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Rick Santorum’s nice-guy persona is turning a bit testy lately
Washington Post ^ | March 26The Washington Post | Sandhya Somashekhar

Posted on 03/27/2012 9:07:22 AM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP

For a while, it had seemed that Rick Santorum’s crabby days were behind him. Gone were the sarcastic potshots at reporters and peevish outbursts aimed at his political opponents. He had transformed into the Mr. Rogers of the presidential race: good-natured, self-deprecating and downright likable.

But that nice-guy image has gone down the drain lately, with a series of provocative remarks and testy exchanges that have coincided with his slipping presidential fortunes. He may have hit a low point Sunday, when he uttered an expletive in response to a question from a New York Times reporter.

Asked what he meant when he said in a speech that rival Mitt Romney was the “worst Republican in the country” to go up against President Obama, Santorum lashed back at reporter Jeff Zeleny in an exchange that was captured by CBS.

“Stop lying!” he responded. “I said he was the worst Republican to run on the issue of Obamacare. And that’s what I was talking about!” In case there was any doubt that he meant it, he suggested that if he saw such a statement in print, it would amount to “bull----.”

For a candidate seeking to be the conservative standard-bearer in the election, it is perhaps not the worst thing to be caught on tape cursing out a reporter from a mainstream newspaper. Santorum’s campaign attempted Monday to capi­tal­ize on the incident, sending out a fundraising letter accusing the Times of being a liberal bully.

But for people who have followed Santorum’s decades-long career in politics, it was the latest sign that Santorum is reverting back to a prickly persona that predated his rise in the polls.(snip)

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: santorum2012
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"Most of us who followed his career were just stunned at how, for seven or eight months, he was remarkably disciplined,” said G. Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa. Lately, he said, he has seen signs of a more familiar Santorum. “He’s visceral, emotional, provocative,” Madonna said. “It’s who he is.”

Santorum, who spent 12 years in Congress, developed a reputation as a passionate but sometimes hotheaded advocate for his causes.

1 posted on 03/27/2012 9:07:29 AM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

Sarah Palin gave him a thumbs up!


2 posted on 03/27/2012 9:09:23 AM PDT by Girlene
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

It’s good to see that he has a backbone!


3 posted on 03/27/2012 9:10:23 AM PDT by ForAmerica (Conservative Christian Black Man!)
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To: Girlene
The polls sure didn't. He has slipped about 5 points and now Romney is into the 40% range and Saint Ricky is around 25% on the National level.
4 posted on 03/27/2012 9:11:41 AM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP (If you come to a fork in the road, take it........)
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To: ForAmerica
If you call temperamental and juvenile outbursts as “backbone”, then there is no point discussing anything further with you.

Santorum’s known personality in PA is partly why he lost so completely in ‘06. It is also why he is still on shaky ground in PA in this primary. The good people of PA know him all too well.

5 posted on 03/27/2012 9:15:37 AM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP (If you come to a fork in the road, take it........)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP
“For a candidate seeking to be the conservative standard-bearer in the election, it is perhaps not the worst thing to be caught on tape cursing out a reporter from a mainstream newspaper.”

Calling out a lying NYT punk reporter was the best thing Santorum could have done. It was great to see Santorum call that lying punk a liar straight to his face. Even Sarah Palin applauded Santorum for it.

I was getting tired of Santorum’s inability to confront the constant lies he faced from the MSM.

6 posted on 03/27/2012 9:16:21 AM PDT by detective
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

The F word flies freely at Obama rallies.

The MSM isn’t concerned, even when it comes from the mouth of the Vice President.

So what? We should be happy that Republicans are standing up to the left and the press.


7 posted on 03/27/2012 9:18:19 AM PDT by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Pursue Happiness)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

Good to see you are here selling this crap from Madonna, a leftist of the first order, to defend your favorite publication the NY Times. You obviously find it beyond the pale that a Rick called this weasel Obummer sycophant and his reporting BS.


8 posted on 03/27/2012 9:18:19 AM PDT by Lazlo in PA (Now living in a newly minted Red State.)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

“visceral, emotional, provacative”

His reaction to the Zimmerman shooting of Martin is the most concerning of all to me.

Talk radio isn’t covering his comments convicting Zimmerman and claiming to know his evil, sick mind, from what I was able to hear, but FR highlighted the appalling remarks which he said on a Sunday interview show.

