Perry on $10k Bet: Shows Romney is “Out of Touch”
- Posted on December 11, 2011 at 3:34pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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Republican candidate for President Texas Governor Rick Perry addressed the $10,000 bet offered by rival Mitt Romney during the Republican Iowa debate Saturday night, on Fox News Sunday.
“I was taken a little aback,” said Perry. “I’m driving out to the station this morning I’m pretty sure I didn’t drive by a house that anyone in Iowa would think a $10,000 bet was possible. It was a little out of touch with the normal Iowa citizen.”
During Saturday night’s debate, an agitated Romney extended his hand to Perry to seal a $10,000 bet that Perry was wrong in regards to his frequent claim that Romney has been inconsistent on his position on the individual health insurance mandate. It is unclear whether Romney was serious about the gesture, or simply emphasizing his confidence that the Texas governor was inaccurate in his claim. Either way, Perry responded that he is “not in the betting business,” and political commentators and opponents immeadiately jumped on Romney in regards to the bet, as further evidence that the millionaire former Massachusetts governor and financial services executive is out of touch with the financial struggles of many Americans.
The Romney campaign has looked to downplay the spur of the moment wager.
“I’ve made million dollar bets with my friends, and I think the reason that Mitt made that wager is because he knew that Rick Perry wouldn’t take it,” said Eric Fehrnstrom, a senior advisor to the Romney campaign, to the New York Times. “And he was right.”
Stuart Stevens, Romney’s chief strategist, told the Times “Perry’s gotten up there and has not told the truth, time and time again. He knows he’s not telling the truth. We finally got him to sort of shut up about it.”
Later on in the Fox News Sunday interview, Perry admitted that he did not have memorized all of the current Supreme Court judges. Perry elaborated that voters are “not looking for a robot that can spit out the name of every Supreme Court justice or the someone that’s going to be perfect in every way.”
“They’re looking for somebody who has got values that are based with a deep ruder in the water. And I am consistent in my conservative values and Americans are looking for someone who’s going to make the right decisions, not someone who can read a TelePrompter perfectly or spit out by memory a list of names. That’s not what’s important to Americans.”
What do you think of the bet? Do you agree with Rick Perry that the wager shows that Mitt Romney is out of touch with Iowans? Or do you think he was making an offhand gesture that has been overblown by rivals and the media?
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Comments (71)
EqualJustice
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 9:36pmI think it was to show he felt THAT confident in the fact that Perry was WRONG. It was to make a POINT.. IMO. Mormons don’t smoke, drink OR gamble. It was just a way to make a POINT! Get over it. He”s not my choice, but still, leave it to the MEDIA to make THAT the focus of the debates. How about what a GREAT job Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum did??
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 11:56pmI agree totally, Bachmann & Santorum really did a great job on this one!
Report Post »recoveringneocon
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 7:17amRomney wants to bet $10,000.00 of his own money and people go nuts. Newt charges the tax payers thru Freddie Mac something like 1,600,000,.00 and there is silence. The media is working its magic again.
Report Post »lillymckim
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 9:17amAgreed!
Everything the Republican candidates say against one another will also be used against them by Obama and his state run media outlets
and with the help of other “so called conservative pundits” we will be damn LUCKY to win in 2012
We are fast becoming our own worst enemy!
Report Post »Go after Obama and HIS policies this is sheer lunacy!
Mlazare
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 12:39pm“Mormons don’t smoke, drink OR gamble”
ROFL!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe you should have said ” . . . aren’t supposed to.” I personally know quite a few who do all three (as well as drink hot tea and coffee, two more no-nos), including the one I’m married to.
Report Post »ROMNEY2012
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 9:34pmRick Perry has engaged in extremely slimy politics in this campaign and has a questionable record in relation to cronyism.
His Croynism problem was never really even fully discussed due th the fact that he plunged. I assure you, were Rick Perry to rise, many more issues would come to light about his record.
