Paul Zummo writes a great piece at American Catholic about Rick Santorum and his puzzlement as to why Catholic conservatives aren’t supporting Senator Santorum. Why?
The guy’s a conservative. He’s Catholic. Really Catholic.
I think at some level this kind of stuff becomes self fulfilling. With Rick scoring so low in the polls, when people are asked who they want for President they kinda’ think saying Santorum is tossing their choice away so they pick from between the current batch of big names like Romney, Gingrich, and Cain (still?).
Paul Zummo lists a number of other valid reasons including Santorum’s endorsement of Specter over Toomey. I can tell you I lived in Pennsylvania and I spoke to many pro-lifers who felt betrayed by Santorum over his endorsement and they thought they couldn’t do worse on that issue with Bob Casey, the son of a famous pro-life Democrat. (How’d that work out for ya’?)
There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to go for Rick because I think he’s easily demonized. It was the same reason I was skittish about Sarah Palin. The media has done so much damage to Santorum and Palin that trying to get them elected would be difficult.
But I think for the time being when asked by anyone and everyone I’ll say I’m throwing my weight behind Rick Santorum. Honestly, if I had my druthers of which one to pick, I’d pick Rick. I trust him the most. It ain’t even close actually. Well, wait I also trust Ron Paul to never lie to me but I just don’t like what he says some of the time.
But check out Zummo’s piece. It’s definitely worth a read. I think he’s right on.
December 2, 2011 at 3:18 am
geronimo:
To be perfectly blunt you're simply a one note Charlie who mouths the same talking points about Ron Paul and people not named Ron Paul endlessly. You bring no new facts to the debate, offer no fresh perspective, and are simply a bore. To feign offense about supposed name calling when you call people warmongers and other things just indicates that you're a hypocrite to boot. Frankly, it would be as useful arguing with a brick wall as it would to attempt to engage in conversation with someone like you.
So have a nice life.
December 2, 2011 at 3:23 am
Zummo – you've just proven my point. And you are a warmonger – that's not name-calling, it describes you. So get out of your chair and go enlist and kill some people who are not you.
December 2, 2011 at 3:25 am
Santorum betrayed the pro-life cause once. Judas betrayed Christ once. Peter betrayed Christ once. Only Peter received forgiveness, becase he repented. Judas and Santorum committed suicide. One lost his life, the other his crediability with sincere pro-life Catholics.
Also, Ricky is a neo-con. We need to listen to our founding fathers and get out of intangling alliances with other nations. Bring our troops home to protect our own borders. Israel can take care of itself, like every other nation on the globe can.
December 2, 2011 at 3:27 am
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December 2, 2011 at 3:28 am
I suspect the Paulistas have a special loathing for both Rick and Newt because they've repeatedly schooled Ron Paul in the debates over foreign policy.
Normally, when Rick S gets his snarl going (and that's one of his problems) in a debate, I just wish he'd stop – but when he got it on at Ron Paul as he explained that Iran *didn't* have some right to nuclear weapons… it was, for once, easy to sympathize with the snarl.
Rick Santorum hasn't caught on, despite his many merits, for two reasons: first, his manner is too much the scold. Nobody likes a scold. Second, he is a loser – quite literally – he lost his Senate seat by an enormous margin to an empty suit with a good name. Scold + loser is tough to overcome on a Presidential resume.
December 2, 2011 at 3:32 am
Unfortunately Bob Casey Jr. purported to be pro-life like his father. He lied and people bought it hook, line, and sinker. Casey lied. The people of Pa gave him the benefit of the doubt because of his father. That ain't gonna happen again. I actually think Santorum could beat the pants of Casey Jr. if he ran for the senate seat again.
December 2, 2011 at 3:43 am
Teresa – take a grammar and spelling course.
Also, take a deep breath.
To all the warmongers here – keep up the good work – keep spreading abortion, contraception and homo-marriage throughout the world – that is what you are doing when you support the unjust U.S. wars against other nations.
By the way, did you know that camo-wearing homos can even get married in a base chapel now? That's what you're fighting for – keep up the good work, ladies.
December 2, 2011 at 3:54 am
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December 2, 2011 at 4:00 am
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December 2, 2011 at 4:04 am
Sorry, that's what you are fighting for because that's what the U.S. is. Stop kidding yourself. You might think you're fighting for some idealized notion of "America", but you are fighting for the reality of the U.S., which is an aborting, contracepting, homo-marrying, arrogant, obnoxious, atheistic behemoth.
