Did Mitt Romney just blow the election?

Comments caught on video reveal that the GOP candidate thinks half of Americans are losers. This is an utter disaster for his campaign.

By MSNMoney partner Sep 18, 2012 12:16PM

Bloomberg logoBy Josh Barro

 

You can mark my prediction now: A secret recording from a closed-door Mitt Romney fundraiser, released Monday by David Corn at Mother Jones, has killed Mitt Romney's campaign for president.

 

On the tape, Romney explains that his electoral strategy involves writing off nearly half the country as unmoveable Obama voters. As Romney explains, 47 percent of Americans "believe that they are victims." He laments: "I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

 

So what's the upshot? "My job is not to worry about those people," he says. He also notes, describing President Obama's base, "These are people who pay no income tax. Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax."

 

This is an utter disaster for Romney.

 

Romney already has trouble relating to the public and convincing people he cares about them. Now, he's been caught on video saying that nearly half the country consists of hopeless losers.

 

Romney has been vigorously denying President Obama's claims that his tax plan would raise taxes on the middle class. Now, he's been caught on video suggesting that low- and middle-income Americans are undertaxed.

 

That one is especially problematic, given the speculation about what's on his unreleased pre-2010 tax returns.

 

Corn tells us there are more embarrassing moments on segments of the video he hasn't released yet. Romney jokes that he'd be more likely to win the election if he were Hispanic. He makes some awkward comments about whether he was born with a "silver spoon" in his mouth.

 

But those are survivable. The really disastrous thing is the clip about "victims," and the combination of contempt and pity that Romney shows for anyone who isn't going to vote for him.

 

Romney is the most opaque presidential nominee since Nixon, and people have been reduced to guessing what his true feelings are. This video provides an answer: He feels that you're a loser. It's not an answer that wins elections.


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1526Comments
Bildonmac7
Sep 18, 2012 6:15PM
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Since America is on a steep fiscal cliff it seems that Mitt Romney is absolutely correct in his analysis.  Unless the Federal Government reins in the massive spending programs, totally reforms the tax code, and eliminates the wasteful and even fraudulent spending, the totally unsustainable entitlement programs will collapse under their tremendous weight.  The Obama Administration's plans to spend greater amounts of borrowed money to "stimulate" the economy is fantasy because it is historically impossible to spend ourselves to prosperity.  In addition, the onerous regulations now imposed on both large and small companies prevent them from hiring or expanding.  One needs only to look in every community in the nation to see the closed doors and shuttered factories to know that those in private industry can no longer compete.  Adding more government jobs produces nothing tangible nor exportable, further dragging down the economy.  It appears the present administration's intent is to continue failed policies and that is why a person with proven business acumen is what America needs for economic recovery and prosperity!
HIGHWAY 61
Sep 18, 2012 6:15PM
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HE IS CORRECT,, THEIR FREELOADES, WHINNERS, BOOT LICKS, WALFARE SUCKING CHEATS, GENATIC MISSASSIGNMENTS, HALF-WITS, AND THOSE ARE JUST THE PEOPLE WHO WORK FOE MSNBC... THE 'people' HE IS REFERING TO WOULD VOTE FOR O.J. SIMSPSON IF HE GAVE THEM FREE BEER, FREE EAT, FREE STUFF...
rich7837
Sep 18, 2012 6:14PM
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Half of Americans ARE losers.  Why else would so many be on the dole?  The dropouts, the illiterates, the Occupiers, or the chronic Welfare set?  You call these winners?  Watch Leno if you want to see some losers.  Those street trash don't even know who Washington or Lincoln were.
Someone (TrulyJulie)
Sep 18, 2012 6:14PM
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But thanks for the beer recipe Mr. President, that'll help tremendously in my quest for employment.
Vincent Gammage
Sep 18, 2012 6:13PM
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I read these responses and I laugh. Why? because I wonder if ANYONE reads. Or, do they just regurgitate the same rhetoric over and over. There is a reason reading is fundamental. And, a reason why the spin doctors are constantly throwing numbers in your face. Because if they left it up to you to research the truth, you would find out just how far you are being led astray. IT IS TRUE  47% of Americans paid no FEDERAL INCOME Taxes last year. IT IS NOT TRUE that they payed NO TAXES. They paid into Social Security, Medicaid, Property and state taxes. They paid fuel taxes just like all the rest of us. In many cases they paid a greater percentage of their incomes than most of the rest of us. But, you will not hear that. What you hear and believe is they paid NO TAXES. And, have you ever wondered why? Why? Nope just they have not paid taxes. That is what they say that must be the truth. What ever happened to believe half of what you read and none of what you hear? Well let me tell you I for one ALWAYS want to know WHY. So I do research. And I do not go to my favorite left or right wing site to get the truth. I look for studies by qualified people, learned people, and people who Actually have nothing to lose or gain by telling the truth. And usually you will find the truth. So why did only 53% of Americans pay taxes? Do you really want to know? If I show you will it really  make a difference? Probably not. You are so stuck in what you believe you will not see the truth. But, here you go:
http://taxvox.taxpol​icycenter.org/2011/0​7/27/why-do-people-p​ay-no-federal-income​-tax-2/
The real unadulterated truth. I would tell you what this article say but then it would defeat the purpose of my response. That is......TO GET YOU TO LEARN
GrettaGoochie
Sep 18, 2012 6:13PM
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Unlike what "why455" writes below, the 47% figure that Romney referenced is the percentage of Americans who paid zero in Federal taxes.  This doesn't automatically include EVERYONE who gets a simple refund.  Just because you get a refund "why455" doesn't necesarilly mean you paid zero in taxes.  It just means your withholdings were greater than your year end tax liability.  Wow.  With your educated sounding post below, I guess I know who you're voting for.....

