SPIN METER: Santorum looks moderate in 2006 flier

Associated Press ^ | April 10 2012 | ANDREW MIGA,

[iowamark]

Rick Santorum boasts that his deep conservative values make him a stronger challenger against President Barack Obama this fall than likely GOP nominee Mitt Romney. It's an argument he is making in his home state of Pennsylvania, where a primary victory in two weeks is critical to a campaign already seen by many as all but hopeless.

Yet Santorum showed a considerably more moderate face in a campaign brochure from his failed 2006 Senate race in Pennsylvania. It highlighted how he steered big federal dollars to the state and teamed with rock star Bono to fight AIDS and global poverty.

Titled "50 Things You May Not Know About Rick Santorum," the pamphlet played up his role in boosting federal spending for food stamps, schools, heating aid for the poor, Amtrak, the environment and prescription drugs for seniors — programs more often championed by Democrats and derided by conservatives like the GOP primary voters Santorum now courts.

A sampling:

—"Rick has been one of the Senate's most active leaders in fighting for funding to battle world AIDS and to help eliminate world poverty, working closely with Bono, the lead singer of U2."

—"Rick is the author of the 'Pet Animal Welfare Statute' ... (that) cracks down on puppy mills, who harm animals at the expense of unknowing pet owners. Rick has been praised by the National Humane Society for his work on this issue."

—"Rick wrote legislation that would increase the national minimum wage."

—"Rick joined with Democratic Senator Chris Dodd to introduce legislation to battle Lyme disease."...

He lost his re-election bid by 18 percentage points, the first time the state had elected a Democrat to a full term in the Senate since 1962.

[RitaOK]

” Santorum’s rhetoric is great. The problem is that it doesn’t reflect his legislative experience. “

---

Records are like the Constitution - to be considered “living”, subject to either ignoring entirely, or re-writing;otherwise, the “record” in office would have already proved that there is but one president among these pretenders—Newt.

When the one who invented walking-and-chewing-gum-at-the- same-time, who ate democrats for breakfast is rejected, in favor of light weights of no consequence, both climbers, it underscores the disintigration and collapse of the conservative movement.

The RINOS set us up and brought it to us this cycle. The BEST were put down early for lack of experience but they had heart.

For the love of God, look at these two no-counts who are left standing in the final leg of the race.

Blech.

[true believer forever]

Records are like the Constitution - to be considered “living”, subject to either ignoring entirely, or re-writing;otherwise, the “record” in office would have already proved that there is but one president among these pretenders—Newt.

When the one who invented walking-and-chewing-gum-at-the- same-time, who ate democrats for breakfast is rejected, in favor of light weights of no consequence, both climbers, it underscores the disintigration and collapse of the conservative movement.

The RINOS set us up and brought it to us this cycle. The BEST were put down early for lack of experience but they had heart.

For the love of God, look at these two no-counts who are left standing in the final leg of the race.

Blech.

Whoa! You got some fire in your belly!! This is a great great post... thanks so much for posting and, as I think I have said to you before, I am going to steal parts of it bigtime!

Less than 20 weeks until Tampa - We are on the banks of the Delaware today... Godspeed and get on board.

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/255792/america-s-first-christmas-rich-lowry

[true believer forever]

Santorum has scheduled a news conference, according to Fox news, and is dropping out. posted 1359 Tuesday...

OH WOW

[RitaOK]

You offer the kindest compliments to FReepers, while it’s YOU who is the RUDY among us. Thanks for all you do for Newt and Newt supporters.

I know that going into the convention to make a difference needs to start now, and absolutely requires a leader now, giving direction to his delegates and to those who will be trying to be slated as his delegates. Crickets from a leader is not going to cut it, do you think?

The convention is our last earthly hope for an upset to Romney and for the whole RINO herd.

Going off a cliff on a wing and a prayer is not quite the same as going off behind a leader worthy of his calling and the cause. And God takes care of the rest.

I want to hear Newt boom and bellow and lead us across the Delaware and into that convention, right away. We can’t lead him into the convention, but he must lead us.

What’s your opinion on convention preparation strategies, per Newt. I have heard of nothing, actually. It troubles me.

[true believer forever]

I know that going into the convention to make a difference needs to start now, and absolutely requires a leader now, giving direction to his delegates and to those who will be trying to be slated as his delegates. Crickets from a leader is not going to cut it, do you think?

The convention is our last earthly hope for an upset to Romney and for the whole RINO herd.

Going off a cliff on a wing and a prayer is not quite the same as going off behind a leader worthy of his calling and the cause. And God takes care of the rest.

I want to hear Newt boom and bellow and lead us across the Delaware and into that convention, right away. We can’t lead him into the convention, but he must lead us.

What’s your opinion on convention preparation strategies, per Newt. I have heard of nothing, actually. It troubles me.

Well, he's got one thing coming out - it's complete in all but the final stages - but those who know about it have been asked not to talk about - or I would tell you, and I think it would make you feel better. So if you can, hang in there on that one.

