I find it interesting that the Mother Jones website is
actually sharing this secret video - a video that was filmed by someone who hid
a camera at a fundraiser by Mitt Romney with millionaire donors.
What’s interesting about it? That they actually think that
this is a Gotcha Moment! The fact that they think it is a Gothcha Moment – just
proves that Mitt is correct with most of what he is addressing in this video.
In summary Mitt shares:
·
That we have reached a tipping point in this
nation – where nearly 50 % of the citizens DO NOT pay federal income tax.
·
That among SOME of those who pay no federal
income tax – there is an ‘entitlement attitude’. They actually believe that it
is government’s responsibility to help them with housing, healthcare, food,
etc. This ignores the simple fact that Government cannot do anything without
tax dollars coming from the citizens. What happens when nearly 50% of the
citizens are not paying any federal income taxes? (Seriously – stop and think
about this).
·
Mitt stated he believes that many of those
people will not vote for HIM – because they have been conditioned to rely on
government – that lowering taxes does not mean anything to these people because
THEY DO NOT CURRENTLY PAY FEDERAL INCOME TAX.
Here are some links that will help to put what Mitt is
talking about in context.
I challenge you to study what has happened to any number of
countries in the past; and even the recent past – which have at least 40% or
more of their citizens paying no taxes; and while the other half not only pays
the taxes – but contributes to the housing, food, and other expenses of the
half that do not pay. You will find that these nations are in despair and in
collapse. Most recently this has been Greece, Spain, and Italy – the list goes
on and on.
Do you realize that if you take the top 10% of income
earners in our nation – and tax them at 100% of their income (providing they
would even keep working knowing all their money would be taken); that it would
not even pay the full interest payments on our debt. It would only add enough
money to run the Federal Government for less than a handful of months. So… what
we really have is a spending problem.
Now I worked for the media for 10 years in the 80’s and
early 90’s; and I am a dedicated follower of the media. So, I can certainly
predict how they will TRY to use this video to discredit Mitt Romney.
So… Let’s take a look at what he actually said.
First off – the Mother Jones page said – “Contending that he is a self-made
millionaire who earned his own fortune, Romney insisted, "I have inherited
nothing." He remarked, "There is a perception, 'Oh, we were born with
a silver spoon, he never had to earn anything and so forth.' Frankly, I was born
with a silver spoon, which is the greatest gift you can have: which is to get
born in America."
Mitts father, George Romney started life very poor. He worked
hard to build his success; and as a business leader and a state Governor – he was
a very generous man. It is well known that George Romney wanted his children to
have an appreciation for the privilege of being born into this great nation and
the opportunities afforded them as well by their father’s success. George
wanted Mitt to know and truly understand the importance of hard work. So when
young Mitt was off to school, Dad certainly helped – but Mitt was going to have
to make and earn his own success as a man. Mitt had no help from his dad in
launching his career and more importantly making his own way in life and in
business. When Ann and Mitt first started their marriage; they lived in very
simple housing while Mitt went to college; they were not handed any items of privilege.
When Romney states he has not inherited anything, this is
actually true. When Mitt’s father George passed away; he left a large
inheritance. Mitt gave the entire inheritance away to Charity – not keeping one
penny for himself.
Mother Jones says - Asked
why he wouldn't go full-throttle and assail Obama as corrupt; Romney explained
the internal thinking of his campaign and revealed that he and his aides, in
response to focus-group studies conducted by his consultants, were hesitant to
hammer the president too hard out of fear of alienating independents who voted
for Obama in 2008:
Why is this so surprising? I can tell you from my many hours
of research and my actual professional work in Healthcare and Banking Finance –
these industries have indisputable proof that Obama is corrupt. It is extremely
hard to go on the attack and expose Obama’s corruption – BECAUSE the mainstream
media gives him cover. Never the less; there are hundreds of respected
journalists, blogs, news outlets who have been working diligently to expose
Obama’s corruption – and these folks get attacked by what I call the 'Attack
Dogs' in the MSM.
So Romney says he has to stay positive about what he will do
as President and how it differs from the policies and practices of President
Obama. He wants to focus on the policy, the policy differences and couch the campaign
speeches in positive ways. That’s a legitimate campaign strategy; is it not?
He continues and says; that how he speaks about Obama has an
impact – either positive or negative; in the minds of voters. - So, and by the way, when you say to them,
"Do you think Barack Obama is a failure?" they overwhelmingly say no.
They like him. But when you say, "Are you disappointed that his policies
haven't worked?" they say yes. And because they voted for him, they don't
want to be told that they were wrong, that he's a bad guy, that he did bad
things, that he's corrupt. Those people that we have to get, they want to
believe they did the right thing, but he just wasn't up to the task. They love
the phrase that he's "over his head."
People do not want to believe that their President is
corrupt; especially if they voted for him in 2008. That is a tough pill to
swallow for any voter.
Mitt later says - Well,
I wrote a book that lays out my view for what has to happen in the country, and
people who are fascinated by policy will read the book. We have a website that
lays out white papers on a whole series of issues that I care about. I have to
tell you, I don't think this will have a significant impact on my electability.
I wish it did. I think our ads will have a much bigger impact. I think the
debates will have a big impact…My dad used to say, "Being right early is
not good in politics." And in a setting like this, a highly intellectual
subject—discussion on a whole series of important topics typically doesn't win
elections.
When Mitt says, “I
have to tell you, I don't think this will have a significant impact on my
electability. I wish it did. I think our ads will have a much bigger impact”
– he is addressing the fact that most people these days simply are not
interested in wonky policy details. They are most likely not going to take the
time to read his book or the various white papers his team has written on
various national policy matters. Though I certainly wish they would. I read Obama's books and online materials before I voted in 2008.
I agree with him. One of my reasons for launching this blog
in the first place – is my belief that the details matter and my frustration
that most voters are either not interested in the details or are simply not
paying attention.
The article completes with the following - Here was Romney raw and unplugged—sort of
unscripted. With this crowd of fellow millionaires, he apparently felt free to
utter what he really believes and would never dare say out in the open.
LISTEN CAREFULLY – we have arrived at a place in our nation;
where we are at a tipping point. We now have roughly 49% of the citizens paying
no federal income taxes, but receiving benefits of the Federal Government. It’s
not just about food stamps or welfare. There are many other programs that cost
money – programs that every citizen benefits from. Education, Federal Interstates,
transportation, military protection, FEMA, Medicare, etc. etc. We cannot
sustain these programs unless we first get people back to work to grow the tax
base; and secondly strip loop holes out of the tax code and be sure that nearly
everyone is contributing to the tax revenue. The rich can and will pay a fair
share – both in the form of a larger percentage as well as a larger sheer
dollar figure. Nearly every rich person I know is willing to contribute. I have
many wealthy friends - I have never heard them say they do not want to help pay
taxes.
It may very well be a good thing that this secret video has
been released. Perhaps Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will step up and address these
issues. Certainly Paul Ryan is well versed on these issues and has the ability to
articulate them as a moral imperative – to show how their plan will get more
people back to work and correct our wacky tax code.
The track we are on is absolutely unsustainable. If we
continue – we will collapse our economic system and bankrupt the nation. Then
there will be no help for anyone – much less the poorest and most destitute among
us.
As I have stated in dozens of blogs or posts - Wake-up
America. Vote Obama or any other Economic Liberal Progressive out and Romney /
Ryan in! Let conservative policies do what they have always done – usher in robust economic growth and more economic freedom and opportunities for the poor and the middle class.
That is the moral thing to do!
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