Romney: Nearly half 'believe they are victims'
WASHINGTON (AP) - Already scrambling to steady a struggling campaign, Republican Mitt Romney confronted a new headache Monday after a video surfaced showing him telling wealthy donors that almost half of all Americans "believe they are victims" entitled to extensive government support. He added that as a candidate for the White House, "my job is not to worry about those people."
At a hastily called news conference late in the day, Romney offered no apologies for his remarks and when he was asked if he was concerned he had offended anyone, he conceded the comments weren't "elegantly stated" and they were spoken "off the cuff."
President Barack Obama's campaign quickly seized on the video, obtained by the magazine Mother Jones and made public on a day that Romney's campaign said it needed a change in campaign strategy to gain momentum in the presidential race. Romney aides were already working behind the scenes to calm dissension in the GOP ranks and reassure nervous donors and consultants about the state of a race some Republicans worry may be getting away from their nominee.
"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what," Romney is shown saying in a video posted online by the magazine. "There are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it."
"Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax," Romney said.
Romney said in the video that his role "is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."
In his remarks to reporters before a fundraiser Monday night in Costa Mesa, Calif., Romney did not dispute the authenticity of the hidden-camera footage, but he called for the release of the full video, instead of the clips posted online. He sought to clarify his remarks but did not apologize.
"It's not elegantly stated, let me put it that way. I was speaking off the cuff in response to a question. And I'm sure I could state it more clearly in a more effective way than I did in a setting like that," Romney said. "Of course I want to help all Americans. All Americans have a bright and prosperous future."
About 46 percent of Americans owed no federal income tax in 2011, although many of them paid other forms of taxes. More than 16 million elderly Americans avoid federal income taxes solely because of tax breaks that apply only to seniors, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.
Obama's campaign called the video "shocking"
"It's hard to serve as president for all Americans when you've disdainfully written off half the nation," Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said in a statement.
An Obama adviser said the Democratic campaign might use Romney's comments from the fundraising video in television advertisements. The official wasn't authorized to discuss campaign strategy publicly and requested anonymity.
Romney's 2010 federal tax returns show he paid a tax rate of about 14 percent on an annual income of $21 million. The vast majority of his income came from investments, which are taxed at a lower rate than wages. His wealth has been estimated as high as $250 million.
Democrats have tried to make an issue of what Romney pays in taxes and what he is willing to divulge about his taxes and investments. While he has released his 2010 tax returns and a summary of his 2011 returns, he has rejected calls for releasing as many as 10 years of tax returns. His campaign has pledged to release his complete 2011 returns before the election Nov. 6.
The private remarks are the latest in a string of comments from the multimillionaire Republican businessman whom Democrats have criticized as out of touch. During the primary campaign, Romney insisted that he was "not concerned" about the very poor, said he knew what it felt like to worry about being "pink-slipped," and said that his wife drove a "couple of Cadillacs." Aides to Obama's campaign said the latest video would help them continue to make the case that Romney doesn't understand the concerns of average Americans.
Romney said he would not shy away from the message behind the remarks - that Obama believes in a "government-centered society."
"It's a message which I am going to carry and continue to carry, which is that the president's approach is attractive to people who are not paying taxes because, frankly, my discussion about lowering taxes isn't as attractive to them," Romney said. "Therefore I'm not likely to draw them into my campaign as effectively as those in the middle."
Voters say they believe Obama has a better understanding of their problems and concerns than Romney does. A CBS/New York Times poll showed 60 percent of likely voters said Obama understands the needs and problems of people like them, while 37 percent said he did not. For Romney, the same question found that 46 percent felt he did understand people's needs, 48 percent said he didn't.
Mother Jones writer David Corn told MSNBC that the video came from a May 17 fundraiser at the Boca Raton, Fla., home of Marc Leder, co-CEO of the investment firm Sun Capital Partners.
The magazine had said earlier that the date and location of the remarks were not being disclosed to protect the identity of the person who provided the video. On MSNBC, Corn said the source had allowed those details to be released.
Many of the Americans who owe no income tax are reprieved because basic exemptions - such as the "standard deduction" - took their taxable income below the cutoff levels. The other half rely mainly on a variety of tax breaks, such as the credit that helps offset child care costs.