Second, his planks are coming out and that is basically going to be his new campaign, along with his Day One, and American Solutions. Also, why maybe you are feeling a little worried is he is focusing, for almost a week now, almost entirely on delegates, forging relationships with them, getting their support, for the convention. The one big unknown is, of course, they may be strong for him now, but can they handle the pressure they will encounter at the convention. So he is doing that himself with his top staffers.

CT DE and NC - are his three foci - DE is small, NC is his kind of state, and in CT there is a stealth grassroots campaign being run by a dynamite pastor there.

If he can bring it to bear on all these little fronts, keep nourishing his delegates and strengthening their resolve, and if Perry can deliver him Texas... then you can see there is a path.

Perry has to be encouraged, i imagine the pressure is going to increase on him, I am not sure how ironclad his hold on the texas gop is, but I have been reassured it is very strong.

Santorum supporters need to time to grieve, but maybe half of them will go to Newt, but the other half to romney.

I was going to mail this, then decided to post it because i figured lots of Newt supporters were having the same worries. Me - I worry about everything.

There is also the just-beginning stages of overtures to the more sane paul supporters - there are some, believe it or not.

Anyway those are all my best-case scenarios. I hope it helped a little. If you have any more concerns I would appreciate if you let me know.

This is what I think you call a defining moment for the campaign.

[RitaOK]

I deeply appreciate the information. Silent running leaves room for bewilderment among the restless natives.

I knew he was doing some spade work on delegates, but it has been so very stealth that one could rightfully wonder wth was actually going on.

Knowing just this much is helpful and should strengthen his donations to begin a final push to convention.

I like the idea of one poster that ALL the conservative heavyweights should now come out loud and clear for Newt and coalesce to mount a full MOVEMENT campaign for Newt, in order to get us to convention with some firepower.

Even if we fail at the nomination, the GOP-E deserve to hear an unforgettable, resounding PROTEST that they are DONE.

[katiedidit1]

The real conservative heavyweights did endorse Newt. Would love to see Newt go to Texas and campaign hard with Perry and Norris. Too bad Rush won't say more positive things about Newt now that the race is between Gingrich and Romney. To be honest..I never respected Rick Santorum. Sorry his precious daughter is ill ..she has suffered since birth. Must have been very hard for him to run for president with a terminally ill child..I could never do it. Prayer's UP for her and always have been but he knew the state of her health before he tossed his hat in the ring. As for Santorum's voting record, endorsements...like I said, "I never respected him or viewed him as either a fiscal or social conservative." How much you want to bet all future debates are OFF now with Santorum out. Romney won't debate again. Please send Newt money if you can spare it. GO NEWT! WOOT! WOOT!

[true believer forever]

I deeply appreciate the information. Silent running leaves room for bewilderment among the restless natives.

I knew he was doing some spade work on delegates, but it has been so very stealth that one could rightfully wonder wth was actually going on.

Knowing just this much is helpful and should strengthen his donations to begin a final push to convention.

I like the idea of one poster that ALL the conservative heavyweights should now come out loud and clear for Newt and coalesce to mount a full MOVEMENT campaign for Newt, in order to get us to convention with some firepower.

Even if we fail at the nomination, the GOP-E deserve to hear an unforgettable, resounding PROTEST that they are DONE.

I was just getting ready to leave for awhile and glad I got this post, because I was worried about your worries :)

Yes, the kind of backroom maneuvering you are talking about takes time - the first couple on board are the hardest - and then a little snowball effect whips in...

The delegate matter takes time, also,and the more quietly it is done, the better. the GOP has a lot of power everywhere at the state level. The one good thing: to some of the delegates, Newt is a truly historical figure, but Newt realizes more than them how easy it is to fold to pressure, no matter what they are saying now.

If you are doing any grassroots, what I am doing is just doubling down, until this all becomes clearer. Newt knows what he is doing.

I have a whole list of Santorum supporters, some family and friends, I am fairly friendly with, as long as I chose my subjects wisely, who I am now going to start contacting - reminding them that I could see them preferring Rick to Newt, but do they really want Romney over Newt now that rick is gone... I think that ground is very fertile... I hope so anyway.

But most of all - NO MATTER WHAT - He needs to go to the convention to do some major hammering there... We need to spoil their coronation. The conservative base has been wanting this showdown for a long time... whether Newt gets the nomination or not - I believe the showdown is important.

Stay Strong!!

[katiedidit1]

HANG IN THERE NEWT!

[Marguerite]

“Sorry his precious daughter is ill ..she has suffered since birth.”

Sorry to have saying that, but I find absolutely irresponsible of Santorum to get his wife pregnant at the age of 47, when it is already proven that the probability of a trisomic pregnancy increases by 900% after the woman age of 42. He should have considered that, after the problem they had with the malformed baby she lost after 5 months pregnancy in 1997...

[RitaOK]

All I know for sure is that we need some noise to launch, and that time is short between now and 1144.

The media is going to keep Newt in the freezer without some marquee support getting up and getting out there to buck the establishment.

This is also when we see Santorum’s bona fidis as a conservative, or not.

[Psalm 144]

I am aware of Santorum’s deficiencies, but I could have voted for him, donated and volunteered for him in the general. However I cannot and will not assist the left wing activist that the kinder, gentler Democrat party is pushing. He doesn’t want the support very much anyway, as my tagline indicates.