Mitt Romney: 'I'm Not Concerned About the Very Poor'

Mitt Romney: ‘I’m Not Concerned About the Very Poor’

The gaffer

PoliticsFebruary 2012 • Views: 27,940

Here’s an astoundingly tone-deaf statement from Mitt Romney, tailor-made for his rivals to exploit: “I’m not concerned about the very poor.”

Obviously, Romney isn’t really saying that he doesn’t care about people living in poverty; he’s arguing that a social safety net exists that can take care of them.

But to phrase it like this, after all the criticism of his immense wealth, shows someone who’s incredibly out of touch — and at the very least, insensitive.

Video

Romney says, “I’m not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs a repair , I’ll fix it. I’m not concerned about the very rich…. I’m concerned about the very heart of America, the 90-95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling.”

O’Brien asked him to clarify his remarks saying, “There are lots of very poor Americans who are struggling who would say, ‘That sounds odd.’”

Romney continues, “We will hear from the Democrat party, the plight of the poor…. You can focus on the very poor, that’s not my focus…. The middle income Americans, they’re the folks that are really struggling right now and they need someone that can help get this economy going for them.”

Romney is infamous for the blatant dishonesty of his campaign ads; for example, his very first ad featured a deliberately out-of-context quote from President Obama. And when called on it, Romney’s staff refused to retract the ad, gloated instead that it had “worked.”

With this gaffe today, Romney can only hope that his opponents behave more ethically than he does.

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104 comments

Sheila Broflovski Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:19:50am

Welcome to the Uncanny Valley.

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:19:52am

Let them eat apple pie.

jamesfirecat Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:20:29am

"The middle income Americans, they’re the folks that are really struggling right now and they need someone that can help get this economy going for them.”

If the people in the middle are the ones who are struggling the most then by definition they wouldn't be in the middle they'd be on the bottom!

Obdicut Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:20:59am

The safety net is not supposed to be something that catches people at the very bottom, anyway. It's supposed to stop you falling all that way. That's why paying more unemployment insurance is a better idea than being Ayn Rand about it-- you can stop the downward slide.

This whole thing is just fucking disgusting. Trying to claim only a tiny percentage of people in the US are really poor, trying to claim the middle class don't also rely on the safety net, and trying to pretend that the safety net is adequate.

What a bullshit artist.

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:22:05am

re: #4 Obdicut

Completely out of touch. But this label is usually deserved for liberal intellectuals, so...

wrenchwench Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:23:35am

All nets are full of holes. Where's the floor? Fixing the net means still letting people fall through.

Wouldn't want people to depend on the net, it might sap them of their will to work.

Iwouldprefernotto Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:23:40am

He's starting to remind me of George Bush (the 2nd).

Gus Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:23:43am

I am not concerned about the the very poor. They have an adequate safety net to rely on. The very same safety net I seek to destroy once I become president as a member of the TGOP.

Sheila Broflovski Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:24:09am

What I said at the bottom of the previous thread about the "wealth redistribution" business model:

There is a business model that has been in place for over 20 years now, the bottom-line profit-driven model, in which the upper level is encouraged to "downsize" and "consolidate" the lower-level work force (i.e. DESTROY JOBS) and then pocket the difference. The "disposable people" business model.

This is true "wealth distribution" in action. It's just the exact reverse of the "wealth distribution" that the wingnuts are so afraid Obama will put into place (but has not)

Gus Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:24:21am

I think Mittens is double reverse concern trolling himself.

tophergraceless Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:25:17am

but he said he was not concerned about the poor or the rich, because both are doing fine...or something...

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.
--Anatole France

Randall Gross Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:28:15am

Many have reservations about OWS here, including me, but you can see that the meme that they adopted is powerful if Mitt's positioning himself this way.

Randall Gross Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:29:21am

Nativist Tancredo endorsing Santorum in CO right now

[Link: www.cnn.com...]

OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:29:34am

re: #12 Thanos

Many have reservations about OWS here, including me, but you can see that the meme that they adopted is powerful if Mitt's positioning himself this way.

I still love the way OWS makes wingnuts and dumb bigots squirm.

