ON TERMINATION POLICY:
“I like being able to fire people who provide services to me.” – using an unfortunate choice of words while advocating for consumer choice in health insurance plans (January 2012)
ON THE LESS FORTUNATE:
“I’m not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there.” — (January 2012)
ON DIVERSITY:
“My dad, as you probably know, was the governor of Michigan and was the head of a car company. But he was born in Mexico… and had he been born of, uh, Mexican parents, I’d have a better shot at winning this. But he was unfortunately born to Americans living in Mexico. He lived there for a number of years. I mean, I say that jokingly, but it would be helpful to be Latino.” – in leaked comments from a Florida fundraiser, May 17 2012
ON HIS UNFORTUNATE LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES:
“I should tell my story. I’m also unemployed.” — speaking in 2011 to unemployed people in Florida. Romney’s net worth is over $200 million.
ON PATRIOTIC PHILOSOPHY:
“I believe in an America where millions of Americans believe in an America that’s the America millions of Americans believe in. That’s the America I love.” – (January 2012)
ON ANN:
“We use Ann sparingly right now so that people don’t get tired of her.” – referring to his wife while speaking to a room of wealthy donors in Florida, May 17, 2012
ON A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP:
“I think the best answer is as little as possible.” – when asked what he wears to bed at night, interview with ABC’s “LIVE! with Kelly and Michael,” Sept. 14, 2012
ON MIDDLE-INCOME AMERICA:
“No, middle income is $200,000 to $250,000 and less.” – when questioned by ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on “Good Morning America,” as to whether $100,000 is “middle income” on Sept. 14, 2012
ON FAMILY TRANSPORTATION:
“[My wife] drives a couple of Cadillacs.” – campaigning for president in Michigan (February 2012)
ON HOW TO GAMBLE DURING A DEBATE:
“I’ll tell you what, ten-thousand bucks? $10,000 bet?” – attempting to make a wager with Rick Perry during a Republican presidential debate to settle a disagreement about health care (December 2011)
ON HIS LOVE FOR ANIMALS:
“PETA is not happy that my dog likes fresh air.” — in 2007, responding to criticism from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals following revelations that he had once put the family dog in a carrier and strapped it to the roof of his car during a 12-hour road trip
ON BEING ONE OF THE GUYS:
“I have some friends who are NASCAR team owners.” — after being asked whether he follows NASCAR racing (February 2012)
ON HOW TO GIVE A COMPLIMENT:
“I’m not sure about these cookies. They don’t look like you made them. No, no. They came from the local 7/11 bakery, or whatever.” —Mitt Romney, visiting a local bakery while campaigning in Pittsburgh, PA, April 17, 2012 (The owner of the baker later told MSNBC he was offended by Romney’s remarks.)
ON CAPTURING THE NASCAR VOTE:
“I like those fancy raincoats you bought. Really sprung for the big bucks.” — to a group of NASCAR fans wearing plastic ponchos at the Daytona 500 (February 2012)
ON DOUBLE STANDARDS:
“We have a president, who I think is a nice guy, but he spent too much time at Harvard, perhaps.” — Romney has two Harvard degrees (April 5, 2012)
ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY:
“I love this state. The trees are the right height.” — campaigning in Michigan (February 2012)
ON PAYDAY:
“I get speaker’s fees from time to time, but not very much.” — Romney earned $374,000 in speaking fees in one year according to according to his personal financial disclosure (January 2012)
ON STANDING ON HIS RECORD:
“I’m not familiar precisely with what I said, but I’ll stand by what I said, whatever it was.” — (May 17, 2012)
Talk about your epic tool.