The man who filmed Mitt Romney dismissing 47 percent of Americans as moochers dependent on the government, is going public this week, appearing Wednesday evening on The Ed Show. The Florida bartender tells Huffington Post that, at the time he shot the video, he was living paycheck to paycheck without a car or health insurance, so it was a serious risk to his livelihood to make the video public, but “I felt like it was my duty. I felt the guy was dangerous, to be honest. … The one thing I didn’t hear in his voice—I didn’t hear an ounce of empathy whatsoever.”
Ironically, it was another politician’s desire to connect with catering staff at a previous event that made the Romney 47 percent video possible. After a previous event the bartender had worked, former President Bill Clinton made a point of going into the kitchen and talking to the waiters, bartenders, and busboys. Like Bill Clinton always does. So:
When the bartender learned he would be working at Romney’s fundraiser, his first thought was to bring his camera, in case he had a chance to get a photo with the presidential candidate.Romney, of course, did not speak to any of the staff, bussers or waiters. He was late to the event, and rushed out. He told his dinner guests that the event was off the record, but never bothered to repeat the admonition to the people working there.
And there was the bartender, with his camera. How inconvenient for Mitt Romney, whose candidacy was seriously damaged by someone too unimportant for him to even shake hands with. But how convenient for voters who got to hear what Romney really thought of them.
