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PUNTA GORDA, FL -- Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum stressed his humble roots and blue-collar background on the campaign trail Tuesday, the same day GOP primary rival Mitt Romney released tax records underscoring his impressive wealth.
Santorum was careful not to seize on Romney's millions, explaining that he does not begrudge the former Massachusetts governor's wealth.
"People ask me, 'What do you think about Mitt Romney, you know, making a gazillion dollars last year?' Good for him, that's what I say, good for him," Santorum told a tea party group here. "I wish I'd a made some gazillion dollars last year. I'd be in a little better shape financing my own campaign like he's done."
After heavy criticism for initially resisting releasing the documents, Romney today made public his tax records, showing the presidential hopeful earned a total of $42.5 million in 2010 and 2011. Romney has acknowledged that his previous hesitancy to share the records became a distraction in the days leading up the South Carolina primary, in which Romney finished a distant second to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Unlike some of his GOP rivals, Santorum has avoided critiquing Romney's private sector experience as CEO of investment firm Bain Capital. But while he has shied away from attacks on Romney's business background, he frequently contrasts their backgrounds while on the campaign trail.
Speaking at a rally in Stuart, FL today, Santorum told the story of his immigrant grandfather who labored in the coalmines of Pennsylvania, working to bring his family to America. The personal account drew national attention after the former Pennsylvania senator shared it the night of the Iowa caucus, and it has since become a staple on the trail.
It is those working class roots that will help Santorum win over blue-collar Americans in swing states, Santorum argues.
"The question is how well people can relate to him. That's a question that the voters will decide," he said when asked about what Romney's financial records say about the candidate.
But on the stump over the past month, Santorum has made a much more passionate contrast between his and Romney’s life story. In the days leading up the South Carolina primary, Santorum told a crowd in Greenville, SC. "I respect Mitt Romney’s career in business, but as the grandson of a coal miner, who grew up in public housing in a steel town in Western Pennsylvania...and whose record is a track record of working in those blue collar communities, [I have] a much better chance of winning those states than an executive from Bain Capital."
Santorum still have yet to release his own tax records, saying he will when he is able to return home to look at them.
Santorum said, "Once I get home, we'll get them out. I’m not everybody else who has teams of accountants and corporations, I mean, it's just me."
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Santorum has character, but hard pressed for electability. He appears a bit young and inexperienced... Kinda like Obama was and still is. Still, anyone but Obama is much better and will help this country.
I almost fell off my chair a little while ago. MSN has a headline story about Obama... It was brutally honest, no buttering of the president... After reading it, MSN's stock went up a little in my book. I didn't know they had journalists that could truly write an honest assessment of Obama.
What parallel universe do YOU inhabit?
Character?
Like not having the balls to stand up and correct a crazy lady in FL on President Obama being a Muslim!
Dude - you need some serious help...
Stick to falling off your chair - at least it's a explanation for your obvious brain damage!
PS: And here I thought you were stroking Newt all this time! lmao!
You beat me to it Feisty. Sounds like ol' Brian has coward worship. Coward is not a character trait. John Wayne is turning in his grave with this crop of yella bellies.
President Obama and Santorum don't belong in the same sentence, much less in the same realm of character.
Brianb-lotsa#s, Anyone who would bring a Dead Baby Home so thier other children could see it, has the Character equivalent to a Sadistic DumbA$$. No wonder most on here Ignores your post.
Santorum has Character! Now thats Funny I don't care who you are!
ROFLMAO@
Occupy SoggyBottom!
You know what Louis... you are absolutely correct. We need to throw Obama out and when he's gone dance around the flagpole singing "Oh happy day!"
Hey my friends, Brianb's hoping to enlighten progressives...now isn't that an oxymoron? And he's going to sway opinions by insulting 99% of the readers here...and that's just moronic.
Agreed Rick, KY, the dead baby thing was so strange to me.....never heard of such, unless it was 100 years ago.
Santorum is really afflicted with,.....don't know, but he needs help. Women are only worth being breeders, ...controlled breeders!
