On
September 17th 2012, a secret video of Presidential candidate Mitt
Romney during a Spring fundraising function, “surfed” on the internet. In the
video, Mr. Romney was answering someone’s question, and he claims that he was
not concern about the “47 percent Americas who do not pay taxes”. The
controversial video was aired on several news and televisions network, such as CNN
and even a parody skit on SNL. Most Americans question Romney’s horrible
remarks regarding nearly half of the American population. A presidential candidate
is viewed as a potential President. People expect him or her, to appeal to the
population on current issues, such as the reduction of taxes.[1]
However, Romney’s failure to connect with the American population has put him
in a “hot water”. This seems to have negatively affected his presidential
campaign. As the 2012 presidential elections campaign continues to kick off
with some heated debates, the last five weeks tend to be crucial for both President
Barak Obama and former Governor Mitt Romney.
--“There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no
matter what. Alright, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent
upon government, who believe they are victims, who believe the government, who
believe that they are entitled to healthcare, to food, to housing, to you name
it. That that’s an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And
they will vote for this president no matter what. And I mean the president
starts off with 48, 49, 4-he starts off with a huge number. These are people who
pay no income tax. Forty-seven percent Americans pay no income tax”[2]--
Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com
Romney,
what all Americans both young and old, and even Canadian citizens who saw this
video would wonder, is what gives you the right to assume that 47% of the
population do not pay taxes. The people in 47% population found Romney’s
comments to be degrading. Isn’t the job of a potential president to care for all
Americans and the people residing in his country, regardless of their financial
status? All that a person wants in a country is to have a presidential candidate
to address current issues, such as taxes, national security, national debt etc…
and day to day problems faced by individuals. Unfortunately, Romney seems to target
nearly half of the US population. The question of whether or not he supports
the ideas and issues of the “non-significant,” Americans that reside in his country,
will likely be a subject in the in-coming presidential debate.
The
implications of his contentious comment has can be seen from the changes in the
Gallup polls for both presidential candidates before and after the video was
leaked. Dr. Frank Newport, Vice President and Editor of Chief of the Gallup
Organization, expressed his opinion in this way,
--“The
47% of Americans whom he said are Obama supporters and dependent on the
government. Thirty-six percent of voters say Romney comments make them less
like to vote for him, while 20% say the remarks make them more like to vote for
him”—
-Frank
Newport."Vice President and Editor of Chief of the Gallup Organization." Published September 19th 2012[4]
+-+Copy.jpg "Gallup. Posted September 19th 2012. www.gallup.com. Copyright©2012 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved")
The
voter’s reaction tilts his supporters negatively; however, the showing of 20%
is agreeing with his crude comment. The 20% that are more likely to vote for
him, would they be considered part of the 47%. In most cases, if
voters were agreeing with Romney’s comment they would not be considered part of
the 47% population but be part of the middle-high income bracket. That being
said, why would they agree with Romney? A change of voter statistics regarding household
income response to Romney’s comment has also made some differences in
voter support. Assuming that higher income household would be more likely to
vote for him is split evenly. Households of 24,000 income household are slightly more likely
to vote for him (42%) while households of at least 90, 000 or more income are less likely to vote
more evenly split, 28% less likely and 24% more likely.[5]
Income (photo below) [6]
Income (photo below) [6]
.png "Gallup. Posted September 19th 2012. www.gallup.com. Copyright©2012 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved")
Gallup. Posted September 19th 2012. www.gallup.com. Copyright©2012 Gallup, Inc. All rights reserved
Statistics show that his comment has indeed affected him more negatively than positively and can hurt his chances of winning. The question is, how does Romney bounce back from his negative supporters?
Statistics show that his comment has indeed affected him more negatively than positively and can hurt his chances of winning. The question is, how does Romney bounce back from his negative supporters?
Photo retrieved from The New York Times
During his recent appearance on Fox
news, Romney criticised Obama about the speech he gave at Loyola University in
1998, where he said he was making government effective. Romney continues--
“There's a tape that came out today where the president's saying he likes redistribution. I disagree. I think a society based upon a government centered nation where government plays a larger and larger role, redistributes money, that's the wrong course for America, that will not build a stronger America, or help people out of poverty."--
“There's a tape that came out today where the president's saying he likes redistribution. I disagree. I think a society based upon a government centered nation where government plays a larger and larger role, redistributes money, that's the wrong course for America, that will not build a stronger America, or help people out of poverty."--
-- Mitt
Romney[7] "Presidential Candidate"
Obama,
on the other hand, someone like Romney stating that people are dependent on
government has not gone around America, like Obama has, and seen the American
people are the hardest working.[8]
Photo retrieved from CNN.
