This afternoon, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney further reacted to the firestorm created once a secretly taped video hit the airwaves, showing the GOP presidential nominee making comments at a Florida event earlier this year., telling Cavuto that he believes in free enterprise as the only way to build a strong middle class and create growth, not redistributing wealth.
Romney said, “Frankly, we have two very different views about America. The president’s view is one of a larger government. There’s a tape that just came out today with the president saying he likes redistribution. I disagree. I think a society based upon a government-centered nation […] that’s the wrong course for America. That will not build a strong America or help people out of poverty.”
He acknowledged that there are military members and retirees who are not paying taxes and that is as it should be. However, Romney said, “I do believe that we should have enough jobs and enough take home pay such that people have the privilege of higher incomes that allow them to be paying taxes. I think people would like to be paying taxes […] The problem right now is, you see in this country so many people have fallen into poverty that they’re not paying taxes.”
Cavuto asked Romney to respond to critics who say that he all but called 47 percent of the country “moochers.” He answered, “No, I’m talking about a perspective of individuals who I’m not likely to get to support me. I recognize that those people who are not paying income tax are going to say, gosh this provision that Mitt keeps talking about, lowering income taxes, that’s not going to be real attractive to them. And those that are dependent on government and those that think government’s job is to redistribute, I’m not going to get them.”
