You are half right, I don't disagree with your statement (you are correct there), however I think that all society should help, government included, when we're talking about those that can't help themselves. That's an important qualifier.
Medical conditions, mental conditions, age, etc are part of life and as human beings I think we are obligated to help our fellow man. The government should have programs that provide assistance to those who need it in whatever basic area it's needed (e.g. food, housing, healthcare). Citizens should also contribute. You'll get no argument from me there.
All right, there are 47 percent who are with him [Obama], 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 entitle to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what.
I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.
That's direct quoting. Clearly, he's not talking about people who
can not take care of themselves. He's talking about people who
will not take care of themselves and expect the government to do it for them. There is a big difference between someone who is down and out, needs a helping hand, and is doing all they can to improve their life (i.e. become 'independent' as much as their potential will allow) and those who think they have zero personal responsibility and are owed a free lunch as
a way of life. He is talking about the latter, not the former. He's speaking to a group of potential (?) donors who most likely understand exactly what he is saying, so context is important.