Although, it really doesn't take much for that, must admit... /

kirkspencer Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:32:29am

re: #9 Alouette

What I said at the bottom of the previous thread about the "wealth redistribution" business model:

There is a business model that has been in place for over 20 years now, the bottom-line profit-driven model, in which the upper level is encouraged to "downsize" and "consolidate" the lower-level work force (i.e. DESTROY JOBS) and then pocket the difference. The "disposable people" business model.

This is true "wealth distribution" in action. It's just the exact reverse of the "wealth distribution" that the wingnuts are so afraid Obama will put into place (but has not)

Years ago when I got my business administration degree, we had a class that had a game/model. You ran this company all semester long, trying to make it a powerhouse. The instructor decided not to give a "winner" criteria, and as a result some interesting lessons occurred that continue to apply. I'll share one as relevant.

Basically there were two separate splits to form four groups.
Split one was profitability vs market share/size.
Split two was short- vs long-term vision.

The really interesting group in light of the current conversation was the short-term profitability group. Turns out the best way to make a profit is to reduce ALL expenses, to include capital and payroll. If you don't care about the long term you just sell it all off, preferably after leveraging your stockholder contributions and all the rest.

Bulworth Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:32:49am

What safety net? What about "Cut, Cut, Cut", "wasteful spending", "10th Amendment", "limited government", "Food Stamp president", etc? There won't be much safety net left if the teabag GOP gets its way.

Randall Gross Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:33:25am

Tancredo is talking about traditional family structure and Western Civilization being under attack, 1 man 1 woman, etc. sounding all Breivik manifesto like

erik_t Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:33:58am

This is literally the dumbest thing I have ever heard uttered by a presidential candidate.

Daniel Ballard Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:34:10am

re: #3 jamesfirecat
Tone deaf indeed. But on a more $=results kinda thinking-
It's middle class tax revenues that pay for safety nets in large part. Not to say that Mitt had that nuance in mind. Safety nets must be properly funded, or the inevitable deficits put severe downward pressure on funding. Like here in California.

Gus Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:34:53am

re: #16 Bulworth

What safety net? What about "Cut, Cut, Cut", "wasteful spending", "10th Amendment", "limited government", "Food Stamp president", etc? There won't be much safety net left if the teabag GOP gets its way.

That's what I find so intriguing about Romney's statement.

sffilk Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:35:14am

HUH??? (scratches head)

AK-47% Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:35:18am

I am less concerned about this sort of statement than I am about his assertion that it was federall loan guarantees taht led to the housing crisis:

[Link: www.salon.com...]

that is a fully discredited load of crap, and he was basically just pulling it out to slap Newt around for his association with Freedie Mac and Fannie May, but it goes to show that there is no bottom to the depths he is willing to reach to appeal to voters.

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:35:59am

re: #17 Thanos

Tancredo is talking about traditional family structure and Western Civilization being under attack, 1 man 1 woman, etc. sounding all Breivik manifesto like

If Tancredo were any more honest, he would have said 1 man, 1 kitchen utensil+incubator.

Gus Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:37:53am

re: #22 ralphieboy

I am less concerned about this sort of statement than I am about his assertion that it was federall loan guarantees taht led to the housing crisis:

[Link: www.salon.com...]

that is a fully discredited load of crap, and he was basically just pulling it out to slap Newt around for his association with Freedie Mac and Fannie May, but it goes to show that there is no bottom to the depths he is willing to reach to appeal to voters.

Yet...

Romney Enriched Himself From Investments Made in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

He also has millions invested in several Federal Home Loan bank papers.

wrenchwench Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:38:12am

O’Brien asked him to clarify his remarks saying, “There are lots of very poor Americans who are struggling who would say, ‘That sounds ~~odd~~ heartless, but not surprising considering the source.’”

Fixt, for very poor but not very dumb Americans.

AK-47% Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:38:32am

re: #24 Gus 802

Yet...

Romney Enriched Himself From Investments Made in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

He also has millions invested in several Federal Home Loan bank papers.

You proved my point, there is no bottom to that sinkhole of lies that he calls a mouth.

Gus Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:39:37am

So again. Romney's complaining about a Federal home loan system that he himself profited from and continues to profit from. At least until he realizes that those investment will basically make him look like a hypocrite. In which case he'll then sell off those investments and claim, "see, much better." It's too late.

