HARRISONBURG, Va. — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said on Thursday his comment on a secretly taped video in which he disparaged 47 percent of voters as dependent on government “was just completely wrong,” as he attempted to repair the damage from the controversy.
Romney’s interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity was the first time he completely disavowed remarks he made at a private fundraiser in May and which have emerged as a major stumbling block in his campaign against Democratic President Barack Obama.
The “47 percent” videotape did not come up in his Wednesday night debate with Obama, although the Obama campaign has used his remarks in a television ad.
Asked what he would have said if the issue had come up in the Denver debate, Romney said he would have said that after thousands of speeches as a presidential candidate, “now and then you’re going to say something that doesn’t come out right.”
“In this case, I said something that was just completely wrong,” he said.
“I absolutely believe however that my life has shown that I care about 100 percent. And that’s been demonstrated throughout my life. This whole campaign is about the 100 percent. When I become president, it will be about helping the 100 percent,” he added.
Romney said at the Florida fundraiser that 47 percent of voters were dependent on government and unlikely to support him in the Nov. 6 election.
When the video was disclosed on Sept. 17 by liberal magazine Mother Jones, Romney said his comments had been “not elegantly stated” but that he stood by them.
Obama has been second-guessed by some of his supporters for not bringing up the 47 percent video at the Denver debate. The president has been widely declared as the loser in that encounter, with two more presidential debates to come this month.
Mitt Romney: I ‘was just completely wrong’ on the 47 percent
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This man is constitutionally incapable of telling the truth.
Mittens gets a reboot once a month or prior to any confrontation with his base at any big money private fundraisers. Whether it be shaking an etch-a-sketch or just changing his root programming the results are always the same. He’ll say or do anything in opposition to what he said yesterday if it will put more money in his many hidden bank accounts or put a few more votes from the dimwitted in his pocket.
Mitt Romney, 10/3/12: I will not reduce the taxes paid by high income Americans.
Mitt Romney, 2/22/12: There were so many misrepresentations in there it’s going to take me a little while. Number one, I said today that we’re going to cut taxes on everyone across the country by twenty percent—including the top one percent.
Mitt Romney, 10/3/12: The key to great schools? Great teachers. So I reject the idea that I don’t believe in great teachers or more teachers.
Mitt Romney, 6/8/12: He says we need more firemen, more policemen, more teachers. Did he not get the message of Wisconsin? The American people did. It’s time for us to cut back on government.
Mitt Romney, 10/3/12: Actually, it’s a lengthy description, but number one, pre-existing conditions are covered under my plan.
Mitt Romney, 3/27/12: If they’re 45 years old and they show up and they say I want insurance because I’ve got heart disease, it’s like: “Hey guys, we can’t play the game like that.” You’ve got to get insurance when you’re well, and then if you get ill, then you’re going to be covered.
He is wrong a lot.
Is that something conservatives look for in a presidential candidate ?
I think he got this right, though:
“… frankly if I had paid more than are legally due I don’t think I’d be qualified to become president. I’d think people would want me to follow the law and pay only what the tax code requires” – Mitt Romney
No. They look for someone who will do anything for a price.
He is right he is not qualified, the only thing I agree with reversible Mittens on.
He certainly did not think he was wrong before he got caught, and had to squirm his way out of his very telling attitude on those less fortunate then he is. Or should I say everyone else. Its almost like watching the fox walking out of the hen house, with feathers in his mouth. Saying I was just taste testing. Did not mean any harm. I don’t believe I could ever trust a word out of his mouth. And after today’s job statistics and now at a, get this , 7.8% unemployment I’m sure he will be singing a different tune soon.
This man is incapable of telling a lie. It is just not in his DNA……and I was just browsing the U S Constitution….strange that I cannot find anything there regarding “constitutionally incapable”.
But then the left wing, BarryO cult have to dream up whatever suits your stance at the moment.
I am shocked that this arrogant man would deign to admit he was wrong about something~
Interesting. Was he lying then or is he lying now?
Lying all the time it seems.
nobody lies more and as often as the Obama bunch.. it’s easy to check if you actually wanted to.. fat chance of that though
Really? Name ONE LIE that the Obama administration has told. And you have to present it from a CREDIBLE source, not Hannity, Limpbaugh, Beck, or Faux Spews.
BarryO stated he would balance the budget in his first term.
BarryO stated he would not raise taxes.
BarryO stated the health care bill will not increase the deficit by one dime.
