Rick Santorum is a committed consistent conservative who has the best chance of winning the general election. Santorum is a low-risk high-reward candidate who would lead a united party because he is a consistent, committed conservative. No one posts “anyone but Santorum”; we’ve seen any number of posters claiming they’ll stay home, vote 3rd party, or vote for Obama if Romney is the nominee. Rick Santorum has always been Pro-Life and for traditional family values – he walks the conservative walk, and if you vote for Rick Santorum you know what you are getting.
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Rick Santorum had a 96% rating from the American Conservative Union for 2006, and a lifetime rating of 88%. He has been consistently pro-life and supported a strong national defense, and he has stayed married to his wife, living out the family values that he supports.
http://www.conservative.org/ratings/ratingsarchive/2006/2006senate.htm
Santorum has won statewide elections in the key swing-state of Pennsylvania twice. Before that he won Congressional elections in a district that tilted Democratic. Winning the Keystone state, Pennsylvania, blocks Obama’s second term and Rick Santorum is the candidate to do it.
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The Democrats have one basic attack strategy against Santorum – Rick Santorum is “against a woman’s right to choose”. And given Obama’s extreme pro-abortion position in favor of denying medical care to infants who survive abortions, Obama can easily alienate swing voters by using this attack. Santorum is the candidate best able to exploit Obama’s vulnerabilities by driving a stake into the heart of the Democrat coalition. Obama made a choice to throw union guys and jobs under the bus by killing the Keystone pipeline and pandering to environmental extremists. Rick Santorum has successfully gotten votes from workers in the past and he is the candidate best positioned to lead disgruntled workers away from Obama. Rick Santorum does not have “baggage”, while both Romney and Gingrich would present the Democrats with a target-rich environment.
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Rick Santorum is also the perfect unity candidate, being somewhat between Romney and Gingrich. He is not a “vulture capitalist” and he doesn’t going around calling other people vulture capitalists either. He is more exciting, and a better debater than Romney, while not being as antagonistic as Gingrich sometimes is. He is not antagonistic toward the “Republican Establishment” but he is working to pull toward the right using honey rather than vinegar. Rick Santorum can fire-up the Republican base without firing up the Democratic base the way Gingrich would – and Rick can attract some of the union guys that normally comprise some of the Democratic base.
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In terms of criticizing Obama, Rick Santorum will be able to denounce Obamacare much more effectively than Mitt will. Rick is warming up for the general election now by pointing out flaws common to both Romneycare and Obamacare.
People know where Rick Santorum stands – it’s easier to respect a person who stands for something and defends his position than it is someone who you just don’t know what they stand for.
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Rick Santorum is the candidate most likely to actually repeal Obamacare. You’ve got to wonder if the author of Romneycare really has his heart set on repealing Obamacare. Either Santorum or Gingrich will repeal Obamacare with a strongly Republican Congress. However, if repeal is not a slam-dunk in Congress, Santorum’s persuasive approach is more likely to carry the day than Gingrich’s confrontational style. Overall, policy-wise Santorum and Gingrich are both more conservative than Romney and are about as conservative as each other. Where honey rather than vinegar is needed to advance the conservative agenda, Santorum will move America right while Gingrich will be limited by Congress.
Moe Lane
PG DeFreese
Victoria Coates
Daniel Horowitz
Dan Spencer
I have to disagree.
NightTwister (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 4:10PM EST (link)Rick Santorum would be a train wreck. His theocratic ideas would turn off every independent voter and not a few Republicans. His big-spending ways while in Congress is a big part of the reason why we’re in the mess we’re in. I seriously doubt he’d carry 10 states. He wouldn’t even carry his home state.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. – Winston Churchill
Getting spending to Bush levels would be a great improvement over what we have now.
David123 (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 4:45PM EST (link)Rick Santorum admits he was wrong to support No Child Left Behind. I think his spending errors are largely due to being a loyal Republican following Bush, rather than something he actually was passionate about.
