The Wall Street Journal in an editorial on Wednesday published a fictional draft speech by Mitt Romney, in which the Republican presidential nominee doubles down on the surreptitiously videotaped remarks he made at a May fundraiser in Florida, making a more articulate and compelling case for less government dependency.
In the videotaped remarks to donors, Romney said that 47 percent of Americans would automatically vote for President Barack Obama because they are "dependent" on government.
In the “leaked” speech draft the candidate “might” deliver, the Journal has Romney saying in the fictional speech, “One tragedy of the Obama Presidency is how many more Americans have become dependent on the government. I know it's not their fault. Most want to be self-sufficient, to provide for their families, but they can't because there aren't enough jobs.”
The Journal’s imagined Romney speech went on to say:
"I want Americans to be less dependent on government not because it costs too much. We will always help Americans who need our help. I want Americans to be independent so they can realize the pride of accomplishment and the dignity of work and contribute their God-given talents to build a better country.
"I think the success of a Presidency should be measured by how many fewer people need food stamps, how many fewer need disability, not how many more people are added to the rolls. I don't want to take food stamps away from Americans in need. I want fewer Americans to need food stamps,” the Journal’s fictional speech said.
The Journal concluded its editorial by taking a clear shot at Romney: “Surely a man as smart as the former CEO of Bain Capital can give a better speech on taxes and dependency than he delivered at that fundraiser. If he can't, he'll lose, and he'll deserve to.”
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