E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
FRANKSVILLE, Wis. -- What started as a good day for Rick Santorum took an abrupt turn on Sunday after the GOP presidential candidate grew frustrated with reporters asking him to clarify his remark that Mitt Romney is the worst Republican in the country to take on President Obama.
During his final campaign stop of the day here, Santorum said of Romney, “Pick any other Republican in the country, he is the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama." The comments, Santorum would clarify, were in reference to the similarities between Romney's and the president on the issue of health care. It is a common critique he levels against his chief rival, but never has the former Pennsylvania senator called Romney the "worst Republican in the country" to go head-to-head with the president.
When pressed by reporters to clarify his statement, Santorum said, “On the issue of health care. That’s what I was talking about, and I was very clear about talking about that. OK? Come on guys, don’t do this. I mean you guys are incredible. I was talking about Obamacare, and he is the worst because he was the author of Romneycare.”
But the questions struck a chord with Santorum, and when he faced the same question again, he used a profane word and accused the media of "distorting" his speech.
The Washington Post's Dan Balz and MSNBC political analyst Karen Finney review presidential candidate Rick Santorum losing his cool following a Wisconsin speech.
However a press release sent out from the Santorum campaign shortly after the rally here seemed to double down on the candidate's comments. "Rick Santorum spoke plainly and clearly that of all the Republicans in the field, Mitt Romney is the worst possible candidate to take on Barack Obama, because Mitt Romney authored the blueprint for Obamacare and the issue of healthcare would be off the table," the release said.
Santorum has done a lot of clarifying lately, with recent comments suggesting Obama would be a better choice than Romney in a general election and saying the unemployment rate will not affect his campaign. In both cases, he accused the media and his opponents of taking his words out of context. But in both cases, the Romney campaign used his own words against him.
Sunday's remarks were no exception, with Romney spokesperson Ryan Williams telling reporters, “Rick Santorum is becoming more desperate and angry and unhinged every day...He’s panicking in the final stages of his campaign.”
Before his last event, Santorum had been all smiles on the trail the day after receiving nearly double the amount of support Romney did in the Louisiana primary. Along with two rallies today, the GOP hopeful also fit in brunch at the Machine Shed and, for the second time in as many days, a few frames of bowling. In an earlier rally in Fond du Lac, WI, Santorum drew an overflow crowd.
But by Sunday's end, Romney advisers were using the hash tag "Tantorum" to draw attention to past instances of the former senator losing his cool. The response blasted out by the Santorum campaign no mention of his use of a not so family friendly word.
Santorum heads to Washington, DC where he will spend Monday before returning to the Badger State later in the week.
Leave a Comment:
I hear so Much anger and condescending attitudes from many Republican people. I also have great Republican friends. But the people who are angry and extreme have taken over this process. That is why they cant find a decent candidate to run. They are too angry and self rightous and they have lost touch with reality...
when are all these so called candidates going to talk about what they will do for the country instead of trying to crusify each other . somebody please tell them its not about them its about the united states of america and her people, all of them..............
Take rick's Pope soap-on-a-rope away from him.
TANTORUM! ROFL... Oh politicians are witty...
The 3 ring circus continues. As an independent who favors with democrats, I think that Ron Paul would have had the best shot against Obama. Many of the educated middle class agree...
The newsworthy item isn't that Rick Santorum used a bad word - although it certainly is at least a little weird and awkward from a hardcore bible-thumper. The newsworthy item is that he visibly lost his composure over absolutely nothing. All the reporter did was repeat his exact words back to him and ask for clarification, and yet that somehow translates into his being a liberal hack in the tank for Obama. It's hard to imagine how someone that paranoid can be functional as a carbon-based life form, let alone a "serious" contender for a nomination for President of the United States. The man isn't qualified to run a World of Warcraft guild.
It's unsurprising that Palin instantly jumped to his defense, given her own severe media persecution complex. She and Santorum have a lot in common: both are so frighteningly incompetent that even the most ridiculously softball substantive inquiry is far too difficult for them, and both have found that it's more efficient to attack anyone that might ask a substantive question than it is to actually acquire the knowledge required to address the question to begin with.
Can't the Republicans get any 3 digit IQ candidates?
Huntsman was their best candidate but he proved too sane for the T Partiers.
Isn't Ricky InSanitarium's whiney "blame-someone-else-for-what-I-say" game sorta wearin' thin?
This shrill loudmouth is the most pathetic republiturd since Palin-twit!!
Why does he screech so much?
I'll never forget a clip from this last year of Santorum, Mr. all high-and-mighty, holier-than-thou, berate a kid in the audience at one of his speeches who asked him how health costs can be reduced, particularly for the impoverished. How "Christian" of you. Turd.
Ricky Santorum was asked about his comment. I heard him make the comment, along with the context it was spoken in. "Distorting" his words? The Rick f'ed up and got caught. And then lied and tried to blame someone else for his mistake. Conservative morals on display?
“I find it unconscionable that the Republican leadership, faced with a 1.5 trillion deficit, could possibly believe that good public policy is to maintain tax cuts for the top 2 percent of the population who, after all, have benefited enormously from this phony boom we’ve had over the last 10 years as a result of the casino on wall street.
Sanitarynapkin never had any 'COOL' to lose...He's a dork, plain and simple. Come on, the dummy wears sweater vests!!!
Come on, you d***hebags! This god**** country is losing sight of the f***ing Christianity and god**** moral fiber that made it the best god**** motherf***ing country God ever gave man! We need Santorum and we need a return to Christian values! If you dumb***es don't realize this s***, you'll f***ing pay!
