Your morning jolt: James Earl Carter IV and the ‘poetic justice’ behind the Romney video
Updated at 5:30 p.m. with link to WABE (90.1FM) interview:
One of the most ironic notes of the 2012 presidential campaign was sounded last night when a video surfaced — courtesy of liberal magazine Mother Jones – in which Republican nominee Mitt Romney told a group of California fundraisers that he considered nearly half of all Americans to be unreachable moochers who can’t be weaned away from President Barack Obama.
The fellow who dug that video up was James Earl Carter IV of Dunwoody, 35-year-old son of Chip and grandson of the former president. “There are some people on Twitter and other places who are saying it was poetic justice that it was a Carter that found this, because of the way the Romney campaign has treated my grandfather,” Carter IV said. “I completely agree with that sentiment.”
Carter IV, who is currently unemployed and trying to break into the political research business, said he conducts daily searches on YouTube and other sites, looking for ground-breaking video. “At the end of August, I came across a video of Romney at a fund-raising event, talking about a factory he visited in China,” he said. Much of it had been blurred out, but it looked promising.
The video was posted – falsely – under the name of Rachel Maddow, the MSNBC host, but then disappeared after Maddow’s people filed an objection with YouTube. Shortly afterwards, the video popped up again – this time under the name of Anne Onymous.
Carter IV sent messages to the originator of the video through YouTube, then Tumblr. He soon had a new Tumblr follower named Anne Onymous. Direct contact quickly followed.
The video that had been posted so far had not included the portion in which Romney declared:
“There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. There are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe that 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.”
Carter IV didn’t know where or when the recording was made. “The first thing I asked was can you tell me where this was filmed,” Carter said. “They wouldn’t tell me this, but they did respond to me.” (The video was made May 17 at the Boca Raton, Fla., home of financier Marc Leder, as part of a $50,000-a-person fund-raiser.)
As it turned out, the shooter of the video was associated with Global-Tech, a Hong Kong-based firm that a Bain Capital affiliate had acquired. Several weeks earlier, Carter IV had worked with Mother Jones writer David Corn on an article on the acquisition. Thus Carter IV was able to establish his bone fides with the source.
“They wanted to get the story out and they wanted to assure their jobs,” Carter said. And they wanted to make sure they weren’t running afoul of any privacy laws. So on Aug. 30, the last day of the Republican National Convention, Carter IV handed off the video contact to Corn of Mother Jones, who eventually obtained the whole of the video.
“Once I realized there was a lot more involved in this than I could personally deal with, my goal became to get the story out,” said Carter IV, who met Corn for the first time at the Democratic National Convention this month.
“I thought it would be a little bit of a story, but it has gotten a lot bigger than I would have ever thought,” said Carter IV, who picked up 1,500 Twitter followers overnight. He’s still looking for work, but things are looking up. “I’ve had some offers now. I haven’t accepted any of them yet, but that’s not a concern anymore, I guess,” he said.
Catch the Associated Press follow-up on the story here.
Denis O’Hayer of WABE (90.1FM) has posted a 14-minute interview with James Carter here. It’s worth checking out. O’Hayer asked him if revenge was a factor in his research. Said the president’s grandson:
“It wasn’t a part of the motivation, but it was definitely a part of the satisfaction.”
***
Walter Jones of Morris News Service says Republican Lee Anderson of Grovetown has declined yet another opportunity to debate U.S. Rep. John Barrow of Augusta:
A spokesman for Republican challenger Lee Anderson told the nation’s second-largest press club that he is declining an invitation to debate the man he wants to unseat, Democratic Congressman John Barrow.
The Atlanta Press Club’s Oct. 21 debate would be televised throughout the whole district on Georgia Public Broadcasting, unlike local media outlets that only reach voters in various parts of the 12th District. Anderson participated in the club’s debate during the primary.
***
Meanwhile, the AJC’s Politifact Georgia today takes a look at Republican charges that U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Augusta, “left taxpayers on the hook for $950k study on genetic makeup of ants.”
***
And Lori Geary of Channel 2 Action News looks at complaints that the preamble to the proposed charter school amendment on the November ballot has been tweaked to encourage approval:
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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291 comments Add your comment
cc
September 18th, 2012
12:29 pm
Jim Galloway:
Are you not going to show the courtesy of responding to my posts at 10:23 AM and 11:06 AM?
DJ Sniper
September 18th, 2012
12:30 pm
Carol, the clown I was referring to is Romney.
R. Chequer
September 18th, 2012
12:31 pm
“At the end of August, I came across a video of Romney at a fund-raising event, talking about a factory he visited in **charter**,” Um, China perhaps?
Carol
September 18th, 2012
12:34 pm
I guess when something stings you have to pick at it. So instead of owning up to what your candidate said, Repubs just want to pick on Carter and Jim.
