I think some Newt supporters are really in the bag for Romney. We have not bashed Newt at all, but these Newt supporters are constantly non-stop bashing Santorum day and night. It really is irrational. Hopefully Super Tuesday will once and for all put Santorum officially ahead of this thing.
I agree that some of the bashing of Santorum is irrational. I also agree that some Romney supporters have been driven underground on Free Republic and are claiming to support another candidate merely to attack the candidate they think poses the greatest threat to Romney.
However, I think something else is at work as well.
I've tried to carefully read the criticisms of Santorum by Gingrich supporters. I am not an uncritical Santorum fan; I'm painfully aware of problems with his candidacy and I finally decided to support Santorum when it became clear he was the only social conservative left in the race. Some of what Gingrich's supporters are saying has merit.
There are people out there who sincerely believe Gingrich is a better candidate, and I respect that. Gingrich has a lot of good points, and when he pointed out Santorum’s “team player” comments versus his own background, Gingrich brought up a valid and legitimate difference between the two candidates. I could cite other examples as well of why somebody could support Gingrich.
That, however, is not where the venom is coming from.
I think a key part of the anger directed against Santorum is based on people reacting against Santorum’s advocacy of Christian moral values. Look at the “Saint Sanctimonium” comments. Is there **ANYONE** who has ever been able to show a shred of evidence that Santorum wants to ban birth control? Absolutely not. What Santorum does say is that birth control and legal abortion have enabled rampant sexual promiscuity, and there is simply no doubt about that. Go look at the articles in mainstream media on the role of the Pill in “liberating” women.
In the view of a fair number of people on Free Republic, pointing out Newt Gingrich's past sexual immorality is “bashing” Gingrich. That's irrational — most of us were happy to jump all over Clinton or Edwards for their sexual immorality, or even to circulate unverified rumors questioning the sexual preference of other prominent Democrats. I'm personally willing to listen to what the San Diego pastor backing Gingrich says about his personal repentance, but if we think that's not going to be an issue in the general election, we're kidding ourselves.
The only explanation I can find for some — definitely **NOT** all, but some — of the attacks on Santorum is that some people are offended by him because his comments are viewed as judgmental on the poster's personal lives.
Again, I know this doesn't apply to everyone out there bashing Santorum, but I do think it does apply to some.