# Romney Says He Was Wrong About The 47% **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 5, 2012, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822 "2012-10-05T16:27:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/21 "2012-10-05T19:20:20Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > But Obama should keep running those commercials as often as that 588-2300 Empire ad. Thanks. I’m putting you on ignore until that jingle is out of my head. I look forward to your comments on the 2016 elections. Are the Obama campaign/PACs still running ads featuring the comments? Have they been updated with the ‘meant it’ / ‘inelegant’ / ‘wrong’ statements? ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/22 "2012-10-05T21:04:10Z")
Romney has taken more positions than the Kama Sutra. It’s like watching a chameleon on a plaid couch. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/23 "2012-10-05T22:48:11Z")
He pretends to be wrong because he got caught, just like he pretends pretty much everything else he says. Politics aside, Mitt Romney seems like a shitty human being with his pathological lying (supposedly a lot of republican candidates in 2008 really didn’t like the guy on a visceral level). At least the dems tossed John Edwards aside when his true colors came out. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/24 "2012-10-05T22:50:11Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > Romney has taken more positions than the Kama Sutra. It’s like watching a chameleon on a plaid couch. Low information voters will determine this election, so that could be good. The 90% of the country who understand their own beliefs and understand the beliefs of the two parties and candidates are probably pretty set. It is the 10% who don’t know what they themselves believe and don’t know what politicians believe who will determine the outcome. Which sadly works in Romneys favor in the debate because he came across as aggressive and confident, despite having no policy substance (people who are undecided probably don’t care about policy. If they did I doubt they’d be undecided). ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/25 "2012-10-05T23:35:37Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I took his statement as meaning that 47% of people would not vote for him no matter what. Surely he doesn’t really think all of those 47% pay no taxes, they just don’t owe anything on April 15th, or may get a refund from overpayment or something like EIC. 47% of households owe no Federal income tax. if they do withhold taxes it is refunded when they file. This could be because they have little or no income, or because they have lots of deductions. They pay SS tax if they earn wages of course, and may pay gas taxes, sales tax, property tax, etc., but those don’t count apparently. In the alternate conservative universe you can count SS benefits as part of govt expenditures but it’s OK to ignore payroll taxes when you dismiss the 47% as moochers. Now of course it would be different if they were wealthy people who used tax loopholes to pay no taxes, then they would be “job creators”. It’s a sin to not pay income tax just because you have no income however. ---
**Author:** ![AnalogSignal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/analogsignal/32/1085_2.png) [@AnalogSignal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnalogSignal)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/26 "2012-10-06T02:24:15Z")
At a press conference on Sep 17 when the 47% tape first broke, Mittens said, “It’s not elegantly stated … but it’s a message which I’m going to carry.” Now Mittens says he was “completely wrong” on the 47%. Gee Mittens, I am confused. Why didn’t you say you were wrong on Sep 17? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/27 "2012-10-06T04:29:21Z")
When you’re installing a new version of your cognitive software, it can take a while to reboot. Also, his empathy chip was trying to hide. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/28 "2012-10-06T11:49:48Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Thanks. I’m putting you on ignore until that jingle is out of my head. I look forward to your comments on the 2016 elections. > > Are the Obama campaign/PACs still running ads featuring the comments? Have they been updated with the ‘meant it’ / ‘inelegant’ / ‘wrong’ statements? Forty seven percent of this country sucks teeeeeeat! ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/29 "2012-10-06T13:09:32Z")
I tend to believe prepared remarks made in a private setting over prepared remarks made on the Sean Hannity show. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/30 "2012-10-06T13:12:57Z")
> [@AnalogSignal](#): > > At a press conference on Sep 17 when the 47% tape first broke, Mittens said, “It’s not elegantly stated … but it’s a message which I’m going to carry.” Now Mittens says he was “completely wrong” on the 47%. > > Gee Mittens, I am confused. Why didn’t you say you were wrong on Sep 17? He was for his statement before he was against it. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/31 "2012-10-06T14:36:45Z")
