Mitt Romney: Is there an elegant way to tell half of America to pound sand?

Seriously, “Mother Jones”! Way to neck punch the Romney campaign! And on the same day Occupy Wall Street starts ramping up.  That is serving your revenge on a bed of dry ice.

During a private fundraiser earlier this year, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney told a small group of wealthy contributors what he truly thinks of all the voters who support President Barack Obama. He dismissed these Americans as freeloaders who pay no taxes, who don’t assume responsibility for their lives, and who think government should take care of them. Fielding a question from a donor about how he could triumph in November, Romney replied:

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…These are people who pay no income tax. (Bold type mine.)

(For the record, I got refunds from both Federal and State this year so I guess that makes me one of Romney’s luck ducky 47%.  Forget that I still had to deal with payroll tax, not to mention paying into social security.)
Needless to say, Ezra Klein was all over this today. (Normally, I’d throw down a block quote but considering Klein likes to work in charts like Picasso liked to work in oils, you’re better off following the link and reading the whole damn thing.)
And it doesn’t help to make the argument that he meant that he wouldn’t be campaigning for those 47%. However you slice it, he’s calling half of Americans lazy, shiftless jerks.
And the last time I checked, insulting half the electorate is not how you win elections.
But on the plus side, it did give me one of my best days on Twitter ever.

Forget being born on third and thinking he’s hit a triple. Mitt bought a baseball stadium and thinks he won the world series.#47percent

At this point, getting a blow job from an intern could only help Romney. #47percent

This just in: Rance Prebius just sent Buddy Rohmer an letter of apology and a muffin basket. #47percent

 This just in: Clint Eastwood is now endorsing the chair. #47percent

Romney may never be able to help the country.  But he’s done wonders for my Klout score.