These Americans range from the very poor to solidly middle-class families with jobs, homes, cars and vacations. The Tax Policy Center says "relatively few nontaxable households" have incomes exceeding $100,000; families that make between $50,000 and $100,000 often owe no income tax because of breaks for their kids and for education.
Americans who pay no federal income tax still often pay an array of other taxes. They include payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare, sales taxes, property taxes and state and local taxes.
A handful of extremely wealthy families do not pay federal income taxes. This summer the Internal Revenue Service reported that six of the 400 highest-earning households in America owed no federal income tax in 2009.
Still, many are low-income Americans. According to the August 2010 AP-GfK poll, a majority of Americans who make less than $30,000 a year are Democrats. But 27 percent identify as Republicans, and 15 percent say they're independents. About 57 percent say they will vote for Obama, while 38 percent back Romney. About 43 percent identify themselves as conservatives.
Obama faced a similar moment in the 2008 campaign, when he told donors that many Americans who are angry about their struggles "cling to their guns or religion."
Romney's running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, made reference to that remark Monday at a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa.
"I remember that one time when he was talking to a bunch of donors in San Francisco and he said people like us, people from the Midwest like to cling to their guns and religion," Ryan said.
Ryan went on: "And I've got to tell you this Catholic deer hunter is guilty as charged and proud to say so. That's just weird. Who says things like that? That's just strange."
At a hastily called news conference late in the day, Romney offered no apologies for his remarks and when he was asked if he was concerned he had offended anyone, he conceded the comments weren't "elegantly stated" and they were spoken "off the cuff."
President Barack Obama's campaign quickly seized on the video, obtained by the magazine Mother Jones and made public on a day that Romney's campaign said it needed a change in campaign strategy to gain momentum in the presidential race. Romney aides were already working behind the scenes to calm dissension in the GOP ranks and reassure nervous donors and consultants about the state of a race some Republicans worry may be getting away from their nominee.
"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what," Romney is shown saying in a video posted online by the magazine. "There are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it."
"Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax," Romney said.
Romney said in the video that his role "is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."
In his remarks to reporters before a fundraiser Monday night in Costa Mesa, Calif., Romney did not dispute the authenticity of the hidden-camera footage, but he called for the release of the full video, instead of the clips posted online. He sought to clarify his remarks but did not apologize.
"It's not elegantly stated, let me put it that way. I was speaking off the cuff in response to a question. And I'm sure I could state it more clearly in a more effective way than I did in a setting like that," Romney said. "Of course I want to help all Americans. All Americans have a bright and prosperous future."
About 46 percent of Americans owed no federal income tax in 2011, although many of them paid other forms of taxes. More than 16 million elderly Americans avoid federal income taxes solely because of tax breaks that apply only to seniors, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.
Obama's campaign called the video "shocking"
"It's hard to serve as president for all Americans when you've disdainfully written off half the nation," Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said in a statement.
An Obama adviser said the Democratic campaign might use Romney's comments from the fundraising video in television advertisements. The official wasn't authorized to discuss campaign strategy publicly and requested anonymity.
Romney's 2010 federal tax returns show he paid a tax rate of about 14 percent on an annual income of $21 million. The vast majority of his income came from investments, which are taxed at a lower rate than wages. His wealth has been estimated as high as $250 million.
Democrats have tried to make an issue of what Romney pays in taxes and what he is willing to divulge about his taxes and investments. While he has released his 2010 tax returns and a summary of his 2011 returns, he has rejected calls for releasing as many as 10 years of tax returns. His campaign has pledged to release his complete 2011 returns before the election Nov. 6.
The private remarks are the latest in a string of comments from the multimillionaire Republican businessman whom Democrats have criticized as out of touch. During the primary campaign, Romney insisted that he was "not concerned" about the very poor, said he knew what it felt like to worry about being "pink-slipped," and said that his wife drove a "couple of Cadillacs." Aides to Obama's campaign said the latest video would help them continue to make the case that Romney doesn't understand the concerns of average Americans.
Romney said he would not shy away from the message behind the remarks - that Obama believes in a "government-centered society."
"It's a message which I am going to carry and continue to carry, which is that the president's approach is attractive to people who are not paying taxes because, frankly, my discussion about lowering taxes isn't as attractive to them," Romney said. "Therefore I'm not likely to draw them into my campaign as effectively as those in the middle."
