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Trending worldwide: #what10Kbuys

By Michael Falcone | ABC News – Sat, Dec 10, 2011

DES MOINES - It wasn't quite an "oops" moment, and the Romney campaign is insisting it wasn't a gaffe, but Mitt Romney's attempt to make a $10,000 bet with Rick Perry has already taken on a life of its own.

If the buzz in the press filing center, on the Internet and on Twitter and other social media platforms is any indication, Romney's going to be hearing the replay of that quip over and over again.

As ABC's Matt Negrin points out : "An analysis from our partners at Bluefin Labs shows that just under 40 minutes into the ABC News debate in Iowa, 3,400 messages on Twitter were prompted by Mitt Romney's offer to bet with Rick Perry."

The hashtag #what10Kbuys, suggested by the Democratic National Committee, is now trending on Twitter around the world.

In the post-debate spin room, Romney aides are standing by the comment: "Romney made that bet because he knew Rick Perry wouldn't take it," strategist Eric Fehrnstrom said.

And another top adviser, Stuart Stevens, called the line "a very human thing to do to get someone to shut up when they're not telling the truth"

But in the social media world, Romney's line has been the subject of criticism from pundits on the right:

@RichLowry: you can already feel the $10k bet backfiring-will be one of the replayed moments from the debate

And on the left:

@ PaulBegala: "I'll bet you a ride to St Barts on my Lear jet that I'm middle class." #Mittbets #What10Kbuys

And in between - this from a revered Des Moines Register columnist:

@KObradovich: Not too many Iowa caucusgoers are the sort to offer a $10,000 bet, even on a sure thing. #iacaucus #iowadebate

And a senior Democratic strategist offers ABC News this comment:

"Mitt Romney is going to rue the day he offered a $10,000 bet in this debate. Talk about a window in to his out-of-touch soul. And he did it in the same debate where he again called the payroll tax cut for the middle class a temporary band-aid. You just can't be more out of touch than Mitt Romney - and you can't have a less understanding of what it's like to be middle class."

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15 comments

RR • Baltimore, United States • 5 mths ago
Doesn't the Mormon religion forbid gambling?
Talk about Flip-Flopping!!
Michael • 5 mths ago
卐GOP卐
DontLikeItTooBad • Hollywood, United States • 5 mths ago
I make $2000 less than that on Unemployment in a year. I would be happy with a couple of $100 extra. Shopping at the Dollar store is getting old.
OohAah • 5 mths ago
Did anybody else notice that Romney mispronounced "NETANYAHU" every time he said it? "Netanyahu" is to Romney what "nuclear" was to George Bush.
Midwest Mountain Man • 5 mths ago
Mitt made a good point.
- yahoo user 5 mths ago
  yes he does have a point on top of his head.
the7W8b5X • 5 mths ago
President Obama/Gingrich Debate

Debate Moderator: “The first question will go to you, Mr. President.” Our first question in this evening’s debate is: “How many adulterous affairs may a candidate commit before it disqualifies him from the office of the presidency? "

President Obama: “Well, admittedly this is one area where I don’t have the formidable experience of Mr. Gingrich, but it can be said that Newt and President Clinton did rub elbows quite a bit during the time they were coming to blows with one another and it seems as though our illustrious “Speaker” was receiving some helpful tips from President Clinton on how to maintain an illicit relationship with someone other than one’s spouse…and we know that President Clinton was particularly adept at this behavior…at least until….he got caught. We also know that Newt, the Speaker of the House at the time, was actively practicing these….”Clintonian Principles of Open Marriage.” And of course at the same time that Newt was practicing his “open marriage concepts”… he was also leading the effort to have President Clinton impeached for quite ‘identical conduct. Newt’s two-faced approach to an issue was being practiced long before his adulterous inclinations came to light, but the Machivelian hypocrisy so typical of Newt seemed to take on a certain style and flair regarding this particular matter. As far as this particular experience, I must say that I am woefully inferior to Speaker Gingrich. We’ll just have to give the nod to Speaker Gingrich for experience on this issue."

( Speaker Gingrich’s face has now turned a color not different from that of a crimson sunset)

Moderator: “Mr. Speaker, you may now respond to the question."

Newt Gingrich: “Uhhhhm….. uh…well…you notice that the President didn’t really answer the question. The correct answer to the question is: “Exactly…three.”……and you should notice that I have only two…..on record. Here again we find our current president “inexperienced” . What I bring to the table is “experience”……and it is utterly undeniable that despite his three and a half years in office ….there are areas that I still hold the advantage of experience and this is definitely one of them."