Rick Santorum won statewide elections in Pennsylvania twice. He lost in 2006 in a Democratic-wave year to a candidate, Casey, who painted himself as pro-life. Rick Santorum has never lost an election to a pro-abortion Democrat. Obama is every bit as extreme for pro-abortion, as Santorum is pro-life – and, denying medical care to newborns is not a winning electoral argument.
We are well-positioned to stop Obama if we carry Pennsylvania, and Rick Santorum is the candidate most likely to do that.
David123
Santorum is the least-likely candidate to do that.
NightTwister (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 5:08PM EST (link)He’s an empty suit. We just elected one of those 3 years ago. Not interested in another one just because he has an (R) after his name.
Obama’s infanticide positions were well known and didn’t keep him from being elected last time. I don’t see it being a game-changer in this election either.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. – Winston Churchill
Contrarception is Next
greenpoint Monday, January 23rd at 5:51AM EST (link)Santorum and the Catholic Church are now carefully expanding the Pro Life movement to include birth control. If you want to see millions of American voters heading for the GOP off ramp, try selling that bill of goods to independents et.al.
Rick missed his true calling. He’s is much better suited to be the first American Pope than he is for the Presidency.
Phony liberal attack smear against Santorum
Freedoms Truth (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 9:09PM EST (link)Where do you get this phony baloney about ‘theocrtic’??
Santorum is a mainstream conservative, prolife and profamily.
and if you take Romney or Newt at their words, they have the SAME positions on life, marriage, etc.
It’s offensive and wrong to bring phony liberal attack memes against Santorum.
The rest is arguable as well … but please lay the theocrat SMEAR – and it is a SMEAR – to rest.
Freedoms Truth,
Travis Monitor – http://travismonitor.blogspot.com
Austin, TX
It's not a smear; it's a common and colloquial misuse of a word
aesthete (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 9:37PM EST (link)that is being used to express the concept that Santorum endorses government force to regulate sectarian morality and cultural mores at the expense of freedom. Supporting anti-sodomy laws, a ban on violent video games, and federal smoking bans is very outside the mainstream. Conceptualizing liberty as being merely “the freedom to attend to one’s duties—duties to God, to family, and to neighbors” (from his book “It Takes a Family”) is outside of the conservative mainstream, at least since Goldwater and Reagan. Compelling others to adhere to one’s own religious convictions at the expense of their own liberty, and funded by the public purse, is not theocratic by a strict definition, but it is abhorrent and touches on the concept, in much the same way that calling Obama a socialist is not entirely accurate, but nonetheless acceptable as shorthand (however inaccurate that shorthand might be).
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
misuse, smear, over-statement, whatever
Freedoms Truth (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 11:14PM EST (link)Santorom has never been about “Compelling others to adhere to one’s own religious convictions” He is not a theocrat. Using that term is the rhetoric of the anti-religous left. If t you think Santorum’s support for DOMA and traditional marriage is wrong you are opposing the GOP platform. his agenda is in the mainstream of conservative positions. Here it is:
www.issues2000.org/Rick_Santorum.htm
100s of votes … lower spending, less regulation ,for education choice, for drilling in ANWR, for giving states more control in education, medicaid, healthcare, etc. their conclusion “Rick Santorum is a Hard-Core Conservative. ”
Attacking a catholic Chestertonesque defender of traditional values while quoting Chesterton? … Irony!
Freedoms Truth,
Travis Monitor – http://travismonitor.blogspot.com
Austin, TX
"Chestertonesque" according to you.
aesthete (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 11:30PM EST (link)Considering that Chesterton was neither a conservative nor a politician, I’d say that one’s up for debate.
I don’t know what you would call wanting to subsidize various faith-based organizations and proselytizing with public funds, strong support of anti-sodomy laws (?!?!), supporting government spending on charity based on Scripture, characterizing freedom as “the freedom to attend to one’s duties—duties to God, to family, and to neighbors”, and attacking individualistic expressions of liberty. I call it an improper imposition of my faith onto people who don’t share it, and an inappropriate use of government power and funds.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
Theocratic is the term the media and liberals will use.
NightTwister (Diary) Sunday, January 22nd at 12:16PM EST (link)And it will stick. You might not like that, and you might not think it’s fair or accurate, but politics rarely is.
