E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSRepublican strategist Vin Weber talks about the latest in the GOP nomination race and the upcoming health care battle.
This morning we asked if Rick Santorum had gone too far by saying it would be better to vote for Barack Obama than an Etch A Sketch Republican like Mitt Romney.
Well, Santorum has now tried to walk back the comment -- and he lashes out at the Romney campaign, blaming it for causing the dust up.
"I would never vote for Barack Obama over any Republican and to suggest otherwise is preposterous,” Santorum said in a statement released by his campaign. “This is just another attempt by the Romney Campaign to distort and distract the media and voters from the unshakeable fact that many of Romney's policies mirror Barack Obama's. I was simply making the point that there is a huge enthusiasm gap around Mitt Romney and it's easy to see why - Romney has sided with Obama on healthcare mandates, cap-and-trade, and the Wall Street bailouts. Voters have to be excited enough to actually go vote, and my campaign's movement to restore freedom is exciting this nation. If this election is about Obama versus the Obama-Lite candidate, we have a tough time rallying this nation. It's time for bold vision, bold reforms and bold contrasts. This election is about more than Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, or Rick Santorum - this campaign is about freedom and I will fight to restore your freedoms."
But it was Santorum who said yesterday, "You win by giving people the opportunity to see a different vision for our country, not someone who’s just going to be a little different than the person in there. If you’re going to be a little different, we might as well stay with what we have instead of taking a risk with what may be the Etch A Sketch candidate of the future.”
Newt Gingrich and Romney pounced, with Gingrich saying any of the Republicans running would be better than Obama, and Romney calling Santorum “desperate” and frustrated.
"I want to start with something Rick said tonight that I frankly was very surprised that he said and that I hope he's taking back,” Gingrich said, adding, “I may have some very substantial disagreements with Gov. Romney. There is no doubt in my mind that if the choice was Gov. Romney or Barack Obama, we would have no choice,” Gingrich said. “The danger of Obama is so great that I would hope that every candidate running -- Ron Paul, Gov. Romney and Sen. Santorum – that we would all agree that whoever becomes the Republican nominee, we have one common goal and that is to defeat Barack Obama.”
On Hugh Hewitt’s radio show this morning, Romney said of Santorum, “Desperate polls call for desperate pols.”
He added, “I know that there are a lot of people across the country that are saying we need to consolidate behind the guy who has now weathered, I think there are 38 different contests we've had, if you include all the little islands as well. … I'm sure that the Senator's hearing from some of those people saying hey, let's get going, let's move on and get our nominee ready to go against President Obama. and perhaps he's striking out with frustration from those kind of questions.”
And he went further, accusing Santorum of vanity.
“I'm afraid that Rick increasingly thinks this race is about him,” Romney said. “It's not about him. It's not about me. It's not about a personality. It's about the country. And I'm really disappointed in Rick's statement. Obviously, he endorsed me three years ago when I was running for president. He had no problem calling me a real conservative, a solid conservative. But now that he's in the race, it has become all about Rick.”
Leave a Comment:
'As Lies Spin By" et al.
www.poemhunter.com/poem/as-lies-spin-by/
Santorum: Vote for Obama over Romney.
Santorum: To suggest voting for Obama over Romney is preposterous.
WTF. nutjob?
Hmmm.....and now the 'cannibal in chief' has bitten of his own head. How special. It would appear the GOP is bent on further implosion.
You can always count on Santorum to put his foot in his mouth. Sorry Rick you can't un-ring that bell. We all heard what said and it was quite clear. You would think that the The Republicans would have a better choice this time around. None of them have a chance against Obama.
Little American Girl-724855 and Feisty and Red Head and Ginger Bread Mamma
They are Backkkkkkkkk... Just like little kids in an shcoll yard, how immature coming from the left and the right, while those in the middle watch and decide who the winners are. Remember boys and girls it is we the Independents that will decide and so far those on the left need to grow up.
If Romney is etch-a-sketch Obama is certainly at the least a great charades board game.
And I will take as President one who has a willingness to be man enough to change a position because he thinks it right and thereby shows a capacity to grow (Romney) than one who play games based upon a word with synonyms that include parody, pretension, farce, trick and deception (Obama).
and obama has shown the ability to change his position too..but I guess if its obama its a game but if its romney its a sign of character? lol.
rebelwcause
"If Romney is etch-a-sketch Obama is certainly at the least a great charades board game.
And I will take as President one who has a willingness to be man enough to change a position because he thinks it right and thereby shows a capacity to grow (Romney) than one who play games based upon a word with synonyms that include parody, pretension, farce, trick and deception (Obama)."
Oh my.
Obama in 2012, if only because the poster above is serious.
Again, oh my.
vermont - on exactly what has Obama changed his position relative to domestic issues? Humor me.
bucktard - tell me why I am wrong - and oh my doesn't count.
why restrict it to "domestic issues"? your post didn't restrict it. Are you trying to 'walk back" your post too? lol
he's changed his position on gitmo for example.