Kragar Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:40:50am

Rush talked about this on his show, but he made sure to stress that the safety net was destroying the soul of the country and needed to be removed to really help the poor.

Sheila Broflovski Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:41:55am

re: #24 Gus 802

Yet...

Romney Enriched Himself From Investments Made in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

He also has millions invested in several Federal Home Loan bank papers.

Sub-prime mortgage packager pleads guilty to fraud and conspiracy.

Gus Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:42:09am

re: #28 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Rush talked about this on his show, but he made sure to stress that the safety net was destroying the soul of the country and needed to be removed to really help the poor.

...

The safety net or the Great Society programs were constructed by the Democrat Party in order to BUY VOTES from inner city people!

Ojoe Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:42:47am

Well I drive food bank trucks for a living. It is great being really poor, boy I can see that, these poor people just are having a fine time of it getting handouts, it makes them feel really good, I can see it in their faces, they're so happy that they've lost their jobs, what a fine safety net we have here folks,

Romney go to hell.

Gus Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:43:06am

re: #29 Alouette

Sub-prime mortgage packager pleads guilty to fraud and conspiracy.

5 years max! I tell ya. That's just a head scratcher.

Darth Vader Gargoyle Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:43:48am

I don't see why Mitt is concerned about the middle class. It is simple:

1. Middle class worker loses job

2. Middle class worker becomes very poor and enjoys the largesse of the safety net

3. Profit!

OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:43:49am

re: #30 Gus 802

Wh-hyy, it's like they're buying their own slavery!!!

Kragar Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:44:31am

re: #32 Gus 802

5 years max! I tell ya. That's just a head scratcher.

If only they had found a joint on him, they could have given him life.

AK-47% Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:44:48am

re: #31 Ojoe

It is great being really poor... I can see it in their faces

That is because you are destroying their souls with your handouts and removing their incentive to succeed.

OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:45:05am

re: #17 Thanos

Tancredo is talking about traditional family structure and Western Civilization being under attack, 1 man 1 woman, etc. sounding all Breivik manifesto like

Two cons in a pod.

kirkspencer Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:45:30am

huh. Just listened to the whole thing, and Romney's not coming across so badly. "If there are holes in the safety net I'll fix them" for example.

Yes, bad phrasing, and to my mind quite contrary from other things that have been said. But not quite as bad as it looks - if I could trust him to not change his mind this afternoon.

Ojoe Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:46:17am

re: #4 Obdicut

Irony is that the safety net for in-hot-water investment bankers is just fine.

(curse words).

jc717 Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:47:02am

re: #32 Gus 802

5 years max! I tell ya. That's just a head scratcher.

Wow, too bad that he didn't upload some songs to bit torrent or had some weed.

Kragar Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:47:16am

Rush did admit on his show that the entire GOP field sucked this year, with no ideas of their own, so their only hope was to relentlessly hammer Obama.

Randall Gross Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:47:58am

re: #41 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

Rush did admit on his show that the entire GOP field sucked this year, with no ideas of their own, so their only hope was to relentlessly hammer Obama.

Occasionally he does get things exactly right.

Lidane Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:48:02am

Ladies and gents, we now have the first major Democratic ad against Mitt Romney, provided by Mitt himself.

Obama's going to hammer him on this, no question.

AK-47% Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:48:10am

re: #38 kirkspencer

huh. Just listened to the whole thing, and Romney's not coming across so badly. "If there are holes in the safety net I'll fix them" for example.

Yes, bad phrasing, and to my mind quite contrary from other things that have been said. But not quite as bad as it looks - if I could trust him to not change his mind this afternoon.

It's almost like there is a method to his idiocy: this will get blown up by the left, at which point the right will come in and say that it is all being taken out of context and offer it as proof of the Great Witch Hunt that plagues all who would dare to Speak the Truth about America, etc...

I am now going to bang my head on the desk pre-emptively.

Olsonist Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:48:13am

The very poor are not people my friend.

Gus Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:48:50am

re: #43 Lidane

Ladies and gents, we now have the first major Democratic ad against Mitt Romney, provided by Mitt himself.

Obama's going to hammer him on this, no question.

It's a perfect gift.

wrenchwench Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:48:53am

re: #38 kirkspencer

huh. Just listened to the whole thing, and Romney's not coming across so badly. "If there are holes in the safety net I'll fix them" for example.

