Santorum: The Republican Obama

Capitalism Magazine ^ | March 5, 2012 | Michael J. Hurd

[Misterioso]

Alana Goodman, at the conservative site Hot Air, is quoted as saying the following about anti-pursuit of happiness candidate Rick Santorum:

“Where’s the conservative outrage? If Santorum’s comments aren’t nanny state-ism in its purest form, then what is?… If you’re a conservative and you give Santorum a pass on this, you forego any future right to complain about liberals taking away your Happy Meals and trans fats.”

Goodman is referring to Santorum’s recent and past comments that freedom as specified in the U.S. Constitution is not absolute, and that government policy must take a position on birth control, abortion, and private activities by consenting adults if the government deems them immoral.

I agree with Goodman’s sentiment entirely. However, she’s missing an important point. Most of these social conservatives who support Santorum have no problem with government regulating things they consider immoral.

Doesn’t she get it? This is what social conservatives and Obama liberals have in common: Each wants their version of morality and religion to enjoy the force of law.

Liberals believe it’s immoral for people to make too much money, and for human beings to use natural resources to better their own lives.

Socialism and environmentalism are the two religions animating the Democratic Party. Similarly, elements of the Republican Party are animated by the religion of fundamentalist Christianity. Fundamentalists believe that fun and happiness should be limited by government — not just when they get in the way of somebody’s legitimate rights to be free from force or fraud, but even when they don’t.

If Santorum wins the Republican Party nomination, then people who want a limited government will quite literally have no place to go. They must choose between the imposition of liberal religion, or traditional religion. A “choice” between the God of Rick Santorum’s imagination, or the secular God of Barack Obama’s socialist-fascist state.

You can judge for yourselves which side is worse, but I refuse to make that choice.

Santorum, and the people he represents, are sick puppies. They cannot stand the idea that anyone is having sex in a context or manner which they personally find offensive or disgusting. We’re not talking about rape or sexual abuse here, but any sex of which they don’t approve.

Imagine the mindset and mentality of a person who has such things on his mind. Do you really want somebody like this with control of the military and the entire federal government?

This is no endorsement of Obama, of course. And it’s no endorsement of Mitt Romney, who is more on Obama’s side than on Santorum’s on most issues. But the real crisis in America is that, at present, we have no political movement on the side of individual rights. Obama wants government to control all economic activity, while Santorum wants government to control private, personal behavior — including, by some reports, the legality of gambling and other unspecified freedoms on the Internet. Each will deny he favors totalitarianism in the abstract, but each has the attitudes, impulses and in some cases positions that will lead us right to totalitarianism’s front door.

The battle for America’s soul is a battle to reestablish the separation of Church and State. With Santorum, it’s easy to make this point clear.

It’s just as important to make this point about Obama and the liberals.

The liberals are in favor of the religion of government. Government is their “God,” so long as the government is run by people with their socialist and environmentalist ideology. ObamaCare is to liberals what laws and constitutional amendments banning gambling, contraception and homosexuality — and who knows what else — are to the Santorum conservatives. Obama is after our banks, our medical care and our retirement accounts — and ultimately our minds and souls. Santorum is going right for the soul — but he’ll eventually get his hands on everything else, as well.

It’s true that conservatives have no business complaining about the food police, the health care police or any other leftist police squads being organized by the Obama Administration when they themselves support a different kind of police. But the battle between liberals and conservatives has come down to: Which police (or whose police) shall police us?

Republicans and Democrats are not interested in liberty, or individual rights, or capitalism, or separation of church and state. If anybody out there still supports these things, they had better rise up against both of these parties and form a new political movement. If something worthwhile comes out of all this, then maybe America can make a new beginning. Otherwise, Obama (in a second term) is going to preside over the destruction of American life as we’ve known it — and his only opposition will have been Rick Santorum.

[C. Edmund Wright]

Go back and re read what I said, and you will see that I represented his view perfectly. Because I said exactly what you said.

Well, except, I used the words “for procreation” which is, um, exactly what RS said. But I went out of my way to mention the key point you were concerned about.

[Aria]

Of those left I’d choose Newt. He has the strength and the intelligence to withstand, refute and communicate. We wouldn’t be wondering where we are going, how we’re getting there or what to expect when we arrive.

