ROMNEY ,HAS DUG HIS OWN GRAVE
Another portion of a Mitt Romney fundraiser that was filmed in secrecy has emerged, this time via Mother Jones, filmed at an unstated date and time, although supposedly once the primaries had ended.
This one has a snippet of Romney explaining the state of the race, and President Obama's vote share:
There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. 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. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what…These are people who pay no income tax.
(Also on POLITICO: Mitt Romney video: ‘47 percent’ dependent on Obama)
There are a string of video snippets, and the decision not to publish where and when the event took place is going to raise eyebrows. But the quotes are remarkably free-wheeling, including Romney making a joke similar to one he's made before about his dad, who spent part of his childhood in Mexico:
"Had he been born of Mexican parents, I'd have a better shot of winning this."
He also talked about how some of his consultants have worked for Bibi Netanyahu, how he doesn't want to have his wife Ann on the trail too much to avoid over-exposure to voters, how hard it is to convince voters of negatives about Obama, and how ads and debates will have a bigger effect on the race than policy papers and details.
(Also on POLITICO: Obama campaign: Romney has 'written off' half of America | Romney aide: He wants to help everyone 'struggling in the Obama economy')
The whole thing should be read, and the various videos watched. Some of the clips from the same event have been shown before, but not all, and not the one about the 47 percent.
Romney aides did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Romney has had issues over things he's said behind closed doors at fundraisers before, in contrast to what he has said on the stump or in interviews - months ago, he made headlines when reporters overheard him from the street at a money event at a private home, in which he mused about the Hispanic vote and what agencies he might cut. He had not revealed the agencies publicly at that point, saying it invites political negative attention.
UPDATE: Obama campaign manager Jim Messina blasted out a statement denouncing Romney: “It's shocking that a candidate for President of the United States would go behind closed doors and declare to a group of wealthy donors that half the American people view themselves as ‘victims,’ entitled to handouts, and are unwilling to take ‘personal responsibility’ for their lives. It’s hard to serve as president for all Americans when you’ve disdainfully written off half the nation.”
Obama is of course no stranger to controversy over comments made at a closed-door fundraiser - his own remarks, captured by cell phone, about people clinging to "guns" and "religion" during the 2008 cycle were damaging, and of grave concern to his campaign. Romney has also tried to outline a philosophical difference between himself and Obama in terms of the role of government.
But Obama discovered with his own remarks, sounding dismissive about someone's views - or, in this case, circumstances - can have a cost. Obama's ultimately ddidn't cost him in a measurable way at the polls - it remains to be seen what happens here.
Posted By: DAVID JOHNSON
Monday, September 17th 2012 at 11:19PM
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