Romney On 47 Percent: ‘I Said Something That’s Just Completely Wrong’

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

Mitt Romney's secretly taped comment about "47 percent" of Americans never made an appearance in last night's presidential debate. But on Sean Hannity's show on Fox tonight, Mitt Romney was asked what his response would have been had the debate moderator Jim Lehrer, or President Obama, confronted the candidate about the tape.

Here's his answer, portions of which likely would have been prepared ahead of the debate:

"Well, clearly in a campaign with hundreds if not thousands of question and answer sessions, now and then you're going to say something that doesn't come out right. In this case I said something that's just completely wrong. And I absolutely believe however that my life has shown that I care about the 100 percent and that has been demonstarted throughout my life. This whole campaign is about the 100 percent. When I become president it'll be about helping the 100 percent."

In a press conference shortly after the tape was released by Mother Jones, Romney took a different position. He then said that while his comments were "not elegantly stated" and "off the cuff," they were still "a message which I'm going to carry and continue to carry, which is look, the president's approach is attractive to people who are not paying taxes because my discussion about lowering taxes isn't as attractive to them."

Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/romney-on-47-percent-i-said-something-thats

[gateley]

1. Like Obama noted, five weeks before the election and it's "never mind”.

[adamuu]

63. Exactly right n/t

[Lasher]

2. So when was he lying, then or now?

I don't think it's both. He was being honest with his rich benefactors.

[Fgiriun]

20. There is no honesty with this guy.

I think he has absolutely no belief outside of the mormon president prophecy. Well, maybe he does have a core belief and that is that the poor are lazy and therefore undeserving and the rich are hardworking honest americans that lie and cheat for the good of all.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Pres Obama denied Mitt the chance to say this while 60 million folks were watching......

that must suck for Romney!

Maybe he can go on an apology tour and sell his "No Apologies" piece of shit of a book while he's at it!

[EarlG]

6. Makes total sense

I bet the Romney camp spent more time than anything preparing for a discussion of the 47% remark at the debate. And now we know what their plan was -- Romney was going to do a big mea culpa in front of a national audience, on his terms, with the plan being that the pundits would all up and declare the issue dead. "Oh, he's addressed it, let's move on!"

Obama didn't bring it up so they had to do the mea culpa today, they can't wait any longer because they know the 47% remark is killing them. But by denying Romney the chance to do it at the debate this "oops my bad" will get little attention and the issue is still alive and kicking.

[Cha]

7. Precisely, Frenchie! Bet he had a real Zinger

at the ready...just itchin' to pop outta that Lyin' hole of his.

[LynneSin]

61. He probably had more than just a zinger

he probably had a look and figured out how to make his eyes water and perhaps shed a tear or 2.

[BlueStreak]

8. Exactly. All the bed wetters need to just relax.

Don't anybody try to tell me that Obama "forgot" to bring up the 47% thing. Obama had a strategy for this debate and executed it.

This is exactly where it needs to be.

And he got a bonus with Romney plainly admitting he is killing Medicare for those under 56 and Romney flat-out lying (and being nailed by fact-checkers on many things, but particularly pre-existing conditions.

Basically very little of Romney's brilliant performance stands up to the light of day the following morning.

[nadine_mn]

12. this is what I meant here in this post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021466581

[Tx4obama]

24. Yes, AWESOME that it sucks for Romney :) I'm watching the rerun of Piers Mogan right now and ...

they are sitting around still talking about "WHY didn't Obama call Mitt out on the 47% comment?"

I LOVE IT that Mitt wasn't able to talk about it on TV last night while all those millions of folks were watching the debate

[JI7]

40. and they would have connected it to his winning the debate and how this issue was settled

[silvershadow]

75. I caught that too. He instead chose the comfortable surrounding of Faux for this. I guess the

chairs were the right height. Maybe since Leherer didn't ask, he was disappointed not to put it behind him, so he had to go on Insanity to do it. It won't work, unless it's cover for stealing the election in 4 weeks.

