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LIVONIA, Mich. -- On the day Mitt Romney criticized him for not focusing enough on the economy, Rick Santorum stressed the need for simplifying the tax code, cutting trillions from the budget and building the Keystone pipeline.
Joe Raedle / Getty Images
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum often splits his time on the stump between focusing on jobs and social issues.
And while the former Pennsylvania laid out his economic plan to a local Chamber of Commerce here, he also pivoted into the social issues that have come to largely define his campaign.
"The separation of church and state that our founders believed in, which is what I just described, has now been turned on its head," he said. "And now, it’s the church, people of faith, who have no right to come to the public square and express their points of view, or practice their faith outside of their church."
That was received with applause from the 300 supporters in attendance.
"All reporters in the back, they say, 'Oh there’s Santorum talking about social issues again,'" he said. "No, I’m talking about freedom.
I’m talking about government imposing themselves on your lives."
The balance between talking about the economy -- which will likely be the most important issue in the Novemeber election -- and social issues has been a delicate one for the Santorum campaign. The candidate often splits his time on the stump between focusing on jobs and focusing on the issues of abortion, the family, and religious freedoms. Now, in a state hit particularly hard by the recession, the former Massachusetts governor is trying to exploit it as a weakness in his rival.
Stumping in Rockford, MI, earlier in the morning, Romney said of Santorum, "It's time for him to really focus on the economy."
Responding to Romney's critique, Santorum told reporters, "Tell him to watch my speech."
On the eve of the Michigan and Arizona primaries, the Romney campaign unveiled a new line of attacks against Santorum, building off his "sometimes you take one for the team" defense of earmarking during last week's debate. Santorum did not use his speech to defend his fiscal record in Congress, but instead split time between portraying himself as a consistent conservative and introducing his plan to rebuild America's manufacturing and energy industries.
"This is a tax plan that isn't conforming to any type of school of economics, because America has its own destiny," Santorum said. "We don't fit into a school. We do our own; we cut our own path; we're Americans; we can do things different, and we can be successful in doing it. Our plan is bold. It doesn't just, you know, take an existing tax code and play around with it in 59 or 69 or 89 different tweaks."
Last year Romney unveiled a 59-point economic plan.
Santorum's first of three stops throughout the Wolverine State compliments an op-ed he in today's Wall Street Journal outlining the major tenants of his plan.
"Capitalism is painful," he said. "We all know markets are painful sometimes. When people dont keep up, when people do things that the market doesn't like, a lot of people suffer. They suffer more if you try to rig the game. I've been consistent on that. I can go after President Obama on that. No one else can in this race can."
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Can ANY Santorum or Romney supporter articulate either candidate's plan to help the economy???
hahahahahahahahahaha
NOT ONE single person on planet Earth can do so.......
How sad is that?
This is an important election and not ONE single person casting a vote for a GOP candidate has a clue in the world on why they are voting other than "It's not Obama".....
It's like right wingers's "Mommy" told them how to vote because they lack the intelligence to go out into the real world on their own.
Thats why they don't want everyone to be educated. I would also like them to tell us specifically which of Obamas values they have issues with, I'm tired of hearing this generic complaint.
oDUMBo happens to be an affirmative action snob. Thats why his college records are seal it willl show he was given 20 point preference for being a minority. I would'nt be surprise if his gay just watch his behavior.
marco's intelligence is sealed...
No it's not.....
There's nothing to seal.
His fear and ignorance is NOT sealed.
On display for all to wish there was a law against being an a=hole.
marco ... crawl back under the rock you live under and turn out the lights, because there is obviously no one home. Get it?
I am protestant and I believe JFK a catholic was one of the best presidents of all time. I believe Rick Santorum's comments about JFK were unfounded and ridiculous.
So far I have not seen signs that any other candidate be it Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, New Gingrich, or President Barack Obama would cross that line between church and state. I am surprised though that Rick Santotum feels that crossing that line is acceptable. That line between church and state is a necessary and absolute line.
