Rep. Connolly: Mitt Romney's Comments Make Him 'Unfit for Office'
Democratic Congressman made the statement Tuesday to residents of the Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield.
Northern Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11th) said Tuesday that Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's recently released comments in a controversial videotape make him "unfit for office."
Connolly spoke to about 75 residents of the Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield during a campaign appearance. Romney's comments, secretly taped without his knowledge, featured a controversial statement in which he said that 47 percent of the electorate do not pay income taxes and are dependent on the government and consequently support President Obama's candidacy. Connolly characterized the statement as "dangerous."
"That's very dangerous thinking, and I think that alone suggests Mitt is not fit for that office," said Connolly. "How can any of us be surprised that this plutocrat (Romney) has shown his true colors? I think everyone should be afraid of those comments. He means everyone in this room… That mindset means he's going to write off half the country. My God."
Connolly also decried Republican vice presidential nominee U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (Wisconsin). "Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney — it's handing the future over to the Chinese," Connolly said.
"I mention Paul Ryan," Connolly said. "I like to describe him as an amiable radical. He doesn't spit fire and brimstone, but his ideas are radical.
"In the second Ryan budget, he cut $5.7 trillion… What does he do with it? He takes $5 trillion of that $5.7 trillion and cuts the highest tax rate in America for the top 25 percent. There's nothing you could think of that would not be slashed."
Connolly faces reelection in November, and did not mention by name any of the four other contenders for his seat - Independent candidates Chris DeCarlo and Mark Gibson, Green Party nominee Joe Galdo and Republican nominee Col. (Ret.) Chris Perkins - even though he appeared at a forum with some of them later that afternoon.
Bob
7:22 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
I am proud to be part of the 53% that is NOT looking for a handout. This loser is the one who is unfit for office.
judith LOTHER
9:48 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Well Bobby, one shouldn't be so smug. You never know when a hit and run driver might leave you disabled and unable to work. And even a savings account of $500,000 or more isn't going to keep you going for long. It doesn't. And although you can cash in a mutual fund or an IRA early, the penalties are prohibitive, even if you are disabled. And once your money runs out and you can't work, guess what, you are getting help from the government and you become part of the 47%.
Bobbie
6:55 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Gerry Connally is a long time loser from Fairfax County. He should consider running for President so everyone can get to know him.
GAH
9:26 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Jerry is unfit for office. How he and Jim Moran are in Congress is just beyond me.
Bobbie
6:58 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Because they tax and spend. Hook, line, and sinker.. They will be six feet under when the problem becomes so bad that we have nothing to spend anymore.. Anyone know someone who just keeps buying stuff on the Visa card and never pays the bill in full??.. That's Gerry and Jim..
Mary Lambert
10:17 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Connolly IS a hit and run driver!!!! Since he is a Democrat in Northern Virginia, he was not charged.
Sally Gibbs
7:12 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
I don't believe Fairfax police would allow a hit and run driver go free...especially for fear of politicos. Ms. Lambert is implying that the County Police covered up for Rep. Connolly and other Democrats, and that is legal slander.
Americans are free to state our political beliefs in public, but it is not patriotic to invent charges and insult the local police force.
Bobbie
6:58 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
He knows he is above the law.. Makes me sick
James Cullum
10:27 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Thanks for the comments, folks. Now, what do you think about Connolly's statements?
Mary Ebener
10:33 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
I am very disappointed in what Gerry Connolly has become. The Reston Forum showed how Connolly has become the "empty chair" candidate. He doesn't meet with constituents, tosses these partisan attacks from a podium without accepting any questions, and seems to spend most of his time being the mouthpiece for Nancy Pelosi and President Obama. While this may grant him favors as he seeks his next political appointment, he is no longer representing those of us who live in the 11th district. Gerry Connolly has become the poster child for what is wrong with Congress.
Mary Ebener
10:36 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The point that Mitt Romney made in that speech back in May was that the 47 percent of American adults who pay no income tax have no incentive to support a candidate who promises to lower income tax rates. What is so controversial about that?
Bobbie
6:52 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
Nothing more than redistribution of wealth. Time for you to pay up...
James Cullum
10:45 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The controversy, I believe, stems from a fear (and political opportunity for his opponents) that Romney's comments reveal that he doesn't have the best interests of that 47% at heart. Do you believe that assumption is correct?
Mary Ebener
11:17 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
James, there is not really a controversy, just a very adept media machine that is creating an issue to divert the conversation away from the disasters in the Middle East this week. Disasters resulting from President's Obama's inept leadership, rooted in a long-held belief that nations like America and Israel are not as exceptional as we believe, and reducing our strengths is the path to a better world. I say that Obama's belief hogwash.
Gerry Connolly is simply piling on, as he was told to do by the party leadership. Mitt Romney knows and speaks that one part of the solution for America's current malaise is to recreate an environment where many of those 47 percenters can and want to work to become prosperous. And I'm not talking about those living in Greensprings. Their generation worked hard, paid their taxes, and earned their retirement. It is our generation that needs to step up, before there are more people collecting than contributing to our success.
