Politico is reporting that focus groups are keying in on RMoney's 47% remark like no other.

[PearliePoo2]

They expect Obama to repeatedly refer to it during the debates because of it's effectiveness.

Thank you James Earl Carter IV! Like your Grandpa said, "OUTSTANDING WORK".

[Shuhered]

1. No surprises

The 47% commercial that was put out is extremely effective. No debate win can erase that harm, with all due respect to Gov Christie's silly prediction on Meet the Press this last weekend.

[Iggy]

2. Correct

this is a no brainer-- Rmoney's 47% BULLcrap comments provide all the proof needed he is a one
percenter elitist.

it also proved Rmoney is dumber than a fence post; he doesn't even know the GOP demographic
includes plenty of poor white people who don't pay taxes-- and who get government benefits, i.e.
people in red states like Mississippi.

[Mariana]

14. Oh, he knows it all right.

Remember, they weren't supposed to find out that he said those things about them.

[Iggy]

44. I Dunno...

the more I see/hear Rmoney, I'm convinced he's really, really ignorant.

[KurtNYC]

30. the tape ITSELF got a ton of play and it SHOULD be dominant in the minds of voters

It is one of the few glimpses we have been given into the real mind of Romney. The one time that he was not in say whatever focus groups told them they want to hear.

Unless Wonder Woman and her lasso of Truth are hosting the debates, that is the last time we will hear any truth from Romney.

(although the 2 min gap is still unreleased...hmmmm)

[hlthe2b]

3. I sooooo love that it may be Carter's grandson, acting in defense of his grandfather

and against the RW's constant attacks on President Carter, that may, end the end, have irrevocably turned this election.

[PearliePoo2]

11. When I saw him interviewed, I was struck by how quiet, almost shy he is.

He said he does opposition research, is a passionate Democrat and admitted there may be a little revenge factor involved. (ya think?) LOL!
Hey Mittens, it cost you big-time to trash-talk President Jimmy Carter! Dumb-ass.

[Whisp]

31. yeh. I love Jimmy Carter and the Pugs are so disrespectful of him.

so it is so sweet juicy candy his grandson is involved in this.

hallelujah.

[Zalatix]

46. My question is, how the hell did he sneak in there to be a waiter?

Doesn't anyone do background checks on who attends these events?

And... a hidden camera?

Thank God the GOP's security is like a sieve.

[Whisp]

47. maybe he snuck in with his Habitat for the 1%ers membership card.

Would be great to find out who the hero is but I sure can understand why it's not out there. Poor guy/gal would be targeted for sure.

[Zalatix]

48. Oh, shit, that's true. I don't want to know, then.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Amazing How It's Opened So Many Eyes...

When I first heard the Stench emit what will be known as his "macaca" moment I wasn't that surprised. What we were seeing and hearing was what many of us here knew that he and the rushpublican party stood for...greed and those who benefit from it. What was unique was we weren't hearing it from some stenographer or third hand...we heard it from Willard's pie hole. It truly has resonated with many who may have been neutral about him and shows the electorate who he really is working for. It'll be amazing how a video shot on a $200 camcorder will have more of an impact on the campaign than the millions from the SuperPacs...

[PearliePoo2]

7. And much gratitude to the person who risked so much

to record Mittens in the first place. I wonder if they knew it would be so revealing or damaging?
I heard there may be a lawsuit against the catering firm.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

13. +1 for the Hero who recorded the real Mitt for the People of the United States of America.

Athletes are not heroes.

Heroes are the people who help the electorate get the facts when politicians want to hide them for personal ambition.

[PearliePoo2]

15. +1

I can't emphasize enough how intrigued I am by WHO this person is. (will we EVER find out, I wonder?)
A waiter, bartender, dishwasher, a server? What motivated them to record ( at huge risk) this history changing bomb-shell?
A HERO indeed!

[tallahasseedem]

23. I feel the same way...

I would LOVE to know who this hero is, but I really do fear for their life if it gets out.

[Whisp]

32. he or she could be nameless forever but we know who they are

they are 99% of us.

[malaise]

5. A wonderful birthday present to

James Earl Carter, the President

[HereSince1628]

6. As a gateway to understanding Mitt willingess to abandon half the nation it's great

As a rhetorical dagger inserted underneath an obviously over-practiced zinger it's a killer.

When your opponent has a glass jaw, you really only have to hit it once, but effectively.

