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PHOENIX, AZ -- Rick Santorum told a crowd of Arizona Republicans today that he was "an outsider when he was inside" Washington, arguing he fought corruption and wasteful spending during his 16 years in Congress.
In his first campaign stop in Arizona, the former Pennsylvania senator pushed back against the onslaught of attacks he is now facing with his rise as a frontrunner in the Republican presidential contest. Rival Ron Paul released a television ad in Michigan today attacking Santorum's spending record and Mitt Romney's campaign blasted out another round of opposition research calling Santorum a career politician.
But here at a Lincoln Day Luncheon, Santorum said that despite his time serving both in the House and Senate, he was never part of the Washington establishment.
"When we came to Congress, we came and we shook things up to its very core," Santorum said about himself and former Rep. Frank Riggs, who now serves as the campaign's Arizona state chairman.
Without using Romney's name, Santorum said the former Massachusetts governor can portray himself as a Washington outsider due to his 1994 Senate bid.
"I think it’s really fascinating that here’s the guy who was outside of Washington, who was not a Senator or Congressman—not because he didn’t try—he just never got elected,” Santorum said.
"You see all these commercials, Rick Santorum is a big spender, but they never once mention, talk about how I voted for any increase in the appropriation bills. Why? Because I never did," said Santorum. "I voted to cut appropriation bills. They never talk about how I voted for a tax increase. Why? Because I never did in 16 years of public life … I voted for smaller government, lower taxes, less regulation -- the things that we need desperately in this country."
Showing a renewed interest in Santorum, the Romney campaign was quick to counter. Ryan Williams, a spokesman from Romney, emailed out a statement: “Republican primary voters have a clear choice. Mitt Romney spent his career helping turn around companies, the Olympics, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. At the same time, Congressman/Senator Rick Santorum spent his career in Washington, voting repeatedly to increase the debt ceiling and his own pay."
Santorum, latest Republican candidate to surge in the polls, is finding renewed scrutiny not only from his rival candidates, but also the national media. Recent comments questioning President Obama's theology and suggesting the president discriminates against disabled people have put under the microscope.
"Will you be the generation that sat on the sidelines and watched as candidate after candidate comes up and the national media takes their axe out to try to destroy them in every way possible as they’ve done with every single republican candidate," Santorum said.
Initially, Santorum advisers did not view Arizona as a state where they could have much impact, but recent polls show him closer than expected to Romney ahead of the state's Feb. 28 primary.
Santorum will hold a rally in Phoenix tonight before heading to Tuscan for an event ahead of Wednesday night's debate.
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Obama 2012 Hillary 2016 a big shout out and thank you to the Republicans
"WOMEN of AMERICA UNITE and VOTE FOR YOUR RIGHTS"
OBAMA 2012 / CLINTON 2016
Bush had a silver spoon in his mouth.Only god knows what's in his mouth...Ricky is now the great divider,out doing Bush and Cheney...Santorum is the reincarnation of Elmer Gantry.....
And now folks a look at the Radical Fundamentalist Wing of America. It's been there all the time they just kept them in the closet with the rest of the Republican skeletons. Have a good laugh before they lock them up again
David Axlerod will be the happiest man on Earth if Santorum wins the Republican nomination.
This douche spent 2008 campaigning throughout Pennsylvania telling we voters just how connected he was and how we couldn't afford not to re-elect him. We paid no attention hopefully the country will follow suit. Given the ultimate power this man would make his brand of religion, which bears no resemblance to Catholicism, a requirement for citizenship, people such as myself would doubtless be sent for re-education. Reminds me a lot of Stalin or Mao just a matter of different priorities.
jkh
Excellent point Jim.
Santorum will always be an outsider, as he should be.
You can NOT be an outsider in Washington for 16 years, not to mention the contacts and close ties you have to have with other members of Congress in order to get millions of dollars in earmark money approved by your peers. Just ask Mississippi lobbyist and former Governor Haley Barbour just how "close" you have to be to a whole lot of folks before they turn over millions of dollars for Santorum to take back to Pennsylvania.
Santorum is a disgusting liar.
Obama / Biden 2012
For once "SANITARIUM" has told the "TRUTH"! "I AM AN INSIDE OUTER"...
Poor, poor Father Santorum, what a shame for such a priestly individual. So what else is new? You're still an outsider.
Oh Please, oh please, oh please let Santorum be the GOP nominee! I've never seen a 20%-80% loss in ANY national election. This may be my only chance!
Wow. This guy doesn't want to take responsibility for anything. Pathetic loser!
