Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
Paul A. Rahe ·
February 15, 2012 at 7:39pm
Anyone inclined to be misled by the Romney advertisement posted by Troy Senik below should read the article Was Santorum a Senate Spendthrift? posted by Jeffrey Anderson and Andy Wickersham on the website of The Weekly Standard. It turns out that the National Taxpayers Union -- no friend to big spenders -- consistently gave Rick Santorum higher grades than almost any other Republican Senator.
Santorum has his weaknesses. But in this particular he is unassailable. What will the Romney people do next? Accuse him of having committed nepotism with his own sister?
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Comments:
Dec '10
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
Paul A. Rahe: One thought. This whole thing may be decided right here in Michigan. It is or ought to be Romney territory. But he appears to be under water. Santorum was whiney and even nasty in most of the debates. But he appears in Florida to have found his footing. The humorous advertisement fits in nicely with this.
If Romney cannot carry the state where his father was Governor, he may sink fast. I doubt that attack ads will do the job. Santorum is not Gingrich. He has not painted a target on his back. And Romney would be unwise to get dirty in attacking him. It really could backfire.
Everything could turn on the 22 February debate. Hold onto your hats, folks! Things are going to get hot. · 15 minutes ago
Romney has shown great vulnerability to Santorum in the debates to date. In one, Santorum turned a Romney attack on his vote for restoring felons' voting rights into a takedown of Romney's record on the same subject. In another, Santorum attacked on Romneycare so effectively that Romney was reduced to sputtering, "It's not worth getting angry about."
The next debate should be fascinating.
Feb '12
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
Leigh
Leporello
The election is about our freedom, and about whether, to coin a phrase, government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall perish from the earth... Romney does not understand it, has not said it, and will not say it. · 37 minutes ago
But Romneydoessay this[, e.g.:] "They think government knows better – and can do better – than a free people exercising their free will. And this President is the worst offender. Barack Obama is the poster child for the arrogance of government."
Thank you for the reminders, and I stand corrected. Obviously, Romney has raised these fundamental issues. Putting aside the question of his sincerity, I believe that Romney (i) has not raised them except infrequently and cursorily - that is, he does not see that they are central; and (ii) has not shown understanding of what the principles of liberty and popular government require in practice. Repeatedly, he has expressed a preference to reform big government programs rather than reduce or remove them. He seems to want to tinker rather than effect any serious change. But I appreciate the citations, and will look for additional comments from Romney on this topic.
Apr '11
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
Leporello
Leigh
Obviously, Romney has raised these fundamental issues. Putting aside the question of his sincerity, I believe that Romney (i) has not raised them except infrequently and cursorily - that is, he does not see that they are central; and (ii) has not shown understanding of what the principles of liberty and popular government require in practice.
From Ace of Spades:
[Quotes Reagan approving of libertarianism] Santorum of course strongly disagrees and every time Libertarianism is brought up he mocks it and states he's always fought against this pernicious idea that the government should provide freedom to the maximum extent possible.
Conservatives complain that Romney cannot explain conservatism. He speaks it as a second language. If that.
That's true.
On the other hand, Santorum not only can't speak in terms of a Freedom Agenda, but he expressly repudiates the very concept every single time he's asked about it.
I thought Freedom was a pretty compelling campaign theme.
Time was, most of you thought so too.
But we'll try it your way. We'll see how we do on an avowedly opposite platform.
http://minx.cc/?post=326733
May '10
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
wmartin
Leporello
Leigh
Obviously, Romney has raised these fundamental issues. Putting aside the question of his sincerity, I believe that Romney (i) has not raised them except infrequently and cursorily - that is, he does not see that they are central; and (ii) has not shown understanding of what the principles of liberty and popular government require in practice.
From Ace of Spades:
[Quotes Reagan approving of libertarianism]Santorum of course strongly disagrees and every time Libertarianism is brought up he mocks it and states he's always fought against this pernicious idea that the government should provide freedom to the maximum extent possible.....
On the other hand, Santorum not only can't speak in terms of a Freedom Agenda, but he expressly repudiates the very concept every single time he's asked about it.
What he explicitly repudiates is not the "freedom agenda" but the radical individualism underlying the libertarian agenda.
He believes in "mediating institutions".
1) Because they're indispensable to the civil society
2) They're necessary for fostering and safe-guarding the rights and liberties of individuals vis a vis the state.
He is a Burke and Kirk conservative.