Sure, he isn’t perfect...only Obama is perfect - in the left’s eyes that is.

[Finny]

The Separation of Church and State is not absolute, in fact it isn’t even mentioned in the Constitution. Those silly founders broke the law when they published the first Bible for the use in public schools for the instruction of reading and morality.

Right on. Would that Bibles were established and approved as part of reading and morality instruction in American schools! A mindset that sees using the Bible thusly as "immoral" is behind the government prohibiting Christian religious expression in schools. Take away the Federal government oversight, let the states decide, let individuals choose their own schools, and just watch how quickly morality in education improves. The Federal government isn't the solution to immorality, it is the AGENT of it.

Newt says this about education, which we must agree is a primary component in raising moral children. Santorum says this.

Diligence and morality say: Godspeed Newt Gingrich.

[C. Edmund Wright]

No, I’m afraid he needs more than a refresher course in reality. He needs the 101 course, the 201 course, the Cliff Notes, the lecture series on CD and a tutor with a helluva lot of patience - and a big steep grading curve to boot.

Then again, someone who’s last 2 “conservative” heroes are Santorum and Huckabee - and yet has Cain in his screen name - is an odd study to say the least.

[Finny]

He clearly stated that this was his personal belief. He never said the resources of the government should be wasted policing people who have sex outside marriage.

Would for any ballsy candidate to follow up with clearly stating that the resources of the Federal government should have no part in policing people who peacefully turn away and exclude open homosexuals in their midst, refusing to employ them, serve them, rent to them, etc. By the same token, the Federal government should have no part in policing whether or not enclaves or communities do the opposite. The free market is a MAJOR component of being able to live morally in a free society.

Social conserviatives, UNDERSTAND that limited government is the best friend to living morally. We need someone who is as committed to slashing away government and returning it to the states on all levels, as he is to rejecting abortion and the homosexual agenda.

Godspeed Newt Gingrich.

[Finny]

Yep. Somebody posted a graphic pointing out that Romney and Santorum are busy telling us about their pasts, while Gingrich is talking about our future.

Godspeed Newt.

[Antoninus]

I get the same feeling with this article that I do when I see a new Freeper show up with a name like “SuperConservative”. Why do I have a feeling that “Capitalism” Magazine is actually run by corporatist libertarians?

[gov_bean_ counter]

When a moralist politician like Santorum makes a proclamation without finishing with the "so what", people are left to fill in the blanks for him.

My guess is the greator electorate wouldn't agree with his "so what", which is why we never get it.

[Antoninus]

Santorum, and the people he represents, are sick puppies. They cannot stand the idea that anyone is having sex in a context or manner which they personally find offensive or disgusting. We’re not talking about rape or sexual abuse here, but any sex of which they don’t approve.

OK, I take it back. This person isn't a corporate libertarian. He's just a complete moron.

[detective]

Santorum said “it's a license to do things in the sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be. They're supposed to be within marriage, for purposes that are, yes, conjugal ... but also procreative.”

You said “RS has made numerous statements in his political career about sex being for procreation only”

The MSM deliberately misreported Santorum’s statement to say he wants sex to be for procreation only. You have parroted the false narrative the MSM has spread. "Conjugal but also procreative" means what I said. "For procreation ONLY" means something very different.

You not only repeat the dishonesty of the elite media, you also copy their sarcasm and condescension.

[C. Edmund Wright]

yeah, like that’s the ONLY time Santorum spoke on the subject.

And you call yourself “detective.” Ironic.

[C. Edmund Wright]

You make a brilliant point when you called Santorum a “moralist-politician” - which he clearly is a distinction he has brought on himself.

As such, nothing he says on moral subjects should be - nor is it - heard in a vacuum. He has bragged about taking the “slings and arrows” for his social conservatism and also bragged about talking about tough subjects.

Then he wants everyone to assume he will do nothing about them if elected, and that’s hes’ just been talking about them harmlessly. Don’t work that way.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Thank you sir, however you stated it much better than I ever could have.

[C. Edmund Wright]

Unlike Santorum, I also realize that the only way for Americans to LIVE Christian values is for GOVERNMENT TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND LET THEM LIVE THEM

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!! And I might add that as Christians, we should vote for the candidate that allows US to walk out OUR Christian values, and OFTEN that is NOT the candidate who walks out his or her values to best. Very often in fact. Ironic, ain't it?

[C. Edmund Wright]

no no...just surfin’ the wave of truth you started......

[detective]

“yeah, like that’s the ONLY time Santorum spoke on the subject.”

I never said that was the only time Santorum ever spoke on the subject. I was only trying to show you what Santorum has actually said versus the false narrative in the MSM.

I am not asking you to agree with Santorum. I am only trying to show you what Santorum’s actually said and how the media constantly lie about Santorum.

You were correct in stating Santorum does not want to waste the resources of the government enforcing these personal beliefs.

[gov_bean_ counter]

:)

[C. Edmund Wright]

I was also pointing out that when you are running for President - and have many many quotes over the years including the words “procreation” and “sex outside of marriage” and so on - you are making yourself a target.

I’ve seen quotes where he said that sex should be for procreation, and the context was that the pleasure is ok as a by product but not proper as the motivation. If I really get bored, I’ll go find the link. But I have seen it.

I don’t say these things about RS because I dislike him. I dislike him because I have seen these truths about him.

[W. W. SMITH]

Neither Santorum or Romney are qualified for the office of president. They are not Natural Born Citizens.

[Patton@Bastogne]

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====== RICK SANTORUM'S Incredible CONSERVATIVE Voting Record ======

(Source: Free Republic's Psycho-Freep, 2012-03-05)



NEA

Voted for taxpayer funding of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Voted against a 10% cut in the budget for National Endowment for the Arts.




Bankruptcy

Voted for a Schumer amendment to make the debts of pro-life demonstrators not dischargeable in bankruptcy.




Defense and Foreign Policy

Voted for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).

Voted against requiring the President to certify that the CWC is effectively verifiable.

Voted against requiring the President to certify that that Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, North Korea, China, and all other countries determined to be state sponsors of terror have joined CWC prior to submitting the instrument of ratification.

Voted for the START II Treaty

Voted to allow the sale of supercomputers to China.

Voted to ban antipersonnel landmines

Voted against increasing defense spending offset by equivalent cuts in non-defense spending.

Voted to require that Federal bureaucrats get the same payraises as uniformed military.

Voted to allow food and medicine sales to state sponsors of terror and tyranical regimes such as Libya and Cuba.

Voted to limit the President’s authority to impose sanctions on nations for reasons of national security unless the sanctions were approved by a multilateral regime.

Voted against requiring Congressional authorization for military action in Bosnia.

Voted to give $25 million in foreign aid to North Korea

Voted to weaken alien terrorist deportation provisions. If the Court determines that the evidence must be withheld for national security reasons, the Justice Department must still provide a summary of the evidence sufficient for the alien terrorist to mount a defense against deportation.

Voted against delaying the India Nuclear until the President certified that India had agreed to suspend military-to-military exchanges with Iran.

Voted against the Conventional Trident Missile Program




Nominations

Voted for Richard Paez to the 9th Curcuit (cloture)

Voted for Sonia Sotomayor, Circuit Judge

Voted for Richard Holbrooke to be Ambassador to the UN

Voted for Margaret Morrow to be District Judge

Voted twice for Marsha Berzon to the 9thg Circuit

Voted for Mary McLaughlin to be District Judge

Voted for Tim Dyk to be District Judge

Voted for James Brady to be District Judge




Union Labor

Voted against National Right to Work Act

Voted against Real of Davis-Bacon Prevailing union wages

Voted for Alexis Herman to be Secretary of Labor

Voted for mandatory Federal child care funding

Voted for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

Voted for Job Corps funding

Voted twice in support of Fedex Unionization

Voted against allowing a waiver of Davis-Bacon in emergency situations.

Voted for minimum wage increases six times here here here here here and here
Voted to require a union representative on an IRS oversight board.

Voted to exempt IRS union representative from criminal ethics laws.

Voted against creating independent Board of Governors to investigate IRS abuses.




Guns

Voted to require pawn shops to do background checks on people who pawn a gun.

Voted twice to make it illegal to sell a gun without a secure storage or safety device

Voted for a Federal ban on possession of “assault weapons” by those under 18.

Voted for Federal funding for anti-gun education programs in schools.

Voted for anti-gun juvenile justice bill.




Reform

Voted for funding for the legal services corporation.