That line does not prevent someone from thinking helping others is a good thing, or that Jesus is the son of God, or that your faith required you to confess your sins to a priest.
What that line does is prevent any religion from dictating rules to stomp out another religion or that are specific to a religion. That line only works if it goes both ways.
Allison is that your measuring stick we have cheaper gas then other industralize nation. Those nations you are talking about are also socialist countries with the same agenda as your mastter oDUMBo.
So Romney tells everybody today about when they painted the streets gold and he was there with his daddy...and they check...and Mitt wasn't even born yet when they painted the streets gold !!! But I guess you can't blame him for thinking that the streets are alwas paved in gold !!! What a LYING MORMON !!!!!!
The freedom he is talking about is reserved for those who are willing to follow his rules of faith. Why is it so hard to see that we gave religious freedom to people like him so they would go away and do their little thing away from the rest of us who don't believe in mythical figures who live in other dimensions? People like him always want their cake and eat it, too. We don't want you in our religious affairs but we sure as hell want PUBLIC POLICY that is based on our "faith" system. You would have to be clinically diagnosed with a mental disorder not to see the hypocrisy in that. This is why our fathers wanted them separated from our government, because we need to deal with reality while their God is off playing grab-ass across the universe.
Gettin' higgy with it !!!!!!!!!!
santorum is right on.....i for one am sick of the never ending reach of the federal government.....i can't understand why liberal sheep are such big fans of big government.......i don't need some ahole in DC telling me how to live my life..ANYONE BUT obama IN NOVEMBER!!!
nicknack mcpaddywack go give yer dog the bone...
So you want Santorum to tell you how to worship and what to worship, and if your wife gets raped you have to bear that child and raise it...interesting.
I am not a fan of big government...they rarely do anything well.
I am DEFINITELY for separation of church and state.
They shove the Constitution in our face all the time....but they conveniently forgot about the SEPARATION thing....
cowboy,
They rarely follow the Constitution unless it fits nicely with their views...
They would rather follow and sign the Norquist pact than follow the oath that they gave when they were sworn.
The right wing christian lunatic fringe wants that pesky Separation of Church and State thing to apply only to religions other than theirs. That would make the First Amendment much more convenient for them to completely ignore as they foist their primitive creation myths upon high school science classes, ban books from libraries that offend their tender sensibilities, and display their cults' hateful symbols in public buildings and parks. It's easy to see why Santorum is their man; he doesn't understand Constitutional law anyway, so it would be so much easier for him, as president, to pretend the Constitution doesn't exist.
Sailcat,
And all those Liberal Elite college grads who want to foist critical thinking and evidence and facts and such...they are bad too.
It's crystal clear to me the Republican Party has already shot itself in the head and fallen off the rails at this point, and for the general election in November. The choices are unbelievable; a religious whack job who can only connect with the conservative fringe, and an elitist who cannot connect with middle class Americans. And the lies they are spewing daily to mislead the American people are simply pandering to their bases, and this is completely irresponsible.
After Obama wins the election, the Republican Party is going to have to clean house and go back to the drawing board, starting with a 21st century world view. They are going to have to realize that America is diverse and that you can't win an election in the 21st century without appealing to a broader base of voters.
The price for serving up these idiots...??? The house,seats in the Senate,and four more for Barry...... The price of watching these idiots cannabalize each other...PRICELESS !!!
If we can get the obstructionist conservatives out of Congress we might acuallly get something done.
Santorum is a Theocrat and what he advocates is Theocracy which is against our Constitution. He, like all religious radicals, think that they are divinely guided and that their way is the only way. Religious freedom means you can worship freely. Santorum says he wants less government but what he advocates is that government gets involved in your private life in a invasive way. The Republicans have to decide between Santorum - a Theocrat and Romney - Plutocrat. I can't decide who is scares me most.
Freedom?????
Really?
It seams to me Santorum wants the freedom to IMPOSE his, and only his, religion on America.
Everyone can see this except hard core Christian conservatives...and even some of them should be nervous, as the Protestants and Mormons and every other brand of Christianity is on the table.
