We Are the 47 Percent: What They're Saying About Us

Although I've done okay financially all my life -- variously middle or lower middle, but feeling fine because of my native frugality -- I am essentially retired and likely to pay little in income taxes this year. Also, I'm off the payroll tax rolls. Though I still pay about 12 percent of my retirement income in various local, state, and property taxes and fees, I am fully entitled to claim membership in the 47 percent according to Mitt Romney's fine and dandy identity politics.

So, I'm allowed to take extreme umbrage -- the high-brow way of saying I'm really pissed -- at how we're characterized. Here's what they're saying about us, and I'll keep adding as I find examples.

Conservative commentator Mary Matalin offering her take on CNN:

"There are makers and takers, there are producers and there are parasites," she said. "Americans can distinguish between those who have produced and paid in through no fault of their own and because of Obama's horrible polcies who cannot get a job or are underemployed. That's what the campaign is about."

Pat Buchanan, former Nixon speechwriter, perennial candidate, and conservative commentator,  on Fox News:

“Barack Obama is a drug dealer of welfare,” he said, speaking on “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren.” “He wants permanent dependency, in my judgment, of all these folks…somehow getting benefits, benefits, benefits and paying no taxes.”

As a reminder, Mitt Romney, perennial candidate, on hidden camera in front of his peers:

"And so my job is is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

Representative Steve King (R-IA):

"Are we going to defend this Constitution that we celebrated tonight, or are we going to watch it be eroded by a Commander-in-Chief who disrespects this Constitution, doesn’t believe in free enterprise, doesn’t believe in life and families. They are core values in this country that we must defend at all costs."

Michelle Malkin, blogger, columnist, and Fox News Channel contributor:

"He’s [Romney] talking, of course, about the Peggy the Moochers and Henrietta Hugheses of the world – savior-based Obama supporters for whom the cult of personality trumps all else. He’s talking about the Sandra Flukes and Julias of the world – Nanny State grievance-mongers who have been spoon-fed identity politics and victim Olympics from preschool through grad school and beyond. And he’s talking about the encrusted entitlement clientele who range from the Section 8 housing mob in Atlanta that caused a near-riot to the irresponsible debt-ridden homeowners who mortgaged themselves into oblivion and want their bailout now, now, now."

Stephen Colbert, "Conservative commentator" and TV talk-show host:

“As you know, we are all gathered here this evening because I have agreed to accept the presidency,” Colbert said, affecting a posh tone. “But unfortunately, almost half — two score and seven percent — will vote for my opponent, that socialist Hottentot!”

Sean Hannity, Fox News host and radio talk show host:

"Do you think the government is capable of creating this womb-to-the-tomb security no-risk society where you don't have a care in the world and Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and the anointed one himself, Barack Obama, they will dispense the crumbs, ah, down on to you so you can go to the grocery store and just go get whatever food you want.

...I, for one, in spite of the hysteria and the absolute madness that you see in your sell-out, failed-you, Obama mania, thrill-up-your-leg, you know, semi-orgasmic media is wrong and I bet that this is a tipping point in terms of the actual election. They're reading it wrong. Uh, the same America that embraced welfare reform under Clinton are gonna side with Romney on this."

 More to come...