Who Won Mitt's Bet?

Remember Mitt's proposed $10,000. bet with Rick Perry? Sure you do. Remember what it was about? In a Republican presidential debate on Oct. 11, 2011, Texas Gov. Rick Perry attacked Romney saying that in his book No Apology, Romney called the Massachusetts health care reform a model for the nation.

Perry’s accusation arose from a deletion between the first, hardcover edition of Romney’s book and the later paperback version.

Here is their exchange:

Perry: (speaking like a real dumb guy) "I read your first book, and it said in there that your mandate in Massachusetts, which should be the model for the country — and I know it came out of the reprint of the book, but, you know, I’m just saying, you were for individual mandates, my friend."

Romney: (Speaking like a guy about to take advantage of a real dumb guy)  "You know what, you’ve raised that before, Rick. And you’re simply wrong."

Then they spat at each other a bit before Mittsy rose to the occasion and upped the ante from a cat fight to a $10,000.00 bet - for which he didn't have to bother checking his wallet. Perry refused the bet because when he balanced his checkbook that morning, he moved a decimal point 8 spaces to the right and wasn't sure he could cover.

So. Here’s the text of each edition:

HARDCOVER: "We can accomplish the same thing for everyone in the country, and it can be done without letting government take over health care." (emphasis added).

PAPERBACK: "And it was done without government taking over health care."

Now, between publication of the hard cover and paper editions, health care passed but without the individual mandate. 

What remains unclear is why the line, “We can accomplish the same thing for everyone in the country.”was removed. Was it too suggestive that Romney favored federal, individual mandates and then, afraid of the backlash, backed off and just took the sentence out of the paper edition? Or, does the phrase, “the same thing” refer to the preceding phrase “portable, affordable health insurance,” and not the individual mandate or the entire law? If so, then was the passage intended to be an argument for the Massachusetts plan to be used as a model for other states to follow but not as a federal mandate?

You would think we could look to his record for a clue, wouldn't you? Aah, but he wouldn't be The Willow if it were that easy. Instead, he's doing a USane(?)-Bolt away from his own Romney care while lashing out with all the wet noodles at his command against the Health Care plan that has been passed into law and been deemed constitutional. (Let's see how far you get with that repeal nonsense when the entitlements really start to kick in and folks realize and want to keep the benefits they are receiving, smart guy).

After all his years' on the public scene, just as with everything else connected with his political convictions and principles, we are still left to ponder; just who is this Willow fella and to which windmill does he truly bow? 

Oh yeah. And who won the bet? I don't know...that's why I'm asking you. More importantly, does Mitt?

3/23/12 updated 9/6/12