DES MOINES, Iowa — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was attacked by a group of hecklers at the Iowa State Fair on Thursday who chanted “Wall Street greed” and criticized him for not supporting higher taxes on the wealthy.
“There was a time in this country when we didn’t celebrate attacking people based on their success,” Romney stated in response to the hecklers, drawing cheers from the crowd. When he tried to continue speaking, Romney was interrupted by another man who told reporters he was a registered Democrat.
“If you want to speak you can speak but right now it’s my turn so let me continue,” a fiesty Romney spat back.
“All the streets in America are connected” including Wall Street, he said. “We want to make sure people do pay their fair share but half the people in this country pay no income taxes.”
Romney was then interrupted again, this time by 71-year-old Joe Fagan, a retired priest and registered Democrat from Des Moines.
“Sir, I am on Social Security!” he shouted.
Romney said, “I’m glad you are on Social Security,” and tried to resume speaking.
An angry Fagan cut in, “You came here to listen to the people!”
“No,” Romney said bluntly. “I came here to speak.”
Fagan kept talking anyway, and asked what Romney would do to strengthen entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicaid without cutting benefits.
“The way this works is that you get to ask your question, I get to give my answer, and if you don’t like my answer you can vote for somebody else,” Romney said, growing more impatient by the minute.
“You want my answer? I’m not going to raise taxes, that’s my answer,” he said.
