Students Rally Following Release of Controversial Romney Video

Miffed about a closed-door video in which presidential candidate Mitt Romney calls 47 percent of the country “victims” who are unwilling to take “personal responsibility” for their own well-being, students at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg are planning a rally this evening.

St. Petersburg Councilman Stevel Kornell will join the Tritons for Obama group for a "Pledge to Vote" effort in support of President Barack Obama Sept. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Eckerd College Student Lounge, 4200 54th Avenue S. St., St. Petersburg.

According to a press release, the rally is designed to encourage students across America to support Obama's vision for the country.

The rally is part of a nationwide backlash following the release of a video in which Romney is speaking to a group of wealthy donors in Boca Raton. The video was filmed without Romney's knowledge.

Eric Jotkoff, Florida press secretary for Obama for America, said it's a video that should enrage hard-working middle-classs families.

"The vast majority of these Americans pay a significant percentage of their income in taxes – whether they are federal payroll taxes, property taxes, sales taxes or other state and local taxes. They often pay even a higher share of their income in these taxes than wealthier families, like Mitt Romney’s," said Jotkoff in a press release. "Well over half – 61 percent – are workers who actually pay federal payroll taxes, which can include military families, teachers, firefighters or students."

Jotkoff said the video paints a picture of a candidate who "revealed his true ambitions for a Romney presidency, one where half the country is written off and the rich only get richer."

Call for Comments:

What do you think? Are Romney's comments being taken out of context or is he out of touch with the issues facing the average American?