Speaking to an elite group of wealthy campaign contributors, GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney said that the President Obama base feels "entitled" to basic living needs like health care, food and housing.

"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what," Romney said at the private fundraiser event. "All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what...These are people who pay no income tax." 

In 2011, 46 percent paid no federal income taxes in 2011. Half of those nonpayers earn too little to pay any taxes, and half of them get there through tax deductions and exemptions, according to the Tax Policy Center. Of the latter half, 44 percent use tax deductions designed to help the elderly, and 30 percent use tax deductions that aid the working poor or children.

The tapes were published online by magazine Mother Jones. Reportedly,  the fundraiser was held at the Boca Raton home of controversial private equity manager Marc Leder on May 17. 

On damage control, the Romney campaign held an impromptu news conference Monday night and Romney stuck by his words, but said they were not "elegantly stated" and were spoken "off the cuff." Romney said the remarks showed a contrast between Obama's "government-centered society" and his belief in a "free-market approach."

"Of course, I want to help all Americans, all Americans, have a bright and prosperous future," Romney told reporters.

The Obama campaign wasted no time releasing a statement and sending a mass email to campaign supporters just moments after Romney tried to clear the air.

"It's shocking that a candidate for President of the United States would go behind closed doors and declare to a group of wealthy donors that half the American people view themselves as 'victims,' entitled to handouts, and are unwilling to take 'personal responsibility' for their lives," Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said. "It's hard to serve as president for all Americans when you've disdainfully written off half the nation. If we don't come through for President Obama right now, this will be the guy making big decisions that affect us and our families every single day.