Assumptions made about ‘victims’

John Esperian, Las Vegas

Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012 | 2:01 a.m.

Is anyone really surprised at candidate Mitt Romney’s declaration that 47 percent of American voters are weak-kneed exploiters of government social welfare programs?

We should have no doubt that he, and his Tea Party constituents, really believe what he has said and are firm believers that everyone who relies on government assistance considers themselves victims.

It is beyond frightening to consider the possibility that this person could become president of the United States.

I went to graduate school on the GI bill. My parents depended on Medicare and Social Security; we appreciated — and still do — the government help received and never considered ourselves victims.

The bottom line of this verbal miscue is that it is not a miscue at all; it is, rather, an unvarnished example of the arrogance of the right in assuming that half of the U.S. electorate lacks the ability to think intelligently and independently.