It doesn't take $10,000 to be out of touch

If you believe the punditry, the out-of-touch label carries a $10,000 price tag.

That's how much Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney flippantly and now famously offered to bet Texas Gov. Rick Perry during Saturday night's Iowa debate. They sparred over whether Romney did or didn't edit his book to downplay his affinity for mandating health insurance. Romney proposed a wager. Perry declined. A gaffe is born.

Pouncing proceeded promptly. Romney's bet, the Twitterverse roared, shows he's a glib rich guy who casually tosses out that kind of scratch. Do you know how much food that would buy a family of four?

Perry sought to capitalize, although this is a guy who likely spent much more than $10,000 on a TV ad trying to convince us that allowing gay Americans to openly serve their country has some connection to kids openly celebrating Christmas. There are many ways to be woefully out of touch.

It could have been worse for Romney, I suppose. He could have bet a Lexus SUV with an big, obnoxious red bow. Da da, da da, da da da, da.

But please. News flash: Mitt Romney is wealthy. Did we not know? His business acumen and resulting wealth are core arguments for his candidacy. Success in business equals success as president. It was once Republican scripture.

Actually, I guess it's OK to be loaded, but not to be “out of touch” with real America. Roll in dough, but also know the price of milk, bread and Bud Light. Forget flaunting. Feign folksy.

What Romney gave us was an excuse to run wild with our suspicions that he's that jerk boss who would never buy the beer at quittin' time. And we love nothing more than a suspicion confirmed. Old "oops" Perry knows that as well as anyone.

Still, I think out-of-touch can be purchased much more cheaply. How about $10?

GOP hopeful Michele Bachmann told our editorial board she'd require every American to pay at least $10 in federal income tax. She's taking aim at the 47 percent of households that don't pay federal income tax, thanks to deductions, credits or a lack of income. She'd also ax the Earned Income Tax Credit, Ronald Reagan's effort to encourage low income earners to stay employed. She calls for creating a fairer code and complains about corporate tax avoiders, but the $10 cover charge seems to be the most specific aspect of her plan.

Bachmann is betting $10 that making these freeloaders pay is good resentment-stoking politics. She's wagering we don't care that these citizens already pay all sorts of state and local taxes, that many are retired, disabled, working one or more low-paying jobs or are just starting out and will become federal taxpayers soon enough. Never mind that. Fork over a symbolic 10-spot to prove you're a worthwhile American. It's really the least that the least of these can do.

Also, never mind the bureaucracy you'd probably need to collect it.

She's also betting you won't notice how she and other candidates rail at Obama's many “job-killing” policies, but then turn on struggling folks navigating our economic wreckage and deride them for a lack of ambition, and taxation. Makes sense.

So pile on Mitt if you must. But at least he's betting with his own money.