I’m a strong, committed, social conservative, but I do not believe it is the government’s duty to enforce Christian scriptural commands. It is the duty of each Christian as an individual. The only thing I agree with (to the dismay of my more libertarian-minded friends) is that there should be some base level of short-term charity that the government provides.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. – Winston Churchill
hypocrite, vulture capitalist, etc. will be used
Freedoms Truth (Diary) Sunday, January 22nd at 12:40PM EST (link)by the left. And they will do even worse in 2012.
That doesnt give Redstaters free rein to adopt the same false negative attacks.
I defended Gingrich, Romney *and* Santorum all against false attacks, in the past 2 weeks, right here on Redstate. It’s horrible and depressing how self-destructive some of our own activists have become, with the scotched-earth approach of stirring phony negative attacks.
Your statement here:
“I do not believe it is the government’s duty to enforce Christian scriptural commands.”
is a strawman.
So you oppose laws against murder? Of course not.
Santorum is no different. No once in his 24 years in public service has he proposed or supported a policy because of scripture. Rather, he proposes and support what he thinks will make America a better nation. His values informs his thinking … Romney and Gingrich have said the same.
So why the strawman? Why defend or add to phony memes and strawman claims? Sadly, this is about attacking people to ‘take them out’ rather than honest truth-seeking.
Freedoms Truth,
Travis Monitor – http://travismonitor.blogspot.com
Austin, TX
I've been more reasonable.
NightTwister (Diary) Sunday, January 22nd at 1:00PM EST (link)I’ve been highlighting what the other side will use against all of the candidates throughout the process.
If you can’t handle it from your own side, you can’t handle it from the other side.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. – Winston Churchill
The left can attack ANY of our candidates as being "theocrats" who want to end a "woman's right to choose"
David123 (Diary) Sunday, January 22nd at 7:02PM EST (link)With Santorum, it’s the only attack they’ve got.
Also, with Santorum you know that he deeply believes in saving innocent human life, including unborn innocent human life. With Romney, who knows what he really believes, but he’s said enough that he can also be portrayed as being a “theocrat” out to destroy a “woman’s right to choose.”
The left will probably use other attacks on Romney or Gingrich because they’ve got more to choose from.
David123
They've got plenty of successful attacks to choose from with Santorum
aesthete (Diary) Sunday, January 22nd at 7:06PM EST (link)many of which were on display in his failed re-election bid in Pennsylvania.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
Santorum's problem is that it's the only "issue" he's got.
mbecker908 (Diary) Sunday, January 22nd at 7:13PM EST (link)He can talk about “conservative” stuff ’till hell freezes over, but his record speaks so loud he can’t be heard.
Santorum - More Electable and More Conservative
rino Saturday, January 21st at 4:25PM EST (link)People should ask themselves: if elected president who do they trust to fill his cabinet with more – and more solid – conservatives, Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich?
Santorum is Bush II
Neil Stevens (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 4:56PM EST (link)If you liked Bush, and don’t think we can do better, vote for him.
RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Disagree, Neil. Bush was a competent executive.
acat (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 5:03PM EST (link)Santorum has never run anything (except his mouth…) in his entire career.
Mew
——
Caveat Suffragator
America was doing well under Bush
David123 (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 5:06PM EST (link)at least until the Democrats took over Congress in 2006.
Overall, Bush was a good president. And NOW, when people post those Bush pictures with the caption, “Miss me yet?” I sure agree with it.
David123
Miss me yet isn't as much acceptance of Bush
NightTwister (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 5:11PM EST (link)as it is rejection of Obama. Yeah, he’s that bad.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter. – Winston Churchill
Now that we can see the absolute scum that comprises
Tbone (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 5:14PM EST (link)the Congressional Republican leadership, I would say that Bush did very well being shackled by those bozos.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
Very well then
Neil Stevens (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 5:13PM EST (link)Then go ahead and vote for him.
But Santorum represents the same kind of soft, “compassioniate” conservatism Bush ran on.
RS contributing editor, technical administrator, and “a hardy variety of crabgrass.”
