Full video of Romney fundraiser remarks released
(CBS News) The liberal publication Mother Jones on Tuesday afternoon released the full 49-minute video, in two parts, of Mitt Romney's remarks at a May 17 fundraiser at which he described President Obama's supporters as people who are "dependent on government" and "believe that they are victims."
The magazine on Monday released a clip of the event at which he said, "There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the 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. That, that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what."
Mother Jones released a series of other clips, including one in which Romney says peace in the Middle East isn't possible. "I look at the Palestinians not wanting to see peace anyway, for political purposes, committed to the destruction and elimination of Israel, and I say there's just no way," he is heard saying.
Left on defense after the video clips were released, Romney on Monday evening did not apologize for his remarks but conceded they were "not elegantly stated." He called on Mother Jones to release the full video, so the magazine did just that.
Romney talked about foreign policy issues beyond the Middle East, telling his supporters that President Obama "speaks loudly and carries a tiny stick." It's no wonder, the Republican said, that North Korea isn't afraid to announce new missile tests when the U.S. president isn't going to do anything about it.
He also addressed a supporter's concern that the public hasn't gotten to know him, pointing out that he's appeared on several talk shows. He called going on ABC's "The View" a particular "risk," since only one of the show's hosts is conservative. Romney also agreed with a supporter that voters like his wife Ann Romney but said the campaign is using her "sparingly... so that people don't get tired of her."