Dec '10
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
wmartin
Leporello
Putting aside the question of his sincerity, I believe that Romney (i) has not raised them except infrequently and cursorily - that is, he does not see that they are central; and (ii) has not shown understanding of what the principles of liberty and popular government require in practice.
From Ace of Spades:
Ace is a little blinkered on this issue, still reeling from the ignominious defeat of his champion Rick Perry.
Santorum spoke in Idaho yesterday:
“We have a duty to leave this country better than we found it,” Santorum said. “I believe that if we are unsuccessful in this election that we will have failed in that duty and it will have horrendous consequences. ... It will be the end of the great experiment in the order of liberty and freedom.”
Santorum said Obama is following the “FDR playbook,” determined to succor public dependency on government.
“We are reaching a tipping point, folks, when those who pay are the minority and those who receive are the majority. Freedom in an election process is not something people will care about. They’ll care about whether they get their piece.”
He said many more good things in that speech.
Dec '10
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
I haven't read the past comments. No time. I will just put in my two cents based on general forums I participate in -- Santorum is the kiss of death for the GOP in this election. Romney -- not much better. To quote John Derbyshire -- "We are Doomed."
Feb '12
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
Santorum's "a Burke and Kirk conservative" - I like that. A Burke-Kirk for short? Or is that too close to burka? How about a B.K.? Or maybe a Bu.Ki.?
Dec '10
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
Also from Santorum's speech in Idaho:
Wearing his signature sweater vest, jeans and worn cowboy boots, Santorum waved a copy of the Constitution, which he called “the operator’s manual of America.”
But he said many Americans neglect another founding document — the Declaration of Independence.
Santorum began reciting, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their — ” but paused for the crowd to shout “Creator!” — before continuing, “with certain unalienable rights.”
“That is who we are, that’s where our rights come from,” he said, eliciting “Bless the Lord!” from the audience.
Santorum said the Obama administration believes it has the right to force the Catholic Church to hire women priests. “They’re going to fight because they believe their secular values should be imposed on people of faith.”
He added, “Don’t you see how they see you? How they look down their nose at the average Americans. These elite snobs!”
Apr '11
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
Chris Deleon
I guess Romney is not your man then, since he supports slapping tariffs on China.
A position I can actually agree with, depending on the circumstances.
My point here? No one is perfect for everyone here, and we're arguing relative merits. It's clear to most of us that on the balance of the issues, Santorum is moreconservative, and more consistently so, than Romney. Attacking Santorum with distortions of his record, or cherry-picked votes, to make us like him less, will not make us like Romney any more or change our minds about him.
The Romney threats against China are sanctions for illegal behavior, for theft and the like. They are not intended to protect any particular industry; heck, they're not intended to go into place. Like I said, Romney's not perfect. On this issue he was less good than McCain, about equal with Newt, better than Santorum. I can't think of a second issue I'd put that hierarchy onto; Newt is almost never the guy in the middle!
Suggesting that Santorum's record, being on balance more conservative, should be offlimits, is silly.
Apr '11
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
Yep, we sure are. But, as I have said a few times, socons and "true conservatives" really need to see Santorum crushed. I want them to be forced to admit that their candidate was nominated, got a fair hearing from the American people, and was decisively rejected. In the long run, it might be good for them.
Apr '11
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
Paul A. Rahe: One thought. This whole thing may be decided right here in Michigan. It is or ought to be Romney territory. But he appears to be under water. Santorum was whiney and even nasty in most of the debates. But he appears in Florida to have found his footing. The humorous advertisement fits in nicely with this.
If Romney cannot carry the state where his father was Governor, he may sink fast. I doubt that attack ads will do the job. Santorum is not Gingrich. He has not painted a target on his back. And Romney would be unwise to get dirty in attacking him. It really could backfire.
Everything could turn on the 22 February debate. Hold onto your hats, folks! Things are going to get hot. · 2 hours ago
You've said this about previous races, and it's even less true now. Santorum is in this for the long haul, and so is Mitt, no implosion is going to end it. Arizona is, at worst, close, Washington likewise. Super Tuesday sees 5 states strong Romney, 1 Gingrich, 2-3 strong Santorum, and the rest contestable. Late March Santorum, April Romney, May Santorum, June Romney.
Apr '11
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
Stuart Creque:
He added, “Don’t you see how they see you? How they look down their nose at the average Americans. These elite snobs!” · 39 minutes ago
While I am, in general, a fan of Santorum's campaign; it's negative, but generally in healthy ways, attacking from the right, I do hope that we don't get too much more of this coming from him. Identity politics and division are for Democrats.