[Canuckistanian]

4. As always, his timing is impeccable

The day after his big victory (yeah, right) and he's REMINDING the public of his biggest political FAIL.

Honestly, are his handlers secret Dem operatives?

[barnabas63]

5. I know! How will the media spin this??? nt

[FrenchieCat]

9. The media is still awfully busy tonight.......

[barnabas63]

11. lol..that pic made me laugh! nt

[BlueMTexpat]

43. Great cartoon! eom

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. Mitt, Mitt, full of shit

[goclark]

87. Mittshit

Love it!

[FrenchieCat]

13. Why Mr. Romney? Were your comments starting to affect your personal aspirations?

He was against the 47% before he was for them!

Apology not accepted!

[stlsaxman]

85. wait- he never apologised... he said "it didn't come out right".

[SaveAmerica]

14. Which time? (I said something that was completely wrong!)

[DallasNE]

15. So Romney Flip-Flops About "47 Percent"

Sounds like a dog bites man story to me.

What Romney is saying here might work if was just a couple of words like "legitimate rape" but Romney's statement was roughly a 40-word paragraph -- nothing inadvertent about what Romney said and no possible way this can be inadvertent.

[Flatpicker]

16. Mitt said something completely wrong

When he said "I accept your nomination for President of the United States of America".

F**k Mitt in his disingenuous mouth.

[freshwest]

17. Which version of the Mittbot2012 will be on the ballot?

And who the hell is doing the programming on this model?





I know, but won't say...

[DreamGypsy]

18. Come on, you Twitter Litterates...

...of which I am not one.

Isn't this a perfect opportunity for trending 'I said something that's just completely wrong':

I like big bird...Oh, I said something that's just completely wrong

My tax rate has been above 13% for the last 10 years ...Oh, I said something that's just completely wrong

My tax rate cut will not reduce revenue by $10 trillion over 5 years...Oh, I said something that's just completely wrong

The possibilities are endless.

[jsr]

19. Now he's really lying for the Lord

[politicaljack78]

21. Why are we all calling him Mitt, the guy's real first name is Willard.

Such a noble name for such a 'dignified' individual. He reminds of a colleague named Lance Charles XXXX, who preferred Charles, and yes he was a habitual liar as well. Willard has the unique ability to shed personas like his does his expensive suits. Whatever fits the occasion. Anybody want to bet $10,000 that Willard will now claim to be pro-choice again?

[SHRED]

22. The Etch-A-Sketch is shaking so fast it will catch fire

[AsahinaKimi]

28. +1

yup!

[Maeve]

54. You know, those things really don't last forever

There comes a point where you just can't shake it away and they won't draw any more. Mitt is reaching that point.

[NICO9000]

23. 50.1%

A few months ago, he said that was the number he needed to win. Does he now include the 49.9% who he doesn't need votes from (so he thinks) in the new 100% he suddenly cares about?

This guy really thinks people will buy any crap. The disingenuous nature of everything out of his maw is just a goddamn bad joke and I'm really tired of having to keep suffering through it.

[calimary]

25. Well, allow me to submit something "not elegantly stated."

Fuck You, mr. wrongney. Take your half-billion-or-more empire and your snotty, smug little wifey and go back to Massachusetts. Or La Jolla CA. Or Utah. Or Michigan. Or whichever state is your home state this week.

[NYC Liberal]

26. Now we know what Romney would have said

had Obama brought this up in the debate. He was RIGHT not to hand Romney the opportunity on a platter.

[CoffeeCat]

32. That's exactly why Obama didn't bring it up....

...because he knew that Romney would have a very well-rehearsed retort to it--that he had practiced over and over and over and over.

Why give Mitt Romney a chance to refute and spin one of the worst and most revealing things that he's ever said?

Better to let it lie. Good on the President.

Also, Hannity asked Romney this on Hannity's show on Fox News. You can damn well bet that Romney WANTED to be asked this question. He was most likely disappointed that Obama didn't. Cuz, he really had a few soundbytes waiting to finally put his 47 percent remarks to rest. Hannity's show is scripted to help Romney. If Hannity asked Romney about the 47 percent, it's because Romney was chomping at the bit to give a big speech.

