No, he did not say what you are claiming he said. He just, quite simply, didn't say that! He didn't even IMPLY it! He didn't mention elderly people, he didn't mention social security or medicare,
Any logical interpretation of what he said (47% not earning enough to owe federal income tax + relying on government assistance or entitlement program) would include seniors, veterans, and working poor. They are included in that 47%. You can not dispute that fact.
**Seniors worked their lives, paying into a program that they are now entitled to enroll in.
**Veterans transitioning from service to domestic lives.
**Working poor, not earning enough to owe federal income tax after legal deductions.
he didn't say anyone was a layabout.
Yeah, he did.
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.
....
I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.
He painted a negative picture of President Obama supporters by making an overly-broad and misleading statement about "47%"
He didn't say that a tiny percentage of that 47% unfortunately stay on welfare by choice, perhaps lacking a work ethic, and that is a shame--this is a problem that needs addressing as we continued to get the majority of poor Americans who want to work employed in jobs that allow them to provide for their families. He didn't offer that nuanced distinction.
He didn't say, within that 47% are veterans and seniors who qualify for entitlement programs that they've earned and were promised to them.
He didn't say, within that 47% are families of all races using food stamps to feed their children--We as a compassionate nation support that.
He didn't say, within that 47% poor children get medical care--We as a compassionate nation support that.
He didn't say, a portion of that 47% don't owe federal income tax because of the marriage tax credit. They simply don't earn enough for us to tax them.
All he said was that 47% expect something from government and they don't pay income tax. You can parse, make excuses, paraphrase, but you can't change the calm tone of his voice, the casual manner in which he dismissed seniors, veterans, and the working poor.