Yes, bad phrasing, and to my mind quite contrary from other things that have been said. But not quite as bad as it looks - if I could trust him to not change his mind this afternoon.

He doesn't mind catching them in the net, and leaving them there. It's beyond tone deaf to say he's not concerned about them, because they have the net. He goes on to describe the people he is concerned about, and some of them are falling into the net. Does he then quit being concerned about them?

Kragar Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:49:31am

‘Taco’ Mayor Asks If Latino Appointee Is ‘Not Dark Enough For You’

Dick.

HappyWarrior Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:49:37am

This is why he's a shitty candidate. He has no ability whatsoever to even fake empathy. I mean goddamn Mitt would it hurt to at least pretend to give a damn.

OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:49:58am

re: #45 Olsonist

The very poor are not people my friend.

The only people who are people in Prolife [e_e] Conservatopia are the not-/never-born, and corporations. Everyone else: fair game.

Sheila Broflovski Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:50:28am

re: #47 wrenchwench

He doesn't mind catching them in the net, and leaving them there. It's beyond tone deaf to say he's not concerned about them, because they have the net. He goes on to describe the people he is concerned about, and some of them are falling into the net. Does he then quit being concerned about them?

In order to land in the net, you have to first deplete your entire savings and assets like house & vehicle. You have to be UTTERLY DESTITUTE before you can land in the net.

Lidane Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:50:46am

re: #48 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

‘Taco’ Mayor Asks If Latino Appointee Is ‘Not Dark Enough For You’

Dick.

Gotta love that GOP minority outreach. It's almost as convincing as Mitt's outreach to the poor and middle class. =P

Ojoe Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:51:18am

re: #49 HappyWarrior

This is why he's a shitty candidate. He has no ability whatsoever to even fake empathy. I mean goddamn Mitt would it hurt to at least pretend to give a damn.

As far as I can tell, he's just personal ambition and nothing else.

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:51:27am

[Link: www.flickr.com...]

wrenchwench Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:51:34am

re: #51 Alouette

In order to land in the net, you have to first deplete your entire savings and assets like house & vehicle. You have to be UTTERLY DESTITUTE before you can land in the net.

Which of course makes it much tougher to get back out of the net.

Gus Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:51:53am

I am not concerned about the poor. They have safety nets...

Like for instance Planned Parenthood provides a safety net for the poor.

[Stunned silence.]

HappyWarrior Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:52:02am

re: #53 Ojoe

As far as I can tell, he's just personal ambition and nothing else.

That's how I see him too. He views this race and country as a resume item.

Gus Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:52:40am

Mr. Romney. Would you consider a "welfare check" part of this safety net?

[Crickets.]

OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:52:55am

re: #48 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

‘Taco’ Mayor Asks If Latino Appointee Is ‘Not Dark Enough For You’

Dick.

Joseph Maturo, Jr. (R - Generic Con Bigot)

wrenchwench Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:53:04am

re: #56 Gus 802

[Stunned silence.]

He's gonna repair that net right on outta here.

erik_t Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:53:54am

re: #49 HappyWarrior

This is why he's a shitty candidate. He has no ability whatsoever to even fake empathy. I mean goddamn Mitt would it hurt to at least pretend to give a damn.

Unusually, in this case Romney's problem is being honest and telling the truth.

Kragar Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:54:05am

Mitt Romney: ‘I’m Not Concerned About the Very Poor’

Are there no prisons? And the union workhouses - are they still in operation? From what you said at first I was afraid that something had happened to stop them in their useful course. I'm very glad to hear it.

Ojoe Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:55:43am

re: #62 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

"Many would rather die."

"Well they had better do it then, and reduce the surplus population."

HappyWarrior Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:56:02am

re: #61 erik_t

Unusually, in this case Romney's problem is being honest and telling the truth.

Yep, but for all Mitt's bullshit arts, he's never able to come across as sympathizing with the downtrodden. Has nothing to do with his wealth but with his personality and the fact that he can't bring himself to sympathize with the little guy.

Sheila Broflovski Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:56:08am

re: #61 erik_t

Unusually, in this case Romney's problem is being honest and telling the truth.

The Stepford Candidate was not programmed for this. FAULT. FAULT. FAULT.

