Video: Mitt Romney says 'Corporations are people, my friend'
Mitt Romney at the Iowa State Fair, "Corporations are people, my friend... of course they are. Everything corporations earn ultimately goes to the people. Where do you think it goes? Whose pockets? Whose pockets? People's pockets. Human beings my friend."
Heckled mercilessly Romney's remarks did not play well to many in the crowd on Thursday shortly before the much anticipated Ames Straw Poll. The Ames Straw Poll will help further define the frontrunners and will greatly help in fundraising efforts.
Romney has not spent much time and energy in Iowa until recently. Michelle Bachmann is seen as the probably winner due to her ties to the state as well as her fundamentalist Christian background.
Seeming to echo the Supreme Court's sentiments that they expressed in the Citizens United case, Romney used the argument to explain why he would not raise taxes on corporations as a way of reducing the deficit or securing Social Security and Medicare.
Many across the United States have questioned how a corporation can enjoy both the rights of a corporation and a citizen.
After the following comment, “Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid account for about half of federal spending.” one person in the crowd responded with "You lie!"
The individual is referencing the fact that Social Security should not be included in the general fund and is supposed to be funded through payroll taxes and the trust fund.
Just a couple days before we receive the results of the Ames Straw Poll, Romney is hustling to improve his numbers with Iowa voters.
Reaction from the crowd however, is suggesting that, should he receive the GOP nomination he may just have difficulty across the nation and more importantly with independents due to his corporations first rhetoric.
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