Back in New Hampshire, Romney Strays From Debate Night Bet
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(Jim Cole/AP Photo)
HUDSON, N.H. — Mitt Romney is not doubling down on his $10,000 bet.
Asked about the proposal he offered to Texas Gov. Rick Perry during Saturday night’s debate — a $10,000 pay off if Romney proved he hadn’t suggested a universal health care mandate would be suitable on a federal level in his book “No Apology” — Romney joked that his wife, Ann, was less than impressed with his bargaining skills.
“Actually after the debate was over Ann came up and gave me a kiss and said I was great and she said there are a lot of things you do well, betting isn’t one of them,” Romney said during a press conference after a town hall this afternoon in Hudson.
Pressed as to whether he regretted making the wager or whether it was the largest bet he’s ever made, Romney responded, “That’s all I’ve got,” and laughed.
Perry, the man on the other side of the bargaining table, spent much of his time today campaigning across Iowa, discussing the bet at each stop. Perry dubbed Romney’s bet as “out of touch,” and also suggested that the $10,000 sum must be “pocket change” for Romney.
Romney referred to poll numbers — some showing him trailing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich by double digits — as “fluid,” adding that he’s certain he’ll be the nominee.
“These polls have bounced all over the place in the past year,” Romney said. “I’m going to get the nomination, I can’t tell you exactly which order I’ll be able to pick up states in, but I’m convinced I’ll be successful in this effort if I’m able to stay true to the things I believe and the message I deliver and provide it in a very compelling way and I hope to become the nominee. I think I will become the nominee.”
Asked whether some of his outspoken surrogates — some of whom have referred to Gingrich as “untrustworthy” and as one Romney senior adviser put it, “the Foghorn Leghorn of politics,” Romney said he wouldn’t distance himself from the critiques but that he did not write the scripts for Gingrich’s outspoken opponents.
“I do not, I will not distance myself from the comments of people who are describing their experience and their assessment of the speaker based on that experience,” Romney said.
“I’d also note, however, that the most harsh criticisms of the speaker came not from people who’ve necessarily endorsed me, but people who haven’t endorsed me, like Congressman Peter King, like Senator Tom Coburn,” Romney added. “They have been very outspoken describing their own experiences.”
King, a New York Republican, earlier today described Congress under Gingrich’s leadership as “chaotic.”
But a few of Romney’s own statements during the town hall seemed to hint at the “Washington insider” label his campaign would like to see stick when it comes to Gingrich.
Asked whether he would like to see term limits, Romney said he would — for both Senators and members of Congress.
“The vision of this country I’m sure in the mind of the founders was that we would have citizens’ legislatures. If you look at the great early leaders of this country and they went to Washington served and then went home. Wouldn’t that be nice?” he said.
“It seems some people go to Washington to serve the people and then they stay to serve themselves,” he said.
Romney said one of the reasons he is running for president is because he believes voters want “someone who comes from outside Washington.”
“I’m not a creature of Washington,” Romney said. “I haven’t been in Washington as a politician, and I won’t stay in Washington when my term is over,” he said. “I will go home. I love Lake Winnipesaukee a lot better than I like Washington, I’ve gotta tell you.”
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Mitt and Ann Romney are a class act. Do your OWN research and you’ll see this guy is a financial genius. If he and Ron Paul ran together, they could turn this economy around in no time.
Posted by: hrs4 | December 11, 2011, 9:13 pm 9:13 pm
HRS$, I’m afraid you are wrong. We would have continued warmongering with Mitt. Only under Paul can we bring PEACE and prosperity back. Mitt as president can not “create” jobs. The only thing he will do is create wealth for his friends and church.
Posted by: LenGrady75 | December 11, 2011, 9:41 pm 9:41 pm
Eighty-four ethics charges were filed against Speaker Gingrich during his term, including claiming tax-exempt status for a college course run for political purposes. Following an investigation by the House Ethics Committee Gingrich was sanctioned. Gingrich acknowledged in January 1997 that “In my name and over my signature, inaccurate, incomplete and unreliable statements were given to the committee”. The House Ethics Committee concluded that inaccurate information supplied to investigators represented “intentional or … reckless” disregard of House rules. The special Counsel concluded that Gingrich violated federal tax law and had lied to the ethics panel in an effort to force the committee to dismiss the complaint against him. He has always been about the money. All the charges did not prove true, but he is always up to something.
Posted by: cb | December 11, 2011, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm
He certainly should be. Newt is like an early Christmas present for Obama. Democrats are going to law low, hope Mitt loses the nomination and then go house with simply stating facts about Newt while they watch the landslide returns for Obama come in. How about playng back the tape of the 84 ethics violation, or the newest thing – how Newt charges his ‘noprofit’ for all the air travel and first class accomdations for his lobbying business. How wonderful for tax payers to find out we essentially paid for Newt’s travel expenses while he lobbied Fannie and Freddie. I swear , are republicans soft as grapes?! Mitt is an outstanding guy!
