After repeatedly defending his secretly taped description of 47 percent of Americans as “victims, dependent on government,” who don’t take responsibility for their lives, Mitt Romney appeared on Fox News Thursday evening and changed his tune, saying his comments were “completely wrong.”
Sean Hannity asked Romney what he would have said if Obama had brought up the damaging comments during the first presidential debate on Wednesday.
“Clearly, in a campaign with hundreds, if not thousands, of speeches and question and answer sessions, now and then you’re going to say something that doesn’t come out right. In this case, I said something that’s just completely wrong," Romney replied. "And I absolutely believe that my life has shown that I care about the 100 percent. That’s been demonstrated throughout my life and this whole campaign is about the 100 percent.”
Romney had originally defended the 47% comments at a recent press conference as “not elegantly stated,” "off the cuff” and “a message which I’m going to carry and continue to carry.” MSNBC’s Alex Wagner stopped by Thursday's The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell and offered one explanation for the unexpected turnaround.
“You know, Lawrence, the word that has popped into my head in the course of the last 24 hours is ‘lobotomy,’" she told host Lawrence O'Donnell. "Either Mitt Romney wants the entire American public to have one, or is proposing they get one, because that’s the only way they’re going to believe what he’s saying. Or, he himself has had a lobotomy, which is the explanation for this pivot that is miraculous."
O’Donnell noted that a presidential candidate never wants to say the sentence,“I was completely wrong,” because it opens the door to questions about other things he could be completely wrong about.
In the same vein, back on the campaign trail in Wisconsin today, Obama capitalized on Romney’s habit of contradicting his own statements and hoping voters will forget.
“Whoever it was that was on stage last night doesn’t want to be held accountable for what the real Mitt Romney’s been saying for the last year," Obama said. "And that’s because he knows full well we don’t want what he’s been selling over the last year."
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How long did it take him? We saw the extent of his manipulative abilities last night, and this is just more of the same.
Larence, the more I listen to you, the more I know you have it right. I wish I was so level headed when it comes to politics. I like your perspective.
CAREFUL - Romney did not REALLY take back the 47% comment - he was answering this question: "What WOULD YOU HAVE SAID if you had been asked about the 47% comment - his answer was, that he WOULD HAVE denied it, he would have said it was wrong.
So, he is just saying, if he HAD BEEN asked about the 47%, he would have lied.
This is totally in keeping with whoever said (sorry I don't remember) that Romney is still (internally if not actually) the CEO of Bain - he will do or say ANYTHING to get elected.
This is also totally in keeping with his new catch phrase, "trickle down government" - this is the same (in his warped mind) as "redistribution" - taking revenue provided by the "makers" to provide services for the unworthy "takers."
uuuggghh. wake me when the campaigning is over, please. I am sooo sick of this sycophant.
All it is is more of Mitt saying what he thinks people want to hear.
Some of my favorite pundits, Rachel, Ed, Matthews, complained that Obama didn't use the 47% remarks against Romney in the debate. My view: It was smart not to--to just let it hang there. It was a winning move to deny Mitt the opportunity to lie his way out of it within the dignity of the debate stage. He had to do his jello-wobble on Fox.
By presenting his program truthfully and calmly to the American people, the President made the contrast obvious and gave Mitt plenty of rope to hang himself--which he did. His best shot at Romney: You haven't shown the ability to say "No" to the right, sometimes the president has to say no to his base.
I thought Lawrence's show tonight had a better perspective on it and I was disappointed by Rachel Maddows, who I usually like. I was shocked that the pundits were so quick to claim it a victory for Mitt, just because he looked a bit better than he might have. This PA small business owner thought Barack won the debate--and the style--right from the first hand-shake when Romney leaned back and the President forward. Romney's voice and facial expression often seemed weak to me--desparate to be liked. He even agreed with Obama in completely unbelievable ways. Then there was the gaff of going after a popular TV show that kids and parents love. There is no way this can be scored as a Romney win. Barack grinned every time he heard Mitt commit an unforced error--and either ignored him or shook is head when Romney told his whoppers.