Sheila Broflovski Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:56:47am

re: #64 HappyWarrior

Yep, but for all Mitt's bullshit arts, he's never able to come across as sympathizing with the downtrodden. Has nothing to do with his wealth but with his personality and the fact that he can't bring himself to sympathize with ~~the little guy~~ other human beings.

ftfy

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:57:25am

re: #48 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

‘Taco’ Mayor Asks If Latino Appointee Is ‘Not Dark Enough For You’

Dick.

Something tells me he has many "dark enough" friends too. /

HappyWarrior Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:57:38am

re: #66 Alouette

ftfy

True enough. Really how pathetic is it that the most empathetic moment Romney has has on the campaign trail has been his Corporations are people too, my friend moment.

Lidane Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:58:45am

By the by, even the Freepers are amazed at how tone deaf this is:

Damn. That was an incredibly stupid statement. There’s something really creepy about Mr. Romney.
---

Instead of saying he’s deeply concerned about the poor, and therefore will focus on economic/job growth, he lays an egg like this. Anyone want to be that this will be one of Obama’s most devasting commercials in the fall? I think Mittens electability is vastly overstated.
---

Well, there is an upside here. He just gave Newt some new material for ads.
---

What an ignorant piece of white trash...

“retirees living on Social Security, people who can’t find work.” are the poor, stupid...
---

OhCrapIHaveACrushOnSarahPalin Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:59:02am

re: #67 Sergey Romanov

Something tells me he has many "dark enough" friends too. /

They always do.

Never fails.

AK-47% Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:59:09am

re: #49 HappyWarrior

This is why he's a shitty candidate. He has no ability whatsoever to even fake empathy. I mean goddamn Mitt would it hurt to at least pretend to give a damn.

All he had to say way "I am less concerned about the very poor than I am about the middle class" or something like that and it would've gone down fine.

But he just cannot seem to think in terms of anyone who earns less than 250K a year...

Sheila Broflovski Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:59:28am

re: #69 Lidane

By the by, even the Freepers are amazed at how tone deaf this is:

They hate Romney anyway.

Do you post there or just lurk?

Charles Johnson Wed, Feb 1, 2012 9:59:46am

Romney is infamous for the blatant dishonesty of his campaign ads; for example, his very first ad featured a deliberately out-of-context quote from President Obama. And when called on it, Romney's staff refused to retract the ad, gloated instead that it had "worked."

With this gaffe today, Romney can only hope that his opponents behave more ethically than himself.

Lidane Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:01:02am

re: #72 Alouette

They hate Romney anyway.

Do you post there or just lurk?

Lurk. I've had fun watching the webmaster there go into meltdown over Romney and get behind Newt so enthusiastically, as if Newt is some fringe Tea Party outsider.

wrenchwench Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:01:24am

re: #73 Charles

With this gaffe today, Romney can only hope that his opponents behave more ethically than himself.

Narcissists always depend on that.

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:01:24am

re: #73 Charles

I know I would be mightily tempted.

Gus Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:01:49am

re: #67 Sergey Romanov

Something tells me he has many "dark enough" friends too. /

You would think that this idiot with the last name of Marturo would know better.

Daniel Ballard Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:02:06am

re: #73 Charles

I bet we can expect the DNC and the left wing super PACS to make sure that comment does not die until Mitt goes home to spend "more time with the family". Even the most "moderate" candidate is a sound bite buffet for the opposition. (The buffet includes word salads at no extra charge.)

nines09 Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:02:34am

Is he talking about that safety net(s) that his party denigrates and tries to tear down every year? Thought so. His business practices of buying and cannibalizing and shutting down is also one of the reasons the middle class is in trouble. Mitt was on car number 4 when the GOP/TP crazy train left the tracks.

zora Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:03:25am

re: #73 Charles

Romney is infamous for the blatant dishonesty of his campaign ads; for example, his very first ad featured a deliberately out-of-context quote from President Obama. And when called on it, Romney's staff refused to retract the ad, gloated instead that it had "worked."

With this gaffe today, Romney can only hope that his opponents behave more ethically than himself.

his only real opponent right now is gingrich. gingrich < ethical.

dragonfire1981 Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:03:50am

I was trying to think of a nice way to say this, but I can't.

