Wednesday, February 15, 2012

We Shouldn't Savage Rick Santorum

This 2012 race has featured Mitt Romney and a long series of cartoon characters. However, Rick Santorum is not one of them. He is not an immoral, lying pseudo-intellectual like Newt Gingrich. He is not a male bimbo like Herman Cain. He is not a male bimbo like Rick Perry. He is not a bimbo like Michelle Bachmann. And this is coming from somebody who would likely never cast a vote for Santorum. Rick is a serious person that deserves some respect.

There are a couple of reasons why Romney and his fans should not bash Rick.

1. It smacks of petty politics. You don't win an argument by never admitting mistakes, neither do you win an argument by never admitting the good in your opponents. When Ron Paul characterized Newt Gingrich as a serial hypocrite, it was believable because it was true. Santorum is no Gingrich.  Rick is relatively intelligent and a good family man. Romney is a better choice, but it doesn't mean Rick is everything that is bad in the world.

2. Rick is just as conservative as Romney or the rest. I, for one, find it humorous when those in the grassroots argue about which candidate is the most conservative. Outside of Talk Radio and the conservative media, political leaders are NEVER 100% PURE! Let this sink in and never forget it. Public policy is tough and requires thoughtful leaders who are willing to second guess their own assumptions. That is what intelligent people do. Yes, Santorum supported earmarks. Is that what you got on him? For Romney's sake, I hope not.

3. I expect Romney to be the better man. He needs to wake up and look at himself in the mirror and tell himself one thing every morning: "I am going to tell the truth and if I don't make it, then I don't make it." If he is going to lose, then he needs to lose honorably.

4. Romney can't fix everything. The conservative movement is almost completely overtaken by insane people. Before this race started, it always felt that Romney was going to win, but only because of his money and organizational lead. It seemed like the establishment was once again going to save the GOP from its own devices. Nevertheless, the last time the establishment couldn't save the GOP was in 1964 when George Romney lost to Barry Goldwater. Running for president is also about luck. Romney needs to realize that running a campaign is not saving a failing business.

I still think Romney will probably pull it out. And he will have a very, difficult time beating Barack Obama. And the conservative media will use his loss as another plume in their cap and another reason to misinform the base. Unfortunately, if Santorum wins the nomination and loses the general election, it will not have the opposite affect on talk radio. They will claim that Rick is not really one of them and they the GOP should have gone with a TRUE CONSERVATIVE.

The GOP is screwed for the next several years. That is unfortunate because America needs a viable conservative movement.

31 comments:

BOSMAN said...

"3. I expect Romney to be the better man. He needs to wake up and look at himself in the mirror and tell himself one thing every morning: "I am going to tell the truth and if I don't make it, then I don't make it." If he is going to lose, then he needs to lose honorably."

I couldn't disagree more.

Romney needs to KICK ASS just like he did in Iowa and Florida.

This scorched earth term was made-up by campaigns that don't have the money Romney has.

SCREW his negatives. Worry about them when you're the nominee. The name of the game is WINNING THE NOMINATION.

NICE GUYS finish last!

BOSMAN said...

PS,

Positives WON'T MATTER, if you're not the nominee!

BOSMAN said...

PPS<

I've srent over 40 years involved in campaigns. THIS is how you win!!!

Right Wingnut said...

Chalk Pablo up as another vote for Obama. That will be twice for Pablo, now.

Right Wingnut said...

Boz, it's how you win unless you have the personality of a rock.

BOSMAN said...

RWN,

If you know anything about the voting population, 90% of them believe, if you see it on TV, it must be true. This is especially true in states with primaries.

Just make sure your adds are more hard hitting and there are MORE OF THEM!

Anonymous said...

Pablo-

I think Romney needs to expose Santorum's voting record and his career in Washington to draw a clear and distinct contrast between him and Santorum.

Santorum's record will show that his record of BIG government spending is the antithesis of the Tea Party's mantra of small government fiscal conservatism.

This is not going negative,this is simply reporting the facts.

There is a very good reason why Santorum lost his race in PA by 18%.
GWB and the Republican controlled Congress were not popular in 2006 due to the war as well as their uncontrollable spending which ran up the deficit.

The Tea Party came about because Republicans like me were fed up with the spending and growth of government....government growth that Santorum strongly supported.

It is disingenuous for Santorum to paint himself now, as the small government fiscal conservative,since his record in the U.S. Senate depicts the opposite.

I can't believe how people throw their support behind the latest ABR without reviewing their record. The ABR people are looking like a bunch of fools intent on throwing the election to Obama....and this includes people like Michelle Malkin.

Lionhead said...

The proof is in the polling: Santorum now trounces Romney 55% to 34% in a one-on-one matchup among likely GOP primary voters. This is the first time any challenger has led Romney nationally in a head-to-head match-up. Santorum also leads Romney head-to-head in Michigan.

http://tinyurl.com/3u8ap78

The voters are clearly rejecting the Romney "Rombo" campaign of negative attack ads on all other candidates & his win at all costs meme. It's obvious...

Anonymous said...

What is negative about the truth????

amit said...

I have come to the same conclusion. Its no point trying to tear down Rick. Its time to carpet bomb the airwaves with Romney executive leadership accomplishments.

Let others (not Romney PAC) do the Rick-expose part (and there are quite a few narrow minded social stands that will deflate his bubble). Clearly Newt is not working too hard to rip into Rick. But the dark horse may be Paul and he could damage Rick too. I think he can't stand Newt or Rick.

BOSMAN said...

I've just seen my 5th Restore Our Future ad on Fox News market in Massachusetts pointing out Santorum's record.

And this is Massachusetts!
If they're doing that here where Mitt will win with 50-60%, what are they doing elsewhere?

HaHaHaHa!!!!

BOSMAN said...

BTW, these ads all ran since 7AM this morning.

Anonymous said...

Give me a break. This is the big leagues - Mitt should take it right at Santorum. Rick is a whiney little man. What is this? If Mitt comes out swinging, he's petty? But everyone else is allowed to take shots at him? Go Get 'Em Mitt!!!

TheMomQueen said...

http://www.mfi-miami.com/2012/01/is-rick-santorum-a-mortgage-fraudster/

But he is a fraud when it comes the the 'average man'

Ellie

Anonymous said...

Pablo, I think Mitt going after the debt ceiling and the earmarks is small potatoes, and not going to be effective. He needs to strike at the heart of why Rick isn't the one.

My problems with Rick in no particular order:

1. He's an unremarkable garden variety DC politician who did not stand out, and who benefited financially from his position--like the charity and the house mortgage. Then, when he lost in a landslide, he became wealthy off his time in DC. CRONY!

I thought that was what got the tea party all riled up?! That and the spending. Which brings me to the next issue.

2. He's didn't come across as all that concerned about spending when he was in DC. Sure, reality on the ground is different from the lofty rhetoric, but it just didn't seem to be a big priority with Rick.

3. Arlene Spector, unions, and right to work. It puts the lie to the idea that he was a true conservative in congress.

4. He doesn't have a compelling story, or any big accomplishments that would lead me to believe he can do the job right now.

5. His tendency to say really really stupid things about social issues. At a time of financial crisis, Rick says he will talk about the dangers of contraception if he becomes president. Please.

6. He's lied about Mitt quite a bit with impunity.

7. He comes across as petty, arrogant, preachy and whiny--not the kind of guy who can appeal to a larger base.

I agree with you that he's no Newt, and is probably a pretty decent man. He is certainly a good family man.

But the above things are what I wish Romney would focus more on. I hope Romney stops nibbling around the edges, and makes these negatives clear to voters, without going overboard.

Contrary to popular opinion in the media, I do not think Romney has overdone it.

-Martha

Anonymous said...

So, Pablo, you expect Romney to roll over and get pummeled by Santorum? Santorum is criticizing Romney left and right, and you say Romney should not criticize? Utter nonsense.

Pablo must be masochistic. He posts stupid stuff so that he can get a joy ride from all the put downs he gets.

Anonymous said...

If the Media says this is the "most negative political season of all time" then America believes it. They believe it because America doesn't pay attention to details, they aren't concerned about the past, and they would rather bow at the golden calf of Hollywood and Lady Gaga than to take a moment and get a dose of reality. Instead of reading an entire article they get their news in small soundbites and the top of the hour between Justin Bieber's latest hit and LL Cool J's greatest hip-hop cover.

America needs to get over the whining about "Negative Campaigning." Especially since America is buying into all of it. What's the old saying? "If it doesn't bleed it doesn't lead"?

As far as American history goes - negative campaigning is tradition folks! Learn some history:

Election of 1800 -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_zTN4BXvYI

-Phil

P.S. Personally I don't think that pointing out someone's actual voting record should qualify as "negative campaigning." Man I really despise the media these days (that includes the MSM and the Talkies). Their arrogance disgusts me.

Anonymous said...

Phil, well said.

-Martha

Publius Nemo said...

Romney has been cordial and gracious towards Rick Santorum and we can afford to do likewise even if Rick is a little petulant. Differences and records need to come to light before the next election and we can do so with decorum. Good thinking! PN

Lionhead said...

"Santorum filled the 1,300-seat Capital High School auditorium, and more than 1,000 more listened in the gym. The crowd was a big part of the event..."

http://tinyurl.com/85sgpse

This is what I like to see, big crowds of voters resonating to Santorum's positive, Conservative principles message. A breath of fresh air in a stale, toxic campaign by the GOP establishment to elect their pick.

Machtyn said...

Amit: It doesn't matter. It was Ron Paul who hit Gingrich the hardest in Iowa, but Romney got blamed. Again, Ron Paul is hitting Santorum with truth attack ads, and Romney will get blamed for those.

Romney is held to a higher standard and a different standard than all the rest. It is what it is, though. He knew he would be up against the media - which is why he built up support with TEA Party candidates and other Republican candidates to help them win, so he could have a base of support.

Lionhead: Romney had 4,000 in AZ the other day on a stage and lawn area. Some really good pictures have been released. Romney's stump speech is completely positive, talking about the American Century, etc. He rarely, if ever, talks about his primary opponents. He does hit Obama pretty hard.

Anonymous said...

The Romney scorched earth meme is more a creation of the media--both right and left, to make it harder for Romney. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. They want to tie his hands. They don't care how scorched earth anyone else goes.

-Martha

Terrye said...

Lionhead..in some polling Santorum does better than Romney, but that is just because people like you have done a good job of hiding who Santorum really is...once people find out more about him I doubt if those numbers will stay up there.

Terrye said...

BTW, I saw a video today at Jennifer Rubin's blog about Santorum. She has been very fair to him thus far, but even she does not know what to say when a vid from 2006 surfaces with Santorum saying that birth control is bad for women..he also said the Tea Party people were bad for the Republican party and were not real conservatives...he made those comments himself..Romney did not claim he said them..there is video of him running his mouth.

Put that together with his voting record and once people hear and see more of Santorum I think he will start to stall.

What I have noticed from people like Lionhead and RWN is that they will believe, repeat or say anything they see fit about Romney..nothing is beneath them..however, whenever someone they like gets a little bit of it back they whine and cry like children.

Unknown said...

Probably if I were in the Romney campaign I might not go after Rick's voting record on increasing the debt limit. Because I understand that might be distinction not worth emphasizing. But its still true. And you tend to respond with things like that when Rick is saying things that are totally bogus--like he's real conservative, and that Mitt is the same as Obama. That is such a miss-statement of the truth, I would have to call it a lie.

Unknown said...

I don't want to Savage the guy. He's an OK fellow; but his actions in the campaign show him to be a typical "politician;" stretching the truth so so far... with things that help him and hurt this opponent---that I am compelled to say that, what, he miss-states the truth frequently; is that kind enough?

Unknown said...

LH--the polls reflect what the normative media want. They want Santorum to be the GOP candidate. You are being fooled. Liberal media want your guy, just like they wanted John McCain. Why? Because he can be beat. Its so obvious. Media on Romney has been 75% negative, according to a recent George Mason UNiversity media study. Facts are stubborn things.

Unknown said...

For example, Listen any talk radio. At the top of the hour, from the AP or other news sources, there is always some little thing they say about politics. Lately, its Rick Santorum this, Rick that; and then something just slightly negative about Romney. That is why the polls are trending down for Mitt. But don't count your chickens.

Anonymous said...

There is a lot the public does not know about Rick santorum. His illegal charity. His wife living with an abortion doctor, his connections with jack abramoff, etc. a couple of interesting YouTube videos the gang of for staring Rick santorum and newt Gingich and Rick santorum who is he walmart

Anonymous said...

I agree with Bosman and others who argue that Romney must FIGHT for the nomination. That’s a big part of what Romney’s arduous road to the nomination has been about. Can he fight (for us)? Will he fight (for what we care about)?

To Romney’s supporters, the answer is Yes on both counts. But voters who don’t follow him closely, or who absorb whatever the media says about him on TV or talk radio, have to be convinced by him and his campaign that he will FIGHT and can WIN in November 2012. (I exempt the ABR crowd here, because they will probably end up voting for the ultimate ABR—Obama.)

AMERICANS LOVE A FIGHTER AND A WINNER. Romney can be both. Santorum (like Gingrich) can only be a fighter.

To hit Santorum hard on his profound flaws as a presidential candidate is not to “savage” him. It is to do a service to the GOP and the country. Why? Because Santorum could never win the presidency in 2012. Never.

Here’s one huge reason (there are more). Santorum’s well-documented retrograde views on women would prove the glacier to his Titanic in the general election. In particular, his ultra-orthodox Roman Catholic position that “artificial contraception” degrades human sexuality and harms women will set off alarm bells among women voters across the country. OMG, this guy AS PRESIDENT? The disaffected group will include the majority of Catholic women, single and married. Non-Catholics may not know that most Catholic women and married couples (as well as many Catholic priests) long ago rejected—in practice and in droves—the official Papal teaching against “artificial contraception.”

The Catholic Church in America has never recovered from the de facto revolt by the faithful against this ill-advised Papal teaching set forth in “Humanae Vitae” in 1968. Santorum is one of the rare Catholic laymen who publicly embrace this teaching. But, with views like this one, he will be no more successful than his Church in persuading Catholic women, much less those of other religions or no religion, to support him. He. Cannot. Win.

Terrye said...

Here is an interesting video of Rick..I know that the ABR people never tire of doing stuff like this to Romney and if it is good enough for them..well then who am I to quibble with the ethics:

youtube.com/watch3V=Gu1CGjnlgcM

Scumbag Santorum..Nice title.

At least I think that is right..