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Santorum vs. the Meat Grinder
Townhall.com ^ | January 6, 2012 | Brent Bozell

Posted on 01/06/2012 3:55:32 AM PST by Kaslin

For many months, the liberal media elite has made no secret that in its mind the field of Republican presidential candidates includes Mitt Romney and a collection of clowns. Clearly, Romney is the opponent that Barack Obama and the liberal establishment want nominated.

Journalists have mercilessly savaged every single conservative alternative to Romney who's ascended to the top of the polls: Palin, Bachman, Cain, Perry and Gingrich. It's too bad for them that the results from the Iowa caucuses threw off their bold predictions that the Romney juggernaut would achieve lift off in Des Moines, Iowa. Yet Romney won by only eight votes over, surprising, Rick Santorum. This means one thing only: Senator, step up to the guillotine.

"He's about to face the meat grinder of tough scrutiny for the first time," promised Ann Curry on the "Today" show. I'm still waiting for Obama to face the "meat grinder of tough scrutiny for the first time." Instead, he gets to handle Barbara Walters' slow-pitch puffballs in prime time, being asked what kind of superhero powers he'd like to have.

Some would protest Obama has faced some meat-grinder questions recently. Take the president's "60 Minutes" favorite, Steve Kroft, who put some tough questions to the president on CBS in December. The complaint? Obama compromised too much with heinous right-wingers. Kroft scolded, "There are people in your own party who think that you were outmaneuvered, that you were stared down by John Boehner and Grover Norquist and capitulated. ... It seems to be all the compromising is being done by you."

The compromising is supposed to be done by the conservatives. The media stayed on their message with a relentless discipline after the Iowa results. Santorum, like the other authentic conservatives, are too "far right" to win. Ann Curry started the meat grinder. "So is he going to have to change his conservative message as he's looking into north, looking into New Hampshire, which is a much less conservative state?"

ABCs Jake Tapper laid out the "reality" of Santorum moving to the center. "His is an unapologetic, in-your-face conservatism. But Santorum argues this is all part of his fight for the traditional American family," Tapper reported. "But in order for Santorum to succeed, he really needs to expand beyond those base Republican voters."

CNNs John King told Santorum he was a Democrat's dream. "A lot of Democrats were celebrating, if you will, Senator Santorum, last night, saying, in their view, you're on the extreme right on many of these social issues and they think, for them, it's a good thing that these issues will be front and center." This is especially appalling coming from CNN, which has created several hour-long specials boosting the extreme left, such as "Gary and Tony Have a Baby."

Several anchors -- including NBCs Savannah Guthrie before the caucuses and Fox's Bill O'Reilly (warning of what would come) afterwards -- pressed Santorum on artificial contraception, which hasn't exactly come up in most presidential campaigns. Obama isn't exactly being badgered about contraceptives and how he told a town hall meeting in 2008 they would help his daughters avoid being "punished with a baby."

The media will demand Santorum move to the center on all of the issues: economic issues, defense issues and social issues. But they think he's especially vulnerable as "extreme" on the social ones. Conservative viewpoints are extreme, but the liberal counterpoints never are so.

It's extreme to criticize contraceptives, but not extreme to give them to 12-year-olds in public schools. It's extreme to oppose all abortions but not extreme to favor every one of them (even partial-birth abortions) and want them funded with taxpayer money. It's extreme to believe in traditional marriage, but it's not extreme to support poly-amorous groupings of three or five lovers in loose "family" arrangements.

Amazingly, ABCs "Good Morning America" slavishly promoted polyamory the morning after Santorum's near-tie. Abbie Boudreau gushed, "Really, these days a modern family, just like ABCs hit comedy, can be anything you make it."

Republican voters need to remember that the ultraliberals who run our national media are nowhere near the mainstream on the culture or on any other vital American issue. When they insist a conservative candidate really needs to move to the middle, perhaps conservatives ought to push back and ask when was the last time these people were anywhere near the center. They couldn't find it with a pair of binoculars.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: barackobama; lamestreammedia; mediabias; ricksantorum; santorum
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1 posted on 01/06/2012 3:55:37 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

While I agree with much in this piece, I have to say, what is the big shock here? The MSM are liberal, and they whine about conservatives ‘needing to move to the middle’ (which means “need to stop being conservative”).