Obama, “Some may be students trying
to work your way through college, some are single parents, veterans, when I
travel I don’t see victims but hardworking Americans.”[9]
--Barack
Obama "Current President"
Video:Obama Hits Romney With '47 Percent' Ad
Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com
Video:Obama Hits Romney With '47 Percent' Ad
According
to the current CNN electoral map, Barak Obama will win 237 votes while Mitt
Romney will have 188 votes, if elections were held today. A presidential
candidate needs 270 votes to win the presidential elections. The map shown
below, maps the states in which each candidate has winning chance. The dark
blue areas are Obama’s safe states; lighter blue indicates leading towards
Obama; yellow, which there are a few states of, indicate a toss-up between both
candidates; pink is leaning towards Romney; and red is Romney’s safe states [10].
Retrieved from CNN©Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System.Inc. All rights reserved.
The Presidential polls are very tight with Obama predicted to have 49% of the popular votes and Romney is likely to have 45% of the votes. There is still the remaining 6% of the population undecided on which candidate they should choose for.[11]
Retrieved from CNN©Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System.Inc. All rights reserved.
The Presidential polls are very tight with Obama predicted to have 49% of the popular votes and Romney is likely to have 45% of the votes. There is still the remaining 6% of the population undecided on which candidate they should choose for.[11]
Less
than 5 weeks left, the presidential campaign continues to surprise the
population. As of now, it is too early to predict the outcome of the elections.
Even though, predictions are strongly favouring Obama. Mitt Romney and Barack Obama
still need to boost up their support system if they are to have a better chance
of winning the 2012 Presidential Election
[1]
Janda, Kenneth & et al. “the challenge
of Democracy,” p.325
[2] Mitt
Romney in video: 47 percent of Americans ‘Believe they are Victims and feel
‘Entitled’. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvqHERTcytI&list=PLRe0KrUwWVHk82F07yX6R-aBmjlo5EIMA&index=1&feature=plpp_video.
Retrieved September 29th 2012.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Frank Newpor,t Vice President and Editor of Chief of the Gallup Organization. http://www.gallup.com/poll/157544/voters-reaction-romney-comments-tilts-negative.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=syndication&utm_content=morelink&utm_term=Politics
[5] Ibid
[6]
Ibid.
[7] Reported by CNN Wire Staff. September 19th 2012. http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/18/politics/campaign-wrap/index.html
[8] http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/28/obama-victim-izing-romney/?hpt=po_c2
[9] http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/28/obama-victim-izing-romney/?hpt=po_c2
[10] CNN webpage: 2012 Presidental Election Polls. http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/pollingcenter/index.html#
[11]
Ibid.
Kenneth,
Janda & et. “The Challenge of Democracy
American Government in Global Politics, Essentials Editions. Eight Edition.
2012 p.303-336
Newport, Frank Vice President and Editor of Chief of the Gallup Organization http://www.gallup.com/poll/157544/voters-reaction-romney-comments-tilts-negative.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=syndication&utm_content=morelink&utm_term=PoliticsCNN: Romney doesn’t back away from message caught on secret tape Article
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/18/politics/campaign-wrap/index.html
CNN: Obama ‘victim’-izing Romney Article http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/28/obama-victim-izing-romney/?hpt=po_c2
CNN: 2012 Presidential Election Polls. http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/pollingcenter/
CNN: 2012 Presidental Election State Map Polls. http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2012/ecalculator#?battleground
Romney photo: http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/what-mitt-lost-while-he-won/ Retrieved from The New York Times. September 29th 2012
Obama photo: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/28/obama-victim-izing-romney/?hpt=po_c2 Retrieved from CNN. September 29th 2012
Mitt Romney in video: 47 percent of
Americans ‘Believe they are Victims and feel ‘Entitled’. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvqHERTcytI&list=PLRe0KrUwWVHk82F07yX6R-aBmjlo5EIMA&index=1&feature=plpp_video.
Retrieved September 29th 2012.
Obama Hits Romney With '47 Percent' Ad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMDVQh0WrQs&feature=bf_next&list=PLRe0KrUwWVHk82F07yX6R-aBmjlo5EIMA
.Retrieved September 29th 2012.
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