Did a guy named paddywhack say Santorum is right?
hahhahahahahahhahahahahahahhahha
Man...I could run for president...Just have to say a few things to get the really stupid moron red neck inbreds in this country riled up about illegals and gays and NASCAR and gas and lazy people and the Bible and taxes and a then.....
BINGO!
20% of the ass clowns in this country will wake up out of their double wides and borrow somebody's internet to post a comment.
hahahhahah
You also have to throw around a few rascist statements like that 'boy' is a muslim and is ruining our country.
They love that one...
I certainly hope Santorum will be giving full throated support of having a place for Islam in the public square.
Wasn't he one of the ones who freaked out about a mosque near ground zero...talk about hypocrisy.
I don't understand why the Republicans aren't bragging about the oil prices. This is the their very best example of freedom of the marketplace. Isn't this, for them, the all-powerful economic elixir that Conservatives hold most dear and constantly state how our country will grow stronger creating more jobs for everybody? Why aren't they running ads showing how this will make a great trickle down for all of us to enjoy. Drink deep of the trickle!
Oh yeah... where is Santorum on the Monsignor being prosecuted in Pennsylvania for hiding a pedophilia ring in the Catholic Church for years? No wonder he would prefer to talk about how he needs to curtail other's religious freedom so he can have his.
Santorum would be the perfect President if the U.S. were an intolerant Christian theocracy where other religions are persecuted. Unfortunately for him and his fringe supporters, the U.S. is a democracy where freedom of religion is a tenet of our Constitution. He appears unable to grasp that basic fact.
He grasps the fact...he rails against it like a preacher on Sunday.
Santorum would be a great radical Islam leader.....
No doubt, no questions...he is what radical Islam is all about.
But who in this country wants more radical religion in their lives???
Raise your hand!!!!
"This is a tax plan that isn't conforming to any type of school of economics, because America has its own destiny," Santorum said. "We don't fit into a school. We do our own;"
That is because Santorum doesn't LIKE school...in school you have to think critically and come to conclusions based on FACTS.
It is so much easier to believe that Santa will take care of everything.
OK..so if the far right thinks Obama is REALLY a socialist,Kenyan,radical Muslim thingy...and they really believe it...then how come they have raised Santorum to the top ?? They KNOW this clown can't win,nor could a one of the other 12 or so morons they trotted out,except Huntsman,and they couldn't except him because he took a job with the BOOGEY MAN !!! Sooo ??? You really don't believe any of your own garbage...you just can't stand the fact that he is BLACK.......thats my take...
"The separation of church and state that our founders believed in, which is what I just described, has now been turned on its head," he said. "And now, it’s the church, people of faith, who have no right to come to the public square and express their points of view, or practice their faith outside of their church."
Yeah, that's why a Bible-thumper is running for President and talking religion constantly on the national airwaves... because Christians are not free to practice their faith outside their church, or to come to the public square and express their points of view. Whatever.
Wow! Is there ANYTHING Sanitarium won't say to try to get elected?!! What a joke! He should have gotten the message years ago when those of us in PA voted his sorry tush out of the Senate.
BY 18% !!!!!!
I wonder why no reporter has questioned Santorum on the Mosque to be built near ground zero...???
I would REALLY like to hear his answer on that.
There is a very good reason why the good people got rid of this nutjob santorum. Ask them. I think santorum is in this race to make Romney look more sane. Also, why do you think the "sane" republicans are sitting out this general election?
you might be onto something Mary.......
correction" good people of PA.
Ron Paul in 1912 ! Yes... and no typo folks!
If Romney wins Michigan, it will be only be due to the "mass exodus" of voters. His plan was to clean out Detroit auto, and said LET THEM DIE in bankruptcy court. His F'ing words, not mine. I hope that Michigan voter's remeber this when they cast their votes.
Santorum: The second coming of the Spanish inquisition. Down wives, bitches, and wenches, as I have arrived!
Michigan voter's: Let your conscience and memory be your guide.
