Romney stands by comments in video but says they were ‘not elegantly stated’

An elder person who worked hard and paid into Social Security deserves his SS check, a disabled American veteran who was injured defending his country deserves his VA check. But a 22 year old drug addict who lives off of welfare and whose only contribution to society is to have more taxpayer supported babies is a parasite.

Don't government representatives get lifetime pensions or something even after they are no longer in the House or Senate?

When I was in Toastmasters, we were all advised to pretend that our family, friends, and worst enemies were all in the room before saying anything.

Don't vote with your heart, vote with your brain.

In 2011, 47% of Americans paid no federal income taxes. Within that group, two-thirds still pay payroll taxes. The rest are almost all either (a) old and retired folks collecting Social Security or (b) households earning less than $20,000. Overall, four out of five households not owing federal income tax earn less than $30,000, according to the Tax Policy Center.
(Tax Policy Center)

Here's another, slightly wonkier, way to think about the 47%. Divide the group into two halves. The first half is made tax-free by credits and exemptions, the vast majority of which go to senior citizens and children of the working poor. The half that you're left with is so poor, they wouldn't owe federal income taxes even if there were zero tax expenditures.

There are some not-so-poor outliers, like the 7,000 millionaires who paid no federal income taxes in 2011. But for the most part, when you hear "The 47%" you should think "old retired folks and poor working families."

vote this nov.

Far to many people in their 70s who have to work while collecting social security.. these people paid a lifetime into s system that has failed them because government has turned a blind eye to the abuse within the social security disability system. Far to many people abuse and there is no way that dependants of SSD recipients should also get a check. The person claiming the SSD should get one check that is calculated as needed. the children should not get an extra check as well.

My neice gets a large SSD check because her dad is SSD. He makes more now then he did working... something is very wrong with that system.

Medicare and Social Security are not entitlements. My husband and I put over $300,000 into those accounts plus my employer contributed as well. Give us the check and we will take care of ourselves. I'm tired of people calling those two entities entitlement. The government has robbed both of those accounts, that's why they are going broke.

social security is not welfare and food stamps...get over it already

Welfare is designed for a hand up not a handout for life

Considering only about 55% of Americans actually vote in major elections, does Romney have an explanation for why so many other Americans don't even bother.

I know people who lost their jobs, health insurance for their families, bankrupted by medical bills and yeah- they need a little help. But they sure don't live very well and sure hope they don't have to stay there

If the "victim" statement offended you, you are just being a victim. If not, you just blow it off. He's right. Grow up and deal with it.

He's such a "uniter" bringing us all together. No class warfare here.

FLIP FLOP FLIP FLOP FLIP FLOP

let him keep talking until election day when he buries himself. Oh good idea to have trump in the mixture.

Romney spoke the truth..Just like many on here...there is no changing your minds or your votes..What's the big deal? That Obama is dealing with Romney's splinter while ignoring his log..

Shall we all discuss once again Obama's administration advertising for people to sign up for welfare..as if we had a shortage on the rolls. Or the message he passed to Putin that after the election..he could do more to help him..Or his wife's comment at a memorial..'All this for a damn flag' as the American flag was being raised..Or Obama's comment on tape 'My Muslim faith'..Or Obama's gift to the Autoworkers when GM was reworked..and what he took away from the nonunion workers..Or, the rioting that is taking place from Africa, to the Middle East to Indonesia...all because of Obama's poor foreign policies..Or Obama's outright lies of his promise of the most 'transparent' administration..Or Obamas nonstop campaign on the taxpayers dime that is illegal...

I know who Romney is talking about..everyone knows them..Either as family or friends..Those who are leeches on the rest of society..If there is a freebie or a way to scam the system..they will..As did those who ran out of unemployment benefits and then got themselves put onto the 'disability' rolls..

Romney is not stupid..he knows Obama has the black vote, 2/3 of the Hispanic vote and most of the Jewish vote in the bag..And nothing he can say or do is going to change it..

Give me all the thumbs down you want..You won't turn Obama's sow's ear into a silk purse..

People making minimum wage qualify for all kinds of government "hand outs." Obama did not set that up Congress did. Obama did not start the recession which put so many on food stamps either. These "hand outs are a government subsidy for the wealthy meant to keep wages low which in theory should create more jobs. I dont care how Romney see's it all I want is for people to have a job. I am voting for the guy I think can make that happen sooner rather than later.

My campaign is about helping people take more responsibility and becoming employed again, particularly those who don't have work," Romney said. "His whole campaign is based on getting people jobs again, putting people back to work

Ok, what's that supposed to mean? Isn't the idea here to GET people back to work? Is that not Romney's goal as well? And what does he mean by "particularly those who don't have to work'? What the hell is that?? Who are those folks that he wants to get jobs? People that don't need them? Where is the sense in that? What his this guy been smoking?

Tea party myth is that people who lose their job and need help are lazy deadbeats that WANT to live that way. I know some and trust me- they don't live very well at all