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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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Time for some lessons Rick,,
Peter struggled with doubt, and we hear all about it; Elijah dealt with depression; Naomi raged with bitterness against God; Hannah struggled for years under the burden of her unanswered prayers;
David had an affair and then arranged to have his lover's husband killed. Noah was a drunk, Abraham a liar, Moses a murderer. Job came to a place where he found it necessary to make a covenant with his eyes not to lust after young girls (Job 31:1).
Jesus never said, "The Kingdom of God is like a church service that goes on and on forever and never ends." He said the kingdom was like a homecoming celebration, a wedding, a party, a feast to which all are invited. --- Party like hell & forget about it tomorrow
Six times in the Old Testament the Jewish writers referred to Gentile men as those who "pisseth against the wall."
RICK, YOU ARE THAT GENTILE WHO PISSETH ON THE WALL
But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. Acts 13:45-49
Acts 15:7-11
And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.”
Romans 11:11
But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
Santorum the Sanctimonious is against everyone getting a shot at a college education, wants to regulate your reproductive life and sex life, and thinks that the church should be setting public policy --- so that begs the question: does he want lots and lots and lots of babies that should not be well educated but should be available for the Catholic Church to use for its own purposes?
I guess he realized that if people get a higher education they will want to think, speak, and act in their own best interests -- that they might not want to be sheep for the CC to shear....
So, it's okay for Santorum to have a bachelor's degree and master's degree and law, but it's not okay for your son or daughter to go to college...
He supports less taxes for the wealthy and corporations and yet wants less social supports for the poor and aged.... He loved earmarks for his pet projects....
Gotta love those Conservatives -- do as I say, not as I do....
we can call them what they are the mark of the beast party
Elvis is Alive!
come on tea party bark do something we are waiting
Yo Tea Party,,,, You've made the pledge already and are a little nervous about following through on your commitment?
Well, don't worry. Here are are some solutions for your pants-peeing issues ...
Obamacare is toxic? So, do you prefer the " let them die" style of health care or the rampantly expensive and top heavy system we ave in place now. Trust me, you will pay for the uninsured, at some point, whether you want to or not. We many as well have as many people putting money into the system as possible. Public healthcare works in a lot of countries in Europe, why don't you think it can work here? This reluctance for something, that will benefit all Americans, is a carryover from an old fashioned mind set that we are all responsible only for ourselves. I sure hope that as a society we have moved past that. Would you bring back poor houses, public orphanages supplying child labor and the rampant abuse of the poor and helpless? Really, we have a responsibility to take care of our citizenry as a society, as "Christians" and as human beings . Get over yourself, quit whinging and start helping.
Back here in Pa.,Rickie is better known among the electorate as Dickie,reincarnate of the suitably-late Dick Nixon. We're proud he's gone and hope he stays that way.Both! God fraud enabled fool.. he fits in better in Iraq,not America,nobody around western Pa will speak well of him as a Senator/citizen.Go ask there/here at local hangouts and you'll quickly get an earful about his lopsided defeat last election cycle,Koch bro.s and the RNC. could'nt buy that seat for poor 'ol Dickie,and tea was already cooked and pissed away,buh-bye ...Rickie-dickie and good riddence,let's keep it that way!
Thank you for your comments about Dickie......
another flip-flopper with three college degrees in his pocket running for a government job so he can do what he don't want what he's claiming others are doing. Just vote Romney so we can move on.
Yeah right, vote Romney
Romney likes the Wall Street Bailout --- That destroys the entire republican economic message
Exactly why I believe in the Absolute Separation of Church and State.
Santorum is talking about a ON WAY separation of church and state. One where the Church can dictate to the state religious based laws that are imposed on the lives of people who do not follow the same religious belief.
He can forget about it,,, Our country & Constitution are "Secular"
These people like Santorum (who may be the only evangelical fundamentalist Catholic on earth) have been trying for years to accomplish through legislation and the courts what they can sell from the pulpit. I think I have found the underlying problem ~ with messengers like pedophile priests, Franklin Graham, and Rick Santorum, failure is not an option but an absolute certainty.
The only freedom Santorum is talking about is the freedom for his right wing evangelical conservative Christians to force the rest of us to think/act/behave/worship/believe like they want us to.
Any devation from the norm will not be permitted.
You go Rick!!!! Pandering to the lowest common denominator is always a good fallback strategy.
God knows closing Planned Parenthood will turn this country around!!
Sanctorum's recent comments about Kennedy's speech about separation of church and state tells me that he is a firm believer of Jerry Falwell's statement that the U.S. constitution does not guarantee freedom from religion. What a schmuck.
Uhh, Ron Paul can and has. You Rick are just another bought and paid for career politician.
So is Ron Paul,, Did you actually expect his 35 years in Big Government to be anything out of the ordinary? --- Paul defended "Earmarks" in his last debate
Santorum is just another lying politician. Ron Paul seems to mean well, but he's too extreme. He might stand a better chance if he wasn't so convinced that everything works better in a totally unregulated, free market - that just isn't true. Education and health care are two prime examples, they should never be handed over to corporate boards.
Every time I pick up something in the grocery store and I realize that that standardized nutrition label is on there only because regulation requires it, I'm thankful. I wouldn't want to have to decipher every manufacturer's unique label if there was no regulated standard; that's if they even bothered with a nutrition label.
