Romney says waiters at fundraiser "aren't having a good year"
Mitt Romney
(CBS News) Mitt Romney held up the waiters and waitresses serving donors at a fundraising event Monday night as examples of people who aren't doing well under President Obama.
Addressing 300 contributors at a Jackson, Miss., fundraiser who paid $2,500, $10,000 or $50,000 to hear him speak, Romney acknowledged that the people in the room were well-off compared to many Americans. It was the middle class that had been let down by Obama, Romney said, and he pointed to the wait staff serving finger foods as an example.
"It's tough being middle class in America right now," Romney said. "The waiters and waitresses that come in and out of this room and offer us refreshments, they're not having a good year. The people of the middle class of America are really struggling. And they're struggling I think in a way because they're surprised because when they voted for Barack Obama...he promised them that things were going to get a heck a lot of better. He promised hope and change and they're still waiting."
(Watch CBS News' Bill Plante's report on attacks heating up between Obama and Romney.)
As he did earlier at a fundraiser in Baton Rouge, La., Romney accused Obama of funneling government money to his own donors, while neglecting those struggling in the country.
"This is a time when it's good to be a friend of Obama campaign," Romney told the crowd at the River Hills Club in Jackson. "Because you might be able to get some money for your business. But it's not so good to be middle class in America."
Romney said it is "not true," as some have insinuated, that the Republican Party is only concerned about the rich. "We're the party of people who want to get rich...We also want to make sure people don't have to become poor. And we know what it takes to keep people from becoming poor."
They key to financial success, he said, it "economic freedom." Romney regularly contends that Obama's economic policies - which he describes as higher taxes and more regulations - are stifling innovation and entrepreneurship that drive the U.S economy.
Popular in Politics
- For GOP, scandals could be an electoral plus - or minus 281 Comments
- Officials on Benghazi: "We made mistakes, but without malice" 313 Comments
- IRS targeting overlooked biggest soft money groups
- Republicans use IRS scandal to tar Obamacare
- Where is the Benghazi cover-up Republicans promised? 396 Comments
- Ousted IRS chief: "I did not mislead" the American people 260 Comments
- Why Obama should worry that current scandals might impact 2016 231 Comments
- FBI seeks anonymous source behind Menendez allegations














Obama has never worked a day in his life. Romney however worked as a missionary and built his company to be successful But let's punish that work ethic like a good liberal. We only want people to take handouts from the government.
----------
This is ridiculous, ignorant, and plain stupid.
Mr. Obama has written and published great books (BTW excellent style) about his work experience among regular people; that's exactly why the GOPer dumbos insult him - they have none of that experience and insight.
Make an effort and read, at least in part, "Dreams From My Father", but I know you won't, Bubba. You read tabloids, mostly looking at their dirty pictures.
Haha! Wow. You do realize that the President taught law at the University of Chicago among other things.
/this sort of behavior makes me think the french had the right idea
/thats not money they are trickling down though.
He needs to sponsor Chinese language speed learning classes.
Fools will attack you for stating the obvious because it would crush their self-esteem to admit their support of Obama was wrong and his policies hurt America.