Presidential Debate: Obama Finally Hits Romney On ’47 Percent’ Comment
The first presidential debate passed and most of the second before Obama supporters heard the two words they had been practically begging the president to say — 47 percent.
As the second presidential debate drew to a close, Obama finally hammered Mitt Romney for remarks he made at a closed-door event with donors in May. In a secretly made video of the event, Romney is seen saying that there are 47 percent of Americans who are reliant on the government and would never vote for him. He said it is not his job to worry about this group of Americans, those who pay no income tax.
As The Huffington Post pointed out, Obama saved his reference to the 47 percent for precisely the right time, at the conclusion of the town hall style presidential debate when Romney would have not chance for rebuttal.
Obama had the chance to get the final word in a contentious presidential debate, with the final question giving each candidate a chance to dispel a myth about themselves. Obama didn’t waste his opportunity, the Washington Post noted.
Obama said:
“I believe the free-enterprise system is the greatest system of prosperity the world has ever known. I also believe that everybody should have a fair shot and everybody should do their fair share. That is part of what’s at stake in this election. I believe that Governor Romney is a good man who loves his family. I also believe that when he said behind closed doors that 47 percent of people in this country consider themselves victims and refuse to take responsibility, he meant it. Think about who he is talking about.
Most political analysts believed that Obama, who was widely criticized for not broaching the topic in the first presidential debate, would assuredly talk about Romney’s 47 percent comment. In an article published before the debate, the Washington Post predicted there would be a “100 percent chance the 47 percent will be part of tonight’s debate.”
Obama’s mention of the 47 percent comment was part of a much stronger performance, one that has many analysts scoring a victory in the presidential debate.