Oh yeah Rick... you were there... you saw the whole thing... right? You didn't get the information second hand...
That's OK Rick... you're braindead and someone brought you home.
Ursula... You can't insult liberals... that's a physical impossibility. They don't think for themselves in the first place... and what they do think about is so patently absurd it belongs on other planets.
BB Boy,
None of the RepubliCON/T Potty have character they are all spineless invertebrates. Get the dictionary and look up the word man. You'll see none of them are characteristic of human beings. They are more in sic with the reptiles; particularly snakes.
Peak vs Peek : A Look at Romney
http://media.talkingpointsmemo.com/slideshow/mitt-romney-taxes
Romney called his tax liability "entirely legal and fair."
And, he added, "I pay all the taxes that are legally required and not a dollar more. I don't think you want someone as the candidate for president who pays more taxes than he owes."
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That is exactly what America is talking about. What about Romney's Swiss and Caymen Island bank accounts which he pays no taxes on? No wonder Romney cannot relate to the average Joe or Jane. Also, that is hardly fair.
Moreover, tax shelters don't really help the US economy. How can these so called American loving individuals really be considered PATRIOTS? Mind you BB Boy, Mr. Romney, Gingrich, Santorum, Paul, and the rest of the ilk have all called one of the most humble and caring Presidents in our history, President Barack Obama... anti-American, American hater, Socialist, European, Kenyan, Muslim, terrorist, the Constitution trampler, Arab, racist, divider, creator class warfare, prayed for his children to be fatherless, and just everything but a child of God. How ironic is Romney?
Romney can not be of sound intellect; neither can his chief rival, Newton Gingrich be nor you Brianb. Romney says-- "Obama Isn't Working ".
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/1/24/1327432760143/Mitt-Romnney-in-Tampa-Flo-007.jpg
Guess What? Romney isn't working either? Romney made his money form bleeding companies dry.
Hundreds of workers lost their jobs. Stockholders were left with worthless shares. Creditors and vendors were paid less than 50 cents on the dollar.
http://www.massresistance.org/romney/ampad_062607/index.html
By noon Romney makes more than the average Joe or Jane does in a year. And it's legal for Romney to live off other people money!!! Indeed what America has here is "failure to communicate"
John Boehner is crying before the President even opened his mouth that the President is politicizing and using the same old failed polices.
Perhaps, the Grimm Weeper should reflect upon the "Master Plan" the Republican have; as laid out by Senate Minority speaker McConnell who said his his job is to " make President Obama a one term president" before the President even raised his hand on a Bible or Koran to take the highest oath of office in America. It's been documented.
Before the health care fight, before the economic stimulus package, before President Obama even took office, Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican minority leader, had a strategy for his party: use his extensive knowledge of Senate procedure to SLOW things down, take advantage of the difficulties Democrats would have in governing and deny Democrats any Republican support on big legislation
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/us/politics/17mcconnell.html?pagewanted=all
Yes, Speaker Boehner it is you Republicans and Tea Potty people who have dragged this country in the the mud with your "obfuscation".
It's a sin and a shame these devils want to muddy America!!!
I will repeat the NYT article until you righties get it. You repeat Lies. repeat truth
Which is why day after day BB continues to lick the remainder of his balls! ;o)
Come on BB - give US all a huge SLURP but don't swallow little dude!
The only flagpole I am aware of is the one up your....
SPIN it for us BB - WE know you can do it!
No betty... It's way too much fun watching you stroke Obama. We see how you have such a grip on his outstanding poll numbers.... The real interesting thing is the look in your eyes though... The worship.. the reverent awe... gotta watch the drooling though... you might leave a stain on his pants.
Beverly - how come you always reign in a Bevism? In your quest to quickly quell my post, you overlooked one thing. I don't want Romney to get the nomination. I've been saying on these boards for weeks, how I want Romney to drop out of the race and go away. You really have to pay much more attention.
Go suck on a bottle of Oxy-Clean BB - according to the instructions it will clean up ANY stain!