My BS meter just shot off the scale again
Rick --- DO YOU EVER STOP LYING??? You voted for all the massive Bush spending.
That's so true, Charlie. Anyone who thinks that Rick isn't a liar is suffering from a severe case of craniorectal inversion.
The Republican Party --- the party of such great leaders as Lincoln, TR. Eisenhower and Reagan is committing suicide. The party of “smaller government” is now requiring women in Virginia women to have evasive medical treatments. In Virginia, the government now dictates the doctor -patient relationship. Rick Santorum believes the states have the right to outlaw birth control. He wants to not only eliminate all federal aid to education, he wants to mandate no state funding for education. He has suggested that women should not be in the workforce. What’s next – overturning the 19th amendment?
The reelection of President Obama is no longer in question. He will win a second term. The only question for this election cycle is how long his coattails will be. Can the House flip? Can the Democrats pick up seats in the Senate? The question for the future is will the Republican oarty continue to exist or will it go the way of the Whig Party of the 19th century?
President Lincoln wouldn't recognize the Republican Party of today. Not only will they go all the way back to the Whig Party of the 19th century, but possibly even the depths of the "Know Nothing" party. No wait! They're already the Know Nothing Party. My mistake. :0)
He was an outsider becuase no one likes him
Dustin, somebody liked him because they voted to give him millions in "earmarks" to take back to Pennsylvania, which he has already bragged about.
Santorum must be stuck in the "moment" and is floating on air because he thinks those crowds he's talking to believe every word he says. So what does Santorum do? Lie, of course!
Obama / Biden 2012
Isn't this the same sob who thought that the TAXPAYER'S of this country should PAY for his children's education?
He was definitely not an outsider. Now if he said he is nuts, that I would believe.
Of course you were an outsider, Little Ricky........BUT one thing that never changes is you are and have always been a crazy "Jesus Freak".
I'd say he's an "outsider" in the same sense that the participants in the "YFZ Ranch" in Texas or the "Westboro Baptist Church" are "outsiders". That is, he's an outsider because he's prone to expressing his extremist religious beliefs in socially inappropriate ways, and it turns nearly everyone off to the point that they don't want to associate with him.
In this sense, he's like the fat kid in third grade who thought it was cool to fart all the time...thought it would win friends and influence people. Except, Santorum's figurative farts reek of unreasoned theology he'd like to impose on the rest of us...query whether this is more or less offensive than the smell of literal farts.
Rick Santorum is an outsider anywhere he goes, except maybe at some militia compound in the middle of Idaho. He makes Reverend Jim Jones look sane by comparison. Scary.
Well he is not outside enough for me...How about outside our boarders! I think the Vatican is calling...GO! Just GO!!!
What Ricky Santorum DIDN'T say was that he really, really, really wanted to be a big-boy insider while he was in Washington DC. But the other big boys could tell how really, really, really CRAZY Ricky is...and wouldn't tell him the password to their clubhouse.
Based on his current attitude, demeanor, and respect for others it is easy to see why no one could stand being around him or with him. He is a typical right wing Screwball that thinks he knows it all and he is always right. He has no TRAITS that would want anyone other than his family[ Which they have to like him] to associate with him . A BORN loser. How do you expect the population of the United States to vote for him when he just got kicked out of office by his own HOME STATE.!!!!!!!!! by by loser!!!
Rick Santorum is an outsider to the human race.
This going to happen in America: Listen to all the GOP & Teabaggers R the party of No: No & Newt: that wants to go to the moon. & Mitt: sending his money off shore, so he doesn't have to pay Taxes.T Its all about the Wealthy getting richer and the middle class getting poorer.....They don't want to help out the poor, I do mean the poor not the lazy good for nothings...Who are the one's that leach off the taxpayer. They: are the Wealthy that get welfare both for themselves or for the Corps.TRUE So really All party are at fault...But it seems that the Wealthy get away with it like the .(.Democrat )... They steal billions and the few poor steals a few thousands. So what does the GOP want to do is Screw the MIddle Class to get even with the few. As I say its the me me me and F everyone else.... The failures of the Republicans party trying to take away SS and Medicare so they can give their wealthy Blackmailers more money... To hell with the Poor and Needy. Let them freeze in the winter and stave the Old and Babies,let them die from bad water, do away with the EPA and thats what you'll have, just like all you Teabaggers want...You make me sick with your Me Me Me altitude. It just a matter of time before the masses raise up against you . Greedy and you all call yourself Christains.Christains: What a laugh: Your no better than all the Muslims you all hate. Wake up America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WAKE UP. We R Next in line...Stop the crooked Banks and Wall Street.