As we can all see, the answer was a big, ridiculous lie!

[babylonsister]

27. What a pantload of malarkay. He's trying to head off what he knows is coming. nt

[Kablooie]

29. You were completely wrong? Oh. Okay. I'll vote for YOU then.

What? You were wrong about taxes?
What? You were wrong about everything else too?
Well that does it! We need a president who's always wrong about everything in the White House.
You've got MY vote Mitch!

[VWolf]

53. Exactly. If you're running for president of the F'ing US-of-A,

you're not allowed to be "completely wrong". On anything.

Just imagine if Pres Obama EVER said anything like that.
He'd be buried in a New York minute.

[dchill]

82. Indeed...

Why not further increase your chances, Mitty, and "confess" to all the other things you've been "completely wrong" about? That ought to keep you occupied until election day. At least.

[crunch60]

30. Mitt, the Bait and Switch guy.. what a piece of lying, elitist crappola he is. He panders to so

many different agendas, he doesn't know who he is or what he believes. He sold his soul long ago.

[andym]

31. You can't make this stuff up. He is literally undebatable

because as soon as you make a point he can just say no that's not what I meant, it's not true.

[CoffeeCat]

34. and that's exactly what happened to Obama...

Obama showed up to debate and communicate about this policies and ideas--and to speak to the American people.

Romney showed up to unleash the biggest mindfuck of all time in a Presidential debate.

I explained it to my kids this way, "Imagine if you were running for student council and your opponent was constantly telling people that she wanted to put more desserts in school lunches. So, you debate her and you argue about why more desserts in school lunches is a bad thing--then she turns and say, 'I NEVER said I wanted more desserts in school lunches! You are lying! Shame on you!"

My kids both started laughing and they both said, "An adult would never do that? Would they?"

My response, "It's the same adult who strapped his dog to the roof of his car. So yes. He would do that."

Man, Romney is such a bastard.

[daleanime]

69. Nice!

[shanti]

71. those types of folks used to be called "crazymakers"

maybe queen ann knows something we don't!

[jmowreader]

33. He said quite a few wrong things there...

First is his assertion that 47 percent of Americans don't pay federal income taxes. (I have to specify because if I just say 'taxes,' implying that everyone KNOWS that's what the issue is about, someone here is sure to ask, 'what about sales taxes, gasoline taxes, indirect taxes like property tax on a rental apartment, etc.?') It probably was true during the couple of years we had the Making Work Pay credit, but it certainly isn't now.

Second is the implication that anyone in this whatever-the-real-number-is is a shiftless bum who drives his or her Cadillac to the welfare office.

There's probably a third but my brain hurts just thinking about it.

Suffice it to say that if President Obama would have Mitt Romney fitted with magnets and placed in a big coil, his flip-flops and spins would generate enough energy to light up Boston.

[Herlong]

35. I think Romney jumped the shark on his flip flops.

[LiberalAndProud]

36. I guess when you're wealthy, you can afford to take every position.

The upshot is that you don't own a single one. Mitt has proven that he is the Chameleon Candidate. He will adopt any convenient view at any convenient time. He's not lying, he just changed his mind momentarily. I suspect that if there is a buck in it for him, he'd sell us all out in a heartbeat (and certainly 47% of us) without a twinge of conscience.

[jsr]

37. .

[DemKittyNC]

38. Gees!

I would have more respect for this guy if he just came out and said YES, this is how I feel and I will not apologize for it. At least make a stand on something - be it bad or good. I can not think of one single thing this guy has said that he has stuck with? No Democrat from this point on should ever be accused again of not sticking with their positions when the GOP and the Repugs have themselves produced the King of KINGS of the flip-floppers.

Short live the KING! Hooray!

November 6th can not get here soon enough...

[daleanime]

70. Now to be fair he has taken one stand that he refuses to back down from.....

he refuses to show us his tax returns.

[DemKittyNC]

78. Ouch...

You make a good and true point. I back down and bow to your superiority. How could I have ever overlooked that one.

