Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is catching all kinds of fire and condemnation for statements he made at a private fundraising gathering last May in Florida.

In it, he noted that about 47 percent of Americans “are dependent upon government” and “believe that they are victims.”

He said, “There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. 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 and to you name it, that that’s an entitlement and the government should give it to them. And they vote for the president no matter what.”

The facts are correct. There are millions, 47 percent, who pay no income tax, and a record number of Americans who receive food stamps.

Obama and his spokespeople are again using the “fear factor” and telling voters if they vote for Romney, they will lose all their federal assistance. In addition to Obama and his aides, the major media also are engaged in what they can do to paint Romney in a negative manner.

It is good for Romney to acknowledge the battle he faces in trying to get voters to know and accept the fact that 47 percent of Americans pay no income tax. Perhaps he now wishes he had said this in a different manner, but it was important to deliver that sober message.

However, this does not mean that if he were to be elected, he would cut this aid, only that he is fighting an uphill battle in getting many of the 47 percent to vote for him because of the fear Obama has instilled in them. Perhaps the best chance for a high percentage of those in the 47 percent to improve their earning power would be for Romney to be elected and the nation’s economic situation to improve.

Romney didn’t say anything that wasn’t true, but in a hot, tightly contested election for the presidency, it often is dangerous to tell the truth, whether it be about the danger of the national debt, the unemployed, the under-employed, the drop in median household income, the number of people receiving food stamps, our stature abroad, the fact that new business startups are at the lowest level in 30 years and many other ugly and dangerous indicators.