@Michael - I couldn't agree more "My view: It was smart not to--to just let it hang there. It was a winning move to deny Mitt the opportunity to lie his way out of it within the dignity of the debate stage. He had to do his jello-wobble on Fox. "
Looking at Romney's face, and considering his tactics, I'm wondering if he even knows that he is lieing. Maybe he has spent his whole life manipulating people to get what he wants and has developed a distorted justification system that keeps him from feeling immoral. There is something in his eyes that looks hungry for love and approval. I just don't see how his psyche could hold all of his personas together without being a multiple personality--or worse, a psychopath who pretends to feel things he doesn't really have the ability to feel. Maybe he thinks that all he has to say is "It was completely wrong," and all will be forgiven. Maybe he thinks that if he just says that he loves 100% of the people, they will elect him and he will get to fly around in Airforce One.
I don't know what debate the above two posters were watching, as they sure came away with some strange impressions. Romney was nothing other than bright, enthustiastic, and directly confronting the issues, while Obama was listless, all about the dismal status quo, and attempting to evade the issues.
Romney had the fire, Obama had the doubt. Romney was smiling and confident, and Obama scowling, and obviously shaken up.
There was only one leader on stage Wednesday night, and it sure wasn't the guy that prefers "to lead from behind".
What my concern is that Romney does not care if it is a lie or not. He just wants to get into the office. It is not about caring, concern, better policy, this is a man striving towards a goal for power and prestige. He will say anything to anyone and not give a hoot if he said something else before or not. Middle Class, you will not know what hit you if he gets into office. Have you already seen the backpeddling on his healthcare comments about continuing coverage? His Green energy comments that were all wrong?
I hope that in the end, the American people can see through this. He will not do better for the econony ( See the unemployment rate this moring? Now below 8 %) Presidnet Obama run with this and don't look back!! ( Sesame Street unemployment may not add a little to the jobless numbers)
Keith Longey aka Grandpa Fuzz just lost credibility with his charges a couple of us "stalk" him on the Web... He does regularly offer us an impersonation of Romney and his bald-faced and shameless dishonesty, albeit with a lower I.Q.
This one is from a prize-winning cartoonist who's also an alum of Mitt's alma mater, BYU...
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/55027875-82/bagley-cartoon-facebook-lake.html.csp
For those "in the know," there's also a subtle reference to the "White Horse Prophecy," a bit of malarkey some Mormons (like Glenn Beck) believe can be traced back to the LDS founder.
And here you are stalking again. Seems to me you could post your foolish comments without doing it as a reply to mine, and referencing me, Cab Driver, no? Otherwise, you are stalking.
Duuuhhh...Keith, if Cabbie is replying to one of your replies, then he's absolutely correct in addressing or otherwise referencing it directly to you. After all, he's responding to a comment you made.
That way, there's no doubt in anyone's mind who it's directed to.
You've done the same to other posters many, many times yourself, so if you consider Cabbie's replies (or anyone else's for that matter) as "stalking" you, then you are likewise guilty of the same tactic. They're easy enough to find so would you like some samples of your "stalking" replies?
"This was not a stalking but just a simple observational reply, and I approve this message."
/s/ Eyes Wide Open
EWO,
While your post illuminates the never ending circle of the yin-yang of stalker and stalkee and the concept that life is a stick of dried dung - it does not explain the true mystery of why a troll crosses the road?
Let's see - if I reply to your post (4.6 if I'm fast enough) then I'm stalking - but if I start a new post directly after yours - I'm not? If I reply to one of your two month old posts and you don't know it - am I still stalking? If you reply to Cabbie's post and I reply to your post - am I stalking you or Cabbie once removed? What if I reply to my own post?
If I have said anything that you find either offensive or disagree with - please remember that it was “not elegantly stated", it was taken out of context and/or I never said it - or perhaps all of the above.
Evidently, in the gospel according to Keith, yes.
You'll have to take that up with Keith...it's his cross to bear. I would imagine that if it were him, and he saw your two month old posts, then he would consider it as such.
Again, a question for Keith...he's the paranoid one.
Unless you've got a foot in both camps, why would you? What would you tell yourself that you didn't already know?
Sure, he knows those remarks were wrong now, when he's dealing with the consequences. But does he know why? I'm betting he thinks he should not have said them because someone might be recording it - because it looks bad. He doesn't understand the real reason.
