Romney "47 percent" dubbed best quote of 2012

Last Updated 7:38 a.m. ET

NEW HAVEN, Conn. Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's comments about 47 percent of the population being dependent on government and about "binders full of women" have been selected as this year's best quotes.

Fred Shapiro, associate librarian at Yale Law School, has released his seventh annual list of the year's most notable quotations.

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Shapiro says debate remarks and gaffes appeared to play an important role in the November election.

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Romney on controversial "47 percent" remark

Romney, who lost to President Obama, made the 47 percent comment at a private fundraiser that was secretly recorded and released later.

During one of the presidential debates, Romney spoke about reviewing "binders full of women" as governor when he sought to diversify his Massachusetts administration.

Mr. Obama made the list, too -- for his "you didn't build that" quote about how people who built businesses had help from others.

"It was probably the leading line that Obama wished he hadn't made during this year," Shapiro said.

President Obama's "horses and bayonets" debate rebuke of Romney in an exchange over the size of the Navy also made the list.

The original "Yale Book of Quotations" was published in 2006, and Shapiro has updated it with an annual list of the top 10 quotes. Shapiro picks quotes that are famous, important or revealing of the spirit of the times, not necessarily ones that are the most eloquent or admirable.

Here's the list:

1. "There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what ... who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims. ... These are people who pay no income tax. ... and so my job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

Mitt Romney, remarks at private fundraiser, Boca Raton, Florida, May 17

2. "We took a concerted effort to go out and find women who had backgrounds that could be qualified to become members of our cabinet (in Massachusetts). I went to a number of women's groups and said, "Can you help us find folks?" and they brought us whole binders full of women."

Mitt Romney, second presidential debate, Hempstead, New York, Oct. 16

3. "If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business - you didn't build that."

President Barack Obama, remarks at campaign appearance, Roanoke, Virginia, July 13

4. "Please proceed, Governor."

Mr. Obama, second presidential debate, Hempstead, New York, Oct. 16 (lead-in to Romney's denial that the president had called Libya attack an act of terrorism)

5. "You mentioned the Navy, for example, and that we have fewer ships than we did in 1916. Well, Governor, we also have fewer horses and bayonets because the nature of our military has changed. We have these things called aircraft carriers where planes land on them. We have these ships that go underwater, nuclear submarines."

Mr. Obama, third presidential debate, Boca Raton, Florida, Oct. 22

6. "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."

Missouri Republican senatorial candidate Todd Akin, KTVI-TV interview, Aug. 19

7. "You hit a reset button for the fall campaign; everything changes. It's almost like an Etch A Sketch. You can kind of shake it up and we start all over again."

Romney senior campaign adviser Eric Fehrnstrom, CNN interview, March 21

8. "I'm an honorary consul general, so I have inviolability."

Socialite Jill Kelley, telephone call to an emergency dispatcher, Tampa, Florida, Nov. 11, about media crews that came to her home as news broke of her involvement in the scandal over the resignation of CIA director David Petraeus

9. "Oppan Gangnam style."

South Korean rapper PSY, "Gangnam Style" (song)

10. (tie) "Under current law, on January 1st, 2013, there is going to be a massive fiscal cliff of large spending cuts and tax increases."

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, testimony at House Committee on Financial Services hearing, Feb. 29

10. (tie) "I care more about my country than I do about a 20-year-old pledge."

Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss, WMAZ-TV television interview about Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Nov. 21

10. (tie) "I have a job to do. ... If you think right now I give a damn about presidential politics, then you don't know me."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Fox News interview about Hurricane Sandy, Oct. 30

[facinfun]

.....stay tuned.....by 2016, the 47% will be 67%!

[Ericwvb]

Obama's quote only looks bad (and is red meat for Fox News viewers) when taken out of context. In context, it's clear that when he said "you didn't build that," he's referring to the roads, bridges, internet, educational system, etc., things that were built collectively and that we all invest in one way or another, not "someone's business."

