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Romney and Paul successfully call Santorum’s conservatism into question
Washington Post ^ | February 22, 2011 | Aaron Blake

Posted on 02/22/2012 8:27:14 PM PST by detective

Rick Santorum’s front-runner status in the GOP presidential race is predicated on the idea that he is the consistent conservative alternative in the field.

And that image had some serious holes poked in it at Wednesday’s debate in Arizona.

Mitt Romney and Ron Paul tag-teamed the former Pennsylvania senator much of the night, calling into question his conservatism on issues ranging from earmarks and fiscal policy to his endorsements and even what is often considered Santorum’s most solidly conservative credential — social issues.

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


TOPICS: Breaking News; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: kenyanbornmuzzie; mittromney; newtgingrich; paul; paulybot; ricksantorum; romney; romneyisaliberal; sanitoriumisabigot; santorumisacatholic
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To: helpfulresearcher

Mainline Protestants are only 15% of the adult population. I think you are confused, regarding the term Mainline Protestants.”

Mainline Protestants are by and large Marxists/Socialists.


81 posted on 02/23/2012 5:07:48 AM PST by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51. Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: detective; P-Marlowe; wmfights

I watched the debate and I do not buy the media conclusion about those who performed the best.

Again, the star of the show was the moderator who intentionally stirred attacks against candidates with “flame questions” such as the “fake” question to Ron Paul.

For the most part, Santorum did as well as anyone for the major part of the debate EXCEPT for the omnibus bill questions.

Gingrich did well on every question and was not touched at all by anyone.

Romney answered his questions well EXCEPT for the Romneycare questions really get him visibly flustered. There is a huge dishonesty about the man regarding conservatism, and every time he pretends it I see his actual past rather than his rewritten past. The most telling dishonesty was signaled by Gingrich’s “are you kidding” look at Romney and then Gingrich reemphasizing his point about Romney’s deceit by quoting an article written on the issue.

Paul always seems hesitant every time he answers anything. It might just be a voice quirk. I also sense a basic dishonesty about his responses such as getting troops off the Pakistan border and putting them on the US border.

Gingrich was the best.

Santorum has to better explain why an omnibus bill with some evil mixed with some good and a lot of average in it must be supported. There needs to be a clincher argument on that one, and not just a passable answer.

Romney is an unrepentant liar, but a good one.

Paul’s quavering voice hides something wrong, but I’m not sure if it’s a touch of uncertainty about is positions or a touch of instability.

But, I saw no knockout blows yesterday at all.


82 posted on 02/23/2012 5:10:20 AM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Pray Continued Victory for our Troops Still in Afghan!)
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To: napscoordinator

I thought Santorum did fine *shrug*


83 posted on 02/23/2012 5:11:58 AM PST by TexasFreeper2009 (Go Newt!)
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To: napscoordinator; All

I did not watch the debate last night out of two reasons. #1 was that I already have my candidate for whom I will vote in our primary. #2 I knew the CNN moderator would not ask the questions that are on the American people’s minds like the high prices of gas and the Fast and Furious scandal


84 posted on 02/23/2012 5:18:54 AM PST by Kaslin (Acronym for OBAMA: One Big Ass Mistake America)
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To: BloodAngel
Santorum wasn't at his best last night, I was a little disappointed that he wasn't better prepared to fend off Romney's challenges. But that being said the tag team of Romney-Paul was really telling! Every time Santorum tried to explain or defend his legislative record in response to a Romney jab, Paul would say something about "see...that's how they do it...they're sooo corrupt". Ignoring the fact that he's been in DC for decades sucking at the federal tit with gusto. The reason Paul can claim some degree of ideological purity is that he has never done ANYTHING all these years in DC!

And can we all admit that Paul is NO kind of conservative? Did you notice last night that the only times Paul even said the word conservative he did so as a pejorative? His right leaning libertarian shtick is a lie. He's a leftist libertarian and should not even be in our peimary.

85 posted on 02/23/2012 5:23:32 AM PST by pgkdan (Rick Santorum 2012. Conservative's last, best chance!)
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To: napscoordinator

I wonder what it cost Mitt to bus in that audience last night? What a bunch of goons.


86 posted on 02/23/2012 5:25:43 AM PST by pgkdan (Rick Santorum 2012. Conservative's last, best chance!)
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To: randomhero97
Thats if you think installing an American Ayatollah is conservative.

That's the stupidest, most unfair and dishonest thing I've read so far today.

F***ing troll!

87 posted on 02/23/2012 5:31:43 AM PST by pgkdan (Rick Santorum 2012. Conservative's last, best chance!)
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To: detective

Romney has successfully called his own conservatism into question, for many years now.


88 posted on 02/23/2012 5:34:55 AM PST by reasonisfaith (Or, more accurately---reason serves faith. See W.L. Craig, R. Zacharias, Erwin Lutzer, and others.)
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To: helpfulresearcher
The Democrats will make commercials featuring this Protestant-hostile statement. Santorum wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance of winning the election after this exposure of his personal beliefs. No wonder they call him Senator Sanctimonium.

Wrong. The majority of truly Christian Episcopalians, Lutherans, Methodists and Presbyterians sadly agree that their denomonations have left Christianity. Many on this forum say so forcefully.

Those 'mainline protestant' denomonations are dwindling in membership because they are so involved in the communist, pro gay, pro abortion, anti-freedom agenda that they've forgotten all about Christ.

You need to do a little more research.

