Bizarrely, defeated GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney told his millionaire backers that he lost the 2012 election because President Obama grants "gifts" to average Americans. Romney's explanation partly reiterated his notorious private comment that 47 percent of Americans are parasites wanting government help.

In a conference call with major donors last week, Romney attributed his loss to the Democratic administration's ability to lure blacks, Hispanics, women and young voters with federal benefits.

"In each case they were very generous in what they gave to those groups," he was quoted. "With regards to the young people, for instance, a forgiveness of college loan interest was a big gift. Free contraceptives were very big with young college-aged women. And then, finally, Obamacare also made a difference for them because, as you know, anybody now 26 years of age and younger was now going to be part of their parents' plan, and that was a big gift to young people. They turned out in large numbers, a larger share in this election even than in 2008."

Obama's decision to give children of Hispanic immigrants a path to citizenship "was a huge plus for that voting group," Romney said. He added that the president's health-care overhaul helped mobilize black and Hispanic voters for Democrats.

Incredibly, the GOP leader implied that Democrats bribe American voters through government programs aiding the middle class. Romney seemed to say that Republicans, in contrast, won't help young people attend college, or help Hispanics gain citizenship, or help average families through universal health insurance, etc.

Frankly, we think government should do everything possible to make life better for all citizens. That's the basic purpose of government. It isn't voter-bribing -- it's just human decency.

Regarding Romney's explanation of his defeat, a <I>Time<P> commentary scoffed that Romney "didn't lose Iowa or New Hampshire, two swings state filled with white voters, because Obama gave 'gifts' to minorities. He lost, there and elsewhere, because 55 percent of women voted for his opponent."

The national newsmagazine added that Romney likewise offered gifts to the rich donors addressed in his phone call, through his "promise to lower their taxes, to reduce regulations on their industries, to preserve elements in the corporate code that benefit them."