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NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator who very well may have been a Michigan primary win away from being the Republican nominee, gave a rousing defense of social values here at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
“For those in our movement who want to abandon our moral underpinnings to win, what does it profit a movement to gain the country and lose its own soul?" Santorum told this room of thousands of conservative activists at CPAC to raucous applause. "The left in America has made that Faustian bargain… We must not.”
Santorum’s speech, which led off with an emotional recounting of the untimely death of his nephew, will only likely stoke speculation that he is thinking about another run in 2016. He set out what conservatives should fight for, had plenty of attacks on President Barack Obama, distanced himself from Congress -- despite having served there for 16 years, and even noted that he had created a conservative advocacy group, something that will help keep him in the conversation on the right.
Santorum accused the president of wanting to “close the deal” on a transformation of America 100 years in the making. He said Obama “wants to replace the ‘why’ of American Revolution for ‘why’ of French revolution –- a society that is Godless without faith,” that is “anti clerical, anti-God, where the government is the center, and they are the ones who care for us. This is President Obama’s New Deal.”
He added, “How do we turn this around? How do we make a difference in America today? I’ve tried to do my part.”
He contended that the problem on the right is not that there are not enough conservatives, it is that that conservatives -- and churchgoing social conservatives, in particular -- are not fired up enough.
“The passion in America has been on the other side,” Santorum said before warning, “They live their lives every day to transform us. Those who think America will be just fine … we just go about our lives. But we don’t have the passion that they do. To rise up and fight against what our founders said was the greatest threat to freedom -- time. Time. The erosion of our values over time, that we will lose that revolutionary fervor… Karen and I are committed that we are not going to let that happen on our watch.”
Of course, after the 2004 election, there were books written about the influence of social conservatives. They had helped re-elect President George W. Bush and were being touted as potentially spurring a permanent “Red America.” But white born-again Christians actually made up a higher share of the electorate in 2012 than 2004. In 2004, they made up 23 percent of the electorate; in 2012, they were 26 percent.
Santorum continued, “Don’t look to Washington, D.C. to solve this problem. There are very few leaders in Congress. There are a lot of followers. If you look to them to solve their problems, you will be disappointed. … The answer is here.”
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Rick needs to pull that tea bag outa his aarrzzzzzzzzzzzzz its giving him more brain damage
When I think of Santorum in national politics, nevermind the White House, I break out in hives.
Santorum is wrong. Obama would be happy if all Americans worshiped allah.Then we could do away with all that church and state nonsense.
ah, another "obama is a muslim" stupid post. :)
Common Man-you and yours just keep on talkin', so we can keep on winnin'.
It is next to impossible for Rick to speak without bringing up soilder's showering together. He will always try to bring it into any subject possible.
I don't understand how anyone in their right mind could say that ANY organized religion belongs in our government. It has been the influx of religious extremist that has been the downfall of our country.
Why do media outlets report on what 3rd-rate GOP presidential wannabes say anyway?
Santorum said at the last CPAC " we know the smart people will not vote for us". We are still out here and we are still NOT voting for you or your policies.
If true, then this would be he 1st good move Obama has doine in 5 years. Religion is a cult in the wost way and all should be abandoned. Too much harm and hurt done to others all over the world in the name of something that has never had any proof.
<< . The erosion of our values over time, that we will lose that revolutionary fervor… Karen and I are committed that we are not going to let that happen on our watch.”
On YOUR watch? And exactly what watch would that be, Ricky? You were tossed out of your last elected post, you failed to beat out the electrifying Mitt Romney for the Republican nomination, so by my count YOU HAVE NO WATCH.
What you have are strident, outdated ideals that appeal to a small number of angry, unrealistic hard-liners, the kind that in 2016 will be unable to elect a dogcatcher. By promoting the pathetic notion that the current President seeks a "godless" society, you appear determined cater to the simpletons who willingly believe only the most outlandish lies and fabrications.
You lived off the public dole for years.... now shut the hell up and just go get a job.
This guy's just creepy....
Father First, Senator Second
For Rick Santorum, Politics Could Hardly Get More Personal
By Mark Leibovich
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, April 18, 2005;
In his Senate office, on a shelf next to an autographed baseball, Sen. Rick Santorum keeps a framed photo of his son Gabriel Michael, the fourth of his seven children. Named for two archangels, Gabriel Michael was born prematurely, at 20 weeks, on Oct. 11, 1996, and lived two hours outside the womb.
Upon their son's death, Rick and Karen Santorum opted not to bring his body to a funeral home. Instead, they bundled him in a blanket and drove him to Karen's parents' home in Pittsburgh. There, they spent several hours kissing and cuddling Gabriel with his three siblings, ages 6, 4 and 1 1/2. They took photos, sang lullabies in his ear and held a private Mass.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61804-2005Apr17.html
Yuck!
RICK SANTORUM IS NOT A MAN OF GOD. He is racist and verry corrupt and thoroughly self-seeking. jESUS SAID THAT IT IS NOT THOSE WHO keeps shouting God, God tht will enter the Kingdom, but those who do what he teaches. Santorum is not a true follower of Jesus.
Oh boy! The Christian god has done such a marvelous job of running things so far, why not convert the US to failed theology.
How do you take an oath to support and defend the Constitution and then act directly against it?
Typical GOP representative... the more the GOP bickers about Obama the more their racists illusions come out...
Oh, when will humans ever evolve from the likes of Rick Santorum et al.? Help us Darwin!
Only one thing to say, Santorum is a stinking piece of shyt! That goes for the rest of the conservative cabal.
Someone, anyone ... please pull the plug on this raving lunatic's microphone.
Rick Santorum is just like dog crap...he smells bad and you can't get him off your shoe. Go away Rick..we believe in God... just not your version. You are an extremist that is a angry white bigot. When you die you will not get into heaven...you will go directly to hell and join all the other liars from the republican party.
Mr Santorum:
God gave man the freedom to choose whatever he wants - FREE WILL- would you take free will away from man, and impose what YOU believe is YOUR notion about God on everyone else? That is the whole point of Democracy, the freedom to choose; but the TYRANTS, which you yourself embody, impose their choice on all, in an arrogance that makes them believe they are always right! SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS!
then you wouldnt have anything to bitch about
Mr. Santorum's views on other people's theological values do not interest me. His own belief system is skewed so far to the conservative that he has no room in his Christianity for God's abundant grace. Imposing his own value system on everyone else is a bit like trying to be God. Maybe he should run for Pope?
you guys need republicans so you can believe you are superior
plus you would have to finally be responsible
Poor Rick, His medication is out of whack again and he's obviously avoiding the doctor...again. Six months ago he was hating sex and all that went with it in spite of having children. There will always be people believe the Adam and Eve story with apple tree and serpent and how they were bad so Santa didn't give them anything at Xmas and when their tooth fell out they didn't get any money under their pillow. Don't be concerned about the Bible tell all about Christ, it was written in segments over 100 years after Christ lived. I guess we can look at the video and the interview for clarification.
Never trust a politician who says, "[the other guy] thinks...""[the other guy] wants..."
It is a cheap ploy to paint the other guy as an extremist so he doesn't look so bad in comparison. Too late, Santorum. You already look bad.
Santorum? That reminds me. I have to go do laundry.
Santorum is an IDIOT, period!
What I want to know is where the heck did Santorum learn his history? The French Revolution was about godless cenralized government? No child left behind, eh? I have my doubts!