Paul Ryan spoke with the NBC affiliate in Reno, Nevada, yesterday, and offered a defense of Mitt Romney's criticism of the "47 percent" of Americans he sees as lazy freeloaders (thanks to reader F.B).
The part of this that's generating the most chatter seems to be Ryan describing Romney's comments as "obviously inarticulate." And it's certainly fair to say that running mates don't usually use phrases like that when talking about their party's presidential nominee.
But there's something else that seemed noteworthy about this. After saying Romney was "obviously inarticulate," Ryan also told the reporter, "The point we're trying to make here is under the Obama economy government dependency is up and economic stagnation is up, and what we're trying to achieve is getting people off of government dependency and back to a job that pays well, that gets them on the path to prosperity."
Nice try, but no. That is not even close to the point Romney was "trying to make" in the video, as anyone who's actually watched it knows.
"[T]here are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. There are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that's an entitlement and government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. ... 47 percent of Americans pay no income tax. ... My job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."
To hear Paul Ryan tell it, the "point" of these comments is Romney's intention to "get people off of government dependency." But that's clearly not what Romney was talking about -- this wasn't about economic policies and "economic stagnation"; it was about chastising Americans that Romney perceives as lazy and parasitic.
Ryan may find the facts difficult to spin, but he shouldn't just make stuff up.
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Why is the Obama campaign allowing Paul Ryan to say that it was "Obama policies" at fault for the growing number of dependent people and the debt?
I'd like Ryan to name those Obama policies at fault.
Facing this, individuals and business are loath to risk any money.
Ol' Shooter's got one helluva Kool-Aid buzz for this early in the morning.
Just remember - buzzed trolling is drunk trolling...
then why don't you engage instead of the beverage retort?
well you must be new, as we all know that would work when the person in question wasn't a drive by paid for troll.
stick around, smiling heck why dont you engage?
http://moelane.com/2012/06/09/troll-hunting-101/
Remember, he doesn't care about making points, he doesn't care if you make valid points that make his arguments seem foolish.
All he cares about is making you mad.
So he can masturbate.
Most of the policies that shooter is mentioning haven't even been put in place yet. It is way too early to see the results yet. Another example of "give me everything right now". Instant gratification.
I'll do it,
1. Obamacare has not been fully implemented and can't be linked to someone entering the welfare dole. The current healthcare system can be linked to someone going bankrupt and not being able to work or someone dying and leaving someone to have turn to welfare.
2. Dodd-Frank all it has done is sober Wall Street. Banks aren't lending because of DF, they aren't lending because they still have too much toxic debt.
3. The EPA hasn't shut down a single coal plant. Shutdowns of about 40 plants will be required to "retrofit" to meet standards. This is common in oil refineries. Natural gas will be the fuel of choice of new plants as it is cleaner and more abundant. Obama has greatly expanded Nat Gas exploration and extraction.
4. NLRB didn't tell them to abandon anything, they just needed to build a union plant. It was all new business, no one was fired. That's a SC problem.
5. No Wall Street prosecutions because they'd already lobbied the laws to exonerate the deeds. All politician bought and paid for, see previous contributions. The repeal of Glass-Steagall in 1998 pretty much made it all legal anyway. Wall Street only spent 150 million dollars to get that done.
6. There has been no nationalization of industry. The one that should be nationalized is oil, then our own reserves would be guaranteed to us. Right now all offshore and national drilling is sold on the open world market. Refined gas is exported to South America.
7. See number 6, all oil extraction and exploration is up, shale is up, nat gas is up....false statement.
8. Debt monetization is what the federal reserve must do when Congress does nothing.
9. no tax hikes, just expiration of tax cuts.
So all in all poor answers to the question above, but great talking points.
I like how SHIITER thinks he can speak for the whole business community , these same whitey trolls think they can speak for the black community also lol
My sister has a business , she has 2 daughters in college , instead of having to buy their HC insurance separately , they just stayed on her HC plan , but obama care is ruining business's in the gop retards mind , FLOP
tzalinsky,
welcome and thanks.
tzalinsky Good post. In response...
Shooter does a good job typing with one hand...
http://moelane.com/2012/06/09/troll-hunting-101/
Yeah, those moocher active duty soldiers on the horrific liquid front in Afghanistan do need to improve themselves and start making some good scratch. How in the heck are they going to donate to social service organizations like Crossroads if they only make military grub.
Let's not forget the 20% of the 46.4 % who are seniors with no other income than Socail Security.