BarryO stated he would save the average family $8,000.oo in gas.
Need more CREDIBLE proof wise guy?
http://www.obamalies.net/list-of-lies.
President Obama reduced taxes on the Middle Class, even Romney reluctantly admitted it.
Using the same site as a source as your site did, PolitiFact. Obama has told the truth 72.2% of the time with 6 Pants on fire in 425 fact checks, for a 1.4% rate. Romney on the other hand has told the truth 57.5% of the time with 16 Pants on Fire in 179 fact checks, for a rate of 8.9%.
Which one is more honest and trust worthy?
If you base your source as politifact, you are sadly disillusioned.
http://www.politifacbias.com.
It’s just another pro left wingnut garbage dump.
I’m sure he’ll be sending back the $50,000 per plate donations he got when he was selling his candidacy to those at the fundraiser with that statement.
Those donors thought they were buying a right wing nut president. Little did they know they were getting an etch-a-sketch artist instead.
Freudian slip.
Mr. Hope and Change…Now there’s honesty and openess!
What’s dishonest about hope? what’s dishonest about change? With out hope we have nothing. Do you really think that the mess of 2008, could been fixed in 4 years? If you do you better get your but to DC and tell them what they’re doing wrong.
He knows he was wrong to say it. But he still believes it.
it’s nice to know that you know him so well… how did you meet him, do you know his kids and his wife.? Must be fun knowing a presidential candidate as well as you do… thanks for sharing some of your first hand thoughts…
I tend to believe the things that people say when they dont think they are being recorded, rather than the things that they say in order to correct a media narrative.
Also, I am sure you give President Obama the same benifit of the doubt.
Kinda like when the Russian diplomat asked Obama to change his EuropeanMiddleEast missle policy and Obama, not realizing his microphone was still on, whispered to “wait until after the election”. This was much, much, more serious then anything Romney ever did or said!
He got caught saying something he thought was not for public consumption, defended saying it until he realized it was costing him in the polls and then flip-floped on it.
That’s a man of integrity there.
The scary thing about this drip – as he is clearly demonstrating to all of us, is that he is willing to say anything he needs to in order to get elected. I find that mentality more disturbing than someone with a rigid ideology. This guy doesn’t seem to believe in anything, other than his own election.
The only thing he was wrong about was the actual percentage. He knows he isn’t going to get the Obamaphone voter or the Obamastash voter. At least the guy can ADMIT to making a mistake and not blame everyone else when he does.
Who are you trying to fool!
He Blamed 47 % of the Population!
And he was caught red handed!
“That” was his Mistake!
Can’t fool a fool. You are good!
Romney is a liar who will say anything to become president. The real GOP agenda is to create a feudal state in America where the citizens work their lives away without fair compensation. Then when old or ill they will be told to go die because there is no healthcare, no social security, no medicare, and no social services programs to help them after a life of servitude to the 1%.
Your attitude will really take you places. You may want to examine it sometime.
Romney a liar?
And I suppose you would attempt to convince the assembled masses here that BarryO has never lied to the American people……unless of course his mouth is moving.
Learn A lesson From Columbus . Schools indoctrinate. Only the strong survive . Being nice will get you nothing . Again why do we celebrate this Genocidal Maniac . lie to kids in school about it. Please lets start teaching the truth / Maybe we should make Hitler B-day a holiday?
He’s not admitting anything, the 47% comment was not a one line gaff. It was well thought out, and he took time to explain why he felt that way. If all of a sudden he’s found out he’s wrong, that just prove how out of touch he really is. This is just what Romney does best, telling lies, and swearing to it. Nixon like anyone?
he’s not sorry he said it – he’s sorry that he was caught saying it.
He was just completely caught with his pants down 100%
I thought that was Bill Clinton……
It was Billy and he lied to the American people about that also.
He’s sorry he was caught. Why is he saying he’s wrong now if for the weeks after he and Ryan simply said the remarks were “inarticulate”? Seems like they’re swinging hard for the middle since they know no one wants their radicalism.
Kudos to Mitt for admitting he is wrong. Now how about admitting that supply side economics is wrong also and that his planned $5 Trillion tax giveaway to the wealthy is wrong too.
Then I will listen.