And the word is Nazi, not Natzi, short for National Socialist. National Socialist – that's another good description of American culture.
Thanks. It's been fun.
December 2, 2011 at 4:17 am
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December 2, 2011 at 4:25 am
I suspect the Paulistas have a special loathing for both Rick and Newt because they've repeatedly schooled Ron Paul in the debates over foreign policy.
He's looked good in the debates, but this is the one issue where I think Santorum is a bit weak. I'm obviously no Paulista, but we can go too far in the opposite direction, and I think Santorum is a bit too naive when it comes to spreading democracy in the Middle East. He's no neocon, but I was disappointed in his cheerleading for intervention in Libya.
Then again, the theme of this entire primary season has been swinging from one extreme to the other.
December 2, 2011 at 4:32 am
I was disappointed with Santorum in his supporting intervention in Libya and when he said that Pakistan must be a friend. We cannot force countries to be our allies. I agree that we can't let the nukes in Pakistan get into the wrong hands but to say that Pakistan must be our friend is a bit naive with what the U.S. has learned about Pakistan in the past few years.
December 2, 2011 at 9:31 am
Whoa! What is with all the foul words Teresa? Please watch your language- you are posting on a Catholic blog!
As for Rick- I do like him a lot as a candidate- but agree with the above poster who called him a "scold." When he is being interviewed or giving speeches he comes across great, but during the debates, I cringed- he does come across as scolding and at times almost petulant. Sadly, he just does not seem to have that charisma that really gets people interested and rooting for him. It shouldn't matter that much, but in reality, it just does.
KM
December 2, 2011 at 10:57 am
Santorum lied about his residency to cheat the taxpayers out of paying for his kids school, supported ARLEN SPECTOR, is economically illiterate and is a warmonger. I realize that warmongering is much beloved of many "religious people but that's why I'm nnot supporting him. I am supporting the man who gets the most miliatry donations, the most donations from government workers, the most donations from small contributors, the man who has explained and predicted all of the economic problems we've had…and been right, and the man who understands that what is best for the US may not be what is best for Israel and vice versa. NONINTERVENTIONIST (and no, Sophias fav, that is not the same things ISOLATIONIST), Ron Paul. Santorum?? Judge the fruit.
December 2, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Any thread where the Paulbots come out to play reinforces my belief that I would sooner eat ground glass than ever cast a vote for Ron Paul (R. Pluto).
As for Santorum, he has a grasp of foreign policy that stands in stark contrast to the libertarian fantasy world inhabited by Paul and his acolytes. Santorum predicted the on-going disaster in Egypt back in June in the well-written, and prescient, piece linked to below:
http://www.eppc.org/publications/pubID.4479/pub_detail.asp
He has a series of these types of analyses of foreign policy issues:
http://www.eppc.org/scholars/scholarID.88,type.1/pub_list.asp
December 2, 2011 at 12:33 pm
It's a little ridiculous to say that the senator representing Pennsylvania lied about being a resident of Pennsylvania. Physically, he resided out of state, but seriously? We're a military family, residents of Florida, but we physically reside in Georgia. I have a Florida driver's license, Florida tags, and I vote in Florida elections. Is that lying?
BTW, I know lots of military folks, and I know nobody who supports Ron Paul.
Santorum's problem is that he refuses to concede that the single issue that matters this year is the economy. He actually has opinions (strong and well-formed) about a wide range of topics, while most of the candidates are grossly ignorant of or completely apathetic to anything other than the unemployment rate and the housing market. And he's a goody-two shoes. Gingrich is also a candidate with broad opinions, but he has a colorful past which makes him, apparently, more likeable. Santorum has my vote; the rest make me want to vomit.
December 2, 2011 at 2:28 pm
KM,
Your right. I get fired up when people push me to my limit, are ignorant and tick me off, though. I deleted all of my postings with unseemly language. But even Jesus got angry in the Temple once….
December 2, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Is home schooling your kids via PA and having your family live with you while you are serving as senator really not residing in Pa? Wouldn't this serve as a good Catholic example for families?
December 2, 2011 at 2:55 pm
They're not supporting Rick Santorum because they're too busy trying to rationalize supporting Ron Paul's and his idolatry of the 10th amendment overriding the combat against moral evils.