This is a story that will most definitely NOT be seen on TV, at least presented in the logical way that I am presenting it to you. Despite the fact that Rick Santorum was the clear true conservative anti-Romney in Iowa (perhaps even winning Iowa), and despite the fact that Rick Santorum was the clear true conservative anti-Romney in New Hampshire by spending almost no money to edge out Newt Gingrich (who spent a lot of money there), we are being told by Newt Gingrich that our true conservative should drop out and support him.
But wait. A Fox News poll just released shows that voters see Rick Santorum as the “true conservative” in this race.
Meanwhile, Romney is trying to convince voters that he’s really a conservative because Rick Santorum said so when he endorsed him against John McCain. Of course, Rick Santorum does believe Romney is conservative as compared to John McCain, but compared to himself? No. I do think it’s interesting, though, that Mitt Romney seems to think that ad works because voters believe the standard for conservatism today is Rick Santorum. If that is what he means to imply, I’m with him on that.
Okay, so let’s review some things. Both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich supported bailouts and the individual mandate which is one of the most egregious parts of Obamacare (next to rationing), and these two things are the two things that primarily energized the Tea Party movement to rise up and oppose Barack Obama. Santorum has never supported either the individual mandate or bailouts. He was the author and floor leader on the Welfare Reform Act that Newt is now taking all credit for.
My question is this. If the Republican Party elects either of these two men as the nominee, doesn’t that neutralize the Tea Party movement? Isn’t it an admission that everything the Tea Party stood up for does not matter to Republican voters? ANSWER: Yes. It seems to me that the Tea Party hasn’t a leg to stand on if either Romney or Gingrich are the nominee. It seems to me that the appeal of Newt Gingrich to many on the right doesn’t have anything whatsoever to do with Obamacare or bailouts but has more to do with Newt Gingrich’s willingness to call the president “stupid”.
So, is that what we are now? Republicans are really just an unprincipled bunch of people who just hate Barack Obama for reasons that have NOTHING to do with Obamacare or bailouts, but don’t really stand for anything? Is that it? We just want a nominee who is willing to say Obama is stupid? Really?
Well, not me. I have conservative principles. Rick Santorum has conservative principles. Ergo, I am voting for Rick Santorum. No-brainer. My reasoning is pretty well explained in this ad from Catholic Vote which has endorsed him.