Mitt Romney: Joe Isuzu with prep school polish. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/32 "2012-10-06T14:46:22Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > Boy, I bet Mitt was pissed Obama never brought it up, so that he could have used this opportunity to spin that statement. Despite the outcry from fellow Democrats (like myself) for not mentioning the 47% comment, maybe Obama didn’t bring it up because he was clever enough not to give Mitt the forum to do his spin. That was my theory. Obama’s team had to have known that Romney’s team would already have written a clever response if it came up during the debate. Ignoring the 47% comments during the debate defused Romney’s response. Basically, Romney was hoping that Obama would make a rookie mistake. Welcome to the big leagues, junior. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/33 "2012-10-06T14:53:09Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > That was my theory. Obama’s team had to have known that Romney’s team would already have written a clever response if it came up during the debate. Ignoring the 47% comments during the debate defused Romney’s response. > > Basically, Romney was hoping that Obama would make a rookie mistake. Welcome to the big leagues, junior. This would also explain the painful look on Obama’s face throughout the debate; he was trying to hold off bring up the 47% remark; he was doing a rope a dope move. Now that Mitt has flip flopped on his private statement to his buddies and told the world that he didn’t really mean it the President can pounce all over him. Between Mitt’s serving up a sweet waffle on the 47% comment and his dismissal of the good job report you can expect a totally different Obama in the next debate. ---
**Author:** ![Peanut\_Gallery](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/838e76/32.png) [@Peanut\_Gallery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanut_Gallery)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/34 "2012-10-06T15:28:35Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > I tend to believe prepared remarks made in a private setting over prepared remarks made on the **Sean Hannity** show. I listened to 5 minutes of Hannity and AM radio the day the tape came out, and their position was “it’s about time somebody called out those leeches! I hope he runs on this statement!” It’s funny that he went on Hannity to take it back, and I am curious how Hannity treated it. I’m betting his interview went more along the lines of “well gosh of course you didn’t mean it, Mitt! Evil liberal media conspiracy is out to get you!” rather than arguing his own pov about the “lazy half of the country” (quoted cuz I know I’ve heard Hannity put it that way before, even though he is talking about a huge amount of his listeners and R voters). I read an article the day the tape came out that basically said, “the ‘mis-statements’, the bullying story, Bain’s behavior, and so on aren’t random things… they paint a picture of who Mitt really is.” I’d say the private statement is far better evidence than the Romney Apology Tour. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/35 "2012-10-06T16:09:46Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > That was my theory. Obama’s team had to have known that Romney’s team would already have written a clever response if it came up during the debate. Ignoring the 47% comments during the debate defused Romney’s response. > > Basically, Romney was hoping that Obama would make a rookie mistake. Welcome to the big leagues, junior. But you could say the same thing for every issue out there. And why not make him walk back his comments in such a public forum? I just don’t see how not mentioning the 47% would work to Obama’s advantage. Just what kind of clever response could Romney have come up with? ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/36 "2012-10-06T16:28:35Z")
> [@El\_Zagna](#): > > But you could say the same thing for every issue out there. And why not make him walk back his comments in such a public forum? I just don’t see how not mentioning the 47% would work to Obama’s advantage. Just what kind of clever response could Romney have come up with? I don’t know. But let me ask you this- do you honestly think that Romney wouldn’t have had a canned response ready to go? By asking about the 47% quote, Obama would’ve been giving Romney a convenient talking point, one designed to do as much damage as possible. If Obama had brought it up, he would’ve been walking right into Romney’s trap. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/37 "2012-10-06T16:32:13Z")
> [@El\_Zagna](#): > > But you could say the same thing for every issue out there. And why not make him walk back his comments in such a public forum? I just don’t see how not mentioning the 47% would work to Obama’s advantage. Just what kind of clever response could Romney have come up with? Everyone who cares knows what he said, and what he meant. Obama bringing it up in a debate allows him to hand wave it away to the few not paying attention, which is the target market for the debate in the first place. If Romney was prepared for anything in this debate it was turning incontrovertibly disgusting bile for half of all Americans into a general dismissal of the hard-left in particular. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/38 "2012-10-06T17:15:38Z")
> [@El\_Zagna](#): > > Just what kind of clever response could Romney have come up with? Read the article. His response was: “Well, 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. I absolutely believe, however, that my life has shown that I care about 100% and that’s been demonstrated throughout my life. And this whole campaign is about the 100%.” There is is…word for word…the statement he didn’t get to make in the debate, but had probably rehearsed over and over and over again, with a very sincere smile. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/39 "2012-10-06T18:31:58Z")
Jeez, I could use a sincere smile! Where did he buy his? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822/40 "2012-10-06T18:45:20Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > Read the article. His response was: > > “Well, 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. I absolutely believe, however, that my life has shown that I care about 100% and that’s been demonstrated throughout my life. And this whole campaign is about the 100%.” > > There is is…word for word…the statement he didn’t get to make in the debate, but had probably rehearsed over and over and over again, with a very sincere smile. So, prolly shouldn’t have stuck by those ‘completely wrong’ words in multiple press releases for weeks after that video aired. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/romney-says-he-was-wrong-about-the-47/636822.md?page=3)