DNC Video: Mitt Romney: Protect Big Oil, Fire Big Bird

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRtDrO5IlFo

DNC - Romney Deceptively Edited Redistribution Clip - Cut out Obama Talking About Innovation, Competition, Free Markets

Key Point: Mitt Romney's campaign this week has pounced on a 14-year-old clip of Obama speaking about "redistribution" in October 1998 at a conference in Chicago, in which the future president seems to extol the virtues of redistributing wealth.

Yet NBC News has obtained the entirety of the relevant remarks, which includes additional comments by Obama that weren't included in the video circulated by Republicans. That omission features additional words of praise for "competition" and the "marketplace" by the then-state senator. 

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/19/13971913-in-rest-of-98-clip-obama-speaks-of-competition-and-the-marketplace

In rest of '98 clip, Obama speaks of 'competition' and 'the marketplace'

President Obama is seen speaking at a conference held at Loyola University in October 1998 about city government and public policy, in which then-Illinois state senator talked about making government more efficient.

By Michael O'Brien, NBC News

Updated 11:29 p.m. — Mitt Romney's campaign this week has pounced on a 14-year-old clip of Obama speaking about "redistribution" in October 1998 at a conference in Chicago, in which the future president seems to extol the virtues of redistributing wealth.

Yet NBC News has obtained the entirety of the relevant remarks, which includes additional comments by Obama that weren't included in the video circulated by Republicans. That omission features additional words of praise for "competition" and the "marketplace" by the then-state senator. 

In the whole clip, Obama says:

I think the trick is figuring out how do we structure government systems that pool resources and hence facilitate some redistribution because I actually believe in redistribution, at least at a certain level to make sure that everybody's got a shot.  How do we pool resources at the same time as we decentralize delivery systems in ways that both foster competition, can work in the marketplace, and can foster innovation at the local level and can be tailored to particular communities.

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Obama continues in a few words after that to describe the use of tax credits in setting public housing development policy in Chicago as an example before concluding.

The video circulated by Republicans, which has used as fodder for an attack on Obama, includes a longer reflection by Obama about talking about how government action can be effective. But the clip has been cut short after the word "shot;" Obama's words about competition, the marketplace and innovation are omitted from the clip. 

Romney has nonetheless seized upon this clip as his campaign looks to regain its footing after the release of a surreptitiously-recorded video of the GOP presidential nominee speaking at a private fundraiser in May. Romney's campaign has been bogged down in criticism from conservatives and Democrats alike since the release of the clip, in which Romney talks about how he couldn't count on the support of 47 percent of Americans, since they pay no taxes, and are "dependent" on government.

The Republican candidate has used it as campaign fodder as recently as Wednesday.

"This is how America works. It does not work by a government saying, become dependent on government. Become dependent upon redistribution. That will kill the American entrepreneurship that’s lifted our economy over the years," Romney told donors at a fundraiser this afternoon in Atlanta. "The question of this campaign is not who cares about the poor and the middle class? I do.  He does. The question is who can help the poor and the middle class? I can! He can’t!"

DNC - MA AFL-CIO President Tolman and 1199SEIU Executive VP Turner Hold Press Conference at Romney HQ to Discuss Romney Investments in China

Boston Globe Reports Romney Maintained Investment in Chinese Manufacturer with Deplorable Work Conditions that Relied on Outsourcing

Boston, MA - Today Monday, September 17 at 2:00 PM at Romney Campaign Headquarters in Boston, AFL-CIO President Steve Tolman and 1199SEIU Executive Vice President Veronica Turner will hold a press conference to respond to this weekend's Boston Globe report that Romney maintained investments in a Chinese manufacturer that relied on outsourcing American jobs, even after he visited a factory and saw poor work conditions, where women were packed 12 per dorm room and were surrounded by barbed wire. Watch the video of Romney describe the working conditions HERE. 

Mitt Romney is trying to convince the American people that he'll stand up to China - but we know that's just empty rhetoric and political posturing. For years Mitt Romney has invested in China. Mitt Romney's rhetoric on the campaign trail while holding Chinese investments is hypocrisy at its worst.

Watch the recently leaked video of Mitt Romney commenting on the poor labor practices in a Chines company which he invested in VIDEO HERE. Read the Boston Globe's report on the firm, Global Tech HERE.

WHAT:         Press Conference on Mitt Romney's China Hypocrisy

WHEN:         Monday September 17th 2012

2:00 PM EDT

WHERE:       Sidewalk of Price Street Park

(Next to Romney for President Campaign HQ)     

                       Romney for President Headquarters

                       585 Commercial St.

                       Boston, MA

# # #

 

Representing more than 350,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Florida, and Washington, D.C., 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America and Massachusetts.  1199SEIU represents more than 42,000 hospital, nursing home, and home care workers in Massachusetts. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all.

DNC - What They're Saying: Mitt Romney's Shocking Candor With High Dollar Donors

AP: “Already scrambling to steady a struggling campaign, Republican Mitt Romney confronted a new headache Monday.”

Bloomberg’s Josh Barro: “This is an utter disaster for Romney.”

