Sellout: Santorum Proves He’s Just Another Washington Insider

The Red Side of Life Conservative Musings from New York ^ | 4/19/12 | RedInNewYork

[jmstein7]

In my estimation, the hallmark of the true politician, the true Washington insider, is the intentional evasion of responsibility and/or blame – the sin of omission. By this standard, Rick Santorum, in the end, is nothing but a typical two-bit political hack.

For all his bloviating and posturing, painting himself as a true conservative, selling his alleged “genuineness”  and values – a regular Joe – Santorum has shown his true colors by failing to endorse when it could have made a difference. Plainly, he is avoiding the ire of the GOP establishment by not endorsing Gingrich, and he is avoiding the ire of his own base, the base that believed in him, by not endorsing Mitt – who does not share the values of the Santorum base.

Of course, Santorum’s silence is indeed a tacit endorsement of Romney – but, in the spirit of jim Taggert, Rick “hasn’t said that.” It is beyond dispute that a timely endorsement of Gingrich would have likely injected the Gingrich campaign with fresh life – in both supporters and in news coverage. His silence has resulted, instead, in the further atrophy of the Gingrich campaign. But don’t blame Rick… he “hasn’t said anything!”

On the basis of my “Caucus Theory,” as a friend put it, Santorum has the right to endorse anyone still in the race; he certainly has the right to endorse Romney if he so chooses. He clearly has – but in a way that undermines his integrity… in a way that allows him to evade the responsibility for an explicit Romney endorsement. Rick has elected the Washington two-step over Main Street candor.

Rick, indeed, has the right NOT to endorse, just like an uncommitted or undecided voter has the right to NOT go to the polls. But the exercise of such right by Santorum, or a voter who has committed to a candidate and/or a set of principles, is distinguishable because such a non-vote implies a rejection of a professed set of principles or a loyalty (to a candidate). And, in Rick’s case, the implication of a non-endorsement is of great magnitude and consequence.  Here, Rick has sold-out on principled conservatism by not endorsing the remaining principled Conservative (Newt has a 95% Conservative lifetime rating by the ACU, the only objective measure to go by here).

THIS is the art of the dodge – something that makes Santorum more like Obama. As you may recall, Obama was notorious for voting “present” in the State and US Senate to avoid creating a record, to avoid being pinned-down for supporting, or not supporting, a measure that may become relevant, popular or unpopular. On his support of Conservatism, Rick Santorum has voted “present.”

[ansel12]

Santorum formally endorsing during this announcing event as Specter kicked off his presidential run. He is to the left of Specter in the video.

Santorum endorsed and campaigned for his candidacy and this platform.

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/64281-1

3:46 mark: “In 1996, I intend to win the other house — the White House — with ten commitments to America… including a woman’s right to choose…

13:22 mark: “Even though we have this historic opportunity for these achievements, there are those in our party who would lead us down a different path — and squander this unique moment in our nation’s history — by using our political capital — to pursue a radical social agenda — that would end a woman’s right to choose…

13:48 mark: “When Pat Robertson says there is no constitutional doctrine of separation between Church and State, I say he is wrong…

14:31 mark: “When Ralph Reed says a pro-choice Republican isn’t qualified to be our President, I say the Republican Party will not be intimidated or blackmailed by those kinds of threats.I, and millions of other pro-choice Republicans, will not be disenfranchised and made second class citizens.

15:33 mark: “… it is not Christian, or religious, or Judeo-Christian to bring God into politics; or to advocate intolerance and promote exclusion.

15:54 mark: “I want to take abortion out of politics. I want to keep the Republican Party focused on the vital economic and foreign policy issues — and leave moral issues such as abortion to the conscience of the individual. I believe abortion is an issue to be decided by women…

16:40 mark: “I pledge to lead the fight to strip the strident anti-choice language from the Republican National platform…”

[Deb]

Whatever that means.

[fortheDeclaration]

It means no one is shooting our ‘wounded’, Sanatorum was in the race to keep the conservative vote divided.

[Deb]

Oh, geez. Not ANOTHER conspiracy. And who was behind this super-secret scheme to keep the conservative vote divided? The Build-A-Burgers? The RINO Illuminati?

You people are demented. Seriously, get help.

[fortheDeclaration]

Dividing the conservative vote is not a conspiracy, it is a tactic.

[Deb]

And just why would Santorum be in on the plot to divide the conservative vote? Who was behind him? For what purpose?

Seriously, get a brain scan.

[fortheDeclaration]

Santorum is an insider, who knows what his payoff will be.

Take your blinders off.

[fortheDeclaration]

'For what purpose'?

To divide the Conservative anti-Romney vote!

Had a single conservative emerged, Romney would have never won the nomination.

Open your eyes to the reality of politics.