Posted on 03/02/2009 11:35:13 AM PST by Born Conservative
Washington — Former Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Rick Santorum’s acquisition of political-outsider status since his 2006 loss to Democrat Bob Casey is affording him a lot of bluntness.
“We were unethical,” he said of congressional Republicans involved in the scandals involving former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the securing of earmarks for special projects in their districts. “Let’s just be frank about it.”
Speaking at the American Conservative Union’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Omni Shoreham Hotel Saturday, the copious applause he received bespoke the self-criticism abounding in today’s conservative movement. The GOP’s performance on ethics, before the Democrats won Congress and the White House, he said, is especially troubling to him, an erstwhile member of the U.S. House of Representatives’ “Gang of Seven” in 1991, who were involved in fighting the banking scandals.
His extended his criticisms of his party’s record over the past eight years to George W. Bush’s handling of Hurricane Katrina and the earlier phases of the war in Iraq, before 2007’s surge in troop levels.
“We were incompetent,” he said. “We were simply incompetent.”
And while Republicans complain about the most severe spending increases in the nation’s history ushered in by President Barack Obama, Mr. Santorum said Mr. Bush and other Republicans who supported the financial bailout last fall bear much of the blame.
“It opened up a door that the next president is driving a bulldozer through,” he said.
Much of Mr. Obama’s $787 million spending measure contains elements of what Mr. Santorum called an emerging American version of “European socialism.”
If all of the president’s projects on national health care, forced unionism and the environment come to fruition, Mr. Santorum said, the destruction of the Democrats’ reputation that may come afterward could amount to a Pyrrhic victory for the GOP.
(Excerpt) Read more at thebulletin.us ...
Incompetent also includes going on Sean Hannity's Fox show yesterday and saying he was proud of the earmarks he inserted into legislation.
Rick, you were a large part of the problem. Now go away and let someone else come up with a new solution.
Oh ya and there was that time he helped leftist jihadist Arlen Specter get reelected. So whatevah Rick Santorum.
“Fumbles” Santorum has a lot of nerve claiming that anyone “dropped the ball”
I think by “we” he must have meant “I”.
Hey Rick, if it wasn’t for conservatives, there wouldn’t be any “ball”.
I agree in principle with what he said. The GOP did mess up big time in drawing any distinction with the dems and with standing on principle. The messenger was part of the problem however. Maybe he has seen the light so to speak. Who knoes?
If I hear one more Republican apologize for Katrina I swear I’m going to throw up.
I was never impressed with Rick Santorum. Like Mel Martinez. Something about both of them just never seemed genuine when it came to advancing conservatism.
Don't talk to us about "dropping the ball", Ricky.
Ping
RINO's need a new handle. Like Eunuchs Are Us
Santorum is not a Rino. However I think he could learn from the democrats, who are total scumbags but never say “sorry”.
Beating yourself up for the mass media is counterproductive and just helps screw America more while Obama is robbing trillions from the economy.
He's more of a corporatist, and was fond of earmarks as well. He is NOT what we need directing the GOP - he got his arse kicked running as an incumbent in 2006. Wasn't even close.
Rick, old buddy, Conservatives didn’t drop the ball. The RINOS stole it.......................
The Republican Party does not!
ping
Santorum had great possibilities back in the day. But now, he has learned what all dishonest, RINO political hacks know so well...say what sounds good to the audience you happen to have at the time and then go on TV and bow down to the left. Sorry Rick. Why don’t you go make a few more “Specter 2010” signs and wait for our call.
Santorum always struck me as a whiner. He should get together with little Scotty McClellan.
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