All Romney proved was that he’s perfectly willing to say whatever it takes to get campaign donor’s to write the check, even if he has to trash half of the Country to get hs way. And his 47% statement was NOT a goof but a seriously thought statement that demonstrates his entire business record, especially when it comes to his dealing’s with U.S. business’s and worker’s that are going thru re-structuring. That he had his governing philosophy hauled out and shown for what it is in the press is about the only saving grace that has come out of the GOP Campaign. What’s even more telling, here in Maine, is the fact that NO ONE in the State GOP is going anywhere near Romney’s statement. Trashing 47% of the Maine voter’s isn’t just stupid but electoral suicide. As proof I ask anyone to openly ask Charlie Webster his thoughts on Romney’s statement and it’s impact on Maine. But you better have a pair of New Balance’s on when you do. Charlie’s likely to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in track when you do. And no where to be seen or heard is Charlie Summers response to Romney’s statement. Even the SOS has more brains than to go near that live grenade.
You may want to lay off the coffee a little
I’d say it was the Allen’s coffee brandy….
I get my 1st coffee at home at 4 am. And dry as a bone if it’s anyone’s business. Seen too many friend’s and colleague’s get involved with the stuff. That and seen the result’s of George the 2nd’s nonsense and stress that he and Shotgun Dickie inflicted on God only knows how many. The number of returning vet’s ought to give everyone areal good idea as to how his political plan’s worked out. And we want a return to that ? Anyone seen a good ‘shrink’ that has a grip on life !
there is no doubt where maine is .. the welfare state needs obama and his ” stuff ” too bad too, but that is how it works out.. there is no denying it…. just look at some of these comment… bent hard left with no measure of thought or consideration of a possible alternative.. Our country is not going to survive another obama term.. if you can’t see that, ok. vote for obama, if you like all the great progress he has made .. excellent.. vote for obama. .. if you cannot see what is obvious, in Washington DC.. where the whole system is at a standstill . even when Obama had a majority nothing was accomplished.. but if that’s what you like .. vote for obama..our systems are broken.. we are divided. it was not like that before obama .. try to make that case.. won’t work.. now .. obama , isn’t talking about his record or his plans for america, he’s talking about big bird… Big Bird.. he sounds like a recently beat up high school kid… you vote for him.. I have a better idea
Paul, You hit the nail directly and hard with your post. Saved me a lot of typing too. No matter how good or bad either candidate really is, you are going to get the same old commenters day after day posting their same old tired, unfounded comments insulting Romney or praising Obama. Very few of these posters are neither smart or rooted in reality. They are leftists and would vote for Hitler if he was the Democratic candidate and their hero, George Soros was his challenger. The average (not all, but the average) Dem voter can’t even tell you who his or her elected senators, us reps, etc. are. I’m sure some of them are going to read this and wonder, “who is George Soros?”. They’ll then Google Soros before they place their replying post.
Hitler was far right so I doubt liberals would vote for him.
Well we still celebrate Columbus day . Columbus did as much bad and good as Hitler . The lies my teacher told me. Genocidal Maniac . If you take to the average voter for 5 minutes you will see the problem with democracy Winston Churchill .
Thanks, Winston Churchill also said “If you are not a liberal by age 20 you have no heart. If you are not a conservative by age 40 you have no brain”. He was right.
Henderson Bobby wrote, in response to libsux:
Well we still celebrate Columbus day . Columbus did as much bad and good as Hitler . The lies my teacher told me. Genocidal Maniac . If you take to the average voter for 5 minutes you will see the problem with democracy Winston Churchill .
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The real issue is most people want free money rich an poor alike .
You and Romney make a good pair, you think anybody who doesn’t think like you is stupid.
You probably would vote for George W. Bush again, if your in a glass house I suggest not throwing rocks.
Have a good day.
And we can look at your comments and notice that they are hard right, full of name calling invectives with NOTHING of substance to back it up; pushing ever forward to the creation of the fascist Corporate States of America. You make moronic comments (notice I am talking about the comment, not YOU) like “we are divided. it was not like that before obama”. Are you for real? Were you just born yesterday. Do you not remember the 2000 election and its EIGHT YEAR aftermath? Do you not remember “Mission Accomplished,” “You’re doin’ a heckuva job, Brownie,” “Weapons of Mass Destruction” (or should that be Deception?) or the FAILURE to capture or kill Osama Bin Laden while getting us into a war that has turned out to be the longest in our history? Do you not remember Bush standing around wondering why the economy was going south and doing nothing to stop the hemorrhaging of almost a half-million jobs a month in 2008? Of course not. Your head was buried in……uh, the sand.