Voters say they believe Obama has a better understanding of their problems and concerns than Romney does. A CBS/New York Times poll showed 60 percent of likely voters said Obama understands the needs and problems of people like them, while 37 percent said he did not. For Romney, the same question found that 46 percent felt he did understand people's needs, 48 percent said he didn't.
Mother Jones writer David Corn told MSNBC that the video came from a May 17 fundraiser at the Boca Raton, Fla., home of Marc Leder, co-CEO of the investment firm Sun Capital Partners.
The magazine had said earlier that the date and location of the remarks were not being disclosed to protect the identity of the person who provided the video. On MSNBC, Corn said the source had allowed those details to be released.
Many of the Americans who owe no income tax are reprieved because basic exemptions - such as the "standard deduction" - took their taxable income below the cutoff levels. The other half rely mainly on a variety of tax breaks, such as the credit that helps offset child care costs.
These Americans range from the very poor to solidly middle-class families with jobs, homes, cars and vacations. The Tax Policy Center says "relatively few nontaxable households" have incomes exceeding $100,000; families that make between $50,000 and $100,000 often owe no income tax because of breaks for their kids and for education.
Americans who pay no federal income tax still often pay an array of other taxes. They include payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare, sales taxes, property taxes and state and local taxes.
A handful of extremely wealthy families do not pay federal income taxes. This summer the Internal Revenue Service reported that six of the 400 highest-earning households in America owed no federal income tax in 2009.
Still, many are low-income Americans. According to the August 2010 AP-GfK poll, a majority of Americans who make less than $30,000 a year are Democrats. But 27 percent identify as Republicans, and 15 percent say they're independents. About 57 percent say they will vote for Obama, while 38 percent back Romney. About 43 percent identify themselves as conservatives.
Obama faced a similar moment in the 2008 campaign, when he told donors that many Americans who are angry about their struggles "cling to their guns or religion."
Romney's running mate, Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, made reference to that remark Monday at a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa.
"I remember that one time when he was talking to a bunch of donors in San Francisco and he said people like us, people from the Midwest like to cling to their guns and religion," Ryan said.
Ryan went on: "And I've got to tell you this Catholic deer hunter is guilty as charged and proud to say so. That's just weird. Who says things like that? That's just strange."
I am SO sick & tired of hearing "47% pay no income tax", like that autmotically makes them sludge in the bottom of the pool, worthless good-for-nothings who contribute absolutely nothing.
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Guess what? it simply is not true.
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That 47% figure may be accurate, but they do not pay because they (for the most part) do not EARN enough to have to pay. Once they take their standard deduction & any other excemptions or credits they are legally entitled to, they do not have enough "income" left.
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How about instead of trashing & bashing them we instead work on ways to bring them up to "our" level - living wage jobs that will support their families, thatg will give them "discretionary income" (I know, what the hell is THAT?!?!?) and give them enough income that they too will pay income taxes. Wouldn;t that be a far better solution than continuing to drive DOWN wages, cut full-time family wage jobs (think SODO area & the new arena site) & replace them with part-time minimum wage jobs.Â
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The more people who are making higher wages, the more "contributors" there will be, and the fewer that will be dependent on government to try to make ends meet. This should make EVERYBODY happy.
He simply used his outside voice .... indoors. I'd go with that one, sounds legit.
Why, oh why do so many folks have problems with reading comprehension? Or even listening comprehension? Regardless of whether you are a Romney or an Obama supporter pay attention to what they are actually saying - not what you want them to have said, or the distortion that the media portrays (FOX or CBS, I don't care).
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Mr. Romney NEVER said that as President he would not worry about the 47%. What he said was that as a candidate his job was not to worry about the 47% who were not going to vote for him under any circumstances. In that statement, he was 100% correct. If you are running for any office, you don't beat your head against the wall or spend campaign money trying to convince the people who wouldn't vote for you under any circumstances. Romney understands that and you can be sure that Mr. Obama understands that as well.
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Mr. Romneys statement applied only to his position as a candidate and the campaign and to try to project it forward to some other time or circumstance is taking the comment entirely out of context.
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To say that this is just another example of a "habit of making off the cuff remarks" is also being disengenuous. After all Mr. "clings to their guns and religion" Obama has a history of making off the cuff remarks as well. In fact that one was made under exactly the same circumstances as Mr. Romneys.
