Romney is guilty of leaving out the word "just" in front of "concerned"
No, that's not what he said. He said that he thinks the current safety nets for the very poor are sufficient, although he will reform them if needed. He goes on to juxtapose this, and his similar lesser concern about the rich, with his policy focus on the middle class. I don't think what he meant is intrinsically offensive, although it's certainly debatable, but he clearly implied that he's less concerned policy-wise about the folks at the extremes. Saying "I'm not just concerned about the very poor" doesn't communicate his main point.
He said he cares about all Americans. He was trying to get across that he's not just concerned with very poor or very rich Americans. He is largely concerned with middle-class Americans who are feeling the pinch more than anybody right now. The poor are just as poor as they were ten years ago, but middle-class Americans are much worse off and not feeling good about the future.
He said he cares about all Americans, but he said doesn't see much policy concern with the very poor. That is probably honest, and it may also be reasonable. However, it is an immensely stupid thing to say, and an immensely stupid way to think really, as a Presidential
candidate. This gaffe was offered on a silver platter -- he wasn't under any pressure here -- and it's all over even the barely-news news sites (like the MSN login screen.) I agree with Torie. He needs to do better than this.
