Is Mitt Romney “Evil?”
Mother Jones, an extreme left wing website that solicits tax deductible contributions to sustain itself, posted a series of videos of Mitt Romney speaking at a fundraiser in the Florida home of private equity manager Marc Leder this past May.
In the first video, Romney speaks candidly about the challenge he faces in the general election. He notes that Obama starts out with a significant advantage…the 47% of Americans who don’t pay taxes and , he says, think health care, food and housing should be provided to them as a government funded entitlement. Romney notes that his challenge is to win over the 5% of Independent voters who like Obama personally but are disappointed with his performance.
Is this “evil”?
Steven Goldstein, the CEO of another non-profit that solicits tax deductible contributions, the same sex marriage advocates Garden State Equality thinks so. I’d link you to Garden State Equality’s website, but Google says the site is dangerous to your computer. Really. On his facebook page Goldstein characterises Romney as evil. He says Romney’s remarks are “one of the most hateful speeches in U.S. Presidential candidate history.”
I don’t find Romney’s remarks “evil.” I don’t even find them offensive. I find them factual. I think this candid Romney would do better on the campaign trail with the Independents he is seeking to convince than the scripted Romney that is appealing to Independent voters’ “disappointment” with how Obama is doing. But I’m not a high paid campaign consultant.
Before I get accused of bullying or gay bashing for calling out Goldstein, let me say I am sympathetic to his cause. I think same sex couples should have the same social and economic rights that opposite sex couples have. I think they should call their relationships whatever they like. I don’t think their relationships should get special recognition from the government. I also think that opposite sex relationships should not get special recognition from the government.
However, I find Goldstein’s political tactics dishonest and his legal tactics ruthless. Goldstein wildly inflates the “membership” numbers of Garden State Equality. GSE’s litigious strategy tramples on the religious freedom of people who disagree with him. Steven Goldstein is a smart and affable ruthless bully.
On a related note, how are Mother Jones and Garden State Equality getting away with being 501 C 3 non-profits able to solicit tax deductable contributions?
The legal encyclopedia NOLO says:
In order to maintain tax-exempt status, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations cannot engage in political campaigning. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status should be ever vigilant about this prohibition — a violation could result in severe consequences.
The federal tax law is very strict on the issue of political campaigning: A 501(c)(3) organization is absolutely forbidden to directly or indirectly participate in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Violation of this prohibition could lead the IRS to completely revoke your organization’s tax-exempt status or impose excise taxes on your organization.
In other words, the IRS is serious about this issue, and your board of directors and officers should be equally serious in making sure that your organization complies with federal law in this area.
In there solicitation, Mother Jones says,
We need to raise $30,000 more to turbocharge our reporting through the final weeks of the election.
Goldstein was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.
If Mother Jones and Garden State Equality can solicit tax deductible contributions, maybe MMM should organize as a 501 C 3. Would that be evil?
UPDATE
Goldstein’s comment captured above has been removed from his facebook page. Stand up to a bully and he will run and hide. That should be the entire anti- bullying curriculum in New Jersey schools. It won’t cost anything.
More from my site
Beck, Angelini, Pledge Gay Marriage Support
Mother Jones tapes have a “1-2 minute” gap
Gallagher on Power and Politics this weekend
Assembly Passes Gay Marriage Bill
Garden State Equality Launches Campaign To Convert Chick-fil-A Operators To Their Cause
Garden State Equality Claims They’re Close To Marriage Equality Overide
Why the push for same sex marriage now?
Gay married couple sues Catholic institution over medical benefits- Chick-fil-A and Amazon
N.J. legislators inching toward override of Christie’s gay marriage veto
Steve Goldstein is an extortionist thug along the lines of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. And Mitt’s comments were 100% correct and I don’t think he should have to apologize for them. Simply put, America can’t afford to pay for all of these handouts. History has shown that no nation can. Europe is bankrupt and we’re following their footsteps!
Tell Those That Don’t And Yet Want More Big Gubmint Services That The Tap Is Dry.
I’m not talking about those that truly need and deserve some sort of basic government services, but I’m saying that the money grubbing lazy people in this country shouldn’t get to tell us who pay the freight that they want more, especially free health care.
I’m talking about the illegal aliens who pay no taxes and ship their money home; the same people that are overwhelming our school systems and other gubmint institutions.
Romney? SPOT ON again. I just wish he would bring this kind of thinking to center stage and make it a part of his daily stump speech.
