And I Thought Mitt Romney Was in the 47%

Mitt Romney has been "caught" on tape explaining the obvious point that people who don't pay taxes have little reason to vote Republican.

"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right -- there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent on government, who believe that, that they are victims, who believe that government has the responsibility to care for them. Who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it. That's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this President no matter what.

That 10 million.

The President starts off with 48, 49 ... the President starts off with a huge number. These are people who pay no income tax, 47% of Americans pay no income tax. So our message of low taxes doesn't connect. He'll be out there talking about tax cuts for the rich. That's what they sell every 4 years.

So my job is not to worry about these people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives. What I have to do is convince the 5% to 10% in the center that are independents, that are thoughtful, that look at voting one way or another on emotion, whether they like the guy or not."

But wait, hasn't Harry Reid been claiming that Mitt Romney paid zero in federal income taxes? I guess Mitt Romney is running against his own interests.

The phrase I bolded "that ten million" is clear enough in the video Mother Jones posted, but is transcribed by them as "And I mean". It looks like we may have someone splicing and dubbing clips again. Oh, Sam?

Ten million is the margin by which Barack Obama beat John McCain in 2008. I'm curious what Mitt Romney might have gone on to say about that 10 million. Mother Jones did provide this clip:



I think that Mitt Romney misjudges the mentality process of the independent, swing voter. In terms of self-vindicating the previous decision in the ballot box, the swing voter only has to feel that the official they voted for did better than the other choice on the ballot would have done. In 2008, it was Barack Obama versus John McCain, In 2012, it's Barack Obama versus Mitt Romney.