Read the RedState Posting Rules
Unlikely Voter: Poll Analysis, Election Projection.
“I rejoice that America has resisted.” – William Pitt, the Elder
Heh.
aesthete (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 9:11PM EST (link)GWB was a stand-up guy, but he was a terrible President on virtually all domestic issues that conservatives care about, and his general mix of policies seriously turned off independents (especially prosecution of the Iraq war). “Miss me yet?” is emblematic of how terrible Obama was, not how awesome GWB is thought to be by voters.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
Bush was a good man shackled by Rove
bluerose75 Tuesday, January 24th at 12:25PM EST (link)Bush was a stronger conservative than people realize but he let that Establishment wonk Rove come up with “Compassionate Conservatism” and that hamstrung him for his Presidency. People like Rove and Morris do not go to the toilet without taking a poll or sticking their finger in the air. Neither has a dime worth of principle!
As a result, Bush plundered on several domestic policies and that hurt him! He needed to fire Rove and show the true conservative he is!! However, I agree with Neil on Santorum. He is a good man but I do not think he would be able to battle the conservative cause either…he would be soft! He is also an Insider like Mitt and Newt. Rick just does not have the ability to sway! I fear he would govern like Bush as well….he would allow someone to tie his hands!
Newt.
mbecker908 (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 8:53PM EST (link)Santorum is a joke. And a bad one.
I'm still digesting
sunshinek67 (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 4:31PM EST (link)the alleged corrupt pay to play endorsement from VanderPlaat in Iowa, the subsequent endorsement of the near equal alleged corrupt evangelical TX leadership (perhaps sans $$)…..and he represents BIG government, no getting around his record. Will Spencer on Twitter just sent to thousands of his followers every bullet point from Ericksons article. Absolutely terrible horrible voting record for limited, smaller government.
Besides, hundreds of Tea Party activists are lining up with Newt. That will make a difference, grassroots.
Taxes are to Collect Revenues. Not Promote Fairness.
quill67 (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 5:50PM EST (link)I have to agree with Santorum on one point: Taxes should be lower on companies that can avoid those taxes by locating overseas. Some see this as picking winners in the economy, but it is also economic reality. We tax some goods more highly than others because some taxes are harder to avoid (or they are goods customers still buy the good (and thus pay the tax) even in the presence of the tax) Why do we put taxes on alcohol but not vegetables?
Manufacturers sell their goods all around the world and sometimes only a very small percentage in the US. So when they decide where to locate, the tax they pay is an important factor. The US has the highest corporate tax rate in the world and if you don’t get special deductions written into the law, it is too expensive to produce here, AND unlike many countries, the US taxes profits made on overseas sales. Therefore, if we want manufacturing jobs to come back, Santorum’s plan is not bad policy to consider.
Not a big Santorum fan
Ed54 (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 8:32PM EST (link)but I’ll take him over Gingrich any day. At least Santorum is a man of good character.
However, not sure what kind of path you think Santorum has to victory after finishing 3rd in SC, well behind Mitt and Newt. How is he going to compete in Florida with no organization, no money, and the media focusing on the Romney-Gingrich dogfight? Looks like he is running out of altitude, airspeed, and ideas all at once.
So does Santorum pull the plug after tonight, or does he stay in for a few more states as a vanity candidate? If he quits, who gets his votes?
“If all men were just, there would be no need of valor.”
- Agesilaus
ed, i am the liason between santorums florida campaign team and my local tea party group,
mikeymike143 (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 9:17PM EST (link)so i will take a stab at answering your questions.
the feeling in santorums camp is that something might come to to derail newt. momentum is fickle and nobody knows who is going to go up or down so we are in it for the long haul. and we are actually doing pretty well in electoral votes. expect santorum to stay the course.
and the people who are saying santorum has no chance are the exact same people who were saying perry was a ”lock to win” a couple of months ago. LOL
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Ed54 (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 9:40PM EST (link)It’s certainly possible that Newt will turn his flamethrower on himself, LOL.
“If all men were just, there would be no need of valor.”
- Agesilaus
Maybe since Romney doesn't want to debate, Newt and Rick can talk about the issues ala Lincoln- Douglas.