Are you seriously going to argue that Romney doesn’t use the term moochers yet very candidly says that this is what people are doing? Now I know exactly where some of the posters here get their “buzz words” and phrases. It must be in the Repub handbook. Romney who won’t show us his returns, but tells us he has not paid less than 13% in income taxes isn’t interested in those who don’t pay any.
Uh, they don’t pay any because just like you only pay what you “legally” have to so do they. Romney admits that he has taken advantage of every possible loophole there is to pay a low percentage and he has offshore accounts in other countries. But wants to discount people who make so little money that they don’t have to pay income taxes as if they not American citizens, merely parasites.
Baron DeKalb
September 18th, 2012
12:36 pm
CC sez: “nor do I post under any other name than cc.”
CC, I’m glad to see you’ve sworn off posting under other people’s screen names, like you did with me a couple of weeks ago… remember, when you were trying to deflect the irrefutable charges of plagiarism by trying to make it look like I was also ripping off other people’s writing without attributing it? And I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the only time you posted as someone other than CC. Your credibility is ZERO and that makes you a great representative of the morally bankrupt, hypocritical republican party.
jgalloway
September 18th, 2012
12:39 pm
Thanks for the edit, R. Chequer. It’s fixed.
Kris
September 18th, 2012
12:39 pm
Wow I woke up this morning feeling god I was in the 99%, then it goes down hill from there now I’m in the 47% of moochers…I’m proud as hell. I have worked at a taxable job since I was 14 now at 60, I’m called a moocher..
@ Laurie 10:42 am
“Christmas came early this year. Thank you Mit. Do I have any more presents coming? ”
Better his true colors (nothing new here) come out now.
God forbid should it and his slimy pet win, there will no money for Social security, Medicaid or welfare…It will be spent on WORLD WAR III….
Re-elect President OBAMA
Carol
September 18th, 2012
12:40 pm
DJ
Carol, the clown I was referring to is Romney.
++++++
I apologize. I got caught up in the moment and thought you were switching sides LOL. I read it too fast. Should have known from previous posts where you stood.
Baron DeKalb
September 18th, 2012
12:40 pm
CC: “Jim Galloway:Are you not going to show the courtesy of responding to my posts at 10:23 AM and 11:06 AM?”
Reminds me of an old Arabic proverb: “The barking of dogs does not affect the clouds.”
What In the World???
September 18th, 2012
12:40 pm
@Columbus,
I’m sure in your “white-washed” world, God is on old white man with a long white beard. And Jesus has long blond hair with blue eyes….right??? News flash, dude. YOU need to WAKE UP! And don’t get me started with your claims that the Liberal media has distorted history. What is the TRUE history of this country??? Well let me start here: It was founded by a bunch of European, sun-worshipping rejects, who were NOT Christian. It was funded by enslaving people and the total massacre of the Natives and….okay enough said….you get my point. Please don’t get self-righteous with all of this “Good ol’ American” mumbo jumbo bull $hit. This country was founded by a Godless people and is still run, for the most part, by Godless people on BOTH sides of the political spectrum. And if you think, for one minute, that Romney is “good”, then we are in a world of trouble.
Dude…really???
honested
September 18th, 2012
12:43 pm
I guess it is proof some people have too much money when this is the best they can do in terms of ‘buying’ a Presidential Candidate.
Pay attention and you may not be embarrassed (but you will probably still lose).
jake's mom
September 18th, 2012
12:43 pm
phew! Someone needs to tell Columbus’ shrink that the meds aren’t working.
honested
September 18th, 2012
12:44 pm
Why is it that the 1% think the legitimate function of the 99% is to enhance THEIR profits?
legalady
September 18th, 2012
12:46 pm
Give the man enough rope and he’ll hang himself…Romney himself may prove to be the Dem’s best weapon!
honested
September 18th, 2012
12:47 pm
If nothing else, the video seems to prove the proverb of ‘a fool and his money’ (at least 50k of it).
Fan
September 18th, 2012
12:48 pm
@honested – It’s sad that people think that depending on the government is that way it is suppose to be. Go to russia or china and live if you want. America is a free country based on it’s citizens contributing to it’s success. Government dependency is damaging and will destroy the country. obama has done NOTHING to help this country. Are you people blind? His policy’s are what has driven unemployment so high, companies to fold, gas prices to go up,etc.
honested
September 18th, 2012
12:48 pm
With the Presidential election settled, time to roll back the House mistakes of 2010!
cc
September 18th, 2012
12:49 pm
Virginia@12:24 pm:
Of course, Galloway does not HAVE to apologize for anything. I merely asked the question, “Do you not think an apology and clarification is in order here?” and am awaiting his response. Why not allow him to either answer or not answer the question? Thank you for repeating what I said in an earlier post, “I understand that you are a columnist, and that you have the right (and obligation) to express your opinion.”