89 posted on 02/23/2012 5:42:33 AM PST by pgkdan (Rick Santorum 2012. Conservative's last, best chance!)
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To: xzins
Santorum has to better explain why an omnibus bill with some evil mixed with some good and a lot of average in it must be supported. There needs to be a clincher argument on that one, and not just a passable answer.

You're absolutely right. I'm disappointed that he wasn't better prepared for that line of attack from Romney...of course having that evil little troll at your elbow screeching out "see I told you...that's how evil congress is'...at every answer wasn't helpful for Rick's responses. There was a Romney-Paul tag team aat play last night.

90 posted on 02/23/2012 5:51:45 AM PST by pgkdan (Rick Santorum 2012. Conservative's last, best chance!)
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To: detective

All it comes down to is an effort by the GOP-e to take out another conservative.


91 posted on 02/23/2012 6:05:52 AM PST by Biggirl ("Jesus talked to us as individuals"-Jim Vicevich/Thanks JimV!)
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To: no dems
“RINO-Rom was just smarter than him and mopped the floor with him”

I strongly disagree. I admit the Romney campaign set up the atmospherics well. The Washington Post had a prewritten article that attacked Santorun. Drudge was doing Romney's dirty work all week, smearing Santorum.

In the actual debate Romney had his supporters in force and very vocal in the audience. He had Paul as his attack dog. In fact, Romney should have given Paul some puppy treats and said “good doggie” after the way Paul repeatedly attacked Santorum every time Romney ordered Paul to sic him.

But on the substance Santorum did fine. Romney's attacks were answered intelligently. Santorum did not lose control when he was deliberately provoked over and over again by Romney, Paul and the crowd.

Could Santorum have done better? Yes, of course he could. But he took the best Romney and his attack dog could dish out. He was ganged up against 2 against 1 but he stood his ground.

Overall he came across as a decent man beset upon by a pair of bullies.

92 posted on 02/23/2012 6:16:54 AM PST by detective
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To: svcw

Newt sat composed and happy as he watched his chief opponent being shredded by the two other candidates. He said he felt happy or cheerie or something. How much better for Newt could it have been.

Santorium was shown to be a false prophet and Newt did not have to lift a well-informed muscle.


93 posted on 02/23/2012 6:30:03 AM PST by Erda
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To: hinckley buzzard
Yep, I was sorry to see how he responded. Taking one for the team for Planned Parenthood, which funded abortion, against which is one of his signature issues. He always indicates how steadfast he is and I believe him...but then this on Planned Parenthood did not go over well at all.

Also The deal about Spectre, who turned coat and allowed the winning vote for Obama Care, makes his attacks on Romney more hollow. Fatc is Toomey would have been a better Senator and no (behind the scenes deals) will counter that. Made him look like a scheming pol, making deals with the devil.

Finally, he has indicated he was steadfast on no bailouts, then it was revealed he did vote for the bailouts of the airlines and his explanation there was more political talk...somehow it didn't count when he did it, when he had just slammed Romney on his voting for the Wall Street but against Detroit. He let Romney suck him in and score there.

Bad night for Santorum. I still believe he is the most conservative...but he was successfully (IMHO) portrayed as another go along to get along Washington insider Pol last night, and that did not do him well.

The idea of Romney and Paul tag teaming him is nothing more than people picking on and going after the front runner as they always do. No need for "plots" or conspiracies to explain that. It's just primary politicas and Santorum has gotten to the top and can expect it. He needs to man up and not make excuses or come forward with these "plot" claims. Makes him look less than Presidential.

He needs to stick on message, counter with his conservative credentials which are better than the others, and keep after Obama. IOW, do the things he did to get to the top and let the sniping go while he keeps going after Obama and naturally touting his conservative victories and accomplishments.

94 posted on 02/23/2012 6:51:21 AM PST by Jeff Head (Liberty is not free. Never has been, never will be. (www.dragonsfuryseries.com))
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To: TheBattman
Yeah, I gotta bump what you said.

In agreement 100%

95 posted on 02/23/2012 7:30:07 AM PST by Jagdgewehr (It will take blood.)
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To: Kansas58

http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/02/rubio-went-to-a-mormon-church-as-a-kid-115330.html

Rubio used to attend a Mormon church... it seems the Paul/Romney tag team theory may have some truth to it.


96 posted on 02/23/2012 7:43:08 AM PST by TexasFreeper2009 (Go Newt!)
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To: jacknhoo

Thank you for your 180 degree wrohg version of reality. I am a Santorum supporter and a practicing, Catholic (Marianist)educated man through high school (McBride, gone 40 years but we still remember).
We were the school the brainiacs whose parents couldn’t afford the Jesuits attended.
We were roughed up in the halls when we needed it.
We rode the public bus, hitchhiked or drove ourselves.
We love our Faith, and our traditions.
You couldn’t have made it into my school.


97 posted on 02/23/2012 7:51:44 AM PST by steve8714 (Yoda's speech to Luke; copied from Jack Webb in "The D.I.")
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To: detective

Santorum is far from perfect, but I’ll take him over either of those losers.


98 posted on 02/23/2012 7:57:13 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: steve8714
I think, possibly, you may want to re-read my post. Also, you may want to re-write your post.
99 posted on 02/23/2012 7:59:31 AM PST by jacknhoo (Luke 12:51. Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.)
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To: randomhero97

“Thats if you think installing an American Ayatollah is conservative.”

###

The very word “religion” burns you in your sensitive parts, doesn’t it?


100 posted on 02/23/2012 8:03:37 AM PST by EyeGuy (2012: When the Levee Breaks)
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