SkimIt
Young Voters Speak Out: Each day, RR.com will spotlight politically minded youth writers from throughout the U.S. speaking their minds on Election 2012. First-time voters, student journalists and new graduates will debate the Obama vs. Romney race to the White House. Young Democrats, Republicans and ‘Undecided’ Americans are eager to play politics and choose the next Commander & Chief.
Read Brian William Waddell's thoughts from a right-leaning perspective:
The idea that 47% of the country won't vote for Mitt Romney isn't a huge exaggeration, based on recent polls. The concept that it is not his job to worry about those people who are the Democratic base while campaigning is also accurate. You can't change an apple into an orange no matter how much you tell it why it should be an orange. And, between polls showing support of expanded government funded entitlements and the percent of households who pay no federal income tax, the idea that about 47% of people are living off the government is not out of line.
Not All Poor
There were some problems with what Romney said. The idea that the entire Democratic base is poor and on government assistance is inaccurate. The Democratic base is actually made up of people on the dole as well as those who believe that their own income should be filtered through the government and given to those people. We all agree that we should help the poor; it's just a matter of ideology as to whether to directly give to the needy (charity) or to pay taxes to support them (legislated mandatory charity).
Bitter Americans
Insinuating that such a large number of Americans have a victim mentality that leads them to want retribution from their government is not the best way to make the argument, and it's the one thing I can understand people really taking issue with. It is not, however, as cold as calling a portion of Americans "bitter" people who "cling to their guns or their bibles."
An Early October Surprise
The timing of this is a little interesting. The video has been on YouTube since May, and many people had seen it and commented on it, even in Republican circles. However, the fact that it didn't blow up until now is most definitely well orchestrated. The Obama campaign may have wanted to wait until October to really bring it up, but it started to reach critical mass a little early, so they rolled with it.
Romney has stood by his statements while saying they could have been more eloquently stated. This is the right move. His statements are on message for the Republican party, and many people agree with his sentiment that Obama voters are generally looking for a handout, whether for themselves or the less fortunate.