I have no “alter ego”, either. Is there a possibility that you are Galloway’s alter ego?
Bless you, my child . . .
Jon Lester
September 18th, 2012
12:50 pm
Columbus, you’re a perfect example of why we don’t need Romney’s neocon advisers directing this nation’s foreign policy. We do more than we should for Israel as it is, because we shouldn’t favor one apartheid theocratic state over another, and the government is constitutionally prohibited from applying your idea of what’s right by God.
Baron DeKalb
September 18th, 2012
12:50 pm
You know, it’s funny, when I heard that Mitt was talking about “victims” I assumed that he was referring to those on the Right (e.g. the Tea Party) who loudly protest the intrusions of “big government,” “socialism,” “multiculturalism,” “affirmative action,” “secular humanism,” “burdensome regulations,” and on and on. Even though it is committed to defending the privileges of the rich and powerful, the political right in this country has tried its best to assume the mantle of victimhood.
Leftinthesouth
September 18th, 2012
12:50 pm
As usual the wingnuts read and hear what they want to. Their brains have a block to reality due to too much Rushbo and Faux News. Thank you Jason Carter for doing the Nation a great service and practically ensuring the re-election of Barack Obama!
A dad
September 18th, 2012
12:50 pm
Umm, I categorically deny Romney used the word “moochers.” But then again, I ACTUALLY LISTENED to the video Galloway posted rather than basing everything on what others said.
Fan
September 18th, 2012
12:50 pm
For all that voted for OBAMA in ‘08. You may have voted for Hope and Change then but if you vote for him again in ‘12, considering he has done NOTHING! It will show how sad and pathetic and how blind you really are.
North resident
September 18th, 2012
12:53 pm
The government owes me housing, food, health care, education and contraceptives.
Why should I work?
You forgot free phones, internet, energy assistance, school lunches, pell grants, earned income tax credits…. and probably a host of other benefits
honested
September 18th, 2012
12:54 pm
fan,
Do you pay attention or do you just like to make stuff up?
The unfunded wars and domestic policy disasters of the shrub administration ‘drove employment up’.
Unemployment had been climbing steadily from 2002-2009. Pay attention!
Where do you get any detail that I support ‘depending on the government’? I want to see the money that has been wasted on offshore military adventurism turned back into at home infrastructure development, putting our people to work on our soil.
I really think you people can look at a light bulb and think it signals darkness.
Leftinthesouth
September 18th, 2012
12:57 pm
And now Romney wants the US to be Netenyahu’s Bitch. Yeah that is real strength.
Audrey V.
September 18th, 2012
12:57 pm
It is very sad to admit that Romney is correct.
I am getting sick and tired of standing in line at the grocery store with my bananas, peanut butter, apples and cheese and having the person in front of me in line buying shrimp with an EBT card. It is also sickening to see that same person with hair weaves, fancy nails, dripping with gold jewlery….all of the things I cannot afford because I am not getting a government check.
It is also sad to see that we have become a society where a person can be 100 lbs overweight and expect others to buy their food.
Well, there is one thing that I do have, that is integrity. The moochers out there gave theirs away.
honested
September 18th, 2012
12:57 pm
fan,
What about those of us who will vote for the President twice and have maxxed out our contributions for both elections?
Doesn’t that suggest that good sense and determination are more at play than imaginary ‘dependency’?
gadem
September 18th, 2012
12:59 pm
Some people act like the government is giving out Millions of dollars…try being supported by the government and see how horrible it is. The problem is that a certain segment of society has a narrative already established about what the freeloaders look like (Democrats) however there are just as many freeloaders that are (Republicans). However the Republican freeloaders are ok because they vote against their own best interest. If you get SS, Medicare, Medicaid, or any other government subsidy, you are in essence a free loader.
kerryb
September 18th, 2012
1:02 pm
Who cares. He’s not the one in charge whose destroying our country. Besides, if he says most Obama supporters want a free handout and would vote for him no what he’s right.
honested
September 18th, 2012
1:03 pm
‘Government Dependency’
Amazing how much life the lie as stated by ronald ray-gun has.
Baron DeKalb
September 18th, 2012
1:05 pm
I an so tired of this whole “Poor people have it SO good” fantasy that gets repeated again and again here. If you really believe that people who receive government assistance are living it up on the public dime, why don’t you quit your job and join the party? The answer is that you probably know deep down that, despite a few superficial trappings of middle-class success like nail jobs, poor people in our society have an unenviable lot, and few of us who know the realities of their existence would trade places with them. It is often difficult to obtain help from the government in the first place, and when it is provided, it is usually the bare minimum required for survival. If you think poor kids should go hungry because their parents “made bad decisions,” why don’t you just come out and say that, instead of trotting out these tired and unsupported “welfare queen” stereotypes?
kerryb
September 18th, 2012
1:09 pm
Kids are poor because their parents made poor decisions such as having them when they were 16 years old.
