Thurston Howell Romney  —  In 1980, about 30 percent of Americans received some form of government benefits.  Today, as Nicholas Eberstadt of the American Enterprise Institute has pointed out, about 49 percent do.  —  In 1960, government transfers to individuals totaled $24 billion.

Today, Mitt Romney Lost the Election  —  You can mark my prediction now: A secret recording from a closed-door Mitt Romney fundraiser, released today by David Corn at Mother Jones, has killed Mitt Romney's campaign for president.  —  On the tape, Romney explains that his electoral strategy …

Romney: Obama's 47% of the electorate is dependent on government  —  Via Mother Jones and Ace, watch this now if you haven't seen it elsewhere because political media will be having 20 heart attacks about it tomorrow and you'll want to be up to speed.  This was recorded awhile back at a fundraiser …

Obama: No Surprise That Hard-Pressed Pennsylvanians Turn Bitter  —  LISTEN TO THE FULL OBAMA April 6.  FUNDRAISER SPEECH HERE Some highlights - Obama responds to Krugman toward the end of the audio (46:20); Obama discloses his trip to Pakistan (40:17); Obama discusses fundraising successes …

Romney stands by his remarks in leaked video  —  Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney did not back down from comments published Monday in Mother Jones magazine, in which he dismissed supporters of President Obama as a “victims” who take no responsibility for their livelihoods …

Mitt Romney versus the 47 percent  —  Over the past few years, Republicans have developed a habit of railing against the 47 percent of Americans who don't pay any federal income taxes.  It's a fairly misleading talking point, but it keeps resurfacing.  And now Mitt Romney has picked up on it:

Romney: I'll never convince Obama voters to take responsibility for their lives  —  The Huffington Post and Mother Jones both post audio of what may be a blockbuster moment: Mitt Romney telling a private fundraiser that 47 percent of the American people — the voters who can be counted on to vote for Obama …

Misconceptions and Realities About Who Pays Taxes  —  Executive Summary  —  Close to half of U.S. households currently do not owe federal income tax.  The Urban Institute-Brookings Tax Policy Center estimates that 46 percent of households will owe no federal income tax for 2011.

Romney Calls 47% of Voters Dependent in Leaked Video  —  Updated  —  WASHINGTON — During a private reception with donors this year, Mitt Romney described almost half of Americans as “people who pay no income tax” and are “dependent upon government.”  Those voters, he said …

SECRET VIDEO: On Israel, Romney Trashes Two-State Solution  —  At a private fundraiser, the GOP candidate calls Middle East peace “almost unthinkable” and says he would “kick the ball down the field.”  —  At the private fundraiser held May 17 where Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney candidly spoke …

Where Are the 47% of Americans Who Pay No Income Taxes?  —  Mitt Romney says citizens who don't pay income tax will never vote for him.  But eight of the top 10 states with the highest number of nonpayers are red states.  —  The political world is in a tizzy over hidden-camera footage of Mitt Romney at a fundraising event.

Middle East Turmoil Closely Followed; Romney's Comments Viewed Negatively  —  OVERVIEW  —  About four-in-ten Americans (43%) have followed news about the attacks on U.S. embassies in the Middle East and the killing of an American ambassador very closely, making it by far the most closely followed foreign news story of the year.