# The Romney Tapes - thoughts as to how they'll affect the election? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 17, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007 "2012-09-17T21:14:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/141 "2012-09-18T13:28:42Z")
The tapes just provide hours of fun. Did you hear the one about Romney declaring peace between Israel and the Palestinians “unthinkable” and saying that the President just needs to kick he can down the road and hope someone in the future will be able to deal with it? That’s the kind of leadership and can-do spirit we need! > **[SECRET VIDEO: On Israel, Romney Trashes Two-State Solution](https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/romney-secret-video-israeli-palestinian-middle-east-peace/)** > > At a private fundraiser, the GOP candidate calls Middle East peace "almost unthinkable" and says he would "kick the ball down the field." ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/142 "2012-09-18T13:33:31Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > [According to the the census bureau](http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.), 23.7% of the country is under 18. I’d guess most people less 17 don’t pay Fed taxes because serving hotdogs & fries during the summer isn’t all that lucrative. None of them are Romney or Obama voters, because they can’t vote, being minors. Minus that percentage, we’re down to only 23.3% of the nation possibly being mooching, food stamp-loving Obama supporters. This is not right. Romney is also wrong when he says that 47% of Americans pay no federal income tax - the number is higher. The 47% refers to the percentage of tax returns that result in no federal income tax being due. People who have no or very little income (children, for example) do not submit tax returns and are therefore not included in the numbers. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/143 "2012-09-18T13:38:47Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > The tapes just provide hours of fun. Did you hear the one about Romney declaring peace between Israel and the Palestinians “unthinkable” and saying that the President just needs to kick he can down the road and hope someone in the future will be able to deal with it? That’s the kind of leadership and can-do spirit we need! > > [SECRET VIDEO: On Israel, Romney Trashes Two-State Solution – Mother Jones](http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/romney-secret-video-israeli-palestinian-middle-east-peace) Do you think they have, like, a month’s worth of these clips that they’ll dole out on a daily basis? Because that would be awesome. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/144 "2012-09-18T13:44:22Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > The tapes just provide hours of fun. Did you hear the one about Romney declaring peace between Israel and the Palestinians “unthinkable” and saying that the President just needs to kick he can down the road and hope someone in the future will be able to deal with it? That’s the kind of leadership and can-do spirit we need! > > [SECRET VIDEO: On Israel, Romney Trashes Two-State Solution – Mother Jones](http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/09/romney-secret-video-israeli-palestinian-middle-east-peace) I wonder how Mitt’s BFF Netanyahu feels about this? If Mother Jones has much more of this, Utah is going to go for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/145 "2012-09-18T13:45:51Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Flip-flop. He’s done it before, I hear. He used to be in favor of flip-flopping, but now he’s adamantly against the practice. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/146 "2012-09-18T13:52:54Z")
When I first heard this story I honestly didn’t think it would be that big a deal. I’m not 100% convinced yet that my initial read is wrong - although the few people I talked to about it seemed more upset than I expected. In the end, at least amongst the moderate/independent voters I know, they all kind of know that Romney is a rich out-of-touch asshole. They just think that might be what the country needs. So while this re-affirms that belief, I’m not sure how many minds it will change. I do think that the “victim” and “I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives” parts have the most potential to do damage. We’ll see how it affects the polls - I’m still waiting to see if the Obama bounce recedes any more or holds at O+3. Another poll or two from WI and VA would be nice as well - and maybe NV or CO. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/147 "2012-09-18T14:01:24Z")
Old people on Medicare and poor whites on welfare are not even going to consider that he’s talking about them. To them he is talking about those lazy niggers that Obama has enabled and they are in full agreement with Romney. God help but I agree with OMG, this might look like a huge gaffe but in truth it won’t affect anything. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/148 "2012-09-18T14:04:32Z")
Romney campaign takes action to turn things around. New campaign song is Shake, Shake, Shake, Shake Your Booty ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/149 "2012-09-18T14:07:13Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Old people on Medicare and poor whites on welfare are not even going to consider that he’s talking about them. To them he is talking about those lazy niggers that Obama has enabled and they are in full agreement with Romney. God help but I agree with OMG, this might look like a huge gaffe but in truth it won’t affect anything. And that’s the key word in his remarks - “victim”. Because when your working-class white person (or, in this case, a rich GOP donor) hears about “victims” that don’t pay any taxes and are dependent on the government they think about one group of people, in my experience, and it ain’t Medicare seniors. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/150 "2012-09-18T14:08:44Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > Old people on Medicare and poor whites on welfare are not even going to consider that he’s talking about them. To them he is talking about those lazy niggers that Obama has enabled and they are in full agreement with Romney. God help but I agree with OMG, this might look like a huge gaffe but in truth it won’t affect anything. Yeah, I mean, look at [the map of where most of the “moochers” are.](http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/politics/nonpayers.banner.taxfound.jpg) Unfortunately, his statement is not going to make much of a difference in any of those states, as they’re almost all solidly Republican (with the exception of New Mexico and possibly Florida). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/151 "2012-09-18T14:20:35Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > I don’t see where he modified them. He said they were “unelegantly stated”, but he seems to be standing by their meaning. The conservative spin is that they’re “concerned” about the large number of people receiving government assistance and want to help them get jobs and so on. The contempt in Romney’s remarks and the inaccurate implication all those people are in the bag for Obama is just sort of being ignored. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/152 "2012-09-18T15:00:04Z")
> [@a35362](#): > > Obama is going to be on Letterman tonight – wonder what he’ll have to say about all this. I agree that he probably won’t say anything… but they could do a heck of a Top Ten list with all the recent Romney statements. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/153 "2012-09-18T15:04:02Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > What a campaign! Every day, I feel like a kid at Christmas and finding a shiny new bike from Uncle Mittens. Wake up sleepy-head, it’s a ten-speed! [Romney Video Fundraiser also Hosted Sex Parties and Orgies](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/17/1133059/-Romney-Video-Fundraiser-also-Hosted-Sex-Parties-and-Orgies) ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/154 "2012-09-18T15:04:54Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > It’s kind of weird that you would try to equate Carter to Romney. Yeah. Carter actually managed to eek out a win in a presidential race. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/155 "2012-09-18T15:07:42Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > If only because they might see the campaign as bumbling and incompetent after several bad Romney news cycles - many from unforced errors - stacked together. This tends to deflate supporters, and they not might show up on the big day. Carter voters might have felt that way. > [@Andiethewestie](#): > > Republican David Brooks sums up Romney’s Campaign - Inept. > > [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/opinion/brooks-thurston-howell-romney.html?\_r=2](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/opinion/brooks-thurston-howell-romney.html?_r=2) This is very true. I would think that there are some voters who are unhappy with Obama and agree with some of the positions Romney has but are worried by the campaign’s constant blundering. If he’s had this many problems leading a campaign, how many problems will he have leading a country? Those voters won’t necessarily go vote for Obama now, but they’ll definitely be less enthusiastic for Romney. And Romney already has an enthusiasm problem. Also, I’m surprised this isn’t getting more traction: > [@](#): > > “My dad, as you probably, know was the governor of Michigan and was the head of a car company. But he was born in Mexico … and, uh, had he been born of, uh, Mexican parents, I’d have a better shot at winning this,” Romney said. “But he was unfortunately born to Americans living in Mexico. … I mean I say that jokingly, but it would be helpful to be Latino.” The 47% quote is worse, so I guess it’s overshadowing his Mexican envy. But I would absolutely love for a reporter to ask him more about this, and see if he actually truly believes he’d be more likely to win if he was Latino. Or if he thinks he’d have had the same opportunities growing up and that he’d be the Republican candidate if he was Latino. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/156 "2012-09-18T15:08:57Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Do you think they have, like, a month’s worth of these clips that they’ll dole out on a daily basis? Because that would be awesome. I was a 1 hr event and they’re putting out about 3 min at a time. So, if he spent only half of his time jumping up and down on his dick, that would only make 10 clips worth. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/157 "2012-09-18T15:12:44Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I’m pretty pleased to see people like my brother, a staunch righty with a mess of children who, at least the last time I asked, didn’t pay any income taxes because of his boatload of deductions, cast as irresponsible and not in control of his life. This also tickles me. My crabby old father is in the same position. Staunch Republican, but hasn’t paid income taxes in years. ---
**Author:** ![Dob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Dob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dob)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/158 "2012-09-18T15:25:15Z")
I love how Fox News has this as the 3rd story on the page and the first article is about how Romney has “gone bold”. I don’t know whats in the water over there but it HAS to be good. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/159 "2012-09-18T15:33:23Z")
Boldly gone where no twit has gone before. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007/160 "2012-09-18T15:34:35Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Boldly gone where no twit has gone before. Actually a lot of conservatives have gone there before. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-romney-tapes-thoughts-as-to-how-theyll-affect-the-election/635007.md?page=9)