How is it that, seemingly all of a sudden, what a religion wants even gets into the common talk that goes back several centuries? Religion is about what some call the soul and a possible afterlife and being a good and charitable person. It is not and never was about forcing others to recognize what one guy believes as everyone's truth. It is true that the beliefs of major religions should act according to the precepts set forth by the founders. I find almost nothing within the hierarchies to do with the precepts of Christ in any of the so-called Christian faiths. The Pope may have Jesus turning over in his grave. His alleged mentor, Jesus Christ, is reported as saying, "Do unto Ceasar what is Ceasars and unto God what is God's" That clearly estabilshes the fact that Christian religions should not mix with government. At the same time, Government should make every effort to be respectful of religious beliefs but NEVER BOW TO THEM. Bowing is for the faithful.
Santorum talking about freedom of religion!?
We in the US are guaranteed separation of church and state. Unfortunately, people who supposedly support our Constitution, want to tell us that they're Christians or Evangelicals way too often most conversations. Many of them talk one way and behave another (some 'Christian'!)
I am not a believer in Christianity. Now does that make me a bad person? No it does not! Just different from you. So quit pushing your religion in my face at work, school or the grocery store and especially in our government. Religion in politics doesn't work and violates the Constitution! Amen.
Crazy huh? These same issues minus contraception divided the Church of England in the 1600's
Our ancestors fleeing religious persecution ironically brought it with them in abundance
Our founders saw this & didn't want a non-secular Constitution & didn't write one.. The one the founders wrote & signed is "secular"
you just made Rick puke again.....
And you haven't even gotten me started on Women's Reproductive Rights which Santorim would love to undermine! Is he some kind of WHACKO or what?
This guy is ten times worse than McCain and Palin combined!! God save us from this nut.
Talk about painting your self into a corner......Next thing you know we will find out he has a revolving line of credit at Christian Mingle.com !!!
Sorry GOP nut nominee - "Freedom Fries" sold out during the G.W. reign on "Terror".
Ahhh.
So I assume he's not opposed to a woman's "freedom" to determine what to do with her own body reproductively?
Not opposed Buddhist's "freedom" to be tried in a court without the Ten Commandments outside.
Not opposed to an athiest's freedom not to be forced to say or listen to others say the Christian Lord's Prayer before public school class every day.
Etc.
Isn't he concerned he might lose the vote of the Christian right by making radical statements like this?
Yo Tea Party,,,, You've made the pledge already and are a little nervous about following through on your commitment?
Well, don't worry. Here are are some solutions for your pants-peeing issues ...
Wow.........I really thought the mainstream republican machine would reign Santorum and Romney in. When George Will & Rush are freaking out and openly voicing their disgust at the republicans rolling out the red carpet for President Obama in 2012 and telling their dirty little secrets of imposing christian values on all americans. To state that the church should be able to play a role in our government is plain anti-constitutional and anti-american. If President Obama were to say what Santorum has they would of waved the constitution and wrapped the flag around and used their best Charlton Heston to tell the president he could pry the constitution from their dead, cold hands. After Rick removes the seperation of church and state, he will ban higher education as anyone who aspires to go to college is a snob.
Please you righties explain this to the rest of us. Our countries values flushed down the toilet for the far rights theocracy and they scream about President Obama being socialist, communist, and marxist depending on their mood. What about the rest of america whose faith says otherwise? I definately would call Santorum and the teavangelicals a threat to our democracy and a reason for americans to take up arms and defend our nation. They all should be made to read the constitution especially Article VI, paragraph III for a start.
Well said John. That is the GOP. They never let anything get by a Democrat, but their GOP candidates can spout the most anti-American anti-constitution agenda and they will keep support them blindly.
Throw in the Bill Of Rights for good measure.
Dear Moron Majority and the Tea Party,
Please release your hostage, I believe his name is the Republican Party. Go Start your own party. Mine was fine until you took over. All you bible thumpers, get your religion out of politics. You know, that separation deal. Of course you Democrats are sitting there laughing. But hey, no one claims to hi jack your party.
Santorum is an example of how you don't have to be intelligent to get elected all you need is enough stupid people to vote for you in large numbers. Santorum is a religious fanatic and a liar. The more I hear from him the more I dispise the man. What in the hell has happened to my old GOP.
They sold their souls to the tea party and now are regretting the arrangement. The sent out their far right brother to talk about small government and their renewed concern about the debt and spending once a Democrat was elected. Rumors from the right are major donors are calling it quits and focusing on state elections and the 2016 presidential. McDonald and the fat*ss blowhard from New Jersey now are calling Santorum's comment out of line show at least the Romney camp is not letting yet another ill advised comment go unattacked especially when it is not from his lips. Romney has to explain how he attended a parade for the 50th anniversary of the automobile prior to his birth. Maybe he was brought from their home planet?
Just who are Santorum supporters low IQ under educated bible thumpers college could only hurt his support.Santorum him self proves all the college in the world can't help a weak mind.And his bible isn't helping much ethier
But colleges are there to indoctrinate young minds into tree-hugging liberals don't you know......
Santorum belongs in a sanatorium....
Is this guy one of those anti Vatican II hardliners that wants the church to go back to the all Latin Mass and no women allowed near the altar? Who is he dog whistling to with all these bizzare remarks? Kennedy's speech makes him want to throw up? I don't get it.