The Culture Warrior (Santorum hurts social conservatives)

National Review ^ | Ramesh Ponurru

[Vigilanteman]

The problem with Santorum is not his positions. They are great. The problem is his inability to articulate them effectively in the face of a hostile and dishonest media.

Wow! Do you ever have that pegged right.

I hope that Rick can do better in Wisconsin tomorrow night than pundits and polls are showing.

If he can, then he has a chance to breathe new life into his campaign with a convincing win in Pennsylvania three weeks from now.

Otherwise, he faces political extinction with a possible or even probable momentum loss in his home state.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. This country will not be rid of Obama and Obamaism even when the Soros sock puppet is out of office until the credibility of the enemedia which enabled him is finally and totally broken.

[dforest]

Did you see that with Ann this morning? She has totally ruined herself over this election.

I am sure there will be a clip pretty soon.

I was embarrassed for her. Her pick for Mutts VP? Chris Crispie Kreme. LOL

I think I have entered the Twilight Zone.

[cripplecreek]

Did you see that with Ann this morning? She has totally ruined herself over this election.

I turned the channel when I saw that she was coming up. Been watching Top Gear on BBC America all morning.

[throwback]

But the evidence for that view is much weaker than the evidence that Santorum’s brand of social conservatism — with its abrasive tone, its lack of strategic discrimination, its proud refusal to acknowledge political reality — is destined for defeat.

I'm convinced. The only way to advance the social agenda is to voice the message so subtly and with such nuance that the voters will be unaware that they are being convinced to vote for a socially conservative candidate without realizing it. Obama said deciding the issue of when life begins was above his paygrade. That's pretty nuanced. Maybe Obama qualifies as a social conservative. Why do I need Republicans again?

[Pietro]

"The problem is his inability to articulate them effectively in the face of a hostile and dishonest media."

I agree 100%.

Santorum allowed the media to lead him around too often and the MSM stuck it to him.

That said he could have turned it to his advantage had he been a little more agile and articulate. But he is what he is and he wasn't able to pull it off.

His message though is an important one; economic recovery in the face of cultural degeneracy will prove fruitless. The takers will continue to take everything we make and then some.

[Windy City Conservative]

Why do we need National Review? Ramesh claims to be the big pro-lifer on their site; I’d like to see the evidence of this aside from his not so subtle book title, “The Party of Death”. Also, how does anyone know if directly speaking the truth about abortion and contraception is any less effective than being a touchy feely moderate on the issue?

[JSDude1]

This article is laughable, if not down right stupid.

[Lazlo in PA]

This dude is fully 100% in the tank for Romney. There is a reason he is coming up with idiotic arguments why Rick is somehow hurting a cause this dope would wish disappear.

Ramesh Ponnuru’s Mitt Romney Endorsement

[WPaCon]

Nice picture of Santorum at the site. /s

National Review went down the toilet. I can’t imagine writers from the early days of National Review like Buckley, Bozell, and Kuehnelt-Leddihn would ever demonize Santorum like that.

Someone should start a magazine that was similar to how NR originally was—severely conservative and staffed with highly intelligent contributors. Now, the magazine’s conservatism and intelligence are middle of the road.

[GeronL]

bump

[cripplecreek]

No thanks, give me Barabbas Romney.

Woo hoo! Gay marriage and liberal judges to boot.

[Mariner]

"The thing is, anybody who believes in social and fiscal conservatives as separate entities is a liar or an idiot."

In your world I must be an idiot.

Of course, in my world anyone who believes there is an inextricable linkage is an idiot.

What does homo marriage have to do with reducing taxes and balancing the budget? Or contraception?

[Windy City Conservative]

Ramesh and all those at National Review are all establishment people and we’ll be stuck hearing their opinion for the next 30 years.

[DirtyHarryY2K]

"My former congressman, a fiscal conservative / social moderate republican, is considering running as a democrat to help defeat the extremist anti choice GOP in my district".

That's how we end up with kooks like ron paul..