Our country is broke, spends way more than they take in, and is not going to be able to pay for the promises it has made… if you are D or an R it is a fact….I am tired of all the back and forth and disappointed that many people have not figured out that the money has to come from somewhere and even taxing the rich at 100% does not solve our promises … time for a reality check!!!
Etch a Scetch!
The MOST artificial, spineless, and dishonest politician I have ever seen. And that’s saying something.
Strange that you would comment on Obama when the article was about Romney but I agree with you, Obama is all you said and more.
So you’re going to go with the Romney strategy? Take someone’s remarks out of context and then act like they have a different position than they actually hold? How honest of you — you must be proud of yourself.
Your talking about Obama right?
He doesn’t know when he’s telling the truth he has changed his position so many times.
To accuse Romney of flip-flopping would imply that he’d actually landed on a position at some point … this is looking more like a perpetual spin.
Mr. flip flopper is wrong about many other things also!
Wow. Too little, too late? Now there’s a list of other statements he’s made where he has to admit he was wrong.
What scares me about Romney is that he’s been running for President for at least a dozen years. He wants it too much.Who runs for President when your wife has MS and has been through breast cancer? Stress is really bad for both. Mrs. Romney recently disclosed that she had a “flare up” of her MS due to the rigors of the campaign trail. She puts on a brave face. If her husband wins I hope she’s not the one that pays the price.
During the debates he said something like the country needs him and that’s why he’s running — sure that sounds good, but it doesn’t really make sense. Like you said, he’s been trying for this for a long time, even when the country was doing well. Seems more like he’ll just say whatever it takes to move him further forward, has nothing to do with what he actually believes.
The only reason he is acknowledging that he is wrong is because he knows it has cost him any number of potential voters. The GOP candidate is for one thing and one thing only, himself. When he became governor of Massachusetts, he did it only because it would look good on his political resume. The only real accomplishment he can take credit for, he has disavowed in order to appeal to the radical right. He has no principles to violate because he has no real belief system. He will say and do anything if he believes it will help him get votes.
http://www.upworthy.com/breaking-for-the-first-time-ever-video-of-what-mitt-romney-actually-thinks-about
that’s the video that Jimmy Carters grand son got a hold of and sold it to the highest bidder with the ex presidents ok… a cheap shot .. at best. but that’s how they play it. Romney admits he got it wrong, proves through actions that he actually is for all the people no matter how they conduct their lives and then moves on.. in the next debate if Obama brings that up it will have already been a dead issue.. good way to handle it and a good lesson on trust …. if you are going to get in the pit with snakes and vile creatures, you really should expect to get bit once in a while… and so it was
It’s someone else’s fault that Romney said those things? So much for personal responsibility.
He was caught in the video proving that that he is the master of the cheap shot. It is not a cheap shot when he was the one that shot off his mouth to please the rich people in the room. Everything he said was a cheap shot toward the average American.
Paul the video was already on YouTube when jimmy Carter’s grandson stumbled across it. And the issue is not a dead one as you state. He came out the same night it was aired on national tv and reiterated it. He only backed down from his statement when he took his turn to the middle. He has done nothing to prove he is for all Americans, the only thing he has proven is that he will say anything to get the votes of all Americans. Obama doesn’t need to bring it up in a debate. Most Americans have already seen the video and some agree and some don’t with his point of view. I cannot understand why he thinks people are not going to remember what he says from one day to another.
At least they came up with an article to make the left happy, had to give them something after yesterdays article on the debate totally crushed their spirit, chin up folks..
It was like losing the debate for student council to the kid who promised less homework and more vending machines.
Yeah, you were, but then again you were just parroting the talking points of the likes of ALEC, the Heritage Foundation, etc. Those people, and you too, Willard, want to have your cake and everyone else’s too and you’ll stop at NOTHING to get it. The plutocrats love their tax cuts and deductions but heaven forbid someone who makes so little money employ the same deductions resulting in them having a net zero tax liability. As for those folks not paying income tax-if they have withholding, the government takes their money and earns interest on it up to the time the refund, and even then only the principal is refunded, not the interest earned on it, so IN FACT THEY HAVE PAID FEDERAL INCOME TAX. The people doing the complaining are also the ones who want to eliminate minimum wage, claiming that it’s a “job killer.” Does that not tell you what they really want to pay workers-as little as they can legally get away with?
It boggles the mind to think that there are voters out there who will scream and cheer for this guy. Lets hope, for the sake of the country, that there is enough intelligent voters that can see past this laughing liar.