Here is the full context of the quote:

If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business, you didn't build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn't get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.

The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don't do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires.

[lloydbest1]

Everyone who is now or ever was successful in life needs to have this quote embedded in their DNA:
" "If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. IF YOU'VE GOT A BUSINESS- YOU DIDN"T BUILD THAT.(my emphasis)""

No one - ever - makes it completely on his/her own.....

To expand....Someone influencial in your childhood care and up bringing helped you forge the values you later used to create the wealth (however that's defined - it needn't be money) you now have. The Obamanator mentioned a great teacher, but we could include a mentoring boss, an exemplary athletic coach, a backer willing to take the same risks you took, a clear headed relative, the black sheep uncle (or whoever) whose value is that of the "bad example", an ethical congress critter - yes! there are one or two left, supportive friends and/or a supportive spouse.
Your success is depended on a workable infrastructure that goes far beyond the roads and bridges mentioned by Mr. O. You owe your prosperity to a robust knowledge base created by those before you. You owe the living standard you now have through an ease of communications never dreamed possible even 25 years ago. Moving fast on opportunities that contribute to your success simply didn't happen in years gone by. All of that provided by private investment or the largess of the federal government. Harbors, airports and railheads, all built with public assistance allow you to ship your goods all over the world.

The only thing you contributed is your initiative and effort and while that's laudable and virtuous, it wouldn't be anywhere nearly enough for your success without the help of many others, some of whom you have never heard of or ever wiil; some of whom died long befor you were ever born.
The so-called "Self Made" man is a myth and always has been.

[democracy8]

Excellent points, Lloyd!!!

[Ericwvb]

Steady4ever: If what you say is true, there would be just as many inventions, discoveries and breakthroughs from places like Somalia and Afghanistan as the USA and Europe.

It's not like we have a monopoly on smart and hard-working people.

It is because of the opportunities and infrastructure available in the US that many of the brightest and hardest working people come from all over the world to live in the US and pursue their dreams.

If only individual effort mattered, then they may well just stay in their home countries!

Would Mitt Romney, corporate raider, have become a quarter billionaire if he had grown up in Mali instead of the USA?

[bread58]

Percentage of the American people held in contempt by Mitt Romney: 47%

Percentage of the popular vote received by Mitt Romney: 47%

Ain't karma a b*tch?

[tsigili]

The sad part, is Romney was criticized for the truth.

People in America are no longer, willing to hear the truth.

[cubscout09]

Irony is, the 47% that Mitt referred to included over 1,470 millionaires who paid no income taxes in 2009. I downloaded the IRS spreadsheet and went over with a calculator, I encourage you to do the same. I am pretty certain that Mitt never looked at the infamous spreadsheet. He probably paid someone to brief him on it.

Further, Romney maligned the 47%, who include veterans, retirees and the disabled. You should watch Carter's video again.

[bobnjersey]

[The sad part, is Romney was criticized for the truth]
----------------------------------------------
romney got a lesson in truth.

that is ... when you don't worry about half the electorate when you're running for president ... you make it much harder to win the presidency.

[spacengin]

Hey guys, you are missing the point. Obviously, dissing voters didn't help. But what it shows is that Romney had a victim attitude as well. The better solution to his dilemma was real specific policies that would have been meaningful rather than the vague trust me because I am a businessman, loop hole closures and minor regulation changes. When looking at his "businessman" background, I was impressed about how destructive Bain was. In terms of the electorial college, it was very lop-sided.

Contrast this with Obama who could easy have a victim attitude as an African-American, but instead provided some very specifics on taxing, health care and direction that were not necessarily popular. American people are growing tired of the GOP's empty values. The good news is that they can change. They can relax on revenue, anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-immigration, anti-science and find real balanced solutions that benefit people. Nobody like taxes, but the US does have to pay for its wars and stop kicking the can down the road when it comes to out of control entitlements, defense and home security. I also expect the Dems to relax on Medicaid and Medicare. Simpson-Bolls changes should have been adopted.