I can't wait for this whole strategy to come back and bite him hard in the foreign policy debate, when it is pointed out that the entire world has witnessed his dissembling and he has destroyed any shred of credibility that holding the office might have afforded him in his obsessive quest for power. This is what happens when you value the will to power over personal honor; it speaks directly to his character, and it will cost him the election.
Unfortunately in some quarters that will be enough. By not nailing him to his 47% statement during the debate, Obama has given Romney the opening to wiggle away from his comment...not that Willard needs help in distancing himself from most anything and everything he has said during this campaign.
Seems to me if he had nailed him on that, we would have gotten this answer anyway... willard the wiggler is going to say whatever he thinks is going to work, he's a salesman(nothing against all you other salespeople)...but his lips are moving...and truthfully I really don't want him mucking up the foreign policy (yes, I know it is not perfect) with his sales pitches.
Remember, he is the ETCH A SKETCH candidate! Just shake him up a little and he'll change his policy on anything.
Do you really believe that Obama wanted to open the can of worms of just how much money he borrowed to fund those huge increases in deficit spending to swell the roles of Medicaid, Food Stamp, and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and Housing Assistance, etc? I don't think he had the gut to challenge Romney on that subject.
If Obama brought up the 47% issue during the debate we now know how Romney was 'prepared' to answer it according to his post-interview. However, I think he is still standing by what he said in his own twisted mind.
Mitt stated he was completely wrong but did not apologize. Humility is a necessary quality in a President. Obama is not afraid to admit when things are not going as fast as he had planned. He is not afraid to apologize; for example apologizing on behalf of the country to the Muslim world if they were offended by the video release and say that it doesn't represent the view of the American people as a whole. Mitt attacked Obama for this apology as weakness.
Now, Mitt has been caught doing something similar; insulting half of the American people and offending most with hateful comments that he seems to be having a hard time discussing because he really does know how wrong he was. He should have made a formal apology on behalf of all that he offended when this first came out and he did not officially apologize; onlystated that it was 'off the cuff' and not eloquently put. His book 'No Apologies' is going to haunt him forever and he will live to regret writing it.
He was just answering a question from the audience. It was a simple question about how Mitt was going to gain more voters such as the undecided/ independents. All he had to say was that there was about 47% of the population that are supportive of Obama and he has to work on convincing the 10% or so of those that are undecided. The beginning and end of his answer; the bread...the rest was bologna- so to speak. The rest was unnecessary to properly answer the question and there was no need for him to fill in and elaborate with the insulting and offensive comments that have nothing to do with the question at hand. He didn't need to say any of that to make his point, it came strictly from his own heart and mind...no teleprompter, no notes, no prepared speech...just his own independent beliefs with no one else to blame, sad...
Saying it was wrong will never change the fact that at the time he was speaking the truth as he sees it not knowing he was being filmed. What else has been said behind closed doors that we don't know about? This isn't the only expensive elite private fundraiser. This says alot about his moral and ethical character. I was brought up to speak and act as though my mother were standing over my shoulder; I'm sure Lenore Romney would be disappointed in her son showing his true colors thinking no one would hear. Leopards can't change their spots. They can cover them up but underneath lies the truth.
If he had cut his comment at the 47% will vote for him no matter what, yes it is true, a die hard Dem will vote dem.... but the derisive statement that followed showed one of two things, a) he truly does believe what he said, which is just ignorant anyway or b) he was pandering to his $50k dinner plates and saying what he thought they wanted to hear, still a lie. But again, as often as he has changed his stance for or against something... I just have this horrible image of him pushing the big red button and then a week later going..."oops that was just completely wrong"
Or for that matter not pushing the big red button and then leaning he needed to? Just too undecided. You just can't say what people want to hear on a given day and change your stance the next. Where is the SUBSTANCE in that kind of behavior?
oooohhh so you were completely wrong? well then that just changes everything, again....
sorry if this comment is dripping sarcasm, hope you don't get any on you....
Sure he was sorry. I am waiting for the other shoe to drop and he come back and says I really did mean it. It will come out in a different text but it will mean the same thing especially since Ryan said 30%. So is the number now 30 instead of 47?
Again just why should anyone Trust him?
