warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

Romney Offers $10,000 Bet During Debate

Dawn Megli |
December 11, 2011 | 3:18 p.m. PST

Executive Producer

Mitt Romney offered Gov. Rick Perry a $10,000 bet during the GOP presidential debate Saturday night.

Romney tried to make the impromptu bet in response to Texas Gov. Rick Perry's accusation Romney advocated for national health care reform in his book, "No Apologies," but had the passage redacted from the paperback edition. Romney was indignant.

"Rick, I'll tell you what: $10,000 bucks? Ten thousand bet?," Romney said, extending his hand to shake. 

"I'm not in the betting business but I will show you the book," Perry said.

This was the first bet offered in a debate since they began being televised over 50 years ago, according to the Guardian

The high-stakes wager has opened the former Bain Capital CEO to claims that he is out of touch in the face of high unemployment and a growing wealth divide. Romney may be worth up to $250 million, according to BusinessWeek. Perry appeared on "Fox News Sunday" to call Romney "a little out of touch with the normal Iowa citizen."

It is unclear, however, if Perry declined the bet because he is evangelical Christian or because he was unsure of his assertion. He had to retract a statement he made earlier this week in which he claimed there were "8 unelected judges on the Supreme Court," ABC reports. 

Romney was on the offensive, as well, particularly in regard to the other frontrunner, Newt Gingrich, who fielded his own share of attacks during the debate. Romney took issue with a statement in which Gingrich called the Palestinian people "invented." The statement has brought criticism at both home and abroad.

According to AP:

A senior Arab League official condemned on Sunday a statement by Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich claiming Palestinians are an "invented" people, calling it racist and a cheap stunt to get votes.

However Israeli Cabinet minister Uzi Landau said Gingrich was "right." He claimed the Palestinians do not have their own language or culture, and are instead part of the broader Arab world.

Gingrich also called Palestinians "terrorists." The comments struck at the heart of Palestinian sensitivities about the righteousness of their struggle for an independent state. Applying the label "invented" suggests that the Palestinian quest for independence is not legitimate. He later sought to clarify his position, with his spokesman saying he supports the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a negotiated settlement with Israel.

The next scheduled GOP debate will be between Gingrich and Huntsman Monday in New Hampshire.

View the story "Follow reaction to Romney's wager:" on Storify]

Best way to find more great content from Neon Tommy?

Or join our email list below to enjoy Neon Tommy News Alerts.



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.