Fuck you, Mitt.

You don't have a fucking clue what it is like out there. Something is seriously wrong when a family living BELOW the poverty line is considered "too wealthy" to qualify for certain types of aid.

Not to mention, you shouldn't need an Ivy League education to realize that many of the poor people in the America today USED TO BE MIDDLE CLASS before you and your rich buddies sent the economy into the crapper and got the government to bail you out.

The social safety net in this country is badly broken and most people who share your philosophy Mitt want to make it WEAKER. That is not a recipe for a stronger America. That is not a key to economic recovery.

Call me a marxist, bleeding heart Liberal if you want to, but that's not what I am. I'm just a guy who thinks that people of lesser means should have reasonable access to aid and other opportunities to help them improve themselves and their life situation, not be nickle and dimed and defunded until they have no choice but to live in the streets.

You are a big part of what's wrong with America. Politicians like you live in this giant bubble where you are completely oblivious and uneducated as to what it's like out here in the real world.

If you've never waited in line to apply for food stamps, collected unemployment aid, bought your clothes for $2 at a thrift store and been forced to live off practically no food for WEEKS on end, you don't get to speak for the "poor people" because you have no idea what that is.

"Ignorance is bliss" won't last you forever Mitt and it sure as hell won't get you a one-way ticket to the White House either.

Signed,
A proud American from the real world

Varek Raith Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:03:56am

Washington Lawmakers Introduce Bill Claiming The Dollar Is Unconstitutional
DERP

Gus Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:07:07am

re: #82 Varek Raith

Washington Lawmakers Introduce Bill Claiming The Dollar Is Unconstitutional
DERP

Why?

nines09 Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:07:42am

re: #82 Varek Raith

Washington Lawmakers Introduce Bill Claiming The Dollar Is Unconstitutional
DERP

Don't tell. Let me guess. GOP? TP?

HappyWarrior Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:08:37am

re: #82 Varek Raith

Washington Lawmakers Introduce Bill Claiming The Dollar Is Unconstitutional
DERP

Yay gold standard crap.

Gus Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:09:24am

Just think how tiny a dollar of gold would be.

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:09:41am

re: #84 nines09

Don't tell. Let me guess. GOP? TP?

My first thought.

You stole it. I'm gonna start wearing tinfoil hat./

Varek Raith Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:10:01am

re: #86 Gus 802

Just think how tiny a dollar of gold would be.

*Sneezes*
AH SHIT!
There goes 50 buck worth of dust.
:/

Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:28:44am

re: #23 Sergey Romanov

If Tancredo were any more honest, he would have said 1 man, 1 kitchen utensil+incubator.

I doubt Tancredo is holding up the society of Athos as the desired goal.

[Link: en.wikipedia.org...]

Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:35:22am

re: #45 Olsonist

The very poor are not people my friend.

I'm not concerned about the very poor...

...they don't have anything for Mitt the Ripper to loot.
//

Feline Emperor of the Conservative Waste Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:36:25am

re: #48 Kragar (Proud to be Kafir)

‘Taco’ Mayor Asks If Latino Appointee Is ‘Not Dark Enough For You’

Dick.

Another case of doubling-down on the stupid rather than learning something after making an error.

CriticalDragon1177 Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:45:11am

Charles Johnson,

In all fairness this story actually doesn't make him sound anywhere near as bad as I thought it would. I based on the title, at first I literally thought he was going to say poor people can starve. Off course that would be incredibly stupid, as well as evil sounding.

Charleston Chew Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:46:54am

One of life's purest pleasures is pointing out to greedy American Christian conservatives that they are profoundly and fundamentally at odds with their own holy scriptures.

Mark 10:17,21-25
King James Version (just to make it extra-conservativey)

17 ...there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:48:00am

re: #92 CriticalDragon1177

Charles Johnson,

In all fairness this story actually doesn't make him sound anywhere near as bad as I thought it would. I based on the title, at first I literally thought he was going to say poor people can starve. Off course that would be incredibly stupid, as well as evil sounding.

In all fairness, this is the second paragraph of Charles' post:

Obviously, Romney isn’t really saying that he doesn’t care about people living in poverty; he’s arguing that a social safety net exists that can take care of them.

