Mitt Romney’s '47 Percent' Quote Tops List of 2012 National Quotes

We all, from time to time, say something we wish we could take back, but when you're in the public eye, quotable statements can stick -- and even affect the course of careers and political futures.

Since 2006, Yale Law School’s Fred Shapiro has been compiling an annual list of the most notable quotations, and this year, Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” quote topped the 2012 list:

There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what ... who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims ... These are people who pay no income tax. ... and so my job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.

A recent MSN article stated that Shapiro “picks quotes that are famous, important or revealing of the spirit of the times, not necessarily the ones that are the most eloquent or admirable.”

Quotes from President Barack Obama and Romney make up half of the list, with four other political quotes and one South Korean  -- rapper PSY -- filling out the Top 10.

Romney’s “binders full of women,” Missouri senatorial candidate Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape,” and New Jersey governor Chris Christie’s “If you think I give a damn about presidential politics,” quotes are among the most memorable.

View Shapiro’s entire Top 10 list is here.

In this area, it’s been a turbulent year as well, with state and local politicians and community leaders uttering some powerful phrases, such as those below.

Town of Somerset Mayor Jeffery Slavin on politics:

I think it’s really clear today the difference between the parties. The Democratic Party is made up of people interested in making the country the best country possible. ... [The Republicans] just want to hold on to power so that people of means can keep what they have. ... I think that our party is a much more inclusive party. ... The Republican Party ... has been co-opted by the tea party. There were some good ideas in the original Tea Party activities, but now it’s the home of the haters. ... [I'm] also appalled [that some Republicans are] unwilling to vote for a Mormon.

Former Montgomery County Executive Douglas Duncan, on running again in 2014:

Let me get down to campaign fighting weight. Then we’ll see what happens.

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley on Hurricane Sandy:

There will be people who will die and are killed in the storm.

Former Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner, on Pepco's performance during the Summer 2012 derecho:

Our residents have had enough. While this was a big storm and outages are to be expected, Pepco’s performance – on every level – was unacceptable. The length of the outages. The appalling communications. The computer glitches and data discrepancies. The list can go on and on.

Any great local quotes come to mind? Tell us in comments.