If you believe that the "best interests" of 47% of our people is to give them more free stuff, then you are correct. But if you believe that their best interests are served by recreating a nation where hard work and entrepreneurial risk are encouraged and can lead to rewards, then you are siding with Mitt Romney.
Susan Theibault
11:56 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
James, that assumption is absoluitely incorrect. Romney meant that the majority of people who are not paying taxes wouldn't likely be drawn to his message of lower taxes and so, strategically, it would be foolish to focus a lot of attention them in his campaign.
His message is one of hope for people who want to get OFF of government assistance by using the private sector to create jobs for them, so they can once again become taxpayers, instead of being carried by taxpayers. He absolutely did NOT say he doesn't care about these people -- and anyone who actually listened to what he said should know that.
We need Romney (and Allen and Perkins) in office in order to implement the policies that will start to grow the ranks of employed workers again, and move us away from the dangerous and destructive dependency mentality that is so pervasive in this administration.
T-Bird
4:33 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Susan and Mary, really? So we should kick all retirees and vetrans to the curb? Because, I hate to break it to you, but they make up 2/3 of that 47%. Many of the rest are so poor they can't afford to pay. So what, let them all die? The controversy here (and there is one no matter how much you spin it) is the callous and inaccurate generalization he made about half of the population of this country. Oh, and by the way, I did listen to it, and he DID say he didn't care about "those people", immeaditally after calling them all shiftless and lazy.
Bobbie
7:01 am on Thursday, September 20, 2012
James,I agree with you 100%. I really burns me up that we are 16 trillion in debt and we continue to tax and spend hard working peoples money . Do you agree?
CD
10:45 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
@Bob - I agree. I do not want to live in a Socialist Country and redistribute the wealth. A vote for Obama is a vote for Socialism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge3aGJfDSg4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRPbCSSXyp0
James Cullum
10:49 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Thanks CD. What did you think about Romney's comments?
Mary Ebener
10:56 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Gerry, you can't balance the budget by raising the taxes of those of us in Fairfax County any more. Your proposed cuts to defense spending are dangerous to our national security as well as to the Fairfax County economy. Promising free money that you can not deliver and scaring the people of Greensprings with your nonsense is evil.
You, sir, are the one not fit for public office.
I have switched my support to Chris Perkins for Congress. Chris has the integrity to get us out of this hole dug by both parties.
As our troops are being slaughtered as they retreat in Afghanistan, and we abandon Iraq, Egypt, and Libya, after investing so much American blood and treasure, you, Gerry, continue to blame everyone but yourself.
It's time to retire Gerry Connolly before he hurts anyone else. I urge everyone to listen to Chris Perkins - there is a choice this year for who will represent us.
Kathy Keith
12:37 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Let's see what has happened this last week:
1.Riots all over the Middle East. Protesters burning American flags all over the world.
2.An Ambassador and 3 other State dept. employees assasinated in Libya. The Libyan consulate did not have sufficient protection.
3.A White House that blames all of the unrest and violence on a video when the evidence suggests otherwise.
4. American soldiers being killed in Afghanistan.
5.A debt that continues to rise out of control.
6.Food stamp usage is way up.
7.General Motors in serious trouble. The government is subsidizing every Volt sold into the thousands and thousands of dollars. GM wants to purchase the stock back from the government at much lower price than the IPO>
8.A President who continues to make the celebrity circuit--Vegas, NYC with Beyonce, Jay-Z and Letterman. However, he does not meet with the press to answer questions about all of the issues above.
And, what does the media talk about? A tape from a Romney fundraiser in May. A tape that has been "doctored" and leaves out 2 minutes of talk.
Press gives hardly any mention to the fact that the President was recorded saying that he believes in redistributing wealth through the government. The President himself has said that 99% of the citizens are "victims" of the 1%.
8.A
T-Bird
4:26 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Nice cut and paste job from every other comment section on every other paper from today. Way to lack substience and original thought at the same time. A true Republican.
Elayne
2:04 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Kathy you are 1000% straight on. And that my friends is the facts
David Peterson
4:39 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
An elected official with a (D) after their name says you shouldn't vote for someone with an (R) after their name? No way!
James Cullum
6:47 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Do you think Romney's comments will impact the outcome of the election?
Mary Ebener
10:07 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
No, but the way the obliging media spins them certainly could!
Mary Ebener
10:21 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Sally Gibbs said, "I don't believe Fairfax police would allow a hit and run driver go free...especially for fear of politicos. Ms. Lambert is implying that the County Police covered up for Rep. Connolly and other Democrats, and that is legal slander. "
Well, yes and no. The police were obligated to charge him, but the state prosecutor was not obligated to put his career on the line to convict him.
""Judge Craig Johnston, ruling after a two-hour trial in General District Court with seven witnesses, acknowledged that Connolly's failure to realize that his red Toyota Camry had collided with a black Ford Explorer on International Drive the morning of May 14 "is perhaps subject to some incredulity on the part of many."
In my opinion, the judge, in the nicest possible way, is implying that Gerry Connolly may have committed perjury. Even Democrats blasted him for that one:
http://notlarrysabato.typepad.com/doh/2008/05/hit-and-run-pos.html
Read it while it's still up... NLS posts sometimes disappear when attention is called to them.