I am astounded that any political candidate should make such a statement, if he did indeed say what he is supposed to have said in the manner he is supposed to have said it (I haven't watched the video).
Even if 47% of the American populace are on some form of government dole or payment (and where does that figure come from?), it surely must include: pensioners, who have paid in during their working lives contributions from social security and taxes, and people now unemployed due to no fault of their own but the rotten state of the global economy.
If Mr. Romney had used this as a springboard to attack President Obama's economic policies or handling of the current crisis, then it would have worked: you could make a very stirring speech about the hard-working citizens who now find themselves jobless, with no opportunity to find work despite their best efforts because companies are not hiring because they have no confidence in the market as it stands, and how this administration has made a hash of things.
But saying that under half the population (your potential voters, remember!) are leeches and parasites - do you want to lose by a landslide?
no subject
Even if 47% of the American populace are on some form of government dole or payment (and where does that figure come from?), it surely must include: pensioners, who have paid in during their working lives contributions from social security and taxes, and people now unemployed due to no fault of their own but the rotten state of the global economy.
If Mr. Romney had used this as a springboard to attack President Obama's economic policies or handling of the current crisis, then it would have worked: you could make a very stirring speech about the hard-working citizens who now find themselves jobless, with no opportunity to find work despite their best efforts because companies are not hiring because they have no confidence in the market as it stands, and how this administration has made a hash of things.
But saying that under half the population (your potential voters, remember!) are leeches and parasites - do you want to lose by a landslide?