 

 

 

 

cmvibrator
Sep 18, 2012 6:13PM
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I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ANYONE WOULD BE UPSET ABOUT AN ABSOLUTELY TRUTHFUL STATEMENT.
jr233
Sep 18, 2012 6:13PM
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romney too rich for most americans,he has let them eat cake concept

his vp candidate will bury him with his voucher remedy

republicans could have had better runners for their rich man politics 

Seattle206723
Sep 18, 2012 6:12PM
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First and Foremost the Government picks winners and looser. You haven't had a Truly Free Market in over 100+ Years. You can't reach the level of someone like Romney Unless you are part of the Establishment and that;s something that's is factual.

Myself: I work in the Oil Industry and make 6 figures. I consider myself hard working and most people can't and/or wont work till its done. If 47% of the people are on the Dole; then You have already lost the battle. You won't get those 47% off in your life time; without a serious breech in agreements world wide. 30% of those people use to do the Manufacturing jobs

Outsourced to China, Brazil, Mexico, and there working on taking those jobs to Vietnam now as I type. This was done to move you into a Green Economy by the same people who by chance sell global warming. Since it didn't work; and they sold the Farm Already the economy was going to take a beating. Now these folks alone aren't to blame; You had the banking industry conspire to take away your wealth and build a Federal Reserve largely considered a conspiracy theory 40 years ago.

They got the Fractional lending policies in place; they got the Monopoly in place and now they finance the world itself through this method. It is a method, and has worked and served well mankind for a long period of time. The new game plan in place will be similar though with different players involved.

America isn't America no more and it wasn't Obama, Bush 2, Clinton, Bush 1, Regan, Jimmy Carter all the way to Woodrow Wilson who signed in these Methods. It was all of them; the Occupy movement got traction because its the method that has now been used to choke off competition. They just weren't up to the task; of figure heads and other methods needed to get it through the general public.

So get ready for the collapse and Reset.

Tumbleweed 1946
Sep 18, 2012 6:12PM
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You merely dig your grave deeper. Those on Medicare and who work minimum wage jobs are NOT leeches 
An Eagle
Sep 18, 2012 6:10PM
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EXCUSE ME chucky12 !

The violent solutions are usually the progressive/socialis​t way.  Please tone that down.

We only respond when they come looking for our EARNED resources.

randall grussing (randy47)
Sep 18, 2012 6:10PM
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The sad part of this next election is that the idiots who voted last time for Obama never learned there lesson. There are a lot f very very very stupid people in America!!!  Romney got in trouble saying the truth and that isnt what voters want to hear.

Tony Rizzo
Sep 18, 2012 6:09PM
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twist and spin for obama...msn...garbag​e reporting...i mean fiction
Tumbleweed 1946
Sep 18, 2012 6:09PM
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 As the Air Force general said to McCarthy in 1954. " Sir, at long last have you no sense of  decency or shame?" And that was the end of him
common sense713
Sep 18, 2012 6:09PM
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SPOT ON Mr. Romney, a spade is a spade.
kldhicks
Sep 18, 2012 6:08PM
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Actions speak louder than words, and Rommney's record speaks for itself. He is a business man and has made several businesses and organizations profitable. Obama has been on the government payroll his who working/rebel rousing life in Chicago. Although his personality is lacking, Rommney has the intelligence to lead this country out of a recession and make the hard decisions it will take to get us back on track financially. Obama is a train wreck out of control and it needs to be stopped. This election is not a white versus black or have's versus have nots. It is Capitalism versus Socialism.
Francis Furman Jr
Sep 18, 2012 6:07PM
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Romney hasn't lost the election, he told the truth that most know but he has the BIG ONES to say so. Obama build welfare not to help people but just to GET VOTES. He cares about hisself and his select few, believe me it's the biggest phony leader of this country WE have ever had.
Tumbleweed 1946
Sep 18, 2012 6:07PM
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If you have 3 kids and pay no income taxes because of deductions. Mitt says you are a damned leech and handout seeker. Ditto if you are retired and living on savings and SS or going to school on the GI bill or a student loan. HANDOUTS!
 Mitt says if you work a minimum wage job you are a damned LEECH

 What do you expect from a SOB born with a silver spoon in his mouth, empathy? What a disgusting excuse for a human being
Ron Br
Sep 18, 2012 6:05PM
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Why is the media so set on getting Obama in again!!!  It looks like the Carter's are getting revenge and nothing is said.  I remember, as a young father in the late 70's, the double diget interest rate's- double diget unemployment and double diget inflation. It was a very bad time for this country and now they are at it again.  How come the media isn't calling this the next Water Gate. The Dems sending in spy's to get just the information out that they want to be heard and then the media picking up on it. I was a indepentent until now but this just sent me over to the ,who I think will get us out of the trouble this nation is in, the Romney side all the way.
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