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOAAA! Now you sound like an American so-called Christian. haahaaaaaaa!
you guys never surprise me.
It's such a fairytale.
If Santorum's comment was in print, his followers would want to ban the book.
Some state that Obama (they literally blame him for everything) is at fault and is trying to use, for political purposes, woman's feelings against being victimized ... but isn't it more true that the Republican / Tea Party has brought the actual back-lash on themselves by first seeking to manipulate and use the Christian conservatives’ emotions and to then take it to extremes for their political purposes? It really is ridiculous and totally illogical to assume that the one isn't the result of the other. Faulting anything other than their aggressive exploitation of people's interest in Christian values for political advantage and actually getting carried away with the attention they received, to the point of grossly offending many by dictating to them and trying to control their private life, is ridiculous as that should simply be seen as having the natural consequences now incurred. They are getting what they asked for and deserve - condemnation for self-servingly and manipulatively over stepping reasonable limits.
While discrimation is at various. There is unbelievable treatment of kids in Norway.
H
While discrimation is at various. There is unbelievable treatment of kids in Norway.
H
Republican Victory =
"You're COMPLETELY on your own" policy. No minimum wage, worker's compensation,
aid to families of dependent children, money for the truly needy, no Social Security (unless you have at least 2 million saved).
Our system DICTATES that there must be (ultimately) those who can't totally fend for
themselves------------Totally & Completely, as Republican policy will Dictate.
I think this is where I get to say (especially to the middle class & blue collar folks) HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! IS ANYBODY HOME????????????
Not the guy I'd trust with the "keys" to the nukes, or to invade the next Iraq- because he became miffed!
I would have to say that he just gave the nomination to Mitt, and probably for the best.
Sorry Rick, your true colors are scaring me.
Anyone but Obama 2012
Personally the guy scares the hell out of me.
he is not what this country needs.
The new GOP-Tea-Republican party strategy is working. It's age old and called divide, keep occupied, and regroup to conquer in the end. 1. get as many candidates into the race as possible, or a favorite to everyone choosing. 2. Start the draw down using the divide process towards the finale election for the party before November. (example) 12 candidates divided by 2 equals 6 remaining. Then 6 divide by1 1/2 equals 4 remaining. Then 4 divide by 2 equals 2 remaining. Then promote the finale 2 as being the best the party has to offer. This same process was used in the last election and did not get Sen. John McCain /Gov. Sara Palin elected. Yes! The new GOP-Tea-Republican party strategy is working and weather they win the general election in November doesn't really matter right now. The GOP-Tea-Republican party strategy is working to reestablish, revive, and redefine the party of "NO" for future elections that will control the white house, Senate, and congress, to include all lower political positions from governor down to a GOP-Tea-Republican party dog catcher. And the dying Grand Old Party (GOP) can't do any about it, because once they are reunited after the GOP convention, they will vote for a weasel and a skunk if the The GOP-Tea-Republican party directs them to. Vote for Pres in 2012: $$Richie-Romney/V.P Godly-Sanatorium/ and their staff Nutty Newt, Got the runs Paul, Texas Slick Rick, not a male Bach-man, not a white male- Herman Sugar Cain, not a re-pub Pawlenty, can't Cantor, cry baby Bonner, dumber then them all Donald Trump, and the list goes on and on. Give them back the US government, they still haven't finish their last destructive GOP-Tea-Republican party strategy.
The new GOP-Tea-Republican party strategy is working. It's age old and called divide, keep occupied, and regroup to conquer in the end. 1. get as many candidates into the race as possible, or a favorite to everyone choosing. 2. Start the draw down using the divide process towards the finale election for the party before November. (example) 12 candidates divided by 2 equals 6 remaining. Then 6 divide by1 1/2 equals 4 remaining. Then 4 divide by 2 equals 2 remaining. Then promote the finale 2 as being the best the party has to offer. This same process was used in the last election and did not get Sen. John McCain /Gov. Sara Palin elected. Yes! The new GOP-Tea-Republican party strategy is working and weather they win the general election in November doesn't really matter right now. The GOP-Tea-Republican party strategy is working to reestablish, revive, and redefine the party of "NO" for future elections that will control the white house, Senate, and congress, to include all lower political positions from governor down to a GOP-Tea-Republican party dog catcher. And the dying Grand Old Party (GOP) can't do any about it, because once they are reunited after the GOP convention, they will vote for a weasel and a skunk if the The GOP-Tea-Republican party directs them to. Vote for Pres in 2012: $$Richie-Romney/V.P Godly-Sanatorium/ and their staff Nutty Newt, Got the runs Paul, Texas Slick Rick, not a male Bach-man, not a white male- Herman Sugar Cain, not a re-pub Pawlenty, can't Cantor, cry baby Bonner, dumber then them all Donald Trump, and the list goes on and on. Give them back the US government, they still haven't finish their last destructive GOP-Tea-Republican party strategy to turn the USA into one big venture capitalist investment for themselves, and their super rich donors inside and out side this country.
Ricky is a PUSSY!
"you can't handle the Truth"
The kind of person that blows up on comments, road rage tones has no business running this Country.
Does Ricky or Mitt think that America is stupid enough to want either of them having to take that 3:00 A.M. phone call?
You all in the media want us to think that you are okay with reporting the news fair and impartially; however, that tone chances when you look at your stock portfolios that is lavished with insurance stock. You may not be as fat as Mitt or the Koch Brothers. Anyone can hear it through your delivery, that your eyes, are on the prize.