Romney acted like a bully and a spoiled kid who if he doesnt get his way lies out of everything. He memorized a script and several times he backtracked on wht he was saying, one word was poor then he chgd it to middle class. His pre-existing conditions only if you have insurance you will be covered, repel Dodd Frank so wall street has no reform, there are 12million unemployed not 23 million and jobs have been growing not losing at 700,000 pr mo. He believes his 47%, he said it to donors when he didnt know he was being taped, now he chgs. I have heard never so many lies or backtracking on issues as this spoiled kid has done.
We all say things that are ture and untrue when amongst persons such as our self. Warm and cozy inside your own little bubble. Let your gaurds down, relax, and just say any old thing to your cohorts. Romney, on the other hand, plays up to people (rich), and talks down to others (poor). Why president Obama did not breach the 47%debacle is beyond me, but , there remain 2 debates on the table. The prez may be very well saving the best for last. He knows this guy is a big blow hard, whom has the penchant to overtalk and bury himself in his own filth. A cool and calm demeanor always suffice. The prez probably had to stifle himself more than once, from exposing this fake windbag. I believe, or hope, in the last debate (the one that people will remember) he tears Romney a new a**hole! November 6 hurry up! Send this tinman back to the woods!
Well, when Obama gets around for apologizing to the American people for his problem statements, such as "If you have a business, you didn't build it...other people did that!", or "The private sector is doing fine, it's the public sector employment that needs assistance", then we get on to asking Romney to apologize.
Romney made two statements back in May, one that concerned his strategy for winning the election made to fund raisers, that focused on his tax reform plan to spur economic growth and employment opportunities for the Middle Class, and that the 47% that do not pay taxes presently wouldn't be responsive to that message; and the other in a widely televised interview when he stated he wasn't concerned with the poor, that they had a safety net, and if that safety net needed mending, he would see to it: but that his Presidency would concentrate on providing assistance and employment opportunities for the Middle Class. Neither was an artful or elegantly spoken message, but there remains in both a willingness to speak the truth, and not to make wild promises of what his Candidacy or Presidency would deliver. He told it how it is...so now he is correcting the ill impressions left, but not apologizing, as he really has nothing to apologize for.
Will the real mittsy please stand up. Now you didnt mean what you said,three weeks after you said it in front of your rich pals mittsy you are the biggest trash bag LIAR ever. I cant believe how stupid you think we are. YOU SAID YOU DONT CARE ABOUT THE 47% and where did you say it wasnt what you meant with that other LYING TRASH HANNITY two of a kind, thats where you feel safe so nobody speaks back to you. What President OBAMA must do is everytime you open your big mouth is call you out for what you are a LIAR.
Lawrence, BRAVO. I'm so proud of you. You, and the other greats on MSNBC have a tendency to just feed we do-nothing lefties the read meat we want. Tonight, you really did journalism proud, giving us breathtaking, mature, informed adult perspective. Stunning. Patriotic. For God's sake, keep it up. Thank you.
While the president was speaking I could not help but laugh at the juvenile look Mitts was giving the president!
What was that all about? It look like shear and utter fear? I thought he might cry or barf at any moment.
Romney keeps telling lies, don't believe for a minute that he's sorry about the 47% comment. He'll say anything to get the vote. Romney still hasn't been specific on any topic and has generalized and has ducked all subjects by skirting the issues.
If you watch the beginning of the debate when Mitt Romney is stepping up to the podium, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out what looks like a pile of papers and throws it onto the podium. Is is proper etiquette to bring notes to a Debate? looked sneaky
You are the only one that got it right sorry that there was so many on msnbc that got it wrong that is way I watch you show and do not miss it
unfortunately for romney, you can't absorb a turd once it's been discharged. perhaps if he eats it he might, but that would mean he would have to apologize. and romney is far to arrogant, dishonorable and cowardly ever to do that.
I am a Physician in Canada and a local patient of mine came in today with his girlfriend from Alabama, who is in her 60's. I decided to ask her about US politics. She said that she was definitely supporting Romney because Obama is going to get rid of her Medicare, and he (Obama) wanted Veterans Health Care to be in the private market. She is currently on Medicare and Medicare Advantage and pays out of pocket about $140 per month. I asked her about Romney's plan to voucher Medicare but she was adamant that it was already private and the cost to her won't go up. I tried to explain that her care was being heavily subsidized and with her health history under Romney her costs would go up a minimum $6000 per year (I picked trhe min number that I have gleaned from US television coveragee) but she thought I was way off base.