His attack on Mitt Romney was a lie. If you care to actually pull your head out of your bottom and look at some facts you will see as Politifact did that Perry’s claim that Romney suggested he wanted the Fed. Govt to adopt Mass. Healthcare is an outright lie. Here is what Politifact had to say:
Perry‘s right that Romney’s comments about health care were edited between editions. Among other things, a line that advocated the Massachusetts model as a strong option for other states was replaced by a shorter, more generic sentence. But that line was preceded by an argument for state-level solutions, exactly the argument Romney extends now. That’s not how Perry characterized it. So he did win that bet — by not betting. We rule his claim Mostly False.
If you havent figured it out already, the Liberal Media is doing everything they can to defeat Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney is the new target for the Socialists Class Warfare campaign strategy. Sleazy Rick Perry is now supporting the Socialists in shamelssly targeting Mitt Romney because he is wealthy.
Wake up people and realize this is a war for the future of America.
We need a LEADER, not another slick
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 12:15amre : we need a leader, not a…
That’s right, we need a leader, not someone who gives a LIberal State, what they want, just because they are a Liberal State. Everyone in Massachusetts was affected by Romney Care, not just the Liberals. If he were to win the WH, how do we know he wouldn’t give the loudest, most vocal progressives what they wanted, because “That’s how domocracy works! We need someone who’s going to throw this bus in reverse, swing it around, then go forward, “FULL SPEED AHEAD” BACK TO THE CONSTITUTION, NO MATTER HOW LOUD THE LIB’S AND PROGS SCREAM & HOLLER!
Report Post »wbalzley
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 3:46am@MilMom: So…state governors are not to represent the interests of those who elect them?
Report Post »marvel
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 12:30pm@Mil Mom
Is that what you are looking for, a dictator? We have someone on the White House now who would love to be that. Mitt Romney is a proven leader, committed to freedom, honest, faithful to his wife, a successful business man, and good looking too.
The last thing we need in today’s volatile world is another extremist leader.
Report Post »ROMNEY2012
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 8:47pmThis is a watershed moment in this nomination cycle.
If an admittedly ill advised bet is to decide this election rather than leadership, integrity and record of achievement, then our nation is losing a class war.
The Liberal Media proclaims Gingrich the winner because he successfully blew off his twice aldutry by saying he “Found God”? Does the Presidency stand for anything anymore? Conservatives say Bill Clinton soiled the Presidency yet they will nominate someone who cheated on thier cancer striken wife and is currently married to his second mistress. As a Christian, I admire Newt’s repentance however some actions disqualify you from serving as President of the greatest nation on earth. We admire criminals when they find God, but saying “I found Jesus” does not open the cellhouse doors.
Newt Gingrich has blatantly lied “I only made $300K giving “History Lessons” when that simply is not what he did. He lied about supporting Carbon Taxes. He lies and then simply says “I made a mistake” for any wrong thing he has ever done. What will be “stupidest thing” he does as President? How on earth can we afford to take a chance & let this man lead our Nation?
Newt Gingrich also admitted that he supported a FEDERAL HEALTHCARE MANDATE! Excuse me but if this is UNCONSTITUTIONAL now it was unconstitutional when he supported it.
AND: Rick Perry has officially joined the Liberas and Socialists in trying to make this eleciton about Class Warfare.
I
Report Post »Clara88
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 9:05pmSo YOU would prefer Mitt OR Newt….NOT ME
Veterans are supporting a VETERAN….Gov Rick Perry
Report Post »Our military deserves a Commander In Chief they can be PROUD of and RESPECT
GOD BLESS OUR BRAVE MILITARY AND OUR BELOVED BRAVE VETERANS
http://www.rickperry.org/veterans/
mcrandall
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 1:00pmThis 25-year retired veteran isn’t. Perhaps you should speak of things you know.
Report Post »kung
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 7:44pmYeah, he’s out of touch, but using this bet as an example is a bit of a stretch. He just looked annoyed that his carefully-constructed mask has cracks in it he can’t keep sealed. In any case, I hope his star fizzles.