In remarks at the White House, Obama said there were elements in the plan that even he didn't like, but he said compromise was necessary to ensure that taxes don't go up on middle class Americans on Jan. 1.
Vermontguy
Did you ever stop to consider that a lot of promises presidents make when elected fail because it's partly due to not knowing all the details of the situation? I said this on another article, but candidates don't know the full details of a situation they are fighting on until the become elected and have their meetings with intelligence, financial aides and the former president before he steps off the premises for good. You have no idea what is going on behind those doors and that is info that won't be shared with the public. Yes, Obama has failed to act on some of his promises, but a portion of those might be due to a reality check, not because he's playing a game of flip-flop.
rebelwcause
"bucktard - tell me why I am wrong - and oh my doesn't count."
"bucktard?"
Oh my.
Vermont - I'll give you his change on the Bush tax cuts - which he has know changed his position on - again. Hence the whining on raising taxes on the rich that will erase a whopping 3% from his ever-increasing budget deficits.
Mitt walks up at his next rally with an 'Etch a Sketch' with Santorum & Obama drawn together on it. He turns it upside down, gives it a shake......smiles....and calmly says "PROBLEM SOLVED"
ROMNEY/RUBIO 2012 & 2016
If Rubio is smart he'll run as fast as he can from a Romney/Rubio ticket.
I'm no Rubio fan, but that man has a bright Republican future, that is unless he ties his horse to Mitty Boy.
Obama in 2012, if only because even Mark Rubio can't help Mitty Boy now.
Oh, and by the way, smart Republicans really want to lose this one. Why? They truly want to run Jeb Bush against Hilary Clinton in 2016.
Do you TeaBaggers not realize this?
I’m beginning to think that President Obama has whole staff of the top Democratic operatives working inside the GOP camp. I mean – Romney, Santorum, Newt – they couldn’t make so many stupid statements so often just by themselves. If the Democrats scripted this they couldn’t have done any better. Romney’s numbers are going down, Newt is one of the most un-liked people in the nation, Santorum is a religious fanatic who was booted out of office by more than a 2 to 1 margin in his home states and believes that states have the right to outlaw birth control. (That should get him about 3% of the women in the nation to support him.) Meanwhile –as this Republican food fight continues – the President’s approval rating keeps going up. This is a dream come true for Democrats.
Mitt Romney ties Barack Obama in today's Rasmussen poll. There is a great chance he will beat Obama in November.
We'll win Florida. If we win Ohio too, you lose.
Florida? I think not.
As soon as those retirees get a whiff of the Republican/TeaBagger plan to end Medicare and Social Security Florida goes Democratic. Can you say "Paul Ryan Plan?"
Ohio? You haven't been paying attention to Ohio lately.
Rasmussen Poll? The Rasmussen Poll is famous for leaning Right, again, famous. That's like me taking the word of Ed Shultz for all things Left. At best it's a silly endeavor.
Obama in 2012, if only because the Repulican faithful is running on a fantasy. For god's sake, you're going to nominate Mitt Romney.
Santorum is proof that there are Christian Fascists!!!
Jeezus needs to erase Ricky from the planet
There's nothing fascist about him, and liberals are closer to fascists on the issue of religious liberty, which is the one that the big hubbub is all about.
Fascist Nazis closed all Christian schools, jailed 700 Protestant pastors in Germany by 1935, punished, jailed or killed 1 in 3 Catholic priests during the Third Reich, closed all newspapers that had the word Catholic in it.
As Liberal Nutjobs attempted to unconstitutionally strip away the right of Catholic groups to choose whether or not to provide contraception against their religious beliefs, they were closer to Fascism than anyone else.
Chesty, don't confuse the issue.
In the end, fascism is about strict adherence to "our way" or expect punishment. It's about deciding what freedoms "we" will allow you to have and what freedoms "we" will restrict.
In Santorum's case, he incessantly talks about "freedom" and then advocates taking away the freedom of a woman to have an abortion.
He talks about "liberty" then advocates that gay men and women should not enjoy the same liberties that non gay Americans enjoy, liberties that are guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.
He talks about religious freedom then advocates that Christianity is the only viable American religion, despite what the U.S. Constitution has to say about it.
Again, don't confuse the issue.
Obama in 2012, if only because Rick Santorum, a 4th tier politician, has enjoyed more press and attention then at anytime in his career. Who'd a thunk it?
Rick is so slick he falls flat on his face with comments that he makes without any help from anyone! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In decades past the American people have looked for the candidates (regardless of party affiliation) to provide a vision as to how they are going to improve the country and make our future better than it is today. Instead we have the GOP who's sole goal is to unseat Obama because of the color of his skin, and then to take the country back over a hundred years on how we treat women.
