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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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Romney can win the GOP nomination by simply zipping up his mouth and letting the three crazies have full run of the court. Santorum is proving how religious fanaticism rots the brain; Gingrich is running up trial balloons like "Im the $2.50 a gallon for gas president," and Paul is just a lint filter who will ultimately throw his collected delegates (and support) behind Romney. In so many ways, this chain of events is fun to watch. Even the most arrogant and self-assumed superior people need an humbling experience occasionally. That will come in November when the GOP nominee's defeat eclipses the one Goldwater recorded some years back. Oh, it will be an ugly thing.
Rick Saint Torum, Mitt Romulan, Newt Gang Green, and Ron Paul Jones. A bible thumper, an opportunity jumper, a wife dumper, and a chest thumper ! Or would you prefer, an ayatollah, a dollar roller, a strip tease poler, and a last bell toller !
Rick Santorum was better off sitting on the far right or far left of the debates and not saying much. Now that he's started talking he really scares me. I didn't know we have people this crazy, I thought crazy was Sara Palin, but Santorum takes the cake.
"Graham just given birth to Santorum" and unleashed a madman !
This country as a whole is so pass where Santorum is in his political and religious thinking, which is distinctly dinorsauric... However, his dry-as-dust rhetoric has been good for a long complicated campaign season for the g-o0psers.
Mitt is just a low tier candidate with deep pockets who see the White House as an opportunity to further enrich him self, his family, his religious friends, his political friends, and giving no bid government contracts to his business associates... [Chaney-Haliburton] anybody.
But but, ah-but-butda-but, don't get excited dems, the republicican's hatred for President Barack Hussein Obama is so strong that they will be turning out for this election come hell or high water. So be prepared to go the polls and vote. President Obama is going to have to fight to win this election right down to the very last vote.
I have read the posts here, but I happen to disagree with your point of view. I believe RS is saying what some people are actually thinking about Obama. Obama is an elitist and he doesn't have any core values like having a religion. If RS can tone down his rhetoric a little bit, most people would agree with him.
Sham
Would you explain how the President is an 'elitist'? Also how you came to the conclusion that he has no 'core values'?
No core values? The guy is only happily married to one wife, and raises two nice kids. He HATES families!
No religion? Or just not your particular version? If it's not yours, it aint Right. Hippo-crit!
"Elistist" - It's code by GOPers for "uppity".
Elitist? No core values? Just a few short years ago "elitist" Obama drove a 2000 Dodge Neon, not your typical ride for an elitist. He had the ambition to get an education and serve his community. He is a Christian, but not the kind to wear it on his sleeve all the time like so many others. He married an intelligent and hard-working lady. His daughters are great kids, never getting into trouble, and his wife is doing a great job trying to tackle a serious problem in this country - obesity and the health risks associated with it, particularly for kids. Calling this man an elitist is just ridiculous right wing hype. As for core values, I think he bests any of the GOP running now.
When people parrot right wing media spin it suggests they have no desire to think on their own.
"Obama is an elitist"
Huh?
I have never heard any other president accused of being elitist - ever.
What a sham79!
sham79, most of us "reading the posts here", namely me want to know What exactly do YOU mean when you say the President "Obama is an elitist and he doesn't have any core values"? When you quote something that someone else has said use quotation marks (you should not parrot someone just give us YOUR ideas). Broaden your reading that phrase has been quoted all weekend not just on MSNBC, CNN, Salon etc.
Do you ever wonder about the economy, jobs?
Hey shamwow..."Obama is an elitist and he doesn't have any core values like having a religion."
I hate to give you a big reality check, but religion is NOT a prerequisite for core values. I think most people would agree that religious affiliated kooks like the KKK and Reverend Fred Phelps are pretty lacking in core values.
Google the word elitist and go to Wikipedia definition.
" In politics, the terms are often used to describe people as being out of touch with the Average Joe. The implication is that the alleged elitist person or group thinks they are better than everyone else; and, therefore, put themselves before others. It could be seen as a synonym for snob. An elitist is not always seen as truly elite, but only privileged. The definition may have different appreciations depending of the political contexts. Since elitism may be viewed as something necessary for creating patterns of good intellectual or professional performance, it can be used also for maintaining conditions of lack of competition and privilege."
Core values.. I don't believe Obama has any experience in this area. Was he a boy scout? Did he go into the military to learn them? What was his upbringing? Seems to me he was overseas during his childhood. That might have helped him develop his world view, but what does he tell us about that experience?
He obviously has no Church upbringing other than Rev. Wright's Church or he would have not challenged the Catholic Church conscience on sterilization and abortion. He has to tear down the Church to effect his transformation of our country. I believe he will loose this in the Supreme Court.
"I believe he will loose this in the Supreme Court."
Not only do you have no idea what you are talking about, your spelling skills are atrocious.
"he has to tear down the church to effect his transformation of our country"? lol, adjust your tin foil so obama doesn't read your mind as performs his evil deeds!
here's a clue for you - requiring coverage of birth control is NOT "tearing down the church". lol.
Obama has shown core values of being a faithful husband, dutiful father, a thoughtful president, and concern for others. You're right, no core values there! :)
RS, is a bimbo of a Phony, when he talks you would think hes fracking for gas. The RS=Real Stupid !