May '10
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
Yawn. And the daily double standard in critiquing Romney continues.
Does anyone suppose Rick Santorum could defend, say, his near-daily charge that "Mitt Romney ran to the left of Ted Kennedy" against James of England?
No he couldn't, because he's lying. And it's the most cynical sort of lie -- one that Santorum is certain he can get away with because he's aware neither the right nor the left will fact check the charge.
Which is not to say I blame Santorum for even a second, btw; he's playing ruthless politics, getting away with whatever he can, and I hope he'd do the same against Obama. But everyone's high-horse, he's-a-liar criticism of Romney's ruthlessness is just plain funny, and tiresome.
Apr '11
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
James Of England
Stuart Creque:
He added, “Don’t you see how they see you? How they look down their nose at the average Americans. These elite snobs!” · 39 minutes ago
While I am, in general, a fan of Santorum's campaign; it's negative, but generally in healthy ways, attacking from the right, I do hope that we don't get too much more of this coming from him. Identity politics and division are for Democrats. · 5 minutes ago
Thee may not be enough blue-collar white people left to make this sort of campaign viable in a national election. Maybe not enough winnable white people left, period.
Feb '12
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
wmartin
Yep, we sure are. But, as I have said a few times, socons and "true conservatives" really need to see Santorum crushed. I want them to be forced to admit that their candidate was nominated, got a fair hearing from the American people, and was decisively rejected. In the long run, it might be good for them. · 20 minutes ago
Or maybe the GOP should keep nominating full conservatives (those who understand that economic and family issues are fundamentally connected) until we win the presidency. That's been the Democrats' approach since 1972, and they managed to put leftists into office two or three times now. They haven't won as often as Republicans, but they have also been able to sway opinion in their direction by making leftist arguments again and again without compromise, and they have accomplished more when they have won.
Dec '10
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
There were plenty of "winnable white people" in Nov. 2010. After this GOP debacle they are gone, and so are the independents.
Rush says, "Conservatism wins every time." Hah. Not this time. It takes the right candidate, and we don't have him/her.
Apr '11
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
katievs
Leigh
What he explicitly repudiates is not the "freedom agenda" but the radical individualism underlying thelibertarianagenda.
He believes in "mediating institutions".
1) Because they're indispensable to the civil society
2) They're necessary for fostering and safe-guarding the rights and liberties of individuals vis a vis the state.
He is a Burke and Kirk conservative. · 57 minutes ago
Rick Santorum is George W. Bush 2.0 - more "faith-based" crap, the right-wing version of industrial policy, and (much worse than Bush) preaching about sexual morality from the West Wing.
If I really believed that Santorum just wanted to hold his beliefs privately and not bother anyone else with them, I wouldn't be so concerned. But the man is absolutely obsessed with social conservative concerns -contraception, homosexuality, abortion, etc. He talks about this stuff all the time, and in the most ham-fisted way possible. When a candidate has spent his entire career pontificating incessantly about a certain set of issues, I just assume he intends to act on them when he gets into office.
Dec '10
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
He won't get into office. A bridge way too far for most Americans.
May '10
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
wmartin
katievs
Rick Santorum is George W. Bush 2.0 - more "faith-based" crap, the right-wing version of industrial policy, and (much worse than Bush) preaching about sexual morality from the West Wing.
If I really believed that Santorum just wanted to hold his beliefs privately and not bother anyone else with them, I wouldn't be so concerned. But the man is absolutely obsessed with social conservative concerns -contraception, homosexuality, abortion, etc. He talks about this stuff all the time, and in the most ham-fisted way possible. When a candidate has spent his entire career pontificating incessantly about a certain set of issues, I just assume he intends to act on them when he gets into office. · 10 minutes ago
He believes, and so do I—so do a lot of Americans—that those issues are essentially connected to statist mess we're in right now. If families and communities break down, government power grows to fill the vacuum.
The left is foisting its moral relativism and hedonism on society by force of law, and with tax payer dollars. Santorum wants to put a stop to that.
Don't you?
May '10
Re: Rick Santorum, Big Spender?
Then how do you explain his high standing in the polls? He gets high favorability marks.
There was one survey (I think by Google), which I can't find now, asking of each candidate whether he "gets it." Santorum blew the others away. I mean, it wasn't even close.