Didn't you know that those military moochers are the absolute worst. I mean, over there in sunny Afghanistan--a true vacation spot (but not Romney's favorite), they're the ones who really feel entitled to the government providing food and housing and get this: they even feel entitled to government issue clothing. And the gall of those military guys expecting the government to provide weapons.
When asked about US military personnel having to deploy to combat zones 3, 4, 5, and 6 times, Romney said, "They're only doing that so they don't have to pay taxes on their combat pay."
Romney added that military personnel "even feel that after they're killed in action that the government should be responsible for shipping their bodies home and paying for funerals. Those people will never learn how to take personal responsibility for themselves."
Think about it: To Mitt, we're "THOSE PEOPLE". To Ann, we're "YOU PEOPLE" -- you know the ones, the YOU PEOPLE she believes are lower than the dirt on the soles of her shoes. Even military personnel risking their lives every day are easily discounted by these crass, crude, craven and elitist plutocrats.
Paul, to bad you hitch your wagon and career to mitts rear, and well you was a up start in your party after this you will fall in the catalogue of VP picks that will Never be President.
I'm sure he'll join ClubSarah over at FOX "News"!!!
Paul Ryan is making stuff up because that is what he has been doing all along and all he knows how to do. Let's all hope we don't get the Ryan/Rubio ticket, even in our worst nightmares.
Paul Ryan??? MAKING STUFF UP???!! Oh, protect my virgin ears!!
The point Romney was trying to make was simply that his campaign strategy didn't include trying to appeal to people who depend heavily on government assistance or don't pay income tax, who view Romney's planned cuts as being against their economic interests.
A point driven home by the end of his statement: "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 the other depending upon in some cases emotion, whether they like the guy or not." Which Maddow conveniently forgot to include.
If that was what Gov Romeny said, he would not have dominated the news cycle for the past couple of days-- well, disregarding Libya.
It's the way he goes on to dismiss 47% of people as inconsequential and not worth his bother. Also to suggest that they have no interest in taking responsiblity for their own lives? Can you really not see why this is so potentially devastating?
For him to suggest that the 47% should somehow less because they pay no federal income taxes without bothering to explain or take into consideration that many are are elderly or students, or that many do work and pay payroll taxes but make so little income that they have 0 tax liability.
To make them sound (and I guess my husband and I are included because although we have jobs and pay a higher rate of taxes that Gov Romney, we are unapologetic Obama supporters) like deadbeats is just wrong.
There is an assumption that Romney has a lock on most of the so-called 53 percent who do pay federal income taxes, and so all he needs to do is pick up the independents to get his 50 percent plus one.
I don't think this is a valid assumption on his part.
So you mean that among that 5% to 10% everyone pays income tax, no one is elderly and collecting Social Security to which they contributed all their lives and thereby earned. No one in that 5% to 10% is currently serving in the military? No one in that 5% to 10% is a disabled Veteran, a Wounder Warrior? No one among that 5% to 10% is a home owner with children who has claimed legitimate deductions and has received tax refunds?
Just like the 53% Romney cited , we don't know the percentage within those percentages that paid or did not pay income tax--or the reasons why and why not.
Romney thinks that everyone should WANT to pay income taxes. But Romney does everything possible, even paying tens of thousands of dollars to accountants to find tax loopholes, to avoid paying taxes. When Romney does it, it's the American Way. When John Q. Public takes legitimate deductions to reduce his taxes, well, he's a deadbeat, a moocher, a burden, a parasite.
Have you noticed that when Romney talks about the taxes he does pay, he speaks only of taxes--NOT OF INCOME TAXES. He's probably paying taxes, but they're sales taxes on his cars and his boats and property taxes on his 5 or 8 houses.
So you can read Romney's mind? Can you tell me what I'm thinking too?
@The Conformist, the entire video has been uploaded online for Romney's remarks in their entirety to be viewed - so the "it was taken out of context" argument really doesn't fly.
Romney's statement concludes that 100% of those who vote for Obama are looking for a government handout, and that he would never be able to convince "those people" to take "personal responsibility" -- this from a guy who was sole owner, proprietor, shareholder, president and CEO of Bain Capital, after 1999, but insists that he not be held responsible for anything the company did after 1999 - but I digress. Romney's comment was similar to one he made at a fundraiser immediately after his insulting appearance at the NAACP - that if the NAACP audience wanted "free stuff they should go vote for the other guy." There really should be no "pooh-poohing" of Romney's comments in this vain. They're quite ugly.