All I know is that Obama is a tool of big oil. He is rewarding his big oil buddies. Obama doesn't care how high gas prices go, he is filthy rich. Wait, that is what the Dems were saying about Bush five years ago. Now, the Dems are saying that Obama means well. And Obama's plan is working. Just hang in there. Gas prices may go to $10 a gallon, but just hang in there. Gas prices will come down......sometime.
Yes, that is rational. A president that doesn't care about gas prices. What a joke. What a moron.
MesaMax - The price of gas is your big criticism of Obama? He turned around a train-wreck U.S. economy in 3 years (the economists were saying it would take 6-10) despite a do-nothing congress, and you bitch about gas prices, something you know full well is in the hands of speculators and oil companies. Nice try at changing the subject, good luck selling that lie.
In other words, it's the Cartel stupid.
MesaMax, if you can you should get out and about more, gas prices in this country are cheap compared to other industrialized nations.
St. Torem - Patron saint of the misguided, ensuring they remain that way.
Freedom of Religion, Freedom from Religion
Well I for one think Rick is right !! The Catholic Bishops should be in charge of everything. These men are geniuses. They have been moving pedophile priests from unsuspecting parish to unsuspecting parish for years,so these pedophiles could molest some new boys until that parish catches on again. Yep...geniuses...and they will all go to HELL. Signed...a former altar boy !!! San....dusky....ooops I mean...San...torum...
Please conservatives and Christians across the land,
Nominate a guy who can't understand.
That divisive rhetoric is ALL he commands,
And his chauvinistic approach is ragin'.
Please get him in the way cause he can't lend a hand,
For the Right is rapidly fadin'.
Let's see, last I knew lying was frowned upon in Christian circles, cheating thy neighbor was considered a sin, and yet loud mouth Santorum seems to have committed both infractions, which seems to me to have made him ineligible for any office, much less that of the President of the US. How dare this man "preach" to us about such matters when he, himself, is full of it. I have had it with his finger pointing and his preaching. If nothing else, the debates have shown the American people what an over-educated, empty-headed a** HE is.
But the more religious you are the more right you have to be hypocritical in all aspects of how you live.
Good point.
I just googled Santorum and found his name is associated with Summer's Eve. What's up with that? :)
What a douche!
Oil is getting more expensive because it is more difficult & expensive to retrieve from the ground. The keystone xl pipeline oil will be the most expensive gasoline refined yet. To pay for the investment in new pipeline and refining facilities, higher gas prices can be expected.
I've never seen a Santorum bumper sticker but I wish I would.
It's kind of like how sex offenders are required to register with the govt......
Society deserves to know who the insane pervert whack jobs are amongst us.
And where will he cut trillions. I doubt that he will cut more than panetta from defense. So the trillions would have to come from social security & medicare. Then he should just say so. Because there are trillions of iou's in the lock boxes of programs from the war in iraq.
Rick, your preaching isn't about FREEDOM, it's about control - your control over the rest of us. You are one scary individual. We don't want a theocracy in this country, never have wanted that. it's about time you studied our Constitution. You say you're all about small government. Actually you're all about big government, especially when it can violate a woman's right to choose, or to subject her to demeaning unnecessary medical procedures. Why don't you subject men to invasive, unnecessary procedures? After all, some guy impregnated a single woman. Why not humiliate him in the blame/shame game?
Freedom under president Insanetorum. Believe as He believes in un-separation of church and state, or else!
Some freedom eh?
I wonder if he thinks the Catholic Priest's should use contraception ???
With all the sonogram hype, WHERE are the men involved in watching the sonagram and why not?
Both santorum and howdy-doody romney are PATHETIC!!!!
Hands down they are better than the Village Idiot. AKA Barrack H. Obama.
hands down where ??...your pants....
What you get with obama is Socialism. Something I do not want!!
Sure... yep, you know what socialism is.. sure, yessirie... you read about it somewhere...can't have that.. nope. no-way josez...
nope... sure glad you got that point across... yeppers....
take a few Asspirins for the brain cramp.
LMAO
I so want the Gestapo On Parade (GOP) establishment to bring jeb bush into the clown-frey!!!!
I have 100 bush-rippers ready for that bush-elist low-life.. please oh, please... where are you jebbie boy?
When, oh when, is kkkarl going to let the gimp-bush out of this cage?
LMAO
The GOP is all hype and hypocrisy!
The rising price of gasoline will be obama's downfall.
Well that's one way of admitting that republican candidates SUCK.
Dean-25
nope. no-way josez...
nope... sure glad you got that point across toooooooooo (LOL)... yeppers....
take a few MORE Asspirins for the brain cramp.
LMAO
"I can't beat Mitt Romney" Barack Obama "Won't you blind sheep please HELP ME!!!!"
“A vote for Rick Santorum is a vote for me” Barack Obama “Democrats, cross the line and vote for me, I know you don’t like me, but it helps Obama if I beat Romney” Rick Santorum. ANYTHING SEEM STRANGE HERE? Michigan vote ROMNEY.
Romney Beats Obama, no one else comes close. Don’t be played for a sap.
Sick Rantorum is as dumb as Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann put together - that is pretty freaking DUMB.
Romney is the true elitist