Report Post »Clara88
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 8:32pmPlease support Gov Rick Perry for President…a conservative AND a veteran..GOD BLESS
http://www.rickperry.org/
Gov. Rick Perry…
“The idea this president now, with Iran getting one of our predator drones in their possession, and he had opportunities — he had two choices. Actually, he had three. He chose the worse. And those two opportunities he had was to either retrieve that drone or to destroy it. And he did the worst of the three. And he did absolutely nothing. And the Russians and the Chinese will have our highly technical equipment now. This president IS the problem,” Perry said at the ABC News debate in Des Moines, Iowa
Report Post »ramburner
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 8:42pmPerry, Romney and Newt ARE NOT the man! Newt is a polished Romney in sheep’s clothing. He is really a democrat. Perry is about fooling everyone as he started as a democrat until politics drove him to become a republicrat. Why do you think they are surging in the polls? Why are the media pushing all that they say? Something is NOT right when the media are actively promoting their message and slamming Bachmann and Santorum. The media finally wore a hole in Cain and he burst! WAKE UP America! If we elect Newt or Romney or Perry, we get Obama light! Whatever the media is doing, RUN the other way! We will only have this last chance to elect someone who will even try to bring us back to where we were before Wilson and FDR. Other than Potus; the 2012 election is a good time to clean house and get rid of ALL the Progressives in each party! In BOTH the House AND the Senate. Don’t know who they are? Then use this rule of thumb; if they have been in office for more than 2 terms – GET RID OF THEM! We MUST have Term Limits in order to keep this problem at bay and controllable in the future; otherwise this country is lost! Research the Candidates background on the web BEFORE voting. If they have voted for Progressive laws and pushed Progressive policies; chances are – THEY ARE PROGRESSIVE! Return to God and the Constitution.
Report Post »OutOnPoint22
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 7:34pmIf I were Perry I’d have shot back with, “Ya know Mitt 10,000 bucks is a little rich for my blood, but I tell you what I‘ll make you a gentlemen’s bet if you really want. I’ll go grab a pre-redacted 1st edition copy of your book and send it to your office in case you’ve misplaced yours, and at the next debate I’ll read any paragraph from my book you pick, and you read any paragraph from your book I pick.”
Better yet, let‘s all scare the bejesus out of ourselves by reading a segment or two out of Obama’s two books, ghost written by Bill Ayers, and try to remember who the real opponent in 2012 is. Keep it up Governor Perry!
Report Post »loki1830
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 10:54pmPerry is too slow for that. He would have screwed up even more. Feel sorry for the Perry.
Report Post »lylee
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 7:26pmI will bet $1.2 billion that European bonds will be as good as gold. John Corzine.
Report Post »What!!!!? We lost $1.2 billion??!! That‘s okay it wasn’t my money any way to bet. I am a socialist you know, I like to use other people’s money. No, I don’t know where their money went. That’s ridiculous! I never “intended” to do anything wrong so you can’t hold me accountable. After all, we make the rules here. Morality? What’s that? John Corzine.
abbygirl1994
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 7:21pmBull roar.. it shows that you don’t want to be caught lying.. 10,000 bucks is a lot of money dude and what you proved to me is that Romey was telling the truth and you were concocting some half bait story! You who wants American’s to educate illegals! And make them pay like our children have to. Jerk!
Report Post »Twisted Mind
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 8:49pmRight. If I knew I was right about something, I bet a milliom dollars.
Report Post »jdickiso
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 7:13pmOkay, so Romney’s 10K comment is bad, but Obama taking a 17 day trip to Hawaii isn’t equally out of touch? How many Americans get to vacation in Hawaii in their lifetime? Especially for 17 days. WHAT IS WRONG WITH BEING WEALTHY?!?!?!
