True statement may get candidate in political jam.

WASHINGTON (PNN) - September 17, 2012 - During a private reception with wealthy donors this year, Mitt Romney described almost half of Amerikans as “people who pay no income tax” and are “dependent upon government”. Those voters, he said, would probably support illegitimate President Obama because they believe they are “victims” who are “entitled to health care, food, housing, you name it.”

In a brief and hastily called news conference Monday just after 10:00 p.m., Romney acknowledged having made the blunt political and cultural assessment, saying it was “not elegantly stated,” but he stood by the substance of the remarks, insisting that he had made similar observations in public without generating controversy.

At the news briefing, Romney said his comments addressed “a question about direction for the country. Do you believe in a government-centered society that provides more and more benefits? Or do you believe instead in a free-enterprise society where people are able to pursue their dreams?”

Democrats quickly condemned the remarks as insensitive, and Obama’s campaign accused Romney of having “disdainfully written off half the nation.” Jim Messina, Obama’s campaign manager, said in a statement Monday evening that it was “shocking” that Romney would “go behind closed doors” to describe nearly half the country in such terms.