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Subscribe to RSSDES MOINES, IA -- After the first few questions at tonight's GOP debate, House Speaker Newt Gingrich looked a bit like a kung-fu hero facing multiple opponents.
Mitt Romney jabbed that Gingrich was a career politician. Ron Paul whacked Gingrich for the money he made advising Freddie Mac. And Rick Perry noted that Gingrich (as well as Romney) supported an individual health-care mandate.
Enter the Dragon -- Gingrich-style.
But a funny thing happened as the other GOP candidates tried to pile on Gingrich and as he tried to fight back: Romney became the focus of attention, and not necessarily in a good way.
First, Gingrich was able to turn the table on Romney's career-politician hit by delivering this line of the night: "The only reason you didn't become a career politician is you lost to Teddy Kennedy in 1994." Direct hit.
Then, when Perry accused Romney of writing in his book that he wanted Massachusetts' health-care mandate to be a model for the country, Romney said he was wrong. "Ten-thousand-dollar bet?"
Perry didn't take the bet, and the Romney campaign says the reason he didn't is because independent fact-checkers -- like the Washington Post -- say that Perry is wrong.
But it was the size of the bet Romney offered -- not the substance of the argument -- that triggered post-debate attacks from Romney's GOP rivals.
"Ten-thousand dollars is three or four months salary" for many Iowans, Bachmann Communications Director Alice Stewart told reporters after the debate.
A Democratic Party strategist piled on. "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." The strategist added, "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."
To be sure, tough questions about Gingrich's record (about his past divorces, about his views on illegal immigration, and his views on the Middle East) dominated the middle portion of the debate.
But if the debate produced memorable moments, it was the Ted Kennedy line and the $10,000 bet.
And, suddenly, it's Mitt Romney -- and not Newt Gingrich -- in the hot seat.
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Newt is the last one to talk about history and morality.
Let him talk about his experience in infidility.
He is void and empty
Talk about making a mountain out of an molehill, that is exactly was has happened with Romney's bet remark! We usually say, "I bet you a million bucks", etc. But, of course, we don't have it. Why is everything said taken so literally? If I were Republican, Romney would be my choice. I think he would be the one to beat Obama. That is why I am so excited that Republicans are leaning toward Gingrich! That blowhard big mouth doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut. Maybe, that is why he has been married so many times. You want another war, vote Gingrich!
Hi
Take a 3D view of each candidate, not just 'yours'. They are all faulty in some way. Read their book (they all seem to have written one) to understand who each candidate really is and what they really think of the world they wish to run. Only their bank accounts have changed since they first took office or put pen to paper.
Stop the personal bickering. Look at the candidate, their beliefs as written and compare THAT to what you are hearing for a true 3D perspective. It matters not what is coming out of their mouth when their historical "bleetings" tell a different story. Maybe we should listen to the past. It seems all of the postering is taking us from really knowing who these "politicians" are.
3D~ Mentally sit on your own shoulder, listen to all of the chatter, including your own and make an educated decision on the facts not your personal likes and/ or dislikes.
I'm not a Romney fan, but big deal about the offered bet. All of these candidates easily have $10,000 to spare in their "war chests" and Obama has likely as much as all of them combined. Everyone obsessing over this is...well, obsessed! Romney was speaking figuratively (but foolishly) to prove both his swagger and his point.
at least he would bet his own money, as apposed to 787 billion+ of mine on union payoffs, ridiculous green job "investments" and a host of other garbage!
Okay, so Mitt can make a 10k bet that he knew wasn't going to be made because of the outrageous claims of Perry
but Newt doesn't get called out on paying himself 40k for his own email list, or racking up half a million in jewelry at Tiffanys, or taking 1.7 million from FannieMae/FreddieMac?
The hypocrisy is astounding.
Correct on all of the above. However, "Newt" ("newt" is the term for a juvenile salamader) does not purport to have "perfect American Values" as does Mo Romney.
LTC Rattus, USA, ret.
Flip-flopping, rich, arrogant, out of touch with average Americans, lying Mormon. Mo Romney, has not changed his attitudes but he is very sorry that all Americans saw the "REAL MO ROMNEY!"
F/O and die Mittens!
Did it ever occur to anyone that by voting for any one of these people, you are betting much more than $10,000 - you are betting your entire welfare and that of your children and grandchildren. Don't forget that the last iteration of this group of idiots being in power cost most of us much of our retirement, a good many of us our jobs, and generally worsened the plight of the vast majority of us. They are bought and paid for by the big money that for quite a while now has controlled politics in this country.
Rob, You must be considering Obama in your "group of idiots" considering under the current administration the unemployment rate has increased, the deficit has increased, home foreclosures are occuring at a record pace, and personal bankruptcies have increased.
I'll "bet-ch-ya" (forgive the spelling) is not a serious comment. It was made in jest. It was not one of those bets that Romney thought he could loose. I can't believe the news media jumped all over him for the lite hearted comment.
Stick with Obama.
And see more "change".