Biden: Romney is 'profoundly wrong' about America

AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

(CBS News) Hanover, N.H. -- Vice President Joe Biden got emotional today in his first remarks on the controversy surrounding Republican nominee Mitt Romney's suggestion at a spring fundraiser that 47 percent of Americans are victims who want government handouts.

"He thinks these folks believe they're entitled. That they've become dependent, they see themselves as victims who won't take responsibility for their own lives," Biden said to more than 1,000 students at Dartmouth College. "How could he be so profoundly wrong about America? How is that possible? Not in my neighborhood! Not where I grew up! Not the people I know!"

The vice president went on to ridicule Romney's remarks as out of touch. "Based on everything he's done in his career, I believe he genuinely believes that nearly half this country is made up of people who see themselves as victims who in fact are dependent on government," Biden said.

"As my dad would say, I don't expect the government to solve my problems," Biden said. "But at least it's got to understand my problems, just understand them."

Biden gave some examples of the types of people he said Romney was including in the 47 percent: An elderly widow "living on Social Security and Medicare which she worked for her whole life to earn," a war veteran in his 60s who is treated at a Naval hospital, a young veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan who is in school on the GI bill, and a young couple with minimum wage jobs who get a child care tax credit. Biden added that the budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, Romney's running mate, would eliminate that credit and cut student aid.

Romney's campaign swiftly responded to Biden's remarks with an email attacking the economic record of the Obama administration. "With record levels of poverty, high unemployment, and falling incomes, Americans know they're not better off than they were four years ago," campaign spokesman Ryan Williams said. "Mitt Romney will be a president for 100% of Americans, with a plan for a stronger middle class that adds millions of jobs, gets our economy growing, and results in more upward mobility, not government dependency."

[Lucky12345678]

Think about it, in one speech before the AARP Obama denigrated two America institutions, quote: "No American should ever spend their golden years at the mercy of insurance companies," he said. The president also said, "We have to keep the promise on Social Security by reforming it and not handing it over the Wall Street." The Obama campaign is all about attack, attack and more attacking... Whatever happened to that "Hope and Change" thingy...

[firebird9999]

That "hope and change thingy" you refer to probably went out the window along with the republicans' vow on inauguration day to do everything they possibly could to make Obama a one term president. Now, above all else that's important to this country, isn't THAT a wonderful goal. Obama's not perfect by any means but the odds against him have been staggering. You won't find me voting for a republican any time soon. It's become obvious that they just don't give a hoot about us.

[BLAZE6]

It went out the window with the entire republican party attempts to block everything the president proposed and when Romen pissed on the heads of the 47%. No more MR. NICE GUY REPULICANS! We are bringing it baby!

Vote OBAMA 2012!

[rayward73446]

Romney and Ryan have made just about everyone mad at them for their callous comments, policies. Women, children, veterans, gays, just to name a few. But the comment that Romney and Ryan will wish they never made is their condemnation of 47% of voters. They are completely out of touch with reality with this latest blunder, and wrongly accused 47% of Americans with "believing that they are victims", and are mooching off of the government. Any 7th grader can tell you that this statement is false, and misleading, unless that 7th grader is the child of a wealthy person, who would probably believe that statement is true, because they simply do not know better. Most adults know better, and see the lie in Romney's comments. They all know of people who are on social security, welfare, receiving veterans benefits, or aid for dependent children. These adults know that all of these people would prefer a job, with a decent income, over the starvation benefits that never go as far as getting their next check and/or food stamps.

Republicans want you to think that those receiving assistance, social security, veterans benefits are living very well indeed on their meager benefits. The truth is that most all just barely get by, and there are days that they go hungry, or have to choose food over medicines that they need for their health problems. The GOP has told this lie until their staunch supporters believe that their version is true, and that we need to kick everyone off of the government benefits that these people rely on to stay alive. We democrats need to challenge this lie at every opportunity, where ever it is told. Many of these programs are safety nets, and they are sorely needed. Everyone who receives these benefits have qualified for these programs by showing that they have no place else to turn to survive. And the GOP attacks them again and again wanting to stop the life supporting benefits that they receive. My question is why has the GOP become a very uncaring party, one without empathy, without a conscience, a party that would rather see the poor and aged die off just to win their argument?

I have voted for republican candidates in the past, because they seemed more qualified to do the job they were seeking, than their opponents. But the republican party of today will never get my vote for the reasons I state above..

[BLAZE6]

I will vote for OBAMA for the same reasons!

[witchdoctori]

47% pay no taxes, more people are on food stamps than live in Canada, Obama defended people that kicked out tenanents without heat in Chicago, Ronmney is known for helping others. Who should we vote for a helper or a traitor.

[bbglow]

Bane (bayn) n. 1. a poison 2. a cause of trouble, misery or anxiety.

[GoGoUsa]

Population of Canada = 34,482,779
Population of United States = 311,591,917
I think even someone with limited mathematical ability can see the difference. As to your other point, well, accusing the President of being a traitor, that just nutter babble and not worth responding to.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

I don't want a President who is against widows, Veterans and students just trying to improve their lives!

OBAMA/BIDEN 2012 : )

[BLAZE6]

Romney, You will not **** on my head and call it rain! The 47% (Veterans,the retired,single mothers, and the handicaped) have spoken!

Beat it bum!

[sjc_1]

"He thinks these folks believe they're entitled. That they've become dependent, they see themselves as victims who won't take responsibility for their own lives," Biden said to more than 1,000 students at Dartmouth College. "How could he be so profoundly wrong about America? How is that possible? Not in my neighborhood! Not where I grew up! Not the people I know!"

You tell them Joe. We all don't have 6 houses, 100 servants and horse stables we can write off. We are not all born into wealth and had dad send us to Harvard. I guess it is not all that hard to take responsibility when you start out with $10 million, but people do anyway and they make it.

[hypnotoad72]

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