Santorum: Zimmerman ‘has a very sick mind,’ motive ‘a malicious one’

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2863839/posts?q=1&;page=221


9 posted on 03/27/2012 9:18:57 AM PDT by txrangerette ("HOLD TO THE TRUTH...SPEAK WITHOUT FEAR" - Glenn Beck)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP
Since I am merely a Palin supporter and not a thumb sucking sycophant I reserve the right to respectfully disagree with the former governor's opinion.

Santorum's behavior in Florida clearly demonstrated to me that he is not a man of character. His disingenuous rewriting of Newt's successes as Speaker combined with his admission that he was a major player in initiating a chain of events that eventually gave us John Boehner as speaker permanently soiled me on Rick.

Rick needs a lifetime of attaboys to cover up for his oh sh!ts and at 53 he just doesn't have enough time...

10 posted on 03/27/2012 9:21:35 AM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Romney - Santorum: Twin Sons of Different Mothers...)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP
From the article;

But that nice-guy image has gone down the drain lately, with a series of provocative remarks and testy exchanges that have coincided with his slipping presidential fortunes

I guess the post must have missed Santorum's 22 point win in Louisiana on Saturday.

The Washington Post....All Romney all the time. For example... http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/why-louisiana-could-stop-romneys-southern-slide/2012/03/21/gIQAfxsmSS_blog.html

11 posted on 03/27/2012 9:22:13 AM PDT by Rational Thought
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To: detective
That outburst played well with certain hard core conservatives, but on a professional level, it had a disastrous effect.

Don't forget that about 70% if the population are apolitical. And the press will use it against him to present him as over emotional and unstable.

Newt has called the press out also, but he has done so in a way that still retains his cool, reserved and dignified position. Newt is a master at making such controversial incidents work out in his favor.

Santorum simply came across as whiny, petty and seriously lacking in self control. He simply does not have what it takes to be Presidential.

12 posted on 03/27/2012 9:25:04 AM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP (If you come to a fork in the road, take it........)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

Look in the mirror, WaPo.

You’ve not seen anything yet to come close to the normal juvenile lib cr*p.

We’re not backing down any more.

And I think it’s going to get far, far worse.

Live it, love it.


13 posted on 03/27/2012 9:27:38 AM PDT by Da Coyote
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

The media hates the light of truth being shown upon them.

LLS


14 posted on 03/27/2012 9:28:50 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (WOLVERINES!)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

The Media Says Obama is cool operator, but he ain’t.

Newt IS a cool operator!


15 posted on 03/27/2012 9:29:02 AM PDT by GraceG
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To: Lazlo in PA

It’s a great big world outside this forum, because you see it that way, does not mean the rest of the World won’t dare to cross you.

One has to gain public admiration by remaining level headed above all else, to lead in the Public arena. Being divisive does not work for either side.


16 posted on 03/27/2012 9:30:36 AM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP (If you come to a fork in the road, take it........)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP

give ‘em hell, Rick!


17 posted on 03/27/2012 9:30:44 AM PDT by the invisib1e hand (obamacare is an oxymoron.)
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To: Rational Thought

You can only live this Santorum fantasy for about another month. After that, the fairy tale will all come crashing down. The Reality of Wisconsin will not wait.


18 posted on 03/27/2012 9:36:35 AM PDT by PSYCHO-FREEP (If you come to a fork in the road, take it........)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP
Um...The “good people” of PA are comprised of two Liberal strongholds, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the rest of the State.

These same “good people” reelected Gov. Rendell by a twenty point margin over Lynn Swann in that same 2006 election, and barely elected Sen Toomey in 2010, an extremely strong year for any Republican.

Most voters in PA actually liked Santorum and recognized him for his ability to represent the State. Logically, the War in Iraq and his opponent, the son of an extremely popular ex-Governor, would have been too much for anyone to overcome.

Seemingly, you look to be a closet Romney supporter as you sure like to post anything bashing his main opponent.

19 posted on 03/27/2012 9:37:45 AM PDT by Rational Thought
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To: gov_bean_ counter
I agree. Rick's piling on Newt (his mentor) was despicable.
20 posted on 03/27/2012 9:39:56 AM PDT by Amntn
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