He cares for 100%? How about that kid whose hair he cut off at Prep school? Oh, that’s right . He doesn’t recall that.
Did you ever do something foolish or stupid while younger or in previous college days?? I have made choices with regrets and have things from the past that I wish had never happened and they do not reflect upon who I am today, except to remind me how important choices are and how important respect and being civil to others truly are…..the issue you speak of is irrelevant…..
Nor does the family of the person in question who claims that the incident did not happen.
Mr. Romney is correct when he says “I was just completely wrong” on the 47%.
The figure is actually 49%. He was close!
For all the anti-Romney crowd who claim him to be a liar, and who would most likely claim that BarryO never lies……
http://www.obamalies.net/list-of-lies
Tis better to be thought a fool and remain silent, than to speak and remove all doubt.
Hey great news, we added only 114,000 jobs but somehow the unemployment rate dropped to 7.8%!?
Considering the Obama administration hides a terrorist attack from the public, subverts the constitution, leaks classified information and manipulates job data for political gain, what wouldn’t they do?
The rate went down because of upward revisions to previous months totals. The calculations are all there if you want to dig into them. Unless you have proof that they were manipulated…which I am sure you have.
Anyway, it makes it official. President Obama has dug us out of the giant hole his predecessor left behind! That’s good news for America! Too bad some of us are rooting against our success.
What the numbers do not reflect is the number of underemployed, or employees who have had their employment hours slashed, nor do they reflect the number of unemployed who have just simply stopped looking for employment and taken themselves out of the overall numbers…if these citizens were included in the total the unemployment numbers would be above 11% to 12% conservatively with some numbers showing the unemployed at 16%…..maybe not quite as successful as thought….
Flip, flop, flip, flop.
Flipping and flopping more than a fish out of water.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say.
Another Romney filp flop. How can anyone support someone without any solid positions?
You really want to elect a “solid” citizen as President of the United States who states that there are 57 of them? Would a public followup correction announcement not be construed as a “flip-flop”?
Does it blame BarryO * for the price of gasoline, too ?
That these people think the POTUS can control the free market just amazes me.
Especially, when they go on to talk economics.
But to Mitt Romney’s credit he knows how to play to this core support.
But I don’t think he respects them anymore than I.
* anything else but “President” ?
… but I know, it IS NOT a racist thing, because you all say so, right ?
http://www.upworthy.com/finally-some-straight-talk-from-romney-with-a-little-help-from-final-cut
So which of Romney’s 47% comments do you think Romney actually believes?
He said it. PERIOD. No mistake there. He’s looking to care of the rich….plain and simple.
I’ll bet you Googled Soros!
If Gov. Romney had made this comment in Denver, then the Al Gore excuse of blaming it on the altitude and that being 5,000 feet above sea level affects someone’s thinking, could explain it all….otherwise, since it was said in Florida one just needs to take the whole discussion in context and the overall thoughts being presented…..it is obvious to clear minded Americans that Mr. Romney’s claim to be a President for all Americans is something that he will follow thru on and be…..seemingly, claims that will be shown to be more truthful than what our current administration seems to be saying and doing….
Well stated and agreed……
What the numbers do not reflect is the number of underemployed, or employees who have had their employment hours slashed, nor do they reflect the number of unemployed who have just simply stopped looking for employment and taken themselves out of the overall numbers…if these citizens were included in the total the unemployment numbers would be above 11% to 12% conservatively with some numbers showing the unemployed at 16%…..maybe not quite as successful as thought….good or bad news for Americans??
Some good news and the right wingers feel they must be sure to tell everybody how bad things are, maybe we can slow this down even further. I don’t understand when the rate was over 8% everything was OK but now it is below 8% oh the sky is falling everything is wrong.
It is good new accept it and move on, spread the word and things might get better faster, or would you prefer everything blows up like in 2007/2008 so you can blame it on Obama?
Some “good news” or some convenient news that seems to be refuted by the business community and current economic activity which seems to not be reflecting this good news…..considering that the election is 32 days away maybe the numbers have a different purpose…..
Your Faux News talking points are getting old. Get out of the lazy boy and shut off your tv. ;}
I said something wrong and I’m so sorry I got caught. Mittens said exactly what he means and since he was getting hurt in the polls he attempted to apologize. If he apologized for all his lies I don’t think he would finish before the election. God what a mis-handler of the truth.
I’m so glad Mittens cares about 100% of us now. Gives me the warm fuzzies.
That’s a 53% improvement in just a few days. Must be a right wing conspiracy.