Mary T.
September 18th, 2012
1:09 pm
@ gadem…..are you kidding me?…..freeloader?…..the last time i looked at my paystub, and all previous ones, it stated that i was PAYING into ss and medicare…..when i finally get old enough to draw ss,,,,I hope that there is some of MY MONEY left in it….ss is money i have paid to the american government, without my consent i might add, for the last 40 years, so when i draw a ss check,,,,it will be MY MONEY they are re-imbursing me, without interest i will also add, that they have used for those last 40 years…..
Baron DeKalb
September 18th, 2012
1:15 pm
“Kids are poor because their parents made poor decisions such as having them when they were 16 years old.”
And the idea of that children deserve to suffer the consequences without any intervention from society or government went out in the 19th century. Seriously, is that your answer, “tough luck for them?”
Leftinthesouth
September 18th, 2012
1:15 pm
Amen Mary T. But is ok for the Oil companies to get Corporate Welfare while raking in BILLIONS!!
kerryb
September 18th, 2012
1:16 pm
Romney said that 47% of Obama supporters were not going to vote for him no matter what because they get a government check and believe with Obama they will keep getting it. What he says is true so where is the big gaffe?
ConcernedAmerican
September 18th, 2012
1:16 pm
Simple question that everyone should ask when deciding to re-elect someone. What have they done while in office. I, as sincerely as I can, ask “What has Obama done while in office to warrant being re-elected?”
honested
September 18th, 2012
1:16 pm
kerryb,
Funny that you picked an example that the OnePartyState wants to make forcible and permanent.
kerryb
September 18th, 2012
1:17 pm
I guess James Earl Carter IV wants Obama to stay President so his grandfather won’t be considered the worst President in American history any longer.
ConcernedAmerican
September 18th, 2012
1:17 pm
Leftinthesiouth, what is this corporate welfare you are speaking of that the oil companies get?
Carol
September 18th, 2012
1:20 pm
kerryb
Besides, if he says most Obama supporters want a free handout and would vote for him no what he’s right
++++++
Where exactly is your proof? Do they ask for political affiliation when you receive money from the government? Are you saying that ALL of the people who are now receiving food stamps are Democrats? Again, please provide proof.
I’m real tired of the generalities that are spewed around here as truth.
kerryb
September 18th, 2012
1:20 pm
I don’t get this supposed welfare for the oil companies. That sounds like a leftist puppet talking point. The only company that I know of that got corporate welfare was GM motors and their Unions who now own 27%of it. That’s okay for the leftist because that was Obama’s idea.
honested
September 18th, 2012
1:22 pm
Concerned American,
Free security for petroleum imported from the middle east.
Royalty payments that are decades behind appropriate cost for extracted minerals.
Exemptions from emission laws because of the cost of compliance.
Substantial tax exemptions due to vestiges of the ‘depletion allowance’ system.
Shall I go on?
kerryb
September 18th, 2012
1:23 pm
GM motors now wants the government to sell what we own of it with our tax dollars so they can get real owners and the supreme leader says “no”.
Leftinthesouth
September 18th, 2012
1:23 pm
Concerned American! He got Osama Bin Laden, he got rid of pre existing conditions, he made it possible for college age students to remain on their parents insurance, he has killed more Al Qaeda top leadership in one term than Bush was able to in 2 terms, he has not started another war (no matter how hard Netenyahu tries) that we cannot afford.
Just a few reasons.
Leftinthesouth
September 18th, 2012
1:26 pm
Thanks honested!
Baron DeKalb
September 18th, 2012
1:28 pm
Jan. 26, 2011: ‘The New York Times reported last July that oil industry subsidies “average about $4 billion a year according to various government reports,” adding that “oil production is among the most heavily subsidized businesses, with tax breaks available at virtually every stage of the exploration and extraction process.”‘
“The federal government also grants oil companies tens of billions of additional dollars in tax breaks on capital investments not offered to other industries, the Times found.”
Raw Story (http://s.tt/1gCLE)
KID
September 18th, 2012
1:29 pm
Obama all the way back in 2012!
A dad
September 18th, 2012
1:30 pm
Leftie – I got some news for you. Obama did not get bin Laden. SEAL Team 6 did, and Obama had nothing to do with the gathering and analysis of the intelligence that placed him in that compound, or the military forces that went and got him. Now, if he personally took part in the raid I would be impressed, but to say that “Obama got in Laden” is a complete fabrication.