Great post !!! Haaaa !!
America and Americans do deserve better. Santorum and Romney continue to showcase their shallow brain mass. Romney wants to raise the retirement age, owns two Cadillac's and "Doesn't care about the poor people," Loves the tall trees and speaks to twelve hundred in a stadium that holds thousands. Romney paid 13.7% effective taxes on his $21.7 million in 2010. The average Jane and Joe in America will pay much more on less income. Santorum is too extreme for America as he espouses his religion too much in political speeches. The average price of gas is up more than 10 percent since the start of the year, a point repeatedly made during Wednesday’s Republican Presidential debate. Predictably, the four GOP candidates blamed President Barack Obama for the steep increase. Prices for Brent crude have gone up, but demand for gasoline in the U.S. is at a 15-year low. Both John F Kennedy and Dufus are Catholic, but there is one great difference between them. JFK was a great man, but his guy ain't! The tax code was passed by this Dufus and others with his limited mental abilities in the Congress. It's the Congress who has the power to make tax code laws. Santorum and Romney continue to showcase their shallow brain mass. Romney wants to raise the retirement age, but owns two Cadillac's. Loves the tall trees and speaks to twelve hundred in a stadium that holds thousands. Romney paid 13.7% effective taxes on his $21.7 million in 2010. The average Jane and Joe in America will pay much more on less income. Not everyone is Santorum's religion, and he should stay on political issues and not personal religious issues.
JFK was a great man? He had great morals while he was cheating on his wife? What did he do for this country? Bay of pigs? Now Regan destroyed communism through economic measures and we need another president like him.
Yeah? You mean Reagan? The same GOP (President) that set the bar for the National deficit?
You are talking about this Reagan?
People like you remind me of a neighbor I have.
One that sits in their underwear, glowing sparkler in one hand, and a small stick US flag in the other, while watching Fox.
havin fun yet:...... you have a "spell check" before you post.
If your going to quote a President in your opinion and favor, just hit that lil' button just to make sure that a hundred million people don't see your 6th grade education.
Roneld raygun...... Zap !!!
Well played, doem309! I award you two ears and the tail!
Government imposing themselves on your lives? Isnt that what he has based his entire campaign on? Santorum has no clue what Christian WOMEN think about his strange idea of freedom.
So what do Christian women think about abortion? What do Christian women think about gay marriage? Just wondering.
I guess she doesn't know. Oh well just thought you might clear the air on this issue.
Just deal with the # 129.2 issue you spouted about a page earlier.
I am not going into this on this post, but check the "stupidity" or spell check box before comparing APPLES TO @!$%#S !
Please vote for the 4 un- wise men to lead us into the next 25 to 50 year's!
Cash and corporate fornication to America is on the radar and agenda.
You have $$$ ? You win!
Middle America gets a backdoor job, and am sure that GOP legislation won't offer a "reach around for the American's thet was screwed by a bunch of tiny dicks with $$$.
Having fun: Just a guess, but I bet Christian women don't want Ricky and his right wing old men telling them what they can do with own bodies.
Christian women believe that no man whether he be a politician or religious figure will never become pregnant and their opinion is just that, an opinion. Women who live in the 21st century do not need men, especially these men, to tell them that they must breed like rabbits while they run around making the rules for all of us. Did you see that panel last week discussing womens birth control- all men. I say attend a Christian church. See the huge families they all have? They don't do they? Do you think they are using birth control?Isn't that against their religion? Abortion should be available for those who want itI. A lot of us don't think anyone should be forced to give birth against their will. Don't believe in abortion? Then don't have one. As for gay marriage, I can't speak for all christian women but I don't see what the problem is. How exactly these people think that gay marriaige is going to effect traditional marraige is beyond me. Maybe you could explain that? And why do these people obssess about others sex lives? Again don't believe in gay marriage, then don't have one. Christian is how YOU live your life not how u think everyone else should live theirs, it does not give you the right to impose your will on others. Governments based on religion are what gives us places like Afghanistan. I for one don't think thats a good thing.