Mitt Romney denies 47% remark to Washington Post reporter: 'I didn't say that'

Mitt Romney is backtracking from his controversial "47%" comment during the 2012 presidential campaign, insisting the remark was misconstrued.

The former GOP presidential nominee told Washington Post reporter Dan Balz he "didn't say that" but was forced to respond to the "perception," when Romney was interviewed for Balz's book "Collison 2012."

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Romney's race to the White House hit a major roadblock in May 2012, when video emerged of him saying "47%" of voters will choose Obama "no matter what."

The billionaire Republican described this segment of the population as "dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims," in footage taken from a Boca Raton fundraiser on May 17 at the home of private equity manager Marc Leder.

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Romney continued that people in this near majority "believe the 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."

"These are people who pay no income tax. ? My job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

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The remarks were made public by Mother Jones magazine and swiftly made the rounds online, with many slamming Romney as a silver spooner and out of touch with reality.

In his tome about the 2012 race, Balz asked Romney for his side of the story.

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Initially, Romney said he was in California when the video emerged and was unable to view the actual footage in order to respond.

Balz further pressed him, asking, "When you said there are 47% who won't take personal responsibility ?" but Romney interrupted Balz before he could finish.

"Actually, I didn't say that. ?That's how it began to be perceived, and so I had to ultimately respond to the perception, because perception is reality."

"Collision 2012" will be released Aug. 6.

llarson@nydailynews.com

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Source: http://feeds.nydailynews.com/~r/nydnrss/news/politics/~3/__5tzOQpPwM/story01.htm

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