When President Barack Obama told us he believed in redistribution shouldn’t we have taken him at his word? Listen above…
At an October 19, 1998 conference at Loyola University, then State Senator Barack Obama spoke against “propaganda” that said government doesn’t work and the need to “pool resources and hence facilitate some redistribution because I actually believe in redistribution.”
Ah, isn’t that just swell, and it seems that yes there are actually 47% percent of Americans who do support President Obama, at least today. According to the Wall Street Journal there is data that backs up Mitt Romney’s claim that 47% of Americans would “automatically” vote for President Obama because they are dependent on government and pay no taxes. A recap, in case you missed it earlier:
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.
Conservatives agree and disagree with Romney’s claim. Actually it is worse than what Romney said. 49% of households has somebody who receives some sort of Federal aid and over 49% pay no federal income tax (edited, originally just wrote “tax” without qualifiers). Were his comments arrogant and stupid? Not anymore than complaining that some Americans cling to their guns and their religion. In a sound byte culture it wasn’t the best comment to make, but considering there is hard data that backs it up why are we making a big deal out of it.
We have a President who likes redistributing money – his record speaks for itself, and he wants to do more of it through a variety of entitlement programs. Waiving the work requirement for welfare, Obamacare, more stimulus, wanting to raise taxes on the rich and on and on and on.
When somebody reveals themselves to us we should believe them. I’m glad that Mitt Romney when he is criticized about his 47% comments is reminding people to do just that.