Posted by: Johnny B Good | December 11, 2011, 10:17 pm 10:17 pm
including claiming tax-exempt status for a college course run for political purposes–__Newt formed a phony “non profit’ at the same time he began his lobbying business. His lobbying was bringing in 100 MILLION a year. His ‘nonprofit” was used to get TAX DEDUCTIONS to PAY for his travel expenses while Lobbying!!!!!!! The whole ‘non profit’ was a farce! It was formed so he could essentially travel for free- which actually means- on the tax payers dime! EVERYTHING Newt has done, EVERY SINGLE THING has been tarred by cheating, lying and stealing. EVERYTHING !!! Every political appointment, every job, every marriages and relationship. I heard him called a sewer rat. That’s actually pretty accurate.
Posted by: Johnny B Good | December 11, 2011, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
All the charges did not prove true–_NOOOOOOO!!! HE RESIGNED before the charges could be brought through the process!!! DO NOT confuse him RESIGNING as being equivalent to innocence!!!! far from! He left because if he did NOT they WOULD go through all the charges and impeach him. He left to AVOID prosecution. After he resigned, they dropped it. Much like Nixon’s charges were dropped even though he was 100% guilty.
Posted by: Johnny B Good | December 11, 2011, 10:22 pm 10:22 pm
HRS4…LOL! ….. Mitt Romney was part of a company called Bain Capital that profited off of businesses going broke, and the expense of middle class American workers …… “Bain Capital’s acquisition of Ampad exemplified a deal where it profited handsomely from early payments and management fees, even though the subject company itself ended up going into bankruptcy. Dade Behring was another case where Bain Capital received an eightfold return on its investment, but the company itself was saddled with debt and laid off over a thousand employees before Bain Capital exited (the company subsequently went into bankruptcy, with more layoffs, before recovering and prospering). Bain was among the private equity firms that took the most such fees. Romney said in retrospect: “It is one thing that if I had a chance to go back I would be more sensitive to. It is always a balance. Great care has got to be taken not to take a dividend or a distribution from a company that puts that company at risk. [Having taken a big payment from a company that later failed] would make me sick, sick at heart.”
Posted by: Forrest Gump | December 11, 2011, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm
Indeed. Obama has less than a year to damage the country further, thankfully.
And a further note, regarding “Georgie Bushie”, now posting as moronically as ever as FORREST GUMP IS DEFINITELY A REPUBLICAN : Obvious to all who have seen the film and even half understand it, Forrest Gump ends up very well-adjusted, very rich, and fairly happy, and with a beautiful son. He appears “slow” to some extremely mundane and shallow folks, but the film shows that he is wiser than them by far, in fact, the wisest character in the film. LOL.
Posted by: Elmer Fudd | December 11, 2011, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm
Romney’s joke on Perry is classic!
For those that don’t get it; well, that is unfortunate and perhaps your shorts are too tight. Having one’s shorts in a wad seems all too common lately.
Romney isn’t such a stiff shirt after all.
Posted by: Wylie-Mike | December 11, 2011, 11:49 pm 11:49 pm
The only person who wishes to lead the nation that I can respect is Ron Paul. If he doesn’t get the nomination, I won’t vote.
Posted by: john locke | December 11, 2011, 11:53 pm 11:53 pm
JOHN LOCKE – I don’t view Ron Paul as a quitter when he doesn’t get what he wants. In fact he leverages what is available that could further his cause. It’s disappointing that you would be a quitter.
Posted by: Mike-Bell | December 12, 2011, 12:32 am 12:32 am
If Ron Paul really wants to win he will embrace what Romney, Huntsman, and even Harry Reid have not.
Search, “LDS Prophets warn us of the dangers facing America”
Posted by: Mike-Bell | December 12, 2011, 12:50 am 12:50 am
Mitt Romney is one cool man. He’s got everything. And he’s anxious to give whatever he can to US. If we don’t grab it and let it work for us we will be fools.
Whatever you have heard about Bain Capital, the facts are that he worked hard to do what he had to to make that company deliver. That’s what business is all about . He was very young and had an unusual talent for financial strategy. He had that Midas-touch , and he’s a very intelligent and disciplined thinker. Newt is smart also, but he’s an eccentric manipulater who has a trail of dirty baggage behind him . Whatever mistakes Romney made I forgive.
I know this : that if we let Romney slip away and fail to let his special talents work for us we will regret it . He’s got everything, and is ready to give-
Posted by: Jan | December 12, 2011, 2:34 am 2:34 am
Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are both saying they will be the nominee. One of them must be lying.
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | December 12, 2011, 4:14 am 4:14 am
The republican electorate have shown they are at best confused by siding with the creepiest guy running – lovely Newt.
The Ron Paul crowd is the best at this. They do not realise that their antics further prove that Ron Paul is a cult leader and not a viable anything else.
I am convinced that Ron Paul is Homer’s boss, Mr. Burns on the Simpsons. OK, not fair, Mr. Burns is a bit more charismatic.
Posted by: welldirected | December 12, 2011, 6:03 am 6:03 am
Is there anything else going on in politics besides the Republican primaries? Its mostly negative for Obama. So, the MSM won’t covered it.
Posted by: deanbob | December 12, 2011, 8:51 am 8:51 am