[cbrer]

39. BULLSHIT MOTHER FUCKER. YOU GOT CAUGHT! nt

[Nostradammit]

41. I don't think "demonstarted" is a typo.

"and that has been demonstarted throughout my life."

[Tracer]

55. Yes. He has "demonstarted" his 100% support

for the 1%.

[rizlaplus]

42. 47% of what he asserted in the debate was completely wrong ....

.. and still collating.

[SamKnause]

44. Everything you say is completely wrong.

Romney will say or do anything to get elected.

He has no principles.

He has no self respect.

The Republican Party has no moral compass.

They picked two excellent candidates (Romney/Ryan) to prove their contempt for truth and honesty.

[Ash_F]

45. Nah...I believed him the first time. /nt

[Festivito]

46. What about the 2000% Wrongny.

Why do we have those bases all over the world if all we'll care about is Americans.

[Blue Yorker]

47. If he had not caught lying, he wouldn't have changed his mind

Flip flopper.

[HughBeaumont]

48. So I'm to surmise that the Crack Fourth Estate will call Mitt on his "flip-flop" . . . .

. . . like they repeatedly did with John Kerry.

What say we shoot for "when the Earth crashes into the Sun" on that one?

[OldDem2012]

49. What?? Romney lied again?? Shocker!!! nt.

[Rustycup]

50. Reading this thread makes me

feel a little better because you are right....Romney just kept throwing everything at Obama and if he did say one think...Romney would turn it around and the news would be about Obama being a meaning. Now they are showing Obama stump speech as a way to make up and showing Romney's lies. I just hope the tactic works. Obama still needs to shine at the town hall. I am sure the campaign already knows the questions will be all from teabaggers and stupid...

[graham4anything]

51. OK, so according to posters here, that makes him better than Al Sharpton

all it takes is an apology-right?



(this is based on a thread I started about Rev. Al Sharpton and the animosity because some felt he never apologized for something that had nothing to do with him in the first place.)

so I guess all those Sharpton haters now love Mittens.

[Stuart G]

52. too late asshole........no one will believe you...no one..nt.

[hexola]

56. I want to know: WHO WAS MITT TALKING TO?

Who was at this fund raiser?

Why did Romney think those remarks would resonate with those donors?

Who paid big bucks to hear this message?

This was NOT a mistake, gaffe, or a mis-speak...

Romney's words were exactly what these people wanted to hear.

Who are they?

[DaveJ]

76. My guess is standard C-Level types

I'm guessing these are folks who manage lots of workers, and think they can tell their workers how to vote. Overpaid executives often think they were anointed by the creator, and that the common folk are pawns in their games.

This is different than the "investor class" which really controls the world. C-Level types are similar to us, workabees who accomplished things to get there, but usually have no compassion for those they manage, which is one of the qualifications for getting there in the first place.

Just a guess, though. Yeah it would be good to know exactly who they were.

[Marrah_G]

57. Sorry Mitt- can't put that genie back in the bottle

[SacoMaine61]

58. Is anyone keeping the count on these etch-a-sketch moments?

I can't keep up...

[onehandle]

59. Liar. nt

[gkhouston]

60. Mitt, you've said many things that are completely wrong.

And you've said them on video. Sucks to be you.

[olddad56]

86. something, many things, how about everything he has said.

[LynneSin]

62. And you wonder why Obama didn't bring this up during the debate

I'm guessing there is a good chance the #1 thing that Mitt practiced during his mock debates leading up to the real one against Obama was just exactly this.

He probably had all of this memorized including how he would stand and the looks he would give and possibly some tears welling up in his eyes.

Imagine if he did that in front of a massive audience being broadcasted on all the major network channels.

Obama would have looked like a bully and Romney would have looked remorseful and worthy of a second chance.

Denied!

[DaveJ]

64. Well Romney, most your followers are saying 47% are moochers now.

Just go to any riecht wing website, or comments section of wsj.com, or facebook, and you'll see that many, probably the vast majority of republicans and tea baggers hate half the country for being financially poor. No sympathy, no empathy, no ideas or desire for help. Just unadulterated despise for half the country.

