When Principles Are As Important As Political Gain

Rick Santorum represents everything that's right with faith-based leadership.

Sadly, the political process shows us what's wrong with America.

With just five days until the New Hampshire primaries, Rick Santorum has his work cut out for him.  

And if the stress of running for a presidential nomination weren't grueling enough, Santorum's refusal to compromise on his values has unleashed a firestorm of criticism from the mainstream media that is sure to cast doubt within the ranks of an uninformed electorate.

There will be no shortage of political commentary in the days leading up to the NH primary.  My interest in Santorum -- and what I hope will be your interest as well -- is Santorum's ability to be competitive on a national stage after losing his last race for his Senate seat in 2007.

In the Senate, Santorum became known for his social conservatism. He led efforts to ban late-term abortions and led the unsuccessful GOP fight in 2005 to keep Terri Schiavo, a Florida woman who was diagnosed as being in a vegetative state, attached to life-preserving medical equipment.

He derided a 2003 Supreme Court decision that declared a Texas sodomy law unconstitutional, saying, "If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery."

Santorum's stances earned him a solid following among religious conservatives and a spot on Time magazine's 25 most influential evangelists list in 2005.

It also earned him the enmity of many Democrats, women's groups, abortion rights advocates and gay rights supporters, who disliked Santorum's faith-based stance.

Knowing this, most candidates would have moderated their message, and tailored their political stance to the polls.  Santorum's campaign staff urged him on many occasions to do just that, or risk the election.  He refused to compromise his values and ended up losing the Senatorial election for that very reason.

Does that make him politically naive, and unworthy to guide the United States as President?  Or does that make him the perfect candidate for a nation that is becoming increasingly morally bankrupt, and unable to maintain a conviction separate from the most recent public opinion poll?

He is the champion of the average guy -- the forgotten American -- who pays his taxes, fights for freedom and doesn't expect a handout.

He realizes that it isn't only the threat of Jihadism from abroad that threatens our nation, but an internal loss of confidence, an unwillingness to recognize and defend the exceptional nature of this country.

Though he lost at the ballot box in his last electoral attempt, he did not stop beating the drum for fiscal reform and a strong defense for the nation. He is a stalwart advocate of traditional American principles and has not wavered on these matters the balance of the current GOP contenders have done -- many times -- over the years.

Win or lose, private or public sector, Santorum's principles and values have remained steadfast and unshakable.  When did that become a character liability for an individual running for President?

As I was reading a story on the New Hampshire primary this morning on CNN, the following statement jumped out at me.  "The general electorate is now seeing the stark divisions within the GOP up close and personal," says Brown University political scientist Wendy Schiller. "Libertarian, social conservative, and fiscal conservative. Will the real GOP stand up?"

That's telling in and of itself.  The Republican Party has lost its self-identity, and those who support the party are at a crossroads.  It's my opinion that the party will be defined by our choice in 2012 for many years to come, and the thought that "Faith, Family and Freedom" are values outside the mainstream is a chilling proposition.

Thankfully, faith-based conservatives are finally catching on to the Santorum message.  As reported on Fox News this morning, Santorum, who finished just eight votes behind Romney in Tuesday's caucuses, has already seen a surge of online donations, enough to cripple his campaign's website shortly after the Iowa results were announced.

I encourage everyone interested in the political process -- who believes values still have a place in our political process -- to research Rick Santorum and consider supporting the only candidate who has not waivered in his beliefs.

Win or lose, I don't believe we can ever do the "wrong thing" by voting for the "right person."

Rick Santorum for President

P.O. Box 37

Verona, PA 15147

Phone: (888) 321-6675

Email:  info@ricksantorum.com

https://www.ricksantorum.com/

I truly believe 2012 is going to be an awesome year for all God's children.  With your help, our combined efforts can, and will, be successful for our Lord.  Thank you, and God Bless you!