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GOP defends Romney

47% point true, not well said, backers in state say

Posted: September 19, 2012 at 5:42 a.m.

Arkansas Republicans on Tuesday said their presidential nominee could have chosen his words better when he wrote off almost half of the American electorate, but they said Mitt Romney was right to criticize those who pay no income taxes and receive government assistance.

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Front Section, Pages 1 on 09/19/2012

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Boozman surmised that on the day Romney made the remarks, he was probably tired from a hectic campaign schedule, and when he reached the fundraiser he found a relaxed atmosphere.

really? being presented with millions of donations at a very important meeting?
i have been waiting and reading the news here in arkansas for the day our senator said something profound. is this the day? was that all John?
don't you think included in the 47% is most of the people in your state? why would Romney worry about them? no donars there? no lobbists there? and obviously no senators to advocate for them. the social security and medicare you are giving them to balance the budget is our pension! i paid 25-30% taxes all my life and now i am retired and think that the social security and medicare health ins. is my pension NOT an entitlement! boozemans newsletter is saying he is voting with Romney to throw that away and with wishful thinking and delusions think that it will be replaced? Romney was clear..YOYO you are on your own middle class. and Boozeman is in total agreement?

Posted by: ladyLiberty

September 19, 2012 at 10:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

RE "47% point true, not well said, backers in state say"
No, that point is not true, and as the misconception was thoroughly discussed last year, there is no excuse for our misrepresentatives in Congress to say it is.

Almost half of Americans (latest estimate is 46%) pay no FEDERAL income tax. Most of them still pay state income tax, and local tax if it is assessed. They also pay payroll tax, which is a tax on income. To say they "pay no income tax" is either grossly ignorant or deliberately inflammatory. Neither would surprise me.

Here are a couple of links to charts that provide a breakdown of this accusation that almost half of Americans are "dependent upon the government, ...believe that they are victims, ...believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, ...believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it", that they are so derelict that he feels he should "convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/Upload...
Those who are willing to brave a "liberal" web site will find a greatly simplified graphic that addresses Romney's claim directly at
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/0...

Posted by: AlphaCat

September 19, 2012 at 11:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

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