Voted twice for a Congressional payraise.

Voted to impose a uniform Federal mandate on states to force them to allow convicted rapits, arsonists, drug kingpins, and all other ex-convicts to vote in Federal elections.

Voted for the Specter “backup plan” to allow campaign finance reform to survive if portions of the bill were found unconstitutional.

Voted to mandate discounted broadcast times for politicians.

Voted for a McCain amendment to require State and local campaign committees to report all campaign contributions to the FEC and to require all campaign contributions to be reported to the FEC within 24 hours within 90 days of an election.




Immigration

Voted against increasing the number of immigration investigators

Voted to allow illegal immigrants to receive the earned income credit before becoming citizens

Voted to give SSI benefits to legal aliens.

Voted to give welfare benefits to naturalized citizens without regard to to the earnings of their sponsors.

Voted against hiring an additional 1,000 border partrol agents, paid for by reductions in state grants.




Taxes

Voted against a flat tax.

Voted to increase tobacco taxes to pay for Medicare prescription drugs

Voted to increase tobacco taxes to fund health insurance subsidies for small businesses.

Voted to increase tobacco taxes to pay for an $8 billion increase in child healh insurance.

Voted to increase tobacco taxes to pay for an increase in NIH funding.

Voted twice for internet taxes.

Voted to allow gas tax revenues to be used to subsidize Amtrak.

Voted to strike marriage penalty tax relief and instead provide fines on tobacco companies.

Voted against repealing the Clinton 4.3 cent gas tax increase.

Voted to increase taxes by $2.3 billion to pay for an Amtrak trust fund.

Voted to allow welfare to a minor who had a child out of wedlock and who resided with an adult who was on welfare within the previous two years.

Voted to increase taxes by $9.4 billion to pay for a $9.4 billion increase in student loans.

Voted to say that AMT patch is more important than capital gains and dividend relief.




Welfare

Voted against food stamp reform

Voted against Medicaid reform

Voted against TANF reform

Voted to increase the Social Services Block Grant from $1 billion to $2 billion

Voted to increase the FHA loan from $170,000 to $197,000. Also opposed increasing GNMA guaranty from 6 basis points to 12.

Voted for $2 billion for low income heating assistance.




Government Waste

Sponsored An amendment to increase Amtrak funds by $550 million

Voted to use HUD funds for the Joslyn Art Museum (NE), the Stand Up for Animals project (RI) and the Seattle Art Museum’s Olympic Sculpture Project (WA)

Voted to increase spending on social programs by $7 billion

Voted to increase NIH funding by $1.6 billion.

Voted to increase NIHnding by $700 million

Voted to for a $2 million earmark to renovate the Vulcan Monument (AL)

Voted for a $1 billion bailout for the steel industry

Voted against requiring that highway earmarks would come out of a state’s highway allocation

Voted to allow Market Access Program funds to go to foreign companies.

Voted to allow OPIC to increase its administrative costs by 50%

Voted against transferring $20 million from Americorps to veterans.

Voted for the $140 billion asbestos compensation bill.

Voted against requiring a uniform medical criteria to ensure asbestos claims were legitimate.

Voted to increase community development programs by $2 billion.




Spending and Entitlements

Voted to make Medicare part B premium subsidies an new entitlement.

Voted against paying off the debt ($5.6 trillion at the time) within 30 years.

Voted to give $18 billion to the IMF.

Voted to raid Social Security instead of using surpluses to pay down the debt.




Health Care

Voted to allow states to impose health care mandates that are stricter than proposed new Federal mandates, but not weaker.

Voted twice for Federal mental health parity mandates in health insurance.

Voted against a allow consumers the option to purchase a plan outside the parity mandate.




Education

Voted to increase Federal funding for teacher testing

Voted to increase spending for the Department of Education by $3.1 billion.

Voted against requiring courts to consider the impact of IDEA awards on a local school district.




Energy

Voted to allow the President to designate certain sites as interim nuclear waste storage sites in the event that he determines that Yucca Mountain is not a suitable site for a permanent waste repository. Those sites are as follows: the nuclear waste site in Hanford, Washington; the Savannah River Site in South Carolina; Barnwell County, South Carolina; and the Oak Ridge Reservation in Tennessee.

Voted to make fuel price gouging a Federal crime.





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