.
Feedback

Talk Back: What Defines Middle Class Income?

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney's definition of "middle class" set off a debate last week.

Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney sparked a media firestorm last week during an interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" last Friday morning.

ABC's George Stephanopoulos was discussing the middle class, which has been a central part to President Barack Obama's campaign message, with Romney during an interview, according to The Huffington Post.

"No one can say my plan is going to raise taxes on middle-income people, because principle number one is (to) keep the burden down on middle-income taxpayers," Romney said to Stephanopoulos.

Stephanopoulos followed up by asking "Is $100,000 middle income?"

"No, middle income is $200,000 to $250,000 and less," Romney said. His campaign later clarified throught the news media that Romney was referencing a total household income, not a single person's individual income.

Many complained that Romney's quote was simply taken out of context while others said it was evidence of the candidate being out of touch with the current state of American households and what the middle class truly is.

For reference, the U.S. Census Bureau states the median, or most common, household income in the United States was $51,914 between 2006 and 2010 and that almost 14 percent of Americans live under the poverty line.

What income range defines the "middle class" of the United States? What did you think of Romney's comments on television?

Let us know in the comments!

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from West Islip Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Loading comments ...
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
West Islip Resident May 18, 2013 at 07:23 pm
You can thank all these POS politicians for the new gun legislation designed to make law abidingRead More citizens give up their second amendment rights out of sheer frustration and incontinence of owning a gun legally for increases in savage on citizen violence. This is only the beginning and in short time many New Yorker's will be forced to remain in their homes fearing one of these animals will make them their pray. I for one believe in the old adage, it's better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
ARNOLD MERKITCH May 17, 2013 at 07:34 pm
WREATH LAYING FOR 9/11 BEAM WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 11AM ON 5/2713
West Islip Resident May 17, 2013 at 09:06 am
Has anyone been able to find out if we are losing money renting this building to this for profitRead More preschool? If I under stood correctly from previous post's, there may be some friendship with one or more BOE members which paved the way for their lease.