Santorum portrays Gingrich, Romney as liberal Obama-clones
by Andrew Abramson | January 22nd, 2012
After a faith-based sermon at a Pompano Beach church, Rick Santorum went political in an afternoon Coral Springs rally, blasting Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney for being too liberal.
“Trust is a big issue in this election,” Santorum said. “How do you trust to do what they say they’ll do? Look at their record. You have someone in Massachussettes who didn’t necessarily govern all that conservatively. You had someone who when he was Speaker of the House, when Newt was Speaker of the House, within three years the conservatives in the House of Representatives tried to throw him out, and in the fourth year they did. Why? Because he wasn’t running as a conservative, and he didn’t live up to all his hype.”
With Santorum having less of an organization and less money than Romney and Gingrich, doubts linger whether Santorum can compete in Florida. But Santorum said he is the only candidate so far to win a truly neutral state.
“Just put it in this perspective: We’ve had three races,” Santorum said. “One was in Mitt Romney’s backyard state of New Hampshire. He has a home in New Hampshire and he has campaigned there for six years as governor of a neighboring state. Last night’s race in South Carolina was pretty much in Gingrich’s backyard where he staked his claim. There was one race (Iowa) in nobody’s backyard , one race where you had to go out a level playing field. We competed and we won that race. We’re going to go out and campaign all up and down the state of Florida.”
Santorum called himself the only “contrast” to President Obama, criticizing Gingrich for being too close to Nancy Pelosi. Both Romney and Gingrich, Santorum said, supported some form of health care reform.
Ron Paul, the other candidate actively campaigning, was not a focus of Santorum’s speech although several Paul fans showed up with signs and campaign banners.
“Who is best able to stand up and fight (the health care) battle?” Santorum asked the crowd of more than 200. “Someone (in Romney) who’s health care plan was the model for Obamacare? Was it someone (in Gingrich) who for 20 years, and I repeat this for 20 years, stood with the federal government being able to mandate that you buy private sector insurance.”
Santorum credited Florida voters for electing Ronald Reagan in the 1980 GOP primary, saying voters bypassed the more moderate George Bush, choosing the supposed unelectable conservative in Reagan.
“The biggest hit on Ronald Reagan is that he was unelectable,” Santorum said. “He won 49 states.”
Reagan actually won 44 states in the 1980 general election, and then won 49 states in his reelection campaign in 1984.
Santorum said that he was the only candidate to speak up against the government bailout at the end of President Bush’s term. Santorum was already out of office at the time, but said he was a regular critic of the bailout on television appearances.
“They knew and they said it was wrong,” Santorum said. “And yet they felt pressured to do what was wrong and justified it as right. We need someone who has stronger convictions.”
Santorum also played to South Florida voters, saying Obama has put Israel in danger by not protecting the world from radical Islam.
Joe Kaufman, who is running in the GOP primary for Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s seat, said he believes either Gingrich or Santorum should back the other to defeat Romney. That would presumably mean Santorum should drop out.
But Sandra Fico, an undecided GOP voter from Coral Springs, said she was “very impressed” by Santorum.
“It’s going to be difficult for him, but he’s definitely got a chance,” Fico said. “He is extremely direct on his positions.”
Alfredo Manrara, a Cuban American GOP voter who traveled from Miami with his wife to hear Santorum speak, said, “Rick Santorum is exactly what America needs.”
“He’s clear cut, he’s principled and he’s not afraid to speak up,” Manrara said.
Tags: gop2012
January 22nd, 2012 at 4:25 pm
This coming from a guy who’s entire family are devout Red Communists and have been for decades.
January 22nd, 2012 at 4:26 pm
What a liar! Ron Paul LED the charge against TARP on Capital HIll that killed it in the first vote! Unfortunately, they brought it back. But Ron Paul definitely fought it, mobilizing his Campaign For Liberty members against it. I’d post one of his videos from the time calling on supporters to fight it, but I don’t know if my comment would go through. Santorum is big government. Ron Paul’s plan would balance the budget in 3 years without cutting social security, medicare or veteran’s benefits. Santorum wants to cut those right away.
January 22nd, 2012 at 4:56 pm
It’s kind of funny watching the candidates try to outdo each other on conservative credentials.
http://paranoidpolitico.blogspot.com/2012/01/santorum-unplugged_22.html
January 22nd, 2012 at 5:48 pm
While the professional media people are focusing on the presidential candidates, I think it is more fascinating to watch the VP choice. Note that five of the debate-shunning presidential top choices all named Marco Rubio. Today it was announced that he will not endorse in the presidetial race (note that that allows him to be chosen by ANY OF THE TOP THREE. One report said that the online privacy bill started to unravel WHEN RUBIO WITHDREW HIS SUPPORT.
Watch the VP choice–and Rubio
January 22nd, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Who let that scum Santorum into Florida anyway?
January 22nd, 2012 at 6:54 pm
I will not be an Obama ^2…. Cmon Florida, wanna straiten up America? Vote for me!
January 22nd, 2012 at 8:10 pm
What a JOKE!!!!
January 22nd, 2012 at 9:49 pm
If you’re thinking Gingrich, you owe it to yourself to take a few things into consideration before you make your move. By flirting with Gingrich, Republicans are playing with fire. More on my blog at http://www.jasongriffin.net/blog/2012/1/22/gingrich-south-carolina-victory-means-republicans-playing-wi.html
January 22nd, 2012 at 10:59 pm
Can someone please tell the Republican candidates that if they keep sailing further right that they will be in danger of sailing over the edge of the world.
January 22nd, 2012 at 11:08 pm
Obama will beat any of theses hapless candidates. I would love it to be Gingrich though. Newt, the “brilliant genius debater” who thinks he can win a debate against the President who “needs a teleprompter” would be CRUSHED, I mean CRUSHED by President Obama. To borrow a phrase from Bush, who made such a mess of America, “bring it on!”
January 23rd, 2012 at 12:50 am
Now the U.S. voter is recognizing the Republican party of “less government” is the party that has and wants to give us more government!
Who wants government in every womans life to stop her from making decisions about her own body? Republicans.
Who refuses to tax & legalize pot even though you can buy it in any town in American & have been able to for years? Republicans.
Who wants all gays kicked out of the military for what they do in their private life? Republicans.
Who refuses to tax & legalize prostitution even though you can pick up a yellow pages in every town & find escort services? Republicans.
Who refuses to let casinos bring high paying full benefit jobs to Florida? Republicans.
Who lectured us about our own personal “family values” while their leaders were committing adultery themselves? Republicans.
It seems Republicans are happy making bigger government to intrude into our personal lives.
Now they tell us they stand for “less government” – but the facts & reality in our lives tell a different story.
Bring on Willard or Newt the lech or belongs in a Santarium the nutjob or Paul the flake – ITS OBAMA IN A LANDSLIDE!
January 23rd, 2012 at 12:53 pm
IF Rubio is the VP nominee I will vote for Obama, right after I throw up!
January 23rd, 2012 at 2:30 pm
the biggest joke here is joe kaufman, the clown of south florida. can’t believe the post would continue to quote him, did you guys see him on the daily show? unbelievable such an idiot would actually try to run for congress!!
January 23rd, 2012 at 5:58 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNzjor5oCT4
January 23rd, 2012 at 5:59 pm
This is the link to Ron Paul opposing Tarp in 2009.