It seems like we’ve all been saying the things Bozell says in the final sentences for thirty years, and they have no impact.

I’m not really criticizing Bozell, I’m just wondering why people still seem to think this is shocking. The MSM are a bunch of libs who give Obama a free ride on contraception and everything else.

What I think is really interesting is how after decades of this incessant liberalism in the media, we still have things like the Tea Party and its impact in the last election.


2 posted on 01/06/2012 4:03:37 AM PST by Darkwolf377 ( It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies.--C.S. Lewis)
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To: Kaslin

Santorum has linked the state of the economy with the state of the family today and there are numbers to back him up.


3 posted on 01/06/2012 4:11:33 AM PST by tbpiper
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To: Kaslin

More pro-Obama socialist crap.

LIES LIES AND MORE LIES.

Don’t believe what the leftist Democrats and the mainstream media are saying about Santorum.

The Leftist/Progressive/Socialist axis is trying the demonize Santorum so they can pick the Republican candidate. They did it to us with McCain and they want to do it to us again with Romney.


4 posted on 01/06/2012 4:15:57 AM PST by veritas2002
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To: veritas2002

Exactly and that is why we must make it clear to the GOP not to nominate Romney


5 posted on 01/06/2012 4:18:30 AM PST by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: Kaslin
For the last two years, the number of Americans labeling themselves as "Pro Life" has exceeded the number of "Pro Choice". Even most "Pro Choicers" believe partial birth and other third trimester abortions should be illegal. Gallup Polling

Yet the libtard mediots will portray Santorum's Pro Life views as "extreme right wing". Only in Washington, NYC and LA could a plurality position be "extreme".

6 posted on 01/06/2012 4:18:39 AM PST by Dilbert56 (Harry Reid, D-Nev.: "We're going to pick up Senate seats as a result of this war.")
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To: Kaslin

I hope Santorum doesn’t back down on principles like Nixon did in 1960 and so many of our nominees since that time. The American people may be able to understand a sharp contrast in the candidates, but I wouldn’t bet on it.


7 posted on 01/06/2012 4:43:40 AM PST by Theodore R. (I'll still vote for the Right Rick --Santorum-- if he is on the April 3 ballot.)
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To: Kaslin

When a Conservative runs as a Conservative, he/she wins. e.g. Ronald Reagan.


8 posted on 01/06/2012 4:54:23 AM PST by Graybeard58 (Eccl 10 v. 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.)
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To: Kaslin

Santorum hasn’t gotten a single question from a reporter on the economy since he “won” Iowa.


9 posted on 01/06/2012 5:04:54 AM PST by OrioleFan
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To: Kaslin
The coming election "is" going to be a meat-grinder, and I am in serious doubt whether or not Santorum "has the stuff" to stand it. And Romney is not a whole heck of a lot better. I get the feeling if he was stressed, he'd collapse.

Of the current run of candidates, THE guy best suited to take (and deal out) the heat is Gingrich. After all, what would be different from his time in Congress.

10 posted on 01/06/2012 5:13:04 AM PST by Wonder Warthog
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To: tbpiper

yes - that is what I find very refreshing about him.

We have seen it in the schools - public and private.
When the families collapse - the children suffer.
All subsequent problems that arise get blamed on anything other than the original problem - the collapse of the family.

It isn’t the “only” problem out there by any means...but it certainly is the biggest problem.

And when the family stops functioning - the government steps into the household.
We now have multi-generational government/dependents who seem to have no concept whatsoever as to how to function as a rational competent adult.


11 posted on 01/06/2012 5:22:37 AM PST by Scotswife
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To: Kaslin

Journalists have mercilessly savaged every single conservative alternative to Romney who’s ascended to the top of the polls: Palin, Bachman, Cain, Perry and Gingrich.

You can bet the media will pounce on Romney as soon as he gets the nomination.

So with another 4 years of corruption in the WH our only course is to retake the senate and keep the conservative majority in the house.


