Latest Romney Distractions

So there is now a video in which Romney clearly lets his harsh views on 1/2 the American populace be known. He basically calls the 47 percent of Obama supporters freeloaders who don't pay income tax, do not take responsibility for their own lives and want the government to take care of them. It is absolutely insane to say that in a public forum (actually it was a meeting of wealthy donors, but you have to know that what you say in that setting could very easily become public).

Besides being condescending and divisive, the basic premise of it is fundamentally wrong. Certainly, my wife and I earn a fair amount and pay taxes (at a much higher rate than Romney, even though we don't make nearly as much), and we support Obama. There are plenty of folks like us. But within that 47 percent of folks who don't pay income tax are millions of older folks who live off of social security and medicare, but who are entitled. The Daily Beast has a link to the video and explains who this 47 percent are because people are confused about this group. Hundreds of thousands of students who are adults but who are supported by their parents have to be in that number. Hundreds of thousands of startup entrepreneurs and business owners must be included in that number also because you can deduct business losses and such things as personal health insurance, company cars, and entertainment expenses if you own a business which can easily offset any income. Finally, very wealthy individuals who use tax loopholes and offshore accounts to hide their money must fit in.

I am fairly confident that the reason Romney doesn't want to show his tax returns for the last 2007-2009 is that he didn't have any personal income tax. That would just be hilarious. One other thing that is starting to emerge is that there is a lot of backstabbing within the upper levels of the Romney campaign. Politico had a big story about it yesterday that dominated the political news cycle. Although he denied there was any issue, where there is smoke there is fire and it is bad news that he has to deal with it and comment at all. With his floundering the last couple of weeks, I suppose it is not surprising.