How is this a vision for the future with the goal of improving things?
Think about it...
David, you're the racist here. This campaign has nothing to do about the color of anybody's skin. It's ALL about Obama's socialist agenda.
The more the Repblicans talk the better Obama looks.
"Truthseeker" - Let me remind you..."I did not have sex with that woman.....errr.....Monica Lewinski...or was it Jennifer Flowers..or mayb....Whatever, I jsut di not have sex"
I'm pretty sure Democrats can lie pretty well too, enven in the face of genetically stained blue dresses.
What a completely irrelevant comment.
We could just take it as an open invitation to bash Bush.
rcampb17
" "Truthseeker" - Let me remind you..."I did not have sex with that woman.....errr.....Monica Lewinski...or was it Jennifer Flowers..or mayb....Whatever, I jsut di not have sex"
I'm pretty sure Democrats can lie pretty well too, even in the face of genetically stained blue dresses."
It's one thing to lie about a bl*w job, it's quite another to lie about Medicare, Social Security, Taxes, Gas Prices, and my oh my but the list goes on and on.
Obama in 2012, if only because Mitt Romney and Ricky Boy have gotten so used to lying they think it's the truth.
Charlie - As irrelevent as the original, intellectually insulting generalization that "truthseeker" made
And if you beleive that was the only lie told, your more gullable than you know.
They ALL lie, and no one is who they pretend to be. That goes for the left and the right. The question is, which liar is most palatable.
What I cannot abide is the mendacity and self-righteous, know it all, I'm smarter than you attitudes around here.
Rick Santorum "restoring freedoms?" Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!
Yep. The left wants to force you to buy products from companies, tell you what kind of grocery bags and lightbulbs you can buy, a million other things.
And they try to make economic slavery to the government of the type they love, sound better by vilifying business constantly. Ooooooo Coca-Cola corporation's gonna getcha!
Romney has been tagged as a liar by each of the candidates, former and current. That is the only issue they all have in common. Romney embodies change we can't believe in. He lied about McCain in 2008 as well. There is no Romney, just a crowd of avatars.
Santorum's post primary book will be entitled: "My Life as a Serial Whiner."
The Primary is Over. Romney won. (unfortunately). Illinois sealed it.
Doesn't matter what Santorum thinks. Santorum had to go on about a 20-0 win streak and he didn't.
Romney has a great shot at beating Obama, they're tied in today's Rasmussen poll at 45%. Rally around him and Obama will lose.
--if, of course Romney does lose, in a perfect rightwing climate, make sure you kick the teeth out of any GOP establishment person who says we have to go moderate to "win" ever again--
Chesty, there you go again quoting the "Rasmussen Poll" also known as Fox News' personal propaganda machine.
That does it, I'm now going to start quoting Ed Shultz as if it were gospel.
Obama in 2012, if only because the alternative is almost unthinkable. Mitt Romney? Are they serious?
These republican candidates must be on a sucide mission because they can't stop blowing themselfves up with their own mouths plus flip flopping has become a work of art in the gop.
ChestyPuller
"Mitt Romney is retired. Retired people pay 15% or less in taxes. Most retired people pay much less than 15%, and pay much less than Mitt Romney.
We tax income heavily in this country, so unless you have a job and make over $80K, you pay less than Romney does in retirement.
We don't tax retirement income highly."
In 2010-2011, just before he started running for president full time, Mitt Romney made almost $400,000 in speaker's fees.
Someone should tell him he's retired.
Oh my.
Obama in 2012, if only because Mitt Romney doesn't think $400,000 is a lot of money. I'm busting a gut.
This one is for for FeistyRedHead Roselle, Il: RepublicaCrimeCartel = The Titanic. Thecaptain = THE BONER and First mate MitchTh'B!tChMcConMan. The Crow's nest lookout = MittTaxPittanceRommel. The Engine Room FirstMate = THEVomitorium. TheLifeBoatCaptain in Charge =THE Gangrene.
A sighting!!! off in the dark voting booths Captain!!!.................................
Mitt Romney is retired. Retired people pay 15% or less in taxes. Most retired people pay much less than 15%, and pay much less than Mitt Romney.
We tax income heavily in this country, so unless you have a job and make over $80K, you pay less than Romney does in retirement.
We don't tax retirement income highly.
OK, you really need to learn something about what you are talking about...Mitt Romney paid 15% or less in taxes because he is retired...you are ignorant...the only thing Mitt Romney retired from a 9-5 job and that was a long time ago...he makes millions of dollars every year...he paid 15% or less in taxes because of tax loop holes...maybe I should retire, just by marking retired as my occupation on the 1040 my tax rate would be 15% right? I really wish people would pay attention to the facts and stop merging information from what, 877 sources? into one statement...good heavens the people of this country have to be smarter than some of the crap that is on here....learn something!