Also , The Conformist , along with romney , base their statement on the falsehood that everyone who does not pay income taxes , must be on gov some kind of gov assistance , it would appear that this is a bridge to far for the msm , because even my local news out lets are pointing out how outrageously wrong this statement is , the people who claim IT IS A LEGITIMATE POINT are not looking at the facts
LOL , June nails it again , when you put the fact that romney had a massive bank account from his daddy next to his statement , it really sends the message home of what this wall st snob represents , and is all about ...
"All you money poor losers" with regards , your friend mitt romney
Thanks for the shout-out, Patango. :) Correction to my post, it should be "vein" - not "vain."
At the beginning of its maiden voyage the lifeboats on the Titanic were considered superfluous and unneeded- the ship, after all, was 'unsinkable'.
After
September 15th, 2008- sorry, after April 15th, 1912- the lifeboats were thought quite a good idea. (especially by those in First Class)The Titanic would be the high point of a Romney / Ryan ticket .
Hopefully they feel the same way about life preservers.
Ryan presenting Obama as saying he would assist a plant in a Ryan district so that it would remain open , then calling the president out on his "broken" promise ?
That is a pretty muscular example of the heavy lifting involved in "Ryan duplicity training" twice the lies at half the effort .
I thought Paul was the cute one ...
Ed, the walrus said Paul is dead.
So, you're saying that a politician tried to change the subject rather than address a situation for which he can give no good answer? That NEVER happens!
What then, do Ryan and Romney keep having brain farts? Most of the 47% are people who have lost their homes, their jobs along with their dignity. They are families taking care of disabled family members. Most importantly they are our brothers and sisters. I don't hear them putting the rich down and complaining about them. I hear them praying and reaching out to their neighbors. Thank God Jesus is walking amongst them. And he didn't pay taxes either.
The hypocrisy of a major political party chastising half the population for not taking responsibility, when their entire agenda for America demands forgetting the history of the GOP since before Reagan is just sickening.
Don’t forget that corporation are people too so those not paying federal tax should be counted as part of the 47% freeloader. For example Boeing hasn’t paid federal tax in the last four years while posting record revenue. Of course, in realty, Boeing is a massive job provider and is just using all of the tax breaks it can get to avoid paying taxes – something which Romney would approve of.
"Get back to a job that pays well". Yes, one of those would be nice. Short of that, my husband continues to go to a job that pays rather low for his industry and for his experience in that industry. He goes to a job that has been promising a promotion for a YEAR. Maybe he should just quit and go sign up for one of those better paying jobs Ryan talks about.
Great point Melanie , is mr ryan talking about the jobshis house of representatives is refusing to take any action on ? This guy should be nailed to the wall every time he brings up the subject of JOB CREATION , because the gop core belief is that gov does not create jobs after all
Spun but not spun enough. Ryan says the aim is to get people in the 47% into "jobs that pay well". A substantial fraction of people in the 47% of tax units which don't pay positive federal income tax are retired people. Does Ryan really want to argue* that anyone who is 75 and living on social security** should go out and get a job ? That's not the way to fire up Romney's base (well a good way to make a lot of them join Obama's base).
On the other hand, one bit is very intelligently phrased (the guy is very good at technically true but misleading. It's just that he can't resist going on to add something totally untrue and misleading). The qualifier " that pays well" sounds like the usual politician promising everything good (not just a job but a good job). However, it is necessary or his claim would be false. Many people in the 47% of tax units which don't pay positive Federal income tax have jobs. This is what makes Romney's statement poison if people were to understand what it means and knew the facts (and a pony). He said that people who work full time year round are moochers who can't be taught responsibility because their wages are too low. to get the 47 percenters to pay tax one has to raise taxes for a given income*** or get them jobs which pay well. People with jobs that don't pay well enough (a level which depends on how many kids they have) don't pay positive income tax.
* Answer yes. As a Randian he hates social security and Medicare (Rand probably hated Medicare even more when she relied on it for health care). I mean does he want to make that argument on TV or anywhere else where voters can hear what he really things.
** The "living on social security" was a qualifier I slipped in because otherwise my arugment would be false. Many retired people pay positive income tax but they aren't living on social security they have a supplemental pension or a lot of wealth and therefore capital income so they aren't living on social security.
***their plan for taxation of incomes below the median income but they must never ever admit it