[miaveritas]

Why would anyone give a rat's a$$ what a left biased associate librarian thinks are 'top quotes'. Seems he has too much time on his hands and Yale might be better served to eliminate this position. Seems like "YOU DIDN'T BUILD THAT" would have made it higher on the list considering the impact saying an idiotic thing like that would have on so many entrepreneurs and small businesses struggling through what appears to be America's lost decade thanks to this administration's brilliant handling of the economy thus far.

[bobnjersey]

[Why would anyone give a rat's a$$ what a left biased associate librarian thinks are 'top quotes'. Seems he has too much time on his hands and Yale might be better served to eliminate this position]
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yes ... an alternative point of view is clearly of no value ... especially when you're so lost in your own delusion ... and having anything that counters that might work against you staying ignorant in your belief.

i say we should boil him a cauldron of hot oil ... that way he can never speak out against the dogma ever again.

[miaveritas]

What a ridiculous remark. Where is my delusion? Look in the mirror my friend, as you are the one being duped and deluded. It's my alternative point of view that seems to have you all bunged up, so stay cozy in your ignorant belief.

[bobnjersey]

[Fred Shapiro, associate librarian at Yale Law School, has released his seventh annual list of the year's most notable quotations.]
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very funny ... keep up the fine work fred.

i'm surprised there was only the 'etch a sketch' one from the republican primary race ... there were many good ones that came out of that.

[DrMerc]

I agree with others that Romney never should have made that "47%" remark.

"Food stamp use reaches another high in September: 47.7 million participants"

http://dailycaller.com/2012/12/09/food-stamp-use-reaches-another-high-in-september-47-7-million-participants

He should have said "48%".

[Kraven1]

Yep telling the truth during an election is bound to haunt a candidate. It makes absolutely no difference that it was the truth it only matters that it was said and that the people who do not want the truth to get out are the ones upset by it. Face facts we saw it in the election. Telling the truth where it brings out things that people are embarrassed about like being on welfare or receiving handouts is not going to go over well with the folks receiving those handouts or who are on welfare and while Romney may have had his numbers right and been right about the 47% would never vote for him he should have never said it. Its like he was going into a bar to get voters but telling them that his religion is against drinking and he does not approve either so all the drunks are going to be anti that guy.

[twmat311]

Did they ever name the "Fox in the henhouse" who recorded and release that 47% comment?

[grumpas]

I didn't think Romney was a bad candidate until he started running in the general election. He looked like the least of the evils in the primary. But, after he got to the general election and his policies became known. What few he had that is that weren't warmed over from the Bush and Reagan eras. He had no clear cut vision of how to solve the countries problems. I suspect others than himself would have been running the country, Romney wasn't intelligent enough to. He came off as a pampered prince of the corporate world. One who has spent his whole life living in a priviledged world of wealth, to where he could not connect in anyway with normal people. All told he was the absolute worst candidate for Republican's to try and pass off as Presidental material.

[zorroaca44]

"All told he was the absolute worst candidate for Republican's to try and pass off as Presidental material."

WHAT!!!!! Did you see the other candidates????? Would you have preferred "grab them anywhere he could Herman" ... get real ... they ALL were gigantic losers ...............

[miaveritas]

You have obviously swallowed everything the Obama campaign and MSM spoon fed you. Goal number one from the beginning was to "kill Romney" and divide the electorate. If you were to truly be of independant thought and researched his very simple to understand 5 point plan you would see a clear cut vision of his plan for America. It wasn't until 2 weeks before the election that Obama came out with his glossy pamphlet of more of the same. Judging by the avalanche of layoffs and uncertainty still being felt by corporations and especially small business, I fail to see any sign of "intelligence" this administration is showing running this country. And how is it that you "connect" with Obama? Golf? Vacatiioning on the tax payer's dime? At least since the Romney's are so rich they could have afforded to foot the bill for their own vacations.