The buzz on Twitter tonight from the Iowa Debate is mostly in regard to Mitt Romney’s willy nilly $10000 bet with Rick Perry. Considering that Romney spent $45,000,000 of his own money in a failed presidential bid in 2008, is anyone surprised that he would bet $10,000 off the top of his head like this? Not me. The only surprising thing is that he did it in the middle of a debate. That’s not very smart.

I think that if Mitt Romney really wanted to make a good impression on suffering Americans, he would have offered to invest that $10,000 in something besides a bet to defend his book. Incidentally, I would argue that he would most definitely lose the bet, which makes the bet itself seem all the more cold, self-serving and reckless.

Talking Points Memo has the video of the exchange.

Ron Paul’s campaign manager and Rick Santorum took opposing views on the bet. Suffice it to say, I’m very much with Rick Santorum on this one.

Rodney Hawkins of ABC News / National Journal has quotes.

From Ron Paul’s campaign manager Jesse Benton:

“I think Romney made Perry look quite weak there.”

From Rick Santorum:

“Well that is a lot of money for me…. I don’t go around throwing around $10,000 bets.”

Exactly.

Hey, Mitt. How’s about helping the poor? Hit my tip jar.

Mitt Happens, I guess.