[morningfog]

8. Obama would be a fool not to slam his ass with it.

Virtually every question about domestic policy is directly related to the comment. Obama should hit him hard with it at least a few times.

[PearliePoo2]

9. Three points I'd liked to be addressed in the debates:

1. Hammer the 47%
2. Did Mittens ever get tax amnesty?
3. What is the state of Willard's "mental well-being" that Queen Ann worries about?

[Auntie Bush]

16. The liberal media hasn't talked about Ann's comment on Mitt's mental well being!!!!!!!!!

Why not? Who should bring it up? I hope the moderator does so Obama wouldn't be blamed for discussing Mitt's wife personal comment...however, she said it publicly.

[spooky3]

19. I may be alone in this, but I think a question about that is out of bounds.

She should not have said the remark in a public forum, because I can see how one could argue that anything is fair game under those circumstances. But there is such a huge stigma about mental health in this country and there are some matters that should be private. I understand the irony, since it's typically Republicans who oppose advances to support health, including mental health.

I believe there are voters who will also perceive any real inquiry on this issue to reflect badly on the Obama campaign, and its leaders are savvy and may have decided not to go there.

There are plenty of issues on which Romney-Ryan are vulnerable and Obama-Biden can continue to hit hard on those.

[LiberalAndProud]

25. I hope his campaign leaves that alone.

It's all well and good that we chortle over her remarks here, but it strikes me as a cheap shot. In no way do I believe she was hinting at her husband's mental health when she made those remarks. Her role in Mitt's life is helpmate. It is her responsibility to worry about his emotional well being. If I listen past the spin, that's what I heard.

Truth be told, I genuinely worry over Ann's emotional health should Mitt win. I don't think she's well prepared for the constant public scrutiny. Add that to her medical condition ... The bleeding heart liberal in me would spare her the experience.

[Shuhered]

37. Mitt's well-being

I would hope, at long last, that Mitt can weave into this Debate [ Domestic Policy is its theme ] a respectful word for our military in Afghanistan & the world and make it seem sincere. For any comparisons that people make of Mitt to Ronald Reagan, one should remember that Reagan was smart enough to compromise in his dealings with Tip O'Neil, the then Democratic Speaker of the House. President Obama's first four years were spent watching Republican House Speaker John Boehner obstruct any Bill based first on Tea Party's unrelenting immaturity. Secondly, well, there is no second point: All Boehner and Company did was obstruct & sit on their hands with the hope of a one term presidency ( While the economy and millions of Americans suffered for it arguably). Thus, we can't really know how good Obama's efforts to fix the economy would have been had Congress worked for, not against, his efforts. If Mitt takes a mental hit from a campaign, I don't reckon he can do much better with the much more strenuous tasks he'll have as POTUS. One thing is for sure: If he comes out swinging and seething like a pitbull, he almost certainly will induce a gaffe for Thursday morning post - debate analysis. Therefore, respect and honesty should save the day for both candidates.

[reformist2]

10. 47% is such a large percentage, voters know Romney is talking about them or someone they know.

It can't be dismissed - except by the truly delusional - as "those people."

[Bernardo de La Paz]

17. It's actually 99% for Ds and 98% for Rs. Even Mitt's parents took welfare (mother on video tape). nt

[reformist2]

20. Good point - over the course of everyone's lives, the percentage is far, far higher.

The 47% is just a snapshot, the number who pay no income tax in a given year.

[catbyte]

12. Makes sense. It's the only time Romney seemed genuine. We aren't stupid. n/t

[MoonRiver]

18. I think rMoney's campaign ended when that remark went viral.

Probably would have gone down anyway, but those words made it a whole lot easier.

[DaveJ]

21. Rethug voters totally agree with RMoney's remarks

They defend it, regurgitate it, and believe in the idea that half the country consists of lazy moochers. Therefore, many thanks is due to these clowns who are so stupid as to think indiscriminately denigrating half the country is a viable political strategy. Thank you Cons!

[LiberalAndProud]

27. That isn't true of some Republican voters I know.

I could never imagine my (R) cousins believing those things. I would truly be shocked to find out that they do.

[DaveJ]

35. Not all Republicans, just Rethugs

At any rate, every Republican I've met, parents, step parents, siblings, cousins, etc., has this attitude. Good for your cousin!

[uponit7771]

38. That's the thing, most R's REALY and TRULY don't know what the GOP believes. They just hate gays,

...blacks, Hispanics and abortions...and that's enough for them

[CTyankee]

22. And a big thank you to David Corn and MOther Jones magazine!

I love that a progressive mag gets the gold!

