. It means NOTHING! We are financially GONE. Our liberties are nearly GONE. We have a police state and crippling debt and neither candidate will address it.
You go on and blame me and people like me. WE didn’t kill the constitution.
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2MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT
Sep. 18, 2012 at 6:55pmAnd how is throwing your vote down the ******* going to help your cause? You stand on your principals and vote for Gary Johnson, which will result in an unchecked second term for B.O. and see where that gets you. You go ahead and try to move forward with a third party under a second B.O. term. Good luck my friend.
And to answer your question: If “things” do not improve under a Romney, please feel free to blame me. At least I know I am voting for someone with a realistic chance of turning this country around, not some Gary Johnson / Ron Paul pipe dream.
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AvengerK
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:46pmAnd by all means Romney should run the tape of Obama’s “god, guns and bigots” speech in San Francisco indicating Obama’s disdain and disgust for Americans who he believes turn to racism and paranoia in the face of adversity.
This is going to backfire on Obama in a big way.
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Female
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:46pmSo, OBAMA takes foodstamps?
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CatB
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:55pmI would bet they would come and pull out your tooth fillings ….
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AndYetItMoves
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:46pmMitt Romney is a millionaire who pays no taxes. The states with the highest percentage of people who pay no income tax are all red. Obama will be getting something like 2 electoral votes from states where people don’t pay taxes, Mitt will be collecting the rest of them. Can the readers of the blaze kindly walk me through the doublethink gymnastics required to see this as anything other than abject hypocrisy?
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13th Imam
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:54pmHarry. Is that you?/ Harry?? Harry?
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mcsledge
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:08pmMitt pays no taxes? Will you kindly provide us with Romney’s 1040s so that we can confirm for ourselves that he pays no taxes. Oh wait, you can’t support your claim because you are to busy repeating what others are saying. They too lack any evidence to support their ignorance.
Do you honestly think that Romney could get away with not paying taxes? Especially when he is likely to be in that category that pays 64% of all federal income taxes by tax payers (i.e., the top 5%). The IRS would have been on him like flies on a terd. I don’t see the IRS promoting such accusations.
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Git-R-Done
Sep. 18, 2012 at 6:25pmAndy – Prove it that Romney pays no taxes, moron.
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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:45pmSo he wants to fundraise off of the people who don’t pay taxes, are on food stamps and welfare. That should net him a pretty penny.
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Popp40
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:50pmThey will find a way to donate…..granted it will be the money from those of us that actually pay taxes.
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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:55pmHe takes EBT.
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Clive
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:56pmThis is a pretty ret@rded thing to say, and it represents the end. Honestly, we couldn’t have picked a less competent person to run against obama. All we needed was a DECENT man, and we would have beaten him like rented mule. Now we are stuck with this guy would couldn’t win if the race was handed to him, and it basically was handed to him. You have a president, who hasn’t done a good job, half the country hates. You should have easily won this mitt, now you are going to get your a$$ handed to you. geez.
Why didn’t we pick a guy with, i don’t know, a shred of common sense? Say what you will about rick perry, herman cain, tim pawlenty or michelle bachman, they would be a lot better off in the race, than this loser.
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Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:56pmHe just sells the donation as buying “PORK”.
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Lloyd Drako
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:07pmObama wants their votes, not their money. Romney, on the other hand, says clearly that he’s written them off electorally. This is not how elections are won.
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Popp40
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:15pm@ Clive….no matter who the republicans picked, MSM would be doing the same thing to them. MSM has thrown all of their support in keeping the “chosen” one in power. In all honesty Mitt was telling the truth and at least he had the balls to say it.
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barber2
Sep. 18, 2012 at 2:24pmLLOYD: Be realistic. The Far Left Obama Democrats and their International Lefty allies have control of the media . Between that fact and the Obama OWS affiliated anti-capitalism , wrapped in his ” hate the rich” rhetoric, those 47% of voters are lost to Republicans. Hard to change someone who has been brainwashed and who doesn’t have much history or political smarts. Romney is just being realistic.
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Mr.Fitnah
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:44pmI have disgust & distain for a greater % than he.
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netmail
Sep. 18, 2012 at 1:58pmI think I’m right there with you Mr.Fitnah…ESPECIALLY if O wins again. It’s rubbing right up against ‘intolerable’ these days.
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marcus_arealius
Sep. 18, 2012 at 3:24pmMy level has been 99.9% all my life. And I was wrong. It’s more like 99.999%. So of approx. 300 million US citizens, I respect about 3000. That’s enough for me to keep on living. However this November might force me to downgrade to a very tiny number. I hope not.
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