Including your's... ;o)
A cowardly @!$%# like you should be familiar with it by now....
Hey Betty - you must have done a great job on Obama... he's standing up right now preaching to the democrats about how he has changed the economy and how everything is just wonderful... and he's even talking about American values... The thing I wonder is how does he understand anything about values... Now he's bragging on how he made GM number one... I predicted he would do this yesterday.
Good job Betty... you made him feel great. I can only imagine the "Hummer" you gave him.
Betty - you must be an expert on stains. I invested in Depends stock as soon as I realized you existed. I've made a ton of money doing it too. I never realized you bought so many.
Now your lover is telling everyone how he won't stand by while our competitors won't play by the rules... yet he'll cheat on you and go suck up to the chinese when he wants more money to cover his spending habits.
I don't know why I'm listening to his lies... I guess it's because I am keeping tally on all the spin he's creating. The one advantage he has is the ability to turn the SOTU into a campaign speech. Maybe that's why you are so much in love with him. Such a powerful man... btw... how did you find his outstanding poll? Was it enough for you?
Jealous much?
Here is the deal BB - since it's been a decade or better since the last time YOU had to pay for a BJ...
Get back to me little buddy when you are UP current on events.... k?
Until then, YOU shall remain as irrelevant as the rest of the right wing nuts, please do consider your stock in lube, tissues and Rosy Palm! ;o)
Are we clear NOW?
Until we meet again...
XOXO,
Betty!
I think it's 'crystal' Feisty... but I'm certain he won't get it. Sounds like BB is a 'glutton' for punishment. Also has some 'envy' issues... that last one was for his (BB) Romney Worship.
Santorum has been playing rather nice to both Romney AND Newt. Is he looking for a VP spot?
phancy - That's a good possibility. May not be the best choice for VP, but Santorum does have supporters that he can throw one way or the other.... Let's make a deal! LOL
This Floridian is already tired of the dog and pony show .
I am catching up on my reading - the tv stays off!
lol hi ya phine , luckily work is picking up so i am outta the house alot . 1 dock job and 2 seawalls this month . its looking up .
What part of Florida? I am in NE FL on coast.
"help this country"? By eliminating Soc Sec & Medicare to pay for his bedroom police?
HA! that's the best comment here - thanks for the chuckle, Guy!
New Port Richey , But I travel as necessary . The Mrs . likes me better with a pay check . Go figure. LOL
Yeah we are on a canal on the gulf . 1/2 mile or so .
St. Augustine. 3 blocks from beach, 1 block from intercoastal. Yep, we wives are funny about liking those paychecks! LOL Luckily, Mr. phinephancy doesn't have to travel much any more. Occasional seminar (HVACR supervisor)
My favorite aunt went to graduated from Flagler . St Aug is a beautiful place .
Did she stay in one of the "haunted" dorm rooms? LOL
Next time you come this way, the favorite hang out is Scarlett O'Hara's for anyone and anything Flagler. The even have a house red ale!
have fun phine watching the sotu
Secretary Clinton looks so youthful, downright cute!
...and My President is the most handsome guy in the room.......
Obama/Biden 2012
There was nothing in this speech that told me Obama has any kind of plan to create jobs...Anyone can get up there and give a shout out to our great Navy Seals and get a standing ovation for it cause our Military is the best. Seems that is all Obama could do to get a standing ovation. He is a failed president and he knows it. Why did he not talk about how he plans to bring in jobs. why dod he not talk about how he plans on bringing down our debt. These are the problems..the BIG problems facing Americans and yet he did not address this with any kind of plan...Thank God we only have to put up with this guy for another 9 moths....next time you vote..Please vote for the American!~
beanne, where have you been for the past three years? President Obama has made attempt after attempt to create jobs, but GOP/TP has shot him down each time. Did you really watch the speech last night? I heard our President talk of creating jobs and remember when he said to use the money that was being on Iraq war, half of it to reduce our debt and half of the money for infrastructure repair, which would create jobs. You must have selective hearing.