Report Post »million
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 7:03pmNewt is on the same team as Obama & every bit as dangerous to our great nation. Hes a globalist commie & heres the proof. No true conservative could ever vote for him after watching this vidio.
http://vimeo.com/6445068
Report Post »tharpdevenport
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 6:38pmThe money amount is irrelevant. This is just par on course for Romney to not apologize (again) for or denounce Romneycare. I have ZERO confidence he won’t sign a repeal of Obamacare. Or that he won’t in turn offer his own new Obamacare2.0/Romneycare2.0Universal planonce in office.
Report Post »tharpdevenport
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 5:35amI meant ZERO confidence he would/will sign a repeal of Obamacare.
Report Post »DearMagnolia
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 5:57pmI can bet you one million dollars if I know I am right.
Report Post »jack82431
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 5:50pmI’ll bet a million dollars this is the biggest non-issue to make headlines in decades. It makes muckraking look like Pulitzer Prize winning literature and plays right into the hands of the class warfare idiots. It proves two things: journalistic standards have hit an all time low, and there are way too many debates if this is the headline that comes out of it.
And anybody who claims they were going to vote for Romney until this happened is lying.
Report Post »Wilma
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 7:31pmI agree completely.
Report Post »ohmy
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 5:37pmWhen I watched Romney will to wager with Perry for $10k I saw him saying “put your money where your mouth is”. The press is just making much too much and twisting words and/or intentions. Romney stated earlier that he did not have the rough childhood the others did. So the fact that he has money was a given.
I like the views of Santorum. He is stable, uses common sense, and is a man who one can respect. He also defeated Democrats in liberal PA. Give me someone who has good common sense and understands the problems facing the middle class. Gingrich is slick, too slick. Great speaker and historian, but still slick. I like Bachmann’s positions and her strong support of the Constitution. She is also stable and consistent. But, I’m afraid that a Republic woman does not stand a chance because she is a woman. People forget about Margaret Thatcher. England took a chance on her and she proved herself.
Report Post »The10thAmendment
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 5:34pmit certainly showed Romneys completely out of touch elitism.
Report Post »dcart888
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:42amAre you serious? You’ve never said to anyone I bet you a $1mn when you knew your were right? YOU are out of touch
Report Post »dmerwin
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 5:21pmWhen I saw that I saw a man used to getting his way and doing it with money. Mitt looked like a bully. Now, they are all big boys and girl, but it was just the tone that I thought was unnecessary. His comment about “I know what is in the book” was funny and made the same point. Or his response to another question “that’s just not true”, were better ways to handle the issue. He did a similar thing in the Bret Baer interview.
Report Post »dcart888
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 10:37amIf you were asked the same question or heard someone repeat the same lie over and over again would you be frustrated? I guess not
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 5:13pmRick the dick Perry spent a buttload of money remodeling the Governor’s mansion in texas…Out of touch? Yep Rick you are! Meathead!
Report Post »dcart888
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 5:13pmI think it is sad that we are blasting Romney for the $ amount of the bet when what Perry said was a Lie! I remember an America when we looked up to successful people now if someone says I’ll bet you $10K to prove that the person was lying we blame Romney! It use to be the outrage would be because of the class warfare. Just because NYTimes repeats democrat talking points. Can’t the Blaze (REPORT VS. REPEAT) look at this from the truth and facts? I THOUGHT TRUTH HAD NO AGENDA? Can‘t we celebrate successful people and think that given we need someone who has had turn around experience and slashing failing companies and saving SLC Olympics and think that a successful man is exactly what we need to cut spending in bloated government which is what Romney has stated he’d do? We need to embrace free market principles and success. I’M DISGUSTED BY THE TONE OF THIS ARTICLE! WE ARE ALL ANTI SUCCESS SOCIALISTS NOW?
Report Post »Simonne
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 7:08pmIt is quite sad isn’t it? He made the bet knowing he would win & Perry didn’t take the bet because he knew he was wrong. How many times do we hear people say the same thing? Attacking Romney on this is ludicrous. I hope conservatives are very happy with Newt because he will never win. I’m a moderate conservative & I can’t see myself voting for Newt & independents won’t either. Obama will win re-election.
