KALAMAZOO, MI

-- So was

simply telling the truth in his comments on the 47 percent of Americans who don't have federal income tax?

Or was he insulting almost half the country, including many of his supporters?

In video recorded in May and released this week, Romney had this to say:

There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. There are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that’s an entitlement and government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. I mean, the president starts off with 48, 49 ... I mean, he starts off with a huge number. These are people who pay no income tax; 47 percent of Americans pay no income tax. So our message of low taxes doesn’t connect. He’ll be out there talking about tax cuts for the rich. I mean, that’s what they sell every four years. And so my job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.



My dad does not pay federal income tax. He is 90 years old and lives on SS and a small pension (of which Snyder & Co now take a piece). He worked all of his life and paid his fair share of ANY AND ALL taxes imposed on him. He is a proud American who served in the Navy during WWII in Pearl Harbor and then again in Korea.



I talked to my dad last night and we got on the subject of Romney's latest comments about the 47%. I will not repeat what he had to say (my post would be deleted), but I'll just summarize his thoughts: "I have voted for the GOP my entire life, until now".





"

The debate could be about the extent that community and individual responsibilities merge," wrote Jerry Charboneau. "Instead, the right wants to hijack the argument by dismissing the left as in favor of a hand out freeloader society that hates success."

Others defended Romney, including

: "

The way I read it he's not going to try to convince those that are closed minded. Up until now all I heard from the left is how he panders. No pandering here.

"

Added

: "

Time for the 47%'ers to pitch in and pull their weight, help the country out instead of pulling it down. Glad Mitt pointed that out, obviously why obama won in the first place, those who take want to continue to take and take even more. Disgusting!

"