Media inadvertently highlights good issue for Romney

S.E. Cupps:

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Despite the feigned shock and awe of the pundit class -- which includes many slack-jawed Republicans -- over the damage Romney's comments will do, introducing the theme of dependency could turn out to be a boon for the Romney campaign. 

There's plenty of evidence, in fact, that dependency -- even if Romney got the numbers wrong and managed to indict red state voters, veterans, the elderly and millionaires in the process -- is a winner in terms of voter appeal. 

The Washington Post yesterday outlined just how well Romney's comments -- as well as what people perceived as his honesty -- were playing in some key states like Nevada, Florida, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wisconsin: “I worry a lot about the society we’re turning into, more of an entitlement mentality,” said Randy Schumaker, a Denver-area IT manager. 

And just today, a new Rasmussen poll finds that a majority of Americans -- 64% -- think too many of us are dependent on government financial aid. Just 10% think not enough Americans are dependent on the government. 

In other words, the issue Romney inartfully and insufficiently discussed at that closed-door fund raiser months ago might play pretty well. 

Contrast that to the message the Obama campaign has been leaning on all year: income inequality. He's been pushing themes of the haves vs. the have nots, asking the wealthy to pay their fair share, and making sure successful people give credit (and cash) to the government for redistribution. Never mind that under President Obama, the rich have grown richer and the poor poorer, or that income inequality is worse under Obama than under George W. Bush, as Alexander Eichler explained in the Huffington Post.
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I think the income inequality argument  is the politics of envy.  Life is too short to worry about whether someone else has achieved greater wealth.  The real issue should be creating teh opportunities for everyone to reach their potential.

One of the reasons the Romney tape is in artful is that it was extemporaneous.  She is right that dependency is a good subject for Republicans.  If only 10 percent admit to wanting to be dependent then the Democrats will be preaching to a might small choir in their attacks.