You said what your party really feels, because you correctly knew that's what your base thinks.

[Blue Gardener]

65. Flip Flop

I thought flip-flopping was a bad thing in repuke world

[SemperEadem]

66. a bell cannot be unrung

toothpaste cannot be put back in the tube.

closing the barn door after the horse has gotten out.

No, mittiot... what you've gotten is called the fallout in the aftermath after you dropped a nuclear bomb in front of a room full of like-minded people--The thing is: you felt safe enough in that room and with those sorts of people to tell your truth in front of them.

See, this is why liars should be ostracized and excoriated at every turn. They never allow anyone but themselves a level playing field.

[Third Doctor]

67. Due to the latest jobs report.

Obama should continue to put the 47% around his neck. Mitt can't even pretend that he gives a damn about the average person.

[bamacrat]

68. **cough Bullshit**cough

This is like someone apologizing for cheating only after they get caught. We saw your true feelings asshole.

[progressivebydesign]

72. Sorry Mitt. that was NOT a Q&A, you had the floor at a fundraiser. Period.

Fuck you.

[kcass1954]

81. Exactly. He didn't answer a question incorrectly.

These were prepared remarks made at an event which we were never supposed to hear.
He intended to make these statements.

[progressoid]

73. "Completely Wrong (but I still believe it)"

wink wink nudge nudge.

[Arkana]

74. So does this mean he's NOT doubling down?

Is he hoping that he can use "I apologized!" as a response whenever it's brought up?

Sorry, Mitt, but you can't take it back now.

[samgreatuncle]

77. flip flop mitt

http://www.youtube.com/samgreatuncle

[xxqqqzme]

79. How long ago was that

video released? Now we get a 'oops' my bad? This deceitful prick is rotten to his core.

[alp227]

80. "Mitt Happens IS a liberal."

Creeping in Freeperville I see...

Mitt Happens IS a liberal.

He has no core principles nor what we called in the olden days, “the courage of one’s convictions.”

He can never stick to a position without taking the other side. He makes Obama look principled!

I can’t stand him and I won’t vote for a liberal - not this one.

Also...

Ahhhhh.
Oh good god.
He has a fantastic debate then back peddles on something that is true..........who advises this man.
(Really the ‘media is lying’ about this is a lame excuse)

NO! He should stand by it, and clarify:

Mr. Obama, You have increased the percentage of those taking out of the government budget to almost 50%. Does it occur to you that those who are paying in, and being buried in taxes are going to stop working at some point? You can’t keep taking from one half and giving to the other half. People aren’t going to work if they are being fleeced to pay others not to work.

I say that he has NOTHING to apologize for and should just explain the facts calmly and clearly.

Yep, he just handed a big debate win for Obama there

Don’t ignore them. Revoke all their benefits. I’m sick and tired of being taxed to pay for these parasites.

Yeah, parasites like new small business owners that are creating new jobs but aren’t making much profit yet.

At least some said things like

Didn’t like it at first, but I now think this was best. After some coverage on Friday it will largely die down. It will neuter attacks largely on this later, at least compared to what would have been.

And quite frankly, a lot of people just want to hear a politician admit an error....they like honesty like that.

His statement was right, but despite explaining why it was, many just don’t get it still and see it as a personal attack on them.

This was a wise move to run out and do in the post-debate glow.

It was stupid.

There have been a number of callers to the various radio talk shows who've claimed to be conservative, a member of the 47% who don't pay federal income taxes, and who are Romney voters. They were still voting for him, but just thought his characterization of the entire group as all Obama supporters was a little insulting.

[gordianot]

83. Good lesson he does no believe what he says, question is what does he believe?

Obviously do not believe what he says. Case closed!

[kiranon]

84. Except for firing Big Bird and Jim Lehrer, no one knows.

[bushisanidiot]

88. Flippity floppity floo

Bunny rabbit romney

[sarcasmo]

89. Kick!