Buck Garcia 5
ChestyPuller
"Mitt Romney is retired. Retired people pay 15% or less in taxes. Most retired people pay much less than 15%, and pay much less than Mitt Romney.
We tax income heavily in this country, so unless you have a job and make over $80K, you pay less than Romney does in retirement.
We don't tax retirement income highly."
In 2010-2011, just before he started running for president full time, Mitt Romney made almost $400,000 in speaker's fees.
Someone should tell him he's retired.
Oh my.
Obama in 2012, if only because Mitt Romney doesn't think $400,000 is a lot of money. I'm busting a gut.
So long Santorum. By by Newt.
Thanks Rick Santorum......for Endorsing President Obama!!!
Me thinks Santorum just made himself Un-electable
He can STFU now and get out the race
Stick a fork in him. He's done. Let's just get Pres. Obama out and put someone who is an accomplished leader in the office. This "on the job" training is expensive and foolhardy.
Dahly-1755482: You have a leader in the white house now but the right wing don't like him because he is black with balls. LOL.
If you could come up with an established leader that is willing to run as a Republican I'd be willing to take a look.
Both Romney and Gingrich have had outstanding success's in their careers as Leaders. Just Google it and learn.
BHO's list of failures is far larger than any positives. What percentage of people are better off since he took office?
Dahly
I don't want candidates that like to change their minds on almost a consistent basis. Romney and Gingrich have nothing of value to bring to the table. And their careers as leaders? You may want to take a look at their skeletons in the closet that caused them to have such a "successful" career. I think I will stick with Obama until someone better comes along because obviously it isn't Romney or Gingrich. They are too busy stabbing at each other and trying to convince people why the other can't run and not focusing on what their game plans are. It's all been "Well he did this! Is that what you want in the office?" No thank you. I'll pass.
Do not get your hopes up loonies.
Whoever the choice is on the Republican side will be the next President.
It's Romney, there's no whoever to it anymore.
Santorum needed to win Michigan, Ohio and Illinois.
He lost Michigan, Ohio and Illinois.
It is mathematically near-impossible for anyone but Romney to win, and realistically, it is completely impossible. Illinois was the final nail. It's over.
Actually it is still quite mathematically possible for Romney to lose as well.
Forget the politicians. The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice . . . you don’t. You have no choice. You have owners. They own you. They own everything. They own all the important land. They own, and control the corporations. They’ve long since bought, and paid for the Senate, the Congress, the state houses, the city halls, they got the judges in their back pockets and they own all the big media companies, so they control just about all of the news and information you get to hear. They got you by the balls. They spend billions of dollars every year lobbying . . . lobbying, to get what they want . . . Well, we know what they want. They want more for themselves and less for everybody else, but I’ll tell you what they don’t want . . . they don’t want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. They don’t want well informed, well educated people capable of critical thinking. They’re not interested in that . . . that doesn’t help them. That’s against their interests. That’s right. They don’t want people who are smart enough to sit around a kitchen table and think about how badly they’re getting @!$%#ed by a system that threw them overboard 30 @!$%#in' years ago. They don’t want that. You know what they want? They want obedient workers . . . Obedient workers, people who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork. And just dumb enough to passively accept all these increasingly @!$%#tier jobs with the lower pay, the longer hours, the reduced benefits, the end of overtime and vanishing pension that disappears the minute you go to collect it, and now they’re coming for your Social Security money. They want your @!$%#in' retirement money. They want it back so they can give it to their criminal friends on Wall Street, and you know something? They’ll get it . . . they’ll get it all from you sooner or later cause they own this @!$%#in' place. It’s a big club and you ain't in it. You and I are not in The big club. By the way, it’s the same big club they use to beat you over the head with all day long when they tell you what to believe. All day long beating you over the head with their media telling you what to believe, what to think and what to buy. The table has tilted folks. The game is rigged and nobody seems to notice. Nobody seems to care. Good honest hard-working people . . . white collar, blue collar it doesn’t matter what color shirt you have on. Good honest hard-working people continue, these are people of modest means . . . continue to elect these rich @!$%#s who don’t give a @!$%# about you. They don’t give a @!$%# about you . . . they don’t give a @!$%# about you. They don’t care about you at all . . . at all . . . at all, and nobody seems to notice. Nobody seems to care. That’s what the owners count on. The fact that Americans will probably remain willfully ignorant of the big red, white and blue dick that’s being jammed up their @!$%#s everyday, because the owners of this country know the truth. It’s called the American Dream cause you have to be asleep to believe it . . .
Thanks George Carlin
Jeez, man...get back on your meds!
Acoustic....but you read it didnt you? It was actually written by George Carlin
Great stuff !! Saw the video on youtube..
George NEVER sugarcoats anything...
These guys just keep putting their foot in it. They're more fun to watch than the Keystone Kops!