Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
"According to Mitt Romney...his tax plan won't help 47 percent of the population"
Accidental candor on tax policy
By Steve Benen
<...>
But there was another exchange in the interview that's worth keeping in mind.
The point, of course, was to offer some kind of defense for his "47 percent" problem, explaining why he's largely prepared to blow off the chunk of the population he perceives as lazy moochers who refuse to "take responsibility" for their lives.
But in the process, Romney accidentally admitted something. As John McCormack at the conservative Weekly Standard noted last night, Romney "conceded yet again that his tax policies won't appeal to half the country."
Quite right. According to Mitt Romney, talking on Fox News, his tax plan won't help 47 percent of the population. Indeed, there's ample evidence that many of the folks in this chunk of the population will see a tax increase, as the Romney administration redistributes wealth in the other direction by slashing taxes on the wealthy.
Remember, as Rachel noted last night, Romney believes it's a "problem" that 47 percent of the population doesn't pay federal income taxes, and it's a problem he intends to fix. What's new is the admission on national television that his tax plan won't be "attractive" to nearly half the country because that's the part of the country that won't see any of the benefits.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/09/19/13963831-accidental-candor-on-tax-policy
By Steve Benen
<...>
But there was another exchange in the interview that's worth keeping in mind.
CAVUTO: Now, you have said that your wording might have been inelegant, but others have said that you just kissed half the electorate goodbye this election year, that you all but called them moochers. Did you?
ROMNEY: No, I'm talking about a perspective of individuals who I'm not likely to get to support me. I recognize that those people who are not paying income tax are going to say, "Gosh, this, this provision of, that Mitt keeps talking about lowering income taxes," that's not going to be real attractive to them.
The point, of course, was to offer some kind of defense for his "47 percent" problem, explaining why he's largely prepared to blow off the chunk of the population he perceives as lazy moochers who refuse to "take responsibility" for their lives.
But in the process, Romney accidentally admitted something. As John McCormack at the conservative Weekly Standard noted last night, Romney "conceded yet again that his tax policies won't appeal to half the country."
Quite right. According to Mitt Romney, talking on Fox News, his tax plan won't help 47 percent of the population. Indeed, there's ample evidence that many of the folks in this chunk of the population will see a tax increase, as the Romney administration redistributes wealth in the other direction by slashing taxes on the wealthy.
Remember, as Rachel noted last night, Romney believes it's a "problem" that 47 percent of the population doesn't pay federal income taxes, and it's a problem he intends to fix. What's new is the admission on national television that his tax plan won't be "attractive" to nearly half the country because that's the part of the country that won't see any of the benefits.
http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2012/09/19/13963831-accidental-candor-on-tax-policy
Mitt is not smart. When you're being criticized as incompetent by conservatives (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021374555) and thrown under a bus by Republicans candidates/elected officials (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021373097), even your own running mate (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021374187), it's time to stop digging.
