On the Road to 2012: An Exclusive Interview with Karen Santorum

By Jennifer Hartline
9/18/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

This week I had the great honor of interviewing the woman I hope will be the First Lady in 2013

Karen Santorum is warm, gracious, completely genuine, down-to-earth, immensely likable, and filled with a spirit of love. She and her husband, Senator Rick Santorum, both possess the inner strength, courage, and faith that are born of a deep love for Christ. It's time Catholic voters started paying close attention to this dynamic couple.

The Santorum family

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (Catholic Online) - This week I had the great honor of interviewing the woman I hope will be the First Lady in 2013. As I picked up the phone to call her, my nerves were jumping and I was praying she wouldn't notice. After just a minute of talking with her, it felt as relaxed as having coffee and dessert with a good friend. Karen Santorum is warm, gracious, completely genuine, down-to-earth, immensely likable, and filled with a spirit of love.

We spoke at length about everything from campaign life to family life to faith and trials, and the serious concerns she has about the direction our nation is headed. She is highly motivated to fight for our country alongside her husband, Senator Rick Santorum, and believe me, she's got the steel for it.

The Campaign

What struck me the most was the distinct lack of ego in their decision to run for President. For them, it's not about Rick trying to win something for himself - it's about preserving a nation for their children and simply following the road God has laid in front of them.

JH: How did you and Rick come to the decision to run for President?

KS: We're doing this because we truly believe God is leading, and we have to be faithful. We spent more than a year praying about this, talking with our friends, our families, our spiritual advisors, and our children. It was a long process of talking it out, and we all had some real reservations. I had no desire at all to jump back into the political arena. We were in that life for 17 years and now I had a different vision for my family. Our kids all had their own thoughts and concerns, too. The boys wanted their Dad to continue coaching their baseball team, for instance. They weren't too sure they wanted to share their Dad with the whole country. It's a real sacrifice for them.

Rick and I both said that if even one of the children had said they didn't want Dad doing this, we absolutely would not have done it. But they are behind their Dad all the way, and the whole process is teaching them a lot about