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Try to set aside your partisanship for a minute and listen to the candidates actual words, look at what they have done and then make your decision in an informed manner instead of being led along in the crowd.
@TacomaAV8R
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(Since there is no TD system on this new format - guess they are being mindful of every snowflakes delicate sensiubilities & self-esteem)
Maybe you should listen to what he actually said and then you would understand why people are offended. His arrogant attitude doesn't do him any favors as a political candidate. To say that almost half of the American people are (to paraphrase) lazy, unmotivated and want the government to support them, is pretty rude if you ask me. So before you lecture us about what he really said, maybe you ought to actually listen to the whole thing.
Regardless of your opinion on what he actually said, the fact that he has a habit of making these wildly "off the cuff" remarks about every subject under the sun, from foreign policy to the economy to the London Olympics, then has to backpedal and try to explain himself, clearly and without a shadow of a doubt demonstrates that he is in no way ready for the office of the presidency. One can only imagine what might happen if he were to make one of "off the cuff" "no, wait, that's not what I meant" remarks during delicate international talks.
Romney
"Wait did you guys hear that".
  Yes!
"DOH!"
Die Fanhe Hoch! Die Reihen Fest Geschlossen!
Mittens Marschiert mit Ruhig Festem Schritt!
 @EMDF9A This translates to:"The flag is high! The ranks close hard!"
"Mittens marches with a firm and steady step!"
he must be possest by hitlers ghost or he thinks theres that many rich people to bail him out of that one
These upcoming Presidential debates are going to be so much fun.
Wow. Talk about arrogant. This stupid man actually thinks he can get elected President by making baseless statements like that?  It's not even remotely true. That man is so unfit for Presidency it's sad.
this guy is just a typical politician...all they care about is themselves and the lobbyists they sleep with! If you vote for either of these two morons then you get what you get.
We are victims of an economic system rigged against us. Big corporations have outsourced jobs to countries where slavery is overlooked and ignored. It is hard to compete on a global scale against free labor or people in countries where they have to compete against those who are made to work against their will. And then those corporations will sell those products here driving out small businesses. The only jobs left here are service type jobs. There are reasons why nearly half of us do not pay taxes, because we are not paid enough for our labor. And then republicans have the audacity to blame the poor.
When asked a question about the low-income Americans at a private gathering of rich contributors Romney's stated: "as a candidate for the White House, my job is not to worry about those people." After a video his statement showed up YouTube he went into damage control mode and quickly changed his story "Of course I want to help all Americans. All Americans have a bright and prosperous future."
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I don't know which Romney to believe, the Romney speaking to his cohort or the Romney caught with his foot in his mouth, now weaseling to salvage what he can of his political future. I have a question for Romney " If he cannot bring himself to be concerned with all Americans what makes him think he has what it takes to be the President and lead this Nation?"
Here's a great op/Ed about Mitt's failing campaign. http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/17/opinion/raines-romney-media/index.html?hpt=hp_bn7
So if my income is low enough or my deductions high enough so that I don't owe any federal taxes, that means I don't "take personal responsibility and care for [my life]"?
Yeah, I can see why 48% of people don't believe Romney understands their needs!!!
Honest question what are the people who are looking for Romney to win really looking for. No rants blah blah blah. looking for the real  deal taxes , gas economy etc.
I really don't know which is uglier - this man's mental state, or that photo.
It's been what? 3 weeks since he was nominated...and he's already in the septic tank demanding his wave runner...
I really do pity the few good honest decent Republicans left...they don't deserve this.
This guy just can't seem to be able to connect with the average person, but amongst his "people", he is truly himself and most honest.Â
"...so that government of the oligarchs, for the corporations and by the billionaires shall not perish from the earth."Â (i'm pretty sure that is the quote).
He's right: AT LEAST half of us feel we are victims of Republican greed, fraud and hypocrisy over the past 32 years. Time to let "tinkle-down" rain on ROMNEY'S parade!
I disagree with Mitt because I know too many "God Fearing" people who have bought into the abortion/Obama is a Muslim/and the first thing Romney's going to do when he gets into office is repeal "Obama care" rhetoric and many of them live in the southern states. Many of them don't, but all of them are firm believers. They believe they have to vote for Romney because they've been told Pres. Obama is the anti-Christ. When the Christian right started to call Mormons Christians (not arguing it, just stating a fact), I was shocked.
 @justmyopinion "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
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Another biblical prophecy fulfilled in our time.
