Duckworth writes: "Mitt Romney, and my opponent Congressman Joe Walsh, paint a picture of millions of American refusing to 'take responsibility' in order to make it more reasonable to destroy a program like Medicare. Student Loans, Social Security and Medicare make a difference in the lives of working families every day, and the conversation that should be taking place is how we can save these programs, not weaken them."

U.S. House candidate Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), who served in the National Guard and flew combat missions during the Iraq war. (photo: CBS News)

We Are All in This Together

By Tammy Duckworth | Reader Supported News

21 September 12

itt Romney says that 47 percent of Americans refuse to "take personal responsibility" for their own lives, consider themselves "victims," and are "dependent" on government. Included in this 47 percent are millions of elderly Americans who benefit from Social Security and Medicare, young Americans trying to finish college with the help of student loans, soldiers deployed overseas, and those who have served our country and receive Veterans benefits. These comments are a clear example of two things that are very wrong in American politics today: the dividing of Americans for political gain and the demonization of social programs that help millions of Americans take part in the American Dream.

When I was 14, my dad lost his job and my family nearly lost everything. I was the only member of my family able to find work - at minimum wage. Food Stamps helped keep me from going hungry and Pell grants helped me go to college. It was the combination of hard work and a hand up that allowed me to become one of the first women to fly in combat missions and achieve my American Dream. I am just one of the overwhelming majority of Americans who is responsible and hard-working, and at one point in their life benefited greatly from government programs such as student loans, Medicare and Social Security.

Mitt Romney, and my opponent Congressman Joe Walsh, paint a picture of millions of American refusing to "take responsibility" in order to make it more reasonable to destroy a program like Medicare. Student Loans, Social Security and Medicare make a difference in the lives of working families every day, and the conversation that should be taking place is how we can save these programs, not weaken them.

America currently faces serious challenges that are squeezing working families and jeopardizing the American Dream. These problems are not the result of the irresponsibility of average Americans, but the failure of those in Washington to listen to each other and have an honest conversation about our country's future. By working together to bring about reforms like closing unnecessary tax loopholes, cutting waste in the defense budget and removing fraud from Medicare, we can reduce the deficit and save programs that mean so much to working families. But in order to work together and listen to each other, we need to stop talking about the 47 percent, one percent and 99 percent and acknowledge that we are all in this together.

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+25 # pernsey 2012-09-22 12:37

This is who Mitt really is, and Im so happy that its out there. This is really what he thinks of you, this is who he really is. Hes appalled that people want food, shelter, and medical treatment...wak e up people he hates us.

0 # RLF 2012-09-24 04:09

We have such clean nice streets...a perfect place for the 47%...remember the Dead Kennedys song...Soup is Good Food.

-5 # dick 2012-09-22 21:08

This is who Obama REALLY IS: he is Obstructing Justice to give Wall St. criminal, too big to jail, banksters a Nixon Pardon. Yes, GOPers are whacko, but ObamaDems are corrupt BETRAYERS.
Do NOT reward them. Support ONLY select Congressional & local candidates, like Liz Warren.

0 # PABLO DIABLO 2012-09-23 00:27

He doesn't hate us, he just knows he can't make money from us.

+2 # PGreen 2012-09-23 08:01

The unfortunate corollary to this statement (which I by and large agree with) is that a means of making the "47%" disappear disappear-- or simply become increasingly invisible and irrelevant to the establishment, as seems to be the current strategy-- will be pursued with greater intensity. I expect that this will involve relatively humane policies at first, but these will soon vanish in favor of extreme methods. In that sense the policies can be seen as "hateful" though maybe without the accompanying somatic emotion. Yes?

0 # RLF 2012-09-24 04:13

"Extreme Methods" thanks to Obama and NDAA...they can now use anti-personel bombs and mines on us once we are considered a threat to national security. Your strike is threatening to shut down Obama's GM...threat! Your protest making Wall st. look bad and hurting their business...thre at! Get pissed and voted in a Gov. that will raise taxes on the 1%...threat!

+14 # drivensnow 2012-09-23 03:22

General Electric Company made 14 BILLION dollars net profit last year....They paid ZERO in Federal Taxes....are they part of Romney's 47% ???

+5 # Mannstein 2012-09-23 09:10

If a corporation pays no taxes because of taking advantage of every possible tax loop hole it's called business acumen. If the 47% do such a thing it's called mooching.

0 # RLF 2012-09-24 04:14

For the 4000 millionaires in this group...It is mooching!

0 # Buddha 2012-09-24 10:50

But we AREN'T in this together and it is time we stop pretending otherwise. We now have an official Oligarchic class, who don't need our public schools, who have their own private security, and who feel that they should therefore not be asked to accept the "yoke" of Progressive taxation. Far from the days when Ayn Rand's psychotic babblings were only privately held beliefs, they are not the avowed principles of the GOP. And the sooner Americans wake up to this reality, the sooner we can punish them for holding to this extreme and destructive belief system.

0 # lark3650 2012-09-25 05:16

You are absolutely right, Tammy. We need people like you in congress. We need people who have a real sense of humanity. We need people who put a higher value on human beings than they do on money.

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