I then asked her if she had seen the 47% comments from Romney and she said no. But when I explained what he said she said he was talking about illegals and thet she agreed with Romney that illegals shouldn't get anything anyway. I have two large 23 inch monitors on my desk for our advanced electronic medical system, so I decided to play it off Youtube. I had to play it twice so she could take it all in. You should have seen the jaw dropping look on her face as I told her that Romney says that you think you are a victim (she got Medicare early as a disability) and entilitled to food and health car, and you don't take personal responsibility for yourself. She said "but I used to pay Federal Income Taxes", and I countered with, "Romney doesn't care because you don't pay them any more".
She then was upset about Romney and said they all lie. I asked her to reserch the things that she knew and had said about Obama and Romney as they have an internet connection. Then it happened...She went on to say that she heard Obama said that he was born in Kenya and she also knew he wanted to have death panels. She even went on to explain that people will have to go to the government and describe how and when they want to die.
I don't know how you counter the propaganda that the Right uses to stay in Power but if there is a hell there will be a lot of Republican Strategists and Fox News Pundits in hell.
Shouldn't the media have independent third parties come in to educate your electorate. I mean how can you run a democratic country with these brain washed Americans that are hand puppets for their Rupublican overloards.
It sounds like you might have been treating her for a mental illness cause by ingesting too much Kool Aid from her IV drip supplied by the Republican Kool Aid bank. Doc you can't heal stupid.
I think Obama won the debate from the perspective of how I feel about it several days later vs. what was happening in the moment to moment action of the debate. If you wanted to see it as a duel for alpha male position then you could definitely say that Mitt marked his territory well. On the other hand, my take away was that Obama spoke with more substance and intellect in a calm and rational manner. Mitt looked and acted like the energizer bunny firing out anything that would make him look like he wasn't as threatening to this country as some of us think he is and appearing to completely railroad the debate.
I too was disappointed in some of the commentators on MSNBC afterwards. Especially Ed who I normally really like, he seemed very angry. Had to turn the TV off to get away from it so missed the rest. Just now getting back to watching again now that things have settled down a bit. Way to stick by your guy. I will take substance any day over the "blah blah blah" that came out of Mitt's mouth.
A serious problem is that half of the American voters are prepared to hear and to accept lies, misrepresentations and flip flops. They are prepared to accept and to elect the straw man with a hollow heart and the crafty brain.
President Obama give Mitt Romney enough rope to hang himself, and Romney did just that lying his way through 90 mins of debate. Romney look like he was on Speed and no one could shut him up.
But the next day Mitt Romney had to walk all those lies back, Romney quoted that he made 26 myths i quoted he told 27 lies.
Mitt Romney talk about how he will stop Iran from getting a Bumb, and nothing if off the table. Syria, etc. I hope Mitt Romney know these situration he will not be able to get up the next morning and Walk - Back, or say me made a Mistake, i wonder if Romney relizes that lying is a not a good thing should he win the W.H. and something like this happen, are we sure Mitt Romney is the Man you want to answer that 3am call, after watching Romney in the Debate Wed. night i'm not sure if Romney is Mental ready for this job as President.
At least he admitted his mistake as to what he said during a private fundraiser last may.
He did not blame anyone else. And for you lefties who only listen to msnbc and tune out the rest of the world -
The blatantly unprofessional idolatry of the media contributed to Obama’s poor performance. The Times, MSNBC, Huff Post and hundreds of others have lied so much they began believing their own lies. Most important, Obama and close Obama advisors believed them. The lies floated to the surface during the first debate.
the truth is the truth. The propaganda we are chronically exposed to frustrating. The nature of a "Leftie" is to seek the truth. All "Facts" need to be questioned.
I finally learned what "MITamorphosis" is!
It's when one Mit says certain things for 18 months (or 6 years) then on the day of the debate the other MIT shows up and contradicts himself in everything.
Yes, MITamorphosis!