NY Times’ Paul Krugman: “The idea that half of Americans are just grifters is grotesque. If this is real, it’s very, very ugly.”

Washington Post’s Jonathan Capehart: “What the Republican presidential nominee said is reprehensible and unbecoming a man who claims to want to be president of all Americans.”

Slate’s Dave Weigel: “This is Tea Party rhetoric churned into something new and stupid.”

TPM’s Josh Marshall: “ It’s rare when the impact of some gaffe or embarrassment or revelation isn’t overstated on first blush. But this strikes me as possibly that rare exception. This tape strikes me as absolutely devastating.”

Jim Acosta ‏@jimacostacnn

Shorter Romney statement... no apologies.

Kasie Hunt ‏@kasie

Category of Americans who don't pay federal income taxes: U.S. troops serving in combatzones.

Mark Halperin ‏@MarkHalperin

Many of us have seen pols pander to donors in closed events. I've heard my share Rs+Ds. Never anything this damaging however.

@HowardKurtz 

Romney on the 47 percent seems a stereotype of an unsympathetic venture capitalist--going to be hard to overcome among non-base voters. 

@JohnJHarwood

Ex-GWBush ad-maker McKinnon: Romney fund-raiser tape "potentially crippling" 

@JohnJHarwood 

Dem pollster Garin on Romney fund-raiser tape: "Reinforces impression he's mistake/prone & arrogant. would be better off if he apologized" 

Michael Falcone ‏@michaelpfalcone 

Note: The Romney camp's 1st response to the videos comes from comms director Gail Gitcho, not Romney himself

SECRET VIDEO: Romney Tells Millionaire Donors What He REALLY Thinks of Obama Voters
Mother Jones // David Corn

During a private fundraiser earlier this year, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney told a small group of wealthy contributors what he truly thinks of all the voters who support President Barack Obama. He dismissed these Americans as freeloaders who pay no taxes, who don't assume responsibility for their lives, and who think government should take care of them.

Devastating
Talking Points Memo // Josh Marshall

This is a Holiday for my folks. So I’ve only been half in touch with the news today. And I’m just getting up to speed on this purported tape of Mitt Romney saying he thinks the 47% of Americans who support Barack Obama are moochers who thinks the government has to take care of them. It’s rare when the impact of some gaffe or embarrassment or revelation isn’t overstated on first blush. But this strikes me as possibly that rare exception. This tape strikes me as absolutely devastating.

Romney: Nearly half 'believe they are victims'
Associated Press // Kasie Hunt and Steve Peoples

Already scrambling to steady a struggling campaign, Republican Mitt Romney confronted a new headache Monday after a video surfaced showing him telling wealthy donors that almost half of all Americans "believe they are victims" entitled to extensive government support and adding that as a candidate for the White House, "my job is not to worry about those people."

Romney Talks Bluntly on Those Dependent on Government
New York Times // Michael D Shear

Mitt Romney described almost half of Americans as “dependent upon government” during a private reception with donors earlier this year and said those voters will likely  support President Obama because they believe they are “entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it.” The blunt political and cultural assessment by the Republican presidential candidate offers a rare glimpse into Mr. Romney’s personal views as the campaign enters its final 50 days. Liberals quickly condemned the remarks as insensitive and Mr. Obama’s campaign accused him of having “disdainfully written off half the nation.”

Romney slams Obama backers as dependent on government, tax dodgers
Los Angeles Times // Seema Mehta

Republican nominee Mitt Romney, speaking to donors at a closed-door fundraiser earlier this year, said that supporters ofPresident Obama failed to take personal responsibility for their lives, relied on government for their needs and paid no income tax.

Today, Mitt Romney Lost the Election
Bloomberg // Josh Barro

On the tape, Romney explains that his electoral strategy involves writing off nearly half the country as unmoveable Obama voters. As Romney explains, 47 percent of Americans "believe that they are victims." He laments: "I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives." So what's the upshot? "My job is not to worry about those people," he says. He also notes, describing President Obama's base, "These are people who pay no income tax. Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax."

Romney derides Obama supporters in hidden camera speech
Reuters // Patricia Zengerle

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney dismissed supporters of President BarackObama - almost half of U.S. voters - as people who live off government handouts and do not "care for their lives," in a potentially damaging video. "There are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them," Romney said in a hidden-camera video of his remarks at a private fundraiser earlier this year posted on Monday on the left-wing Mother Jones magazine's website.

Mitt Romney trashes the 47 percent
Washington Post // Jonathan Capehart

Late Monday, Mother Jones released several video clips of a fundraiser where Romney (R-1 percent) tells weatlhy donors exactly what he thinks of those supporting President Obama. In one clip, he contradicts that botched expression of concern for the middle class. In fact, what the Republican presidential nominee said is reprehensible and unbecoming a man who claims to want to be president of all Americans.

Leaked Videos ShowMitt Romney Unscripted
ABC // Amy Bingham and Emily Friedman

Portions of videos that show Republican nominee Mitt Romney at closed-door fundraisers show him using some very different talking points from the ones he tends to use publicly.  He is shown the videos sayingthat “no matter what” he does, 47 percent of the population is going to vote for Obama because they are “are dependent upon government.”

