Rep. Connolly: Mitt Romney's Comments Make Him 'Unfit for Office'

Northern Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-11th) said Tuesday that Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's recently released comments in a controversial videotape make him "unfit for office."

Connolly spoke to about 75 residents of the Greenspring Retirement Community in Springfield during a campaign appearance. Romney's statement, secretly taped without his knowledge, featured a controversial statement in which he said that 47 percent of the electorate do not pay income taxes and are dependent on the government and consequently support President Obama's candidacy. Connolly characterized the statement as "dangerous."

"That's very dangerous thinking, and I think that alone suggests Mitt is not fit for that office," said Connolly. "How can any of us be surprised that this plutocrat (Romney) has shown his true colors? I think everyone should be afraid of those comments. He means everyone in this room… That mindset means he's going to write off half the country. My God." 

Connolly also decried Republican vice presidential nominee U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (Wisconsin). "Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney — it's handing the future over to the Chinese," Connolly said.

"I mention Paul Ryan," Connolly said. "I like to describe him as an amiable radical. He doesn't spit fire and brimstone, but his ideas are radical.

"In the second Ryan budget, he cut $5.7 trillion… What does he do with it? He takes $5 trillion of that $5.7 trillion and cuts the highest tax rate in America for the top 25 percent. There's nothing you could think of that would not be slashed." 

Connolly faces reelection in November, and did not mention by name any of the four other contenders for his seat - Independent candidates Chris DeCarlo and Mark Gibson, route: {:controller=>"articles", :action=>"show", :id=>"independent-candidates-eye-11th-district-race"} -->, Green Party nominee Joe Galdo and Republican nominee Col. (Ret.)