Romney tries to pivot with push on Obama redistribution comment
By Justin Sink – 09/18/12 04:41 PM ET
Mitt Romney’s campaign looked to pivot Tuesday from his controversial “47 percent” comment by highlighting new audio that shows President Obama saying in 1998 that he “believe[s] in redistribution.”
The Republican presidential candidate, appearing on Fox News, defended his comments during which he said “47 percent” of voters are “dependent on the government” by saying he was drawing a contrast between his own economic vision and that of the president’s.
“Frankly we have two different views about America,” Romney said. “The president’s view is one of a larger government. There is a tape that came out where is the president is saying he likes redistribution. I disagree. I think a society based upon a government centered nation where government plays a larger role and redistributes money, [that’s the] wrong course for America.”
Romney was referencing a YouTube video linked prominently on the influential website the Drudge Report. It’s from a 1998 conference at Loyola University. In the clip, Barack Obama, who was an Illinois state senator the time, discusses fighting against anti-government sentiment through government reforms, and says that he believes in the idea of redistribution.