SoFiMil (Diary) Sunday, January 22nd at 1:23AM EST (link)Just make sure to not invite Ron Paul.
www.suvstrategery.blogspot.com
Santorum won't be the nominee
Freedoms Truth (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 9:25PM EST (link)Santorum made the best case he could that somehow this is a 3-man race … but it isnt.
Santorum is 3rd or 4th nationally. Romney will be the nominee UNLESS there is a SINGLE, strong conservative alternative that stops him.
Gingrich in SC became that alternative – and then some.
Santorum was 10 votes from losing to Romney in IA, Santorum lost to Romney in NH, and now lost to Romney, coming in 3rd in SC.
That’s a fine performance, beating out half a dozen other wannabes, but it still is 3rd place, and the nomination doesnt need or want a 3rd place finisher going forward.
If Newt got a heart attack and died tomorrow, even under those considtions, Santorum wouldnt or couldnt beat Romney.
The only candidate who has a chance to beat Romney at this point is Gingrich.
Freedoms Truth,
Travis Monitor – http://travismonitor.blogspot.com
Austin, TX
Interesting assumption
Ed54 (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 9:43PM EST (link)Implicit in your comments is the belief that Santorum’s voters would go to Newt. I’m not so sure about that. According to the SC exit polls, most of Santorum’s support was among values voters. Some of them will stay away from Romney because of his past waffling on abortion. But I would expect many to have serious trouble voting for a man who has cheated on and divorced two sick spouses.
“If all men were just, there would be no need of valor.”
- Agesilaus
No assumption about what Santorum voters would do
Freedoms Truth (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 10:20PM EST (link)My only assumption is that Santorum cant catch Romney, and therefore has zero chance of getting the nomination.
Freedoms Truth,
Travis Monitor – http://travismonitor.blogspot.com
Austin, TX
You can stick a fork in Santorum.
Tbone (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 9:51PM EST (link)He needs to quit and get out of the way.
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
Well, he isnt throwing in tonight.
snowshooze (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 9:55PM EST (link)And he gave a great speech.
But absolutely, we need to get behind Newt.
Were Mitts lips moving during the speech
Tbone (Diary) Saturday, January 21st at 10:12PM EST (link)or was Santorum just going to invoice Mitt later?
Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.
Ha. I was thinking about the same.
snowshooze (Diary) Sunday, January 22nd at 1:14AM EST (link)Santorum is probably near busted. One guy could help.
Romney needs to quit now
Freedoms Truth (Diary) Tuesday, January 24th at 1:13PM EST (link)The whole plutocrat thing is blowing up on him
… and that would be interesting would it not …
Who would HE endorse if HE quit.
Freedoms Truth,
Travis Monitor – http://travismonitor.blogspot.com
Austin, TX
Santorum just needs to not quit.
anotherindyfilmguy (Diary) Monday, January 23rd at 9:29AM EST (link)Go hit the pavement in Florida. Newt and Romney are doing a good job of destroying each other. With newt and Romney going after each other in negative ways just keep a positive message going and win by not being the politics as usual guy like the two other front runners.
Santorum? Well, at least he’s not Romney…
http://www.zazzle.com/enemy_of_the_statist_tshirt-235977043035297478
Rick Santorum is a great guy, but....
MojoMan (Diary) Tuesday, January 24th at 11:56AM EST (link)He is just not cut from Presidential cloth.
I like his stances on social issues and many other issues as well. However, he really does not have the accomplishments, the life experiences or the demonstrated leadership skills to recommend him as a candidate for President of the United States. He also does not have the gravitas, the passion, or the record as an agent of change that we so desperately need in such a time as this.
When we vote for a candidate, it should not be only because of his stated positions on the issues or his ideological purity. Leadership and the ability to push through the kind of agenda of change that will be required to get these ideas implemented is also hugely important.
Unfortunately, Rick Santorum does not come across as someone who is going to be able to get done what needs to be done. As a result, he should not be the next President of the United States.
However, if he were to become the nominee, which appears increasingly unlikely, I will certainly support him in the general election.