He could start it off with NO MAS! 🙂
Are Among The MINORITY Who Believe The Government Should Do More
http://www.gallup.com/poll/157481/majority-say-government-doing.aspx
67% of Dumbocrats say the Gubmint
should do more, WHILE Republicans and Independents by a LARGE majority say the Gubmint should do less.
54% of those polled say that Big Gubmint should do less. Chew on that Goldstein & Mother Jones. Only 39% of those polled says Big Gubmint should do more.
Why is Obummer ahead (I think that lead is a finagled mirage of over sampled Dumbos) ? But the real answer is that morons confuse likability with doing a good job.
God Save Us from the morons on Election Day
The majority of the non-taxpayers are concentrated in the deep south. Republican strongholds all. I wonder if those republican sheep in Mississippi and Alabama will still vote for Romney….of course they will! Since they’re not “thoughtful” voters as Romney likes to say.
How can he be President if he doesn’t care, not only about the poor, (his words), but nearly half of the American population.
He’s disgraceful.
http://taxfoundation.org/article/states-vary-widely-number-tax-filers-no-income-tax-liability
The issue is not Mother Jones or Steve Goldstein. The issue is what the guy who wants to be President said and what he actually believes.
Maybe Romney was just playing to the crowd (no wonder he does not allow cameras at these types of events) and was throwing them some red meat but no matter how you cut it, this was incredible dumb on his part to say.
Many of Romneys supporters (or at least they were) are in that 47% including seniors on Social Security and lower income people/families that just don’t make enough to pay federal income taxes.
The question I have (and the question he did not answer when he walked off the stage last night) would be if his statements reflect his convictions and what he actually believes?
The issue is not Mother Jones or Steve Goldstein
Yes it is. Every other political site on the net is focused on what Romney said.
I’m exposing Goldstein.
Gee, all the moochers who were never going to vote R are upset—-call a waaaaaaahbulance.
“I’m exposing Goldstein.”
And yes Lil Bobbie Boy, I am PROUD to have heard Romney say what he said. It’s high time we start telling the truth in this country, that the moochers are about to shove us off a financial cliff.
Again, you throw out a distracting canard. We’re NOT talking about the Seniors on Social Security or others rightfully deserving welfare. They paid into the system and deserve what was promised.
We are talking about the WASTEFUL FRAUD…the people on welfare that no longer have to work to get it, the illegals flooding the country, paying no taxes, sending money home and burdening our government agencies with out paying for those services.
GET REAL BOBBIE, GET REAL
No way should 47% of America get everything without paying at least something for it.
Im sure all of the so called “mouchers” such as seniors, students, the disabled and low income families will appreciate the comments.
It’s interesting that past Republican Presidents used to harp upon the fact that their tax cuts reduced federal income tax liability for millions of Americans to $0. Does that make them mouchers?
Regarding the current tax structure “they built it.”
“Mouchers?” So called by whom?
That’s your word Bob, not Romneys. I’m going to have to start fact checking you! 🙂
There goes that damm fact checking again.
The Romney campaign and apprently at least one of its supporters keep repeating the welfare reform lie even though every major fact-checking organization says the attacks are false.
http://www.factcheck.org/2012/08/does-obamas-plan-gut-welfare-reform/
Art…I was referring/responding to the word “moochers” used in Brians post above.
If the argument is “fair share”—i pay taxes and recieve services—why do those who pay nothing recieve anything??? How is that fair???? lf so, let’s go to dinner—you pay.
IMO—those who pay nothing should recieve exactly what they paid for–no more, no less—–think how much better the service will be when you can eliminate the moochers—–two o’s flopsy
Obummer: “I Actually Believe In Redistribution” 1998
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge3aGJfDSg4
Turn around is fair play. If Libtards want to make hay of the truth Romney is talking in that video, then Obummer should be made to take similar heat
BTW, I did a campaign a favor today and sat in on a Democrat candidates appearance. Half truths and lies to the most vulnerable.
Where do I go to get a hose down and disinfected now?
Romeny’s statement that 47% of Americans consider themselves victims is not “truth telling”. If he actually believes that, its more like stupidity and being totally disconected from reality.
The 47% refers to Form 1040 filers with $0 tax liability. Students that are claimed as dependents and work usually do have a tax liability.
Disabled and seniors that have limited income are not required to file unless they are filing for the refundable tax credits.