Screen Shots

Taking aim at the best and worst of movies and television.

Year in review: Top quotes of 2012

Photo story

By David Martindale

Special to DFW.com

Posted 10:43am on Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012

Mitt Romney's remarks about a segment of Americans, 47 percent of them to be exact, and Barack Obama's assessment of who built what probably had no real impact on the outcome of the 2012 election.

But those two presidential campaign comments were landslide winners as quotes of the year. Mostly because their remarks took on lives of their own, becoming fodder for endless political hype and spin in the months that followed.

Let's take a look back at those and the other most memorable quotes of 2012.

"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what ... 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 healthcare, to food, to housing.... These are people who pay no income tax.... My job is not to worry about these people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."
Mitt Romney, at a private fundraiser May 17 in Boca Raton, Fla.
AP
(1 of 32)
"All of these political strategists are trying to explain why Mitt Romney can't seem to get his message out. I'm no strategist, but it's hard to talk with both a silver spoon and a foot in your mouth."
Jay Leno on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno
AP
(2 of 32)
"I think the vice president very well knows that sometimes the words don't come out of your mouth the right way."
Paul Ryan, defending his GOP running mate and zinging Joe Biden during the vice presidential debate
(MCT/Joe BurbanK)
(3 of 32)
"If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help.... Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you've got a business, you didn't build that."
Barack Obama, during a campaign appearance July 13 in Roanoke, Va. (a comment interpreted by many to mean the president felt business owners didn't earn their accomplishments)
AP
(4 of 32)
"He was talking about roads and bridges.... You really want to hang your entire campaign on a willful, out-of-context misunderstanding?"
Jon Stewart on The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
AP
(5 of 32)
"I'm tired of Bronco Bama and Mitt Romney!"
Abigael Evans, a Colorado 4-year-old complaining of election fatigue in a video posted on YouTube
YouTube/ABC News
(6 of 32)
"This momentary indiscretion has jeopardized the most important thing in my life, the person I love and respect the most.... I love him. I love him. I'm so sorry!"
Kristen Stewart, apologizing to Twilight co-star and boyfriend Robert Pattinson in a statement to People magazine after news of an affair with Rupert Sanders, her Snow White and the Huntsman director
AP
(7 of 32)
"He was the love of my life. The first love. I have to forgive him, because I cared about him still."
Rihanna, on rekindling a relationship with Chris Brown (who pleaded guilty to assaulting her in 2009) during an interview on Oprah's Next Chapter
AP
(8 of 32)
"I know who I am and where I am and where I want to go. So I want to focus on that."
Katie Holmes in Elle magazine, six weeks before her breakup with Tom Cruise
AP
(9 of 32)
"I would've thought Heidi would have showed a little bit more class ... before deciding to fornicate with the help."
Seal, commenting to TMZ about the alleged romance between ex-wife Heidi Klum and her bodyguard
AP/Hermann J. Knippertz
(10 of 32)
"Yes, it's confirmed."
Brad Pitt's manager, Cynthia Pett-Dante, telling People the big news of his engagement to Angelina Jolie
MCT/Lionel Hahn
(11 of 32)
"Grown men were weeping. Hopefully it's because I didn't sound bad."
Justin Timberlake, recounting to People how he serenaded wife Jessica Biel during her walk down the aisle
AP
(12 of 32)
"Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announced that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby."
Official statement from St. James Palace on Prince William and wife Kate's baby news
AP
(13 of 32)
"I'm waiting to find the right person, someone who's willing to take on the job."
Prince Harry, telling ABC he's interested in having kids, but it's got to be with the right woman
AP/Matt Dunham
(14 of 32)
"It's a bit startling to achieve global recognition before the age of 30 on account of your sister, your brother-in-law and your bottom."
Pippa Middleton, Kate's kid sister, in her party-planning book, Celebrate: A Year of Festivities for Families and Friends
AP
(15 of 32)
"I feel bullied. I can't think of any actor who has been subjected to such extreme publicity who hasn't, like, committed suicide."
Lindsay Lohan, telling US Weekly that she is unfairly targeted by the tabloid media
AP
(16 of 32)
"If they have a problem with spokespeople, what about the Pillsbury Doughboy? He runs around without any pants on, basically begging for people to poke his belly. What kind of message is that?"
Ellen DeGeneres, zinging One Million Moms for the organization's campaign to have her removed as JCPenney spokeswoman
AP
(17 of 32)
"With Angus's Hale-Bopp-like meltdown, it is radically clear to me that the show is cursed."
Charlie Sheen, commenting to People, after former Two and a Half Men co-star Angus T. Jones urged viewers to "please stop watching it and filling your head with filth"
AP/Todd Williamson
(18 of 32)
"If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."
Missouri senatorial candidate Todd Akin, in a radio interview that crippled his campaign
MCT/Christian Gooden
(19 of 32)
"I have a job to do.... If you think right now I give a damn about presidential politics, then you don't know me."
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during an interview on Fox News about Hurricane Sandy
AP/David Gard
(20 of 32)
"Under current law, on Jan. 1, 2013, there is going to be a massive fiscal cliff of large spending cuts and tax increases."
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, testifying before the House Committee on Financial Services
AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta
(21 of 32)
"I figure if somebody's dumb enough to ask me to go to a political convention and say something, they're going to have to take what they get."
Clint Eastwood, on his monologue alongside an empty chair at the Republican National Convention, to Extra
AP
(22 of 32)
"There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, 'Enough is enough.' For me, that time is now."
Lance Armstrong, announcing he will no longer fight charges leveled by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency
ASSOCIATED PRESS
(23 of 32)
"She said, 'You should have put a ring on it.'"
Josh Hamilton, new Los Angeles Angels outfielder, quoting wife Katie's feelings on the Rangers' attempts to re-sign him
AP
(24 of 32)
"The books are my fantasy. I wrote them for me, really, and the wonderful thing about doing this is they seem to be other people's fantasies. So I'm not such a pervert."
E.L. James, author of the bestselling Fifty Shades of Grey and its sequels, to E! News
AP/Jeffrey Boan
(25 of 32)
"I've never actually been brave enough to go and approach a guy that way."
Carly Rae Jepsen, on whether she has asked a guy to "call me, maybe"
AP/Jonathan Short
"I've never actually been brave enough to go and approach a guy that way."
Carly Rae Jepsen, on whether she has asked a guy to "call me, maybe"
(26 of 32)
"I'm done with being a bitter witch."
Adele, after winning big at the Grammys
AP
(27 of 32)
"And, gee, weren't we lucky to have her?"
Kevin Costner, remembering Whitney Houston at her funeral
AP/Joel Ryan
(28 of 32)
"I want to be a doctor, a nurse, a hair saloner, a makeup saloner, work at Wal-Mart, work at Kmart, work at McDonald's where I can eat all the chicken nuggets and work at a hotel so I can go swimming. And I want to be a mama, too."
Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson, telling People her long-term career goals
AP
(29 of 32)
"That's how I was definitely introduced to the world."
Kim Kardashian, on how a sex tape helped make her a star, on Oprah's Next Chapter
AP
(30 of 32)
"I have no talent. I have nothing to offer."
Kendra Wilkinson, telling People what many have long suspected
AP
(31 of 32)
"If people spent as much time thinking about the genocides going on in Africa and around the world as they do the shoes that actors wear to after-parties, the world would be a much more peaceful environment."
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants co-star, after wearing running shoes to a Golden Globes after-party
AP
(32 of 32)