12 posted on 01/06/2012 5:24:48 AM PST by chainsaw (Sarah Palin is still my first choice to save the USA. . .)
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To: OrioleFan

I did see a liberal go after him during a townhall meeting over healthcare.
She had that frantic look about her - pulling at her hair like liberals do when they think they’re talking to a complete moron.
He was giving excellent answers, but she was so busy with her dramatics that you could tell she wasn’t listening.


13 posted on 01/06/2012 5:26:00 AM PST by Scotswife
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To: Kaslin
Our county Republican executive committee leader sent an email the other week announcing their support of Romney...(boo, hiss!)

...After Santorum's amazing WIN (& I'm calling it a win!)....on Tuesday, the county Republicans announced they were ALSO inviting Santorum to the Lincoln Day Dinner a few days before our Florida primary.

This dinner had been planned, and Santorum wasn't even invited (only Romney) until now.

Another interesting bit....Last night I attended a political meeting (Melbourne, Fla) and they handed out slips/ballots with all the names, including Bachmann and Cain....

We were to color in the little circle (just like on a real ballot)--choose who we wanted to win... and pass it in....(there was a good attendance for this meeting)

Interesting to note...Bachmann received 1 vote.....Cain 2.....Perry 0.....Huntsman 0....Ron Paul 13....Romney 6...Gingrich 4 (I think).....and Santorum 36!

14 posted on 01/06/2012 5:47:04 AM PST by Guenevere (....We press on.....)
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To: OrioleFan
Well he got plenty of questions....which he answered thoroughly and well.....at a LIVE town hall meeting in New Hampshire the day after his WIN...(& those folks are not easily won, imo)

..the room was packed out and the questions were detailed, intense and covered much ground.

Santorum stood there, engaged the crowd and had a total command of the answers....in great detail...

..He had been going strong since early that morning....and he didn't seem tired yet.

The crowd was with him!

15 posted on 01/06/2012 5:52:06 AM PST by Guenevere (....We press on.....)
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To: tbpiper
Santorum has linked the state of the economy with the state of the family today and there are numbers to back him up.

Santorum is not my first choice - but I applauded when I heard him say that. He is absolutely spot on about the state of the family today. It is the CORE of our problems - crime, unemployement, welfare, drugs - you name it - the dissolution of the family unit is behind a great deal of it.

16 posted on 01/06/2012 5:54:56 AM PST by alicewonders ((GO PERRY!))
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To: All

“In an Associated Press article published in The Daily Oklahoman, October 28, 1996, Harold Brooks-Baker, director of Burke’s Peerage, a London-based publishing house that traces the lineage of royal and noble families, said that Bill Clinton and Bob Dole have more in common than wanting to be president. They are distant cousins! However, Clinton has bluer blood, giving him an election edge.

Bill Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe, but took his stepfather’s name as a teenager. Clinton’s ancestry can be traced back, on his mother’s side, to King Henry III who ruled England from 1227 to 1272. He is descended from King Robert I of France.

Furthermore, he is related to every Scottish monarch to the current British royal family. Clinton’s royal roots include several medieval monarchs and Simon de Montford, a statesman and soldier under King Henry III. Through de Montford, Clinton is related to every ancient aristocratic family in Britain today.”

J. R. Church continues the incredible story:
http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message447017/pg1


17 posted on 01/06/2012 6:00:46 AM PST by SF_Redux (Sarah stands for accountablility and personal responsiblity, democrats can't live with that)
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To: Guenevere

I saw some of that - the questions about Social Security.

The only thing the press wants to talk to him about is abortion.


18 posted on 01/06/2012 6:42:51 AM PST by OrioleFan
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To: Kaslin; All

If you run a liberal against a liberal, you will end up with a liberal, which is why I will NOT support a liberal, even if they have an R. after their name.


19 posted on 01/06/2012 6:52:57 AM PST by Sun (Pray that God sends us good leaders. Please say a prayer now.)
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To: Guenevere

From his surge in Iowa all the way to the nomination....GO Santorum!


20 posted on 01/06/2012 8:56:32 AM PST by RasterMaster ("To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men." - Abraham Lincoln)
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