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Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney responds to criticism of his comments on a hidden video published my Mother Jones magazine.
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Mitt Romney did not -- Here's what he did trying to prove this perceived wrong.
I believe the right course for America -- one where government steps in to help those that are in need where we're compassionate people.
But then we get let people build their own lives create enterprise as we believe in free people and free enterprise not redistribution.
The right course for America is to create growth create wealth not to redistribute wealth.
Governor -- 47%.
Of the people in this country.
Pay no income taxes now a lot of them.
And because they're retired to their old delayed our problem -- they're they're paying.
-- certainly payroll taxes and and other taxes but that 47%.
Figure which is about right.
Is it July to did you do you think that the levels should be.
Closer to what it was.
In the late seventies where.
Bonds it was in in the in the twenties what what what is an acceptable level.
Well first of all of course you're right there are number of retirees members of the military and so forth to who are paying taxes and that says it should be.
But.
But I do believe.
-- we should have enough jobs and enough take home pay such that people have the privilege of higher incomes that.
That allow -- to be paying taxes I think people would like to be paying taxes.
The good news is if you're doing well enough financially that you can't -- attacks and the problem right now as you see in this country so many people -- fallen into poverty.
They're not paying taxes they have to rely on government and the right course to help them is not just to have government handing out but instead government helping people.
That to get back to good jobs at the -- that the numbers on food stamps are really revealing when the president took office 32 million people were on food stamps.
And now that number is fifteen million higher almost 50% higher.
Now 47 million people on food stamps you've got Americans falling into poverty under this president.
In increasing number looks like -- these food stamp.
Figures and I want to get people back to work I'd like to see.
I legacy everybody who's not -- a retired from the military having the privilege of having a good job and a good income announced that that that they qualified pay taxes.
Now you said that your -- wording might have been an elegant but others have said that you just just have to stay electric abide.
On this this this election year.
That that you all but called the move cheers.
Did you.
No I'm talking about a perspective five individuals who I'm not likely to get the support me.
I recognize that that those people who.
Are not paying income tax our target is say gosh this this of provision of that -- keeps talking about lowering income taxes that's second be real attracted to them and and those that are dependent upon government.
And those that think government's job is to redistribute I'm not gonna get them I know there's a a divide in the country about about that view I know some believe the government should take from some to give to the others I think the president makes it clear in the tape that was released today that that's what he believes.
I think that's an entirely foreign concept.
I believe America was built on the principle.
Government caring for those in need.
But getting out of the way it allowing free people to pursue their dreams.
Free people pursuing free enterprises is the only way will create a strong growing middle class and the only way we'll help people out of poverty.