 @JLS1950  @justmyopinion I ain't seen any great signs or wonders from Mittens. What did I miss?
 @two loons He go his whole shoe in his mouth along with his foot!
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 @justmyopinion Which one has deceived so many "true believers"?
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Here is a hint: I am in fact an evangelical, Pentecostal Christian... and I will vote for Obama. Sadly, I do not really expect a lot of company from my brothers and sisters in Christ. I was shocked also...
For once I heartily concur with Romney. Â However, the victim mentality stretches across all strata in our society, and it's not driven for a demand for government handouts. Â It's a media driven facade that cynically appeals to the need for increasingly lazy people to believe that they are relevant even though they contribute nothing or nothing of significance. Â If you're nothing else, you're a victim - that's your catch-all claim to societal status. Â Oh. Â And a hero too - after all, you rolled out of bed before noon today.
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We elevate ourselves now by either putting others down or simply lowering the bar, and the engine behind that is the self appointing victimhood/herohood standard.
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Where I differ with Romney is that he is taking a slice of the larger story here, carving it off, and dressing it up in a package of irresponsible rhetoric with the sole purpose of appealing to people's narrow-minded xenophobia, paranoia and racism.
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He was this close to actually having something meaningful to say about the collective good of society, but he teabagged it. Â I suspect that the McCainesque boobery of this campaign will become a near daily event as the election inches closer.
No matter the context, of those 47% that are on that assistance and believe they deserve it, a lot will vote for him. He's talking down towards a good portion of the Republican base.
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Although, if you really think about it, it won't tear away from his votes to much in that base. Conservatives rally and campaign on emotional issues, liberals on facts and figures. Its a fact. So the Obama campaign needs to be reactionary in this case to cause the most damage to his base.
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On another note entirely, I can't believe it took this long to reach the AP. This story has been out all day on NPR and the BBC.
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@IlBrutto13 Both sides of the spectrum vote on emotion. There is very little facts and figures that the general voter takes into account on either side of the very small political spectrum. If they did then they would realize that politicians are all a bunch of power hungry, rich people, trying to get a new ego boost. None of them care about us, none of them are in touch with reality, none of them have even made an effort to change the process to show they can connect with Americans. Duh!
@IlBrutto13 -
He's lumping together and demonizing four classes of Americans into this 'entitlement drunk class of Americans'
1 - hard working Americans who are doing nothing but EXACTLY WHAT HE IS DOING - legally paying the minimum taxes required by law. this group makes only enough to qualify to pay zero or nearly zero in income taxes by doing the very same thing he does - using the existing tax law to thier advantage.
2 - The elderly and the retired - they don't pay income tax.
3 - Those who are poor and truly trying to better themselves and get off of entitlements
4 - those who are actually gaming the system and actually fit the description that Romney used
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Now when you take the 47% (or is it 48% or 49% number that Romney rambled around with for a moment in his talk?) and break it down, it looks like this
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the 47% who don't pay income tax minus theElderly and Retired and the gamefully employed who make too little to pay income tax by using laws CONGRESS passed leaves 15% of Americans that don't pay income tax
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So the number of folks who actually MIGHT fit Romney's description of 'entitlement addicted low life scum' equals 15% of the population, not 47%.  And even that number is wrong because it includes the % of folks who are poor but are actually working to get themselves out of poverty and off entitlements.
 @FormerMarineSgt  @IlBrutto13 You left out American soldiers on active duty, disabled veterans and veterans retraining for civilian careers.
 @FormerMarineSgt You left out
5. Republicans in southern states who will probably vote for Romney anyways because they have been trained that it is patriotic to vote against their own interest.
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http://taxfoundation.org/sites/taxfoundation.org/files/UserFiles/Image/Fiscal%20Facts/20100524-229-nonpayers-map-.jpg
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His job as president is not to worry about "those people" but to worry about the wealthiest 1% and how to get them even more wealth and power. And 47% of the struggling masses will vote for him anyway.
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When you have all the money in the world, you hunger for POWER and that's why he's running. Don't even kid yourself that it's because he's such a good patriot.
 @justmyopinion That is why all candidates, including Obama run for office. They are all egomaniacs. Neither of these "winners" need the money.
 @justmyopinion He's also trying to do what his dad failed to do...and like Bush, he thinks he is "entitled" to the job...