[PearliePoo2]

24. Yeah..no kidding!

I watched as he breathlessly broke the story. It took some guts, that's for sure. I imagine their legal people scrutinized every facet for liability before airing it. They knew they had a fucking, hot bomb-shell that could take down the Mitt.
Olympic gold it is!!

[cr8tvlde]

29. Yeah for Mother Jones. They thought Saul Alinsky was bad...MoJo in their face!!

Let's see some programs now on her biography and the inspirational angel she was to working women, men and children.

[Corgigal]

26. It showed Romney in his most comfortable setting

which also gives it the ring of truth. That wasn't a stump political speech he was saying what he actually felt. Another reason why its so damning. It showed the true Mitt Romney.

[Shuhered]

39. Commercial 47% Is Airing In Iowa

I live in Iowa and mailed my vote for Obama in at the Post Office. I can tell you that Iowans are palpably unnerved by the voice of Mitt Romney as the words he said fade in and out of the screen. That ad and Mitt's nearly hysterical response to events in Benghazi, Libya sealed the deal for me. Our President must show compassion & not shoot from the hip with domestic or foreign matters as news feeds come in. I wish Mitt well post-Election, but feel in my Sanctum Sanctorum (heart of hearts) that he is not the man destined to lead the free world.

[PearliePoo2]

41. I LOVE personal stories like this! Right on for your early voting!

Tell us more please, if you don't mind.
What are you hearing from your friends and neighbors? Have you personally heard of others changing their vote due to the 47% comment?
We need a "I VOTED" smilie!
Beautiful doggie BTW and WELCOME to DU!

[Shuhered]

45. Iowans break Obama's way in droves.

Lemme see if I can find the I Voted Smiley Face icon!!!

[Shuhered]

49. Polarized Iowa

From the yard signs, I'd say the demographic is split for age 38-70 equally; however, University of Iowa college youth were particularly incensed with the suggestion that they are moochers. They definitely changed their votes in significant numbers judging from the local news. And thank you, I have 2 golden retrievers, if I figure this out, I'll put a pic of both on here.

[PearliePoo2]

50. Hi. that 47% comment is huge. Moochers unite!

Thanks for the info...it's great news.
I adopted a little Border Collie rescue dog 11 years ago. Her name is Pearl. I call her PearliePoo as an endearment. She is the love of my life. I tried to put her picture on here but failed. Said it was too big, I guess. don't know how to do it either.
Thanks for responding!

[Shuhered]

53. Border Collies

Such a beautiful breed, the Border Collie. We just lost our diabetic Siberian Husky Max after 14 years of blessed time together. My 2 Golden's were not eating well for 2 full weeks afterwards. Cruel humans can learn a lot from the animal world as unconditional love seems to be more easily practiced by canines than many humans (GOP, Taliban & Al-Qaeda, to name a few). Big hug and hello to PearliePoo! Make sure that she votes!

[Tikki]

28. You have to wonder, is there more like that tape out there?...

and if so, when will we see it/them?


Tikki

[KurtNYC]

33. A group of Mormon fundamentalists planned and threatened to kill Jimmy Carter in 1976

and again when their leader was in prison.

As covered by Jack Anderson of WaPo:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19770712&id=bxcsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CscEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3251,1994631

[LiberalAndProud]

36. The irony is strong in this one.

"The Secret Service has now joined the search for Ervil LeBaron, the prophet of violence, who claims he receives 'military orders" from a wrathful God to strike down false prophets and unrepentant sinners."

[Auntie Bush]

42. He sound like a morman Charles Manson.

[Shuhered]

34. Bain Capital. revisited.

I see that reminders of Mr. Romney's business "prowess" are being revisited just before the first Presidential Debate. Good! He lost many good Americans their jobs and shipped them overseas. I suspect a nice tax write off occurred at these times. May we please see the tax returns for years 2000 through 2009 sir?

[Auntie Bush]

43. Romney has only one thing to say...

GFY

[Dawson Leery]

40. "Carter's Revenge"!

:kick:

[MADem]

51. Thanks indeed to Carter's grandson for looking out for the reputation of his beloved gramps.

If not for that young fellow, we'd never have seen this tape.

[leftynyc]

52. I was thinking last night

That if President Obama wins the election, we will owe at least a part of that wind to whoever took this video (I'm under the impression that is still unknown). Do you think whoever it was will come forward?