Mitt Romney's $10,000 bet

I usually take an interest when the subjects of gambling and politics collide. This this case, Mitt Romney challenged Rick Perry to a $10,000 bet in the last debate. Here is a clip of it. Rick Perry said the amount of the wager was "a little out of touch with the normal Iowa citizen."

I think we could all agree that it would take about $10,000 for a wager to mean anything to Mitt Romney, and that such a wager would be enormous compared to the means of most Americans.

So, the question for the poll is should Romney have been more sensitive, and suggested a smaller wager, or would that have just been denying the reality that he is a wealthy man. For example, if he had suggested $20 it wouldn't have fooled me that is some regular Joe.

He should have gone with a larger, more rhetorical, bet. He should have said "I'll bet you a million dollars...." Everyone makes "bets" like that.

"I'll donate ____? dollars to your campaign if I'm wrong." might of been an interesting twist.

Quote: Wizard

I think we could all agree that it would take about $10,000 for a wager to mean anything to Mitt Romney, and that such a wager would be enormous compared to the means of most Americans.

Since when do Mormons, especially a bishop, bet?

Those wascally Mormons. They've been heavily invested in Vegas
since the Howard Hughes days, yet they don't believe in gambling.
It was inapproriate for Romney to make such a suggestion.

Quote: EvenBob

Those wascally Mormons. They've been heavily invested in Vegas since the Howard Hughes days, yet they don't believe in gambling. It was inapproriate for Romney to make such a suggestion.

A few months ago I wrote a post about what I liked about the LDS faith. One thing was they aren't embarrassed about money and enamored with poverty. Yet, I'm sure the most conservative Mormons don't gamble.

Once, when their missionaries came to my door, I asked if they would even accept somebody in the gambling business. Elder whoever said that as long as it was legitimate legal work, "sure!" However, he added they do not accept tithes from professional gamblers.

What is my point? I don't think the church micro-manages to the point about making a friendly wager between friends. The most conservative Mormons I'm sure didn't like it. The more liberal ones I could picture making friendly bets on the golf course, and not having a problem with it. Like any large group, there are bound to be internal differences and degrees of adherence.

Personally, I applaud Romney for suggesting the wager, and I think it showed weakness on Perry's part for declining it.

Quote: rxwine

"I'll donate ____? dollars to your campaign if I'm wrong." might of been an interesting twist.

That's a genius move to make.

Wow. $10,000 was exactly the wrong amount to throw out. A very small bet or a gentlemen's bet would have proven the point, so would a giant amount. $10,000 isn't big enough to be giant, and it surely isn't small. $10,000 has the very unfortunate side-effect of reminding the audience exactly how loaded Mitt Romney is without really achieving the purpose of under-scoring the fact that Perry is wrong.

Quote: rdw4potus

Wow. $10,000 was exactly the wrong amount to throw out.

I said this before, but wouldn't Romney come off like a phony offering a $20 bet? That is nothing to him.

Quote: Wizard

I said this before, but wouldn't Romney come off like a phony offering a $20 bet? That is nothing to him.

A token bet like $20 is much better than a pompous bet of 10K.
Thats nothing to Romney, he's mega rich. Its an insult to the
common worker, especially in these hard times. I think it was
arrogant and presumptious on his part.