 @justmyopinion ...or businessman... or executive!
 @justinsane Not only does he care about money, he cares about power and his massive ego. Does he give a damn about the average Joe? F NO! Talk about blind and moronic statements!
@Hagar @justinsane Right, all politicians only care about power and their massive egos! It's been obvious for years that none of them actually give a damn about the average Joe.
I would like to see his tax returns for prior years, I wouldn't be suprised if he has been part of the 47% who didn't pay any income taxes! Â
 @justmyopinion funny! I think we'll eventually get to see them.
 @Komo Dragon  Not if Mitt has anything to say about it!
Not a chance, he's not going to show the American public what a liar he is. I would love to know when he collected his last check from Baim.
 @justmyopinion Bingo. 2008 and 2009 would show a lot. I doubt he paid anything for 2009.Â
"It's hard to serve as president for all Americans when you've disdainfully written off half the nation,"
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Thats what separates you from him Obama, you 've written off the whole nation with your actions and inactions.
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"Fascism should rightly be called Corporatism, as it is the merger of corporate and government power.â --Benito Mussolini
 @T_BONE_WALKER Would you like to borrow my empty chair?Â
 @caphillkid  @T_BONE_WALKER You would force an empty chair to hold an empty person?
 @OrcasThunder  @caphillkid  @T_BONE_WALKER I believe this is a reference to Mr. Eastwood's talking to an empty chair during the RNC. The chair would remain empty, but it would have to listen to a lot of nonsense.
Romney screwed up.Â
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According to Forbes:Â Of the 47% of Americans that paid no federal income tax for 2011, 60% paid federal payroll taxes.Â
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 18% of Americans paid no federal income tax or payroll taxes. More than half of those households were headed by a senior, someone who likely already paid into both payroll and income taxes.Â
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And then of course he completely disregards the fact that the small percentage of people that paid no work related federal income taxes (payroll or income) are paying federal gas taxes, state taxes, and property taxes.
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And that's not even getting into all the different political ways to approach his statement that everyone is going to argue about now here...
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@caphillkid - and what's hilarious and pathetic is that romney's lumping into that 47% - not just the retired and those who make too little to pay income taxes BASED ON LAWS THAT CONGRESS WROTE, but he's also slamming people who do exactly what he says is perfectly proper - using the tax laws to pay only what they are legally required to pay.Â
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If you make so little that the law says that you don't owe income tax, you are not 'automatically an entitlement junkie' like Romney is claiming. You merely used the same tactics that his rack backside does to pay as little taxes as legally required.
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This tape reveals quite a bit about the real Romney. and it likely will be the beginning of the true ending and failure of his campaign.
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this never ending cycle of republican hate needs to be re-thought.  When the 4 year campaign of hate and dehumanize the 'enemy of republicans' fails in THIS economy - it should finally be clear that the Rove school of 'demonize the other side' is dead and needs to be buried.
 @caphillkid I wonder what Party was primarily responsible for thinking that taxing the working man with payroll taxes was a good idea?? I'll get back to you on that one.
 @Sid Vishess Income tax would go back to 1862 and the Republican administration of Abraham Lincoln with a Republican Congress also. That was the first income tax - to fund the Civil War. Federal Withholding Taxes appeared during WW-II under a Democratic administration and Congress - and obviously to help fund that war.
@Sid Vishess @caphillkid Do tell Sid. You are going back to the founders I hope. They may not have called it a payroll tax but they did raise taxes. You remember the Whiskey rebellion? President Washington to send Federal troops to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion. Those founders, how dare they start taxing to run a government and pay for a war. Then Jefferson cut taxes untill the war of 1812 and the government raised taxes again. The cuontry grew and the need to maintain a country also required taxes.
So sid, what is your point about payroll taxes, after all you and your boys oppose all taxes.
 @Sid Vishess Whigs?  Â
@Sid Vishess @caphillkid One more thing Sid, who ever started the payroll tax is moot, becuase the ideals of the parties have crossed over a few time over the course of history. Any way, most taxes were instituted as a result of war. Unlike your idiot GW, all presidents raised taxes to pay for the wars we got our selves into. Maybe we ought to mind our own business around the world and save a few bucks.
 @caphillkid Eh...no.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/janetnovack/2012/09/17/memo-to-mitt-romney-the-47-pay-taxes-too/