Commentary on news, politics, sports, religion, TV and movies
 Tom Tangney
Tom on KIRO Radio
Join Tom Tangney and the rest of the Seattle Morning News crew every weekday morning at 5am on KIRO Radio.
About Tom Tangney
By day, you can hear Tom on Seattle's Morning News, and by night, he sits in the dark, making snide comments about what he sees on the silver screen.
Help us build a Fisher House
Bonneville Seattle is raising funds for the construction of a second Fisher House at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma and we need your help.

Some call this Romney, 47 percent-filming bartender a 'hero'

BY Tom Tangney  on March 14, 2013 @ 6:52 am (Updated: 7:28 am - 3/14/13 )

Mitt Romney now knows the name of the man who helped scuttle his presidential campaign, a bartender with a video camera.

"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. There are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government who believe that they are victims, that the government has a responsibility to pay for them who believe that they were entitled to health care, to food, to housing, you name it," Romney wascaught on tape saying.

That 47 percent comment dogged the Mitt Romney campaign all the way up to Election Day and until yesterday no one knew where the secret videotape came from and who shot it. It turns out it was the work of a bartender at the private Romney fundraiser.

Scott Prouty told MSNBC's Ed Schultz that he is a registered Independent and had no political motivation in his decision to tape the speech.

"I thought he would say basically the same things he was saying in public. I had no idea it was going to be this big thing that it turned out to be," said Prouty.

He said a lot of the wait staff at the function had brought cameras, because at an earlier fundraiser they all worked, Bill Clinton had come back and met the staff and a lot of them wanted to capture the moment in case Romney did the same thing.

But Prouty said he was put off by Romney's comments.

"The day in day out struggle of everyday Americans - that guy has no idea."

And why is he coming forward now, after all this time? He says he didn't like Romney's post-election efforts at explaining away his 47 percent comment.

"The election wasn't even that close. I think he needs to take personal responsibility for his campaign, take personal responsibility for the words he said, and move forward."

Prouty may not have started out that way but he sure sounds like a "political animal" now. And by the way, I'm sure he's already a hero to lots of Democrats (less so to Republicans, I imagine.) But news surfaced Wednesday that seven years ago, Prouty had saved a woman from drowning in Florida. She had accidentally driven her car into a canal and when he happened on the scene, he immediately dove in and managed to cut her free.

So, he's a real hero too.

Tom Tangney, KIRO Radio Host
Tom Tangney is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle's Morning News and resident enthusiast of...everything. He loves books, movies, TV, art, pop culture, politic, sports, and Husky football.
More Tom Tangney

MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (76)


  • Add A Comment

  • Sean wrote...
    And by the way...
    March 14, 2013 3:18 pm
    Romney's 47% statement was far MORE accurate than it was inaccurate.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Uhhh, no.
    March 14, 2013 4:22 pm
    Of the 47% nearly two thirds pay payroll taxes, which means they work. So they don't need to help taking personal responsibility. Of the remaining, nearly half are senior citizens who are living their twilight years on fixed income, soldiers in combat, the disabled and others. Only a measly %6.9 are non-disabled, non elderly, people earning less than 20,000. And now way in hellz did Romney not get votes from seniors, the military or low income workers. His statement was based far more on fantasy than reality.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hayduke wrote...
    Bill, you need reminding once again.
    March 14, 2013 7:34 pm
    Obama budgeted for the wars that Bush started. But during Bush's tenure, both wars weren't paid for. They were "off budget." Funny how Republicans didn't seem to mind borrowing all that money from China back then. That's why you had this so-called 6 years of "growth and prosperity you keep talking about. Even Dubya can keep the books in black if HE DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING.

    And Bill, you claim to remember a lot. Do you remember that Bush/Cheney told us the whole effort would cost maybe 50-60 Billion? Now, there's one of two possibilities here, i'll let you choose which one is easier for you to swallow. 1): They knew the war was going to cost waaaaay more than that in an order of magnitude. As it turns out, it went into the trillions. But they knew they could never sell that cost to Congress and the American people. So, they lied about the cost, like they did about the WMD and the connection to 9/11.

    Or, 2): And this is what I think is more likely, they were so arrogant and clueless that they just thought they'd all throw roses at our feet and welcome us with open arms and thank a bunch of infidels for giving them "freedom.". We went in there not even knowing the difference between Shiite and Sunni, but who cares, we're America, we kick arse and take names, "bring em on," right?

    One last point: yes, Democrats, and a compliant "librul" media that was too cowed to ask any incovenient questions, were fed the intel that the Bush WH cherry picked. You know, from reliable sources like "curveball." And who can blame them for being scared? After all, they were willing to expose an undercover CIA operative (and give all her contacts on WMD a virtual death sentence)to silence and punish her husband for questioning them on the whole yellowcake thing. So they Dems voted for it. But they weren't the ones pushing for it.

    So now that that's said, you can fall back on telling me that "Bush isn't president anymore."

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    So now that that's said, you can fall back on telling me that "Bush isn't president anymore."
    March 15, 2013 3:49 am
    That is correct, numnutsss! How many time do you Parrots need to be reminded that Bush is not in the white house. Your Dear Leader is and his 16, 17, 22 Trillions dollars in ObamaDebt this nation has been ripped off because of this regime? Under President Bush we had 4 to 5 percent unemployment. Millions of Americans working and jobs available for those who wanted not to be a Liberal and work and support themselfs and family. Your Dear Leader owns ALL of this since 09. Actually 07 when Liberals Pelosi and Reed stole the Congress thus blazing the path for your Dear Leader and your beloved ObamaEconomy!

    The ONLY good thing about your regime Parrots is when we Americans vote them out of our government and our nation.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Hayduke wrote...
    OK, it's me! Boo Who, then answer me this......
    March 15, 2013 9:40 am
    Let's pretend, just for the sake of argument, that you're actually right this time, and your guy wins in 2016.

    When your POTUS is trying to deal with a failing economy or some overseas crisis, and you guys try to pin it on Obama, do we Democrats then get to say that Obama Is not in the WH anymore?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    When your POTUS is trying to deal with a failing economy or some overseas crisis, and you guys try to pin it on Obama, do we Democrats then get to say that Obama Is not in the WH anymore?
    March 15, 2013 1:32 pm
    Uhhh. Care to try to explain your incoherent ramble in ENGLISH?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }