I don't know about the rest of the folks on Free Republic who are wary of Santorum, but I am "carpet-bombing" in an attempt to get people to READ and COMPARE Santorum's and Newt's policy positions and proposals with an open mind.
I'm "working for" limited government in the U.S. I'm "working for" the side that seeks to weaken Daddy State Government "conservatives" like Santorum. I'm "working for" the TRUTH, which is that Santorum's voting record shows a guy who is socially conservative but otherwise, pretty well inclined to big government "for our own good."
The TRUTH is that many accusations against Newt, such as his sitting on the couch with Pelosi and supporting health care mandates, have false implications because Gingrich has fought VALIANTLY against cap-and-trade regulations, and he has stated unequivocally that on further reflection, he (along with pretty much everybody at the conservative Heritage Foundation, which once supported mandates) has concluded that they were wrong in thinking mandates would work. Newt has DEMONSTRATED that he is humble enough to admit mistakes and press on toward solution. Santorum, on the other hand, demonstrates ZERO such humility or vision. On the contrary, Santorum has demonstrated a disturbing tendency to lecture Americans on morality.
Gingrich has a thoughtful, detailed plan, including one that really should resonate with EVERYONE HERE: Enforce the Tenth Amendment by starting an orderly transfer of power and responsibility from the federal government back “to the states, respectively, or to the people,” as the Constitution requires. Over the next year, state and local officials and citizens will be asked to identify the areas which can be transferred back home. This bill will decisively return power and responsibility to the states and the citizens.
Unlike Santorum, with regard to Health Care, Gingrich has stated CLEARLY that mandates in anything he plans are off the table, as in having "no individual mandate or employer mandate of any kind."
Look where I could, I found no such assurance from Santorum, and Santorum is already CONFIRMED as being a guy who likes to use government to force people into doing things "for their own good."
Santorum NEEDS TO BE VETTED. In my opinion, what you're seeing are the actions of a lot of individuals, like me, who really want folks to stop and read the handwriting on the wall with regard to Santorum: he is a former Senator and big-government "compassionate" conservative whose political philosophy is very close to Romney's.
Gingrich, whom Santorum has described as his mentor back in the days of the Reagan Revolution, has about ten times the leglisative experience and record of success as Santorum, he has a plan that details exactly HOW he intends to reduce government and increase freedom and prosperity for Americans, and he is clearly the superior choice for 2012.
GODSPEED NEWT GINGRICH.
Fantastic, Finny — agree 1,000 percent. Just wish these dunderheads would LISTEN!!!
GODSPEED NEWT GINGRICH.
Finny, bravo for a masterful post. It's a keeper. I agree 100%.