(During the commercial break, a seething Newt Gingrich excoriates the moderator for getting into his ‘personal business’ and threatens to end his participation in the debate if the moderator doesn’t ask him questions regarding irrelevant matters of history….something the speaker suggests he knows a great deal about. Most of the audience is thinking that Newt Gingrich practices hypocrisy as though it were a virtue......and of course...they're right.)
Keith N • 5 mths ago
Hey Romney! I'll bet you $10,000 that you're a smarmy spoiled brat who has no clue as to what the middle class is going through right now.
- Midwest Mountain Man 5 mths ago
  Hey, Keith N, I'll bet you $10,000 that you wouldn't become wealthy even if given every opportunity because you wouldn't take any initiative or put in the work it takes. Look to your man Obama and his progressive policies as the reason the middle class -- and, in fact, the entire economy -- is handcuffed.
- yahoo user 5 mths ago
  hey midwest bet you ain't got a job !!!
Marcus • 5 mths ago
RON PAUL RON PAUL RON PAUL
bubba • 5 mths ago
Hey Mitt, Book of Mormon says Thou Shall Not Gamble.
boo who • Killeen, United States • 5 mths ago
If you are so overly sensitive, that a simply bet in jest offends you, then you need to check yourself. I was a "put your money were your mouth is" type of jest. If you know you are right abut and issue,that is the quickest way to shut the other person up.
- AuditU 5 mths ago
  But, when you're running for President, might not be a smart thing to say. It gives people the thought he is out of touch with the commoners. I know I've never said, I'll bet you $10,000. in jest. I only bet what I can afford. Now I've said I'll bet you $20 on that. If he would of said that, then more people would of just blown it off.
- yahoo user 5 mths ago
  woo boo you a nun or what?
- RR 5 mths ago
  Doesn't the Mormon religion forbid gambling betting?
  Talk about Flip-Flopping!!
the7W8b5X • 5 mths ago
President Obama/Gingrich Debate

Debate Moderator: “The first question will go to you, Mr. President.” Our first question in this evening’s debate is: “How many adulterous affairs may a candidate commit before it disqualifies him from the office of the presidency? "

President Obama: “Well, admittedly this is one area where I don’t have the formidable experience of Mr. Gingrich, but it can be said that Newt and President Clinton did rub elbows quite a bit during the time they were coming to blows with one another and it seems as though our illustrious “Speaker” was receiving some helpful tips from President Clinton on how to maintain an illicit relationship with someone other than one’s spouse…and we know that President Clinton was particularly adept at this behavior…at least until….he got caught. We also know that Newt, the Speaker of the House at the time, was actively practicing these….”Clintonian Principles of Open Marriage.” And of course at the same time that Newt was practicing his “open marriage concepts”… he was also leading the effort to have President Clinton impeached for quite ‘identical conduct. Newt’s two-faced approach to an issue was being practiced long before his adulterous inclinations came to light, but the Machivelian hypocrisy so typical of Newt seemed to take on a certain style and flair regarding this particular matter. As far as this particular experience, I must say that I am woefully inferior to Speaker Gingrich. We’ll just have to give the nod to Speaker Gingrich for experience on this issue."

( Speaker Gingrich’s face has now turned a color not different from that of a crimson sunset)

Moderator: “Mr. Speaker, you may now respond to the question."

Newt Gingrich: “Uhhhhm….. uh…well…you notice that the President didn’t really answer the question. The correct answer to the question is: “Exactly…three.”……and you should notice that I have only two…..on record. Here again we find our current president “inexperienced” . What I bring to the table is “experience”……and it is utterly undeniable that despite his three and a half years in office ….there are areas that I still hold the advantage of experience and this is definitely one of them."

(During the commercial break, a seething Newt Gingrich excoriates the moderator for getting into his ‘personal business’ and threatens to end his participation in the debate if the moderator doesn’t ask him questions regarding irrelevant matters of history….something the speaker suggests he knows a great deal about. Most of the audience is thinking that Newt Gingrich practices hypocrisy as though it were a virtue......and of course...they're right.)
- y4h00_m0st_w4nt3d 5 mths ago
  We don't give a sh1t how many he had we voteing for newt me and 765448.876 in my home town vote rep 2012 people and wake up!!!!
- the7W8b5X 5 mths ago
  Congratulations!.....that must be a record for the number of #$%$S living in any town....
- the7W8b5X 5 mths ago
  Congratulations...that must be a record for the most number of M.o.ro.ns living in any town.
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Reply
Confucius • Hong Kong, Hong Kong • 5 mths ago
10,000 will probably buy you a vote in Congress by a rank and file Representative, although a leader would need 50-100K and about same for a Senator. Let's be honest about it, and practical, at this point Congress should auction their votes on E-Bay with the winning bid getting the vote. Its pretty close to the truth anyway, and would add transparency.
David Neu • Dallas, United States • 5 mths ago
Time to halt the electoral college. Time to give the voters the ability to vote on bills in congress and supreme court justices decisions. We have computers, that can instantaneously give the majority's results. We just need good administrators. I believe the voters have outgrown their representation in City Councils, State Capitols, and Federal Government.
Cory • 5 mths ago
If it was behind closed doors.. the bet proceeds would probably include tax-payers heads.
Michael • 5 mths ago
卐GOP卐

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