Report Post »chfields62
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 7:29pmIf you vote for Obama your a moron, if you don’t vote your a moron. This isn’t brain science people, if they put up mickey mouse, I would vote for him….It doesn’t matter who is up against the SCHMUCK he must be removed or this country is gone………….
Report Post »SerikFox
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 5:11pmYou gamble with your life every day; why gamble with your money too?
Report Post »whatthehellbook
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 4:40pmRon Paul did well in the debate and I think Romney buried himself with the $10,000 bet. Paul is consistent and honest. Even though I don’t completely agree with his foreign policy I am voting for him because he sticks to the constitution. Gingrich is in love with himself and Perry can’t remember anything. Bachmann is a broken record and Santorum seems nice and all but doesn’t offer anything new. Ron Paul is fiscally responsible and that is what we need as a country!
RON PAUL 2012
http://www.whatthehellbook.com/the-book/
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 5:02pmRon Paul would be a dream come true for terrorist nations. Iran could build up their nuclear weapons arsenal and all the Arab nations could gang up on Israel without interference. Once they were finished with Israel, they could come after us…… just like they have vowed to do. First the little Satan then the great Satan.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 5:12pmQP…You do not know what you are talking about. Right now our military is so streched out, if China wanted us we would have little defense of the homeland. You warmongering dummies have opened up our backside for a good ole screwing.
Bring our troops home and let the world fight it out.
Report Post »West Coast Patriot
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 10:31pmQP, Iran couldn’t attack anyone with a hand grenade. You have been so brainwashed. They have no technology. For them to get the technology, they would have to get help from Russia or China. In that case, we are fighting Russia or China. Get real man and quit being brainwashed by the establishment. Does a meteor have to fall out of the sky and onto your head?
Report Post »loki1830
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 10:58pmROn Paul would divide this country more than Bama.
Report Post »Sorry RP should just run for fed chairman
qpwillie
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 4:13pmGambling is illegal in Iowa.
………………………
725.7 Gaming and betting — penalty.
1. Except as permitted in chapters 99B [bingo] and 99D [racetracks], a person shall not do any of the following:
a. Participate in a game for any sum of money or other property of any value.
Report Post »b. Make any bet……………………………………..
Vechorik
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 4:21pmGambling/betting is also against the Morman religion.
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 11:08amThen why does Iowa have casinos? My Dad has blown his pension on the casinos in Iowa. Now my husband and I have to pay my folks rent for them because of his gambling problem. Don’t tell me gambling in Iowa is illegal. BTW, we can’t really afford to pay their rent, but we can’t let them live on the street either.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 4:10pmOne more thing Beck: don’t give me that crap anymore about pledging your life and belongings anymore, because if you were or had been really in that mindset you would have served in the military at some point for little appreciation so you could have a bird’s- eye view of the way things really are indeed.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 4:13pmThen, you could have really gone down to check out the people in the low valleys and the people at the river’s brink.
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 4:16pmIt’s people like me who have truly pledged our life and Liberty and gave up brighter futures to do the bidding of God by searching the lowest regions – so how ’bout you zip it? Because you are blind far more than you are able to see.
Report Post »BOUGHT YOUR SILO YET?
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 4:10pmThe 10K bet was in poor taste, in my opinion. Why didn’t Romney just say, “hey Perry, if you are right, I’ll drop out of the race. But, if I am right, you drop out of the race.” That would REALLY show how confident he was in his argument and not make him appear to be as out of touch as he obviously is with the general population.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 3:46pmIf Perry is so sure of the facts .. then why didn’t he “take” Mitt’s money?
Report Post »Vechorik
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 4:22pmPerry is right. Romney’s statement was taken out of the book “just before printing”
Report Post »libertytreecaretaker
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 3:45pmRomney and Perry can enjoy their civilian lives out of public office for all I care!
Report Post »ZAP
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 3:42pmHummmm,I think they both sux
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on December 11, 2011 at 5:19pmPoliticians that suck? Really? Say it aint so! They could use them both as vacuum cleaners.
Report Post »