CriticalDragon1177 Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:48:29am

Guys, one more thing, this may seem minor but I think it needs to be said.

Romney's Wealth really shouldn't be the deciding factor in weather or not he should be president. What really matters is what he will most likely do if he is elected president. I'm not saying I support him, but his wealth is really a non issue.

CriticalDragon1177 Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:49:38am

re: #94 Sergey Romanov

I know, I read that, but thanks anyway. My comment may have been a bit confusing.

Charleston Chew Wed, Feb 1, 2012 10:55:53am

re: #95 CriticalDragon1177

Guys, one more thing, this may seem minor but I think it needs to be said.

Romney's Wealth really shouldn't be the deciding factor in weather or not he should be president. What really matters is what he will most likely do if he is elected president. I'm not saying I support him, but his wealth is really a non issue.

You're right - what really matters is what he will most likely do if he is elected president.

But his wealth is a deciding factor in what he will most likely do, as are all his traits and all the traits of any candidate.

Emotional differences between the rich and poor, as depicted in such Charles Dickens classics as “A Christmas Carol” and “A Tale of Two Cities,” may have a scientific basis. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have found that people in the lower socio-economic classes are more physiologically attuned to suffering, and quicker to express compassion than their more affluent counterparts.

By comparison, the UC Berkeley study found that individuals in the upper middle and upper classes were less able to detect and respond to the distress signals of others. Overall, the results indicate that socio-economic status correlates with the level of empathy and compassion that people show in the face of emotionally charged situations.

“It’s not that the upper classes are coldhearted,” said UC Berkeley social psychologist Jennifer Stellar, lead author of the study published online on Dec. 12 in the journal, Emotion. “They may just not be as adept at recognizing the cues and signals of suffering because they haven’t had to deal with as many obstacles in their lives.”

[Link: newscenter.berkeley.edu...]

Robert O. Wed, Feb 1, 2012 11:15:55am

Corporations are people, my friend.
I like being able to fire people who provide services to me.
I'm also unemployed.
I'm not concerned about the very poor.
$10,000 bet.
I get speaker fees from time to time ($375k), but not very much.
Don't try and stop the foreclosure process - let it run its course and hit the bottom.

What has been taken out of context?

Romantic Heretic Wed, Feb 1, 2012 12:02:20pm

re: #95 CriticalDragon1177

Guys, one more thing, this may seem minor but I think it needs to be said.

Romney's Wealth really shouldn't be the deciding factor in weather or not he should be president. What really matters is what he will most likely do if he is elected president. I'm not saying I support him, but his wealth is really a non issue.

On the contrary. Much of his wealth is inherited. He's never had to work for it. When he did work, it was running a business that specialized in vulture capitalism.'

I regard that as highly relevant.

100

labman57 Wed, Feb 1, 2012 12:14:21pm

"Let them eat brioche!"

101

Big Joe Wed, Feb 1, 2012 12:47:58pm

re: #86 Gus 802

Just think how tiny a dollar of gold would be.

~ 17 mg.

102

Ojoe Wed, Feb 1, 2012 2:21:30pm

Why should the two main political parties, which are private things, and are not mentioned in the Constitution at all, have this seeming lock on the governmental machinery of our country?

Something is very wrong here.

103

romans828 Wed, Feb 1, 2012 4:57:18pm

re: #81 dragonfire1981

He made it worse when he was trying to explain himself and said something like "No question, it's not good being poor." Thanks, Mitt. If you hadn't said that, people would never know whether being poor was good or not! He doesn't even hear these things as they come out of his mouth! He keeps giving the Dems their October ammunition without even realizing it! All these related gaffes are spoken like a man who has never counted pennies in the grocery store or worried about whether he could pay his heating bills--things I and millions of other people are struggling with. And he expects us to consider voting for him?

104

ReamWorks SKG Thu, Feb 2, 2012 2:45:06pm

re: #3 jamesfirecat

If the people in the middle are the ones who are struggling the most then by definition they wouldn't be in the middle they'd be on the bottom!

And, in fact, they are! A person who owes $400,000 on a house worth $100,000 is worth $-300,000. But because these are the "right type of people" we call them middle-class instead of poor, and the Government--both Democrats and Republicans--try to keep them in the middle-class category.

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