Romney to campaign donors: Obama voters "dependent," see selves as "victims"
CBS // Brian Montopoli

Mitt Romney's campaign has responded to video in which the Republican presidential nominee appears to be shown describing the majority of President Obama's supporters as people who are "dependent on government" and "believe that they are victims."

Romney fundraiser videos leaked
Washington Post // Rachel Weiner

Bits and pieces of a private fundraiser held by Mitt Romney have been leaked toMother Jones magazine, exposing some blunt talk from the Republican nominee on voters, his campaign and American society.  In one video, Romney argues that 47 percent of voters support Obama because they are“dependent on government” and that he will “never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.” 

Leaked Fundraiser Video Shows Romney Saying 47% Of Americans Are “Dependent”
BuzzFeed // Andrew Kaczynski

The videos were orginally posted online in brief segments three weeks ago by YouTube user “Anne Onymous.” Video researcher James Carter said he contacted the original uploader who gave the whole length of the fundraiser

Excerpts from leaked Mitt Romney fundraiser videos
Washington Post // Vincent Bzdek

“There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the 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 the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president nomatter what…

The Real Romney
New York Times // Paul Krugman

Oh, my. Mother Jones has what it says is a video of Mitt Romney talking to donors; it sure looks and sounds real. And it reveals a candidate who despises half the country: There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the 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 the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what…These are people who pay no income tax.  

Secret Romney fundraiser video: 47 percent backing Obama like government-sponsored stuff
Politico // Maggie Haberman

Another portion of a Mitt Romney fundraiser that was filmed in secrecy has emerged,this time via Mother Jones, filmed at an unstated date and time, although supposedly once the primaries had ended. This one has a snippet of Romney explaining the state of the race, and President Obama's vote share: There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the 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. Thatthat's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what…These are people who pay no income tax.

Romney: I’ll never convince Obama voters to take responsibility for their lives
Washington Post // Greg Sargent

The Huffington Post and Mother Jones both post audio of what may be a blockbuster moment: Mitt Romney telling a private fundraiser that 47 percent of the American people — the voters who can be counted on to vote for Obama — are “dependent on government,” “believe that they are victims,” and think government “has a responsibility to care for them.” “I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives,” Romney says. Mother Jones’ video is here.

Romney: 47 Percent Who Support Obama Want Government Handouts

National Journal // Naureen Khan

At a closed-door fundraiser earlier this year, Mitt Romney dismissed all of President Obama’s supporters as people who are dependent on government, pay no income tax, and believe they are victims.

Romney Claims Obama Voters All Depend On Government Checks In Unearthed Video
Talking Points Memo // Evan McMorris-Santoro

Behind closed doors, Mitt Romney sounds like the leaders of the far-right flank of his party. That’s the central message from a video purportedly taken during a Romney fundraiser earlier this year and posted online by Mother Jones Monday. The Obama campaign called the clip “shocking.” In the clip, which was recorded surreptitiously at a Romney fundraiser that “occurred after Romney had clinched the Republican presidential nomination,” according to Mother Jones, Romney tells a room full of donors that people who voted for President Obama — a full 47 percent of the country — are dependent on the government. 

Romney: Obama voters 'believe they are victims'
USA Today // Gregory Korte

WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney told a group of donors in a secretly taped video that 47% of Americans will vote for President Obama because they are "dependent upon government" and "believe that they are victims." The video was obtained by themagazine Mother Jones, which said it came from a source who shot the video at a campaign fundraiser earlier this year. The magazine obscured all but Romney's head in the video, and did not say when or where it was shot.

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus Says Romney Was “On Message” Regarding 47% Comment
BuzzFeed // Dorsey Shaw

The Republican leader doubled down on Mitt Romney's statements that were secretly recorded during a private event. VIDEO

Statement on Dem Platform from SEIA CEO Rhone Resch

Today, the Democratic Party released its 2012 National Platform in Charlotte, N.C., at the Democratic National Convention.  Rhone Resch, President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association for the U.S. solar industry, issued the following statement in response to the document’s call for an “All-of-the-Above Energy Policy”:
 
“America’s solar industry is pleased that the Democratic platform recognizes solar’s important role and fully supports the platform’s goal of making renewables a larger part of our nation’s overall energy mix.  SEIA further applauds the call to extend the clean energy incentives that have led to record growth and job creation in the domestic solar industry.
 
“Today, the solar industry employs more than 100,000 American at 5,600 companies – many of them small businesses – in all 50 states.  Smart, stable policy has helped leverage the private sector investment and innovation that caused a roughly twenty-fold increase in the annual U.S. deployment of solar technology since 2005.  As costs for consumers have rapidly declined, businesses and homeowners are choosing solar because it makes economic sense.  By any objective measure, the policies designed to get these types of results are clearly working. 
 
“America’s solar industry stands ready to work with the Obama Administration and policymakers on a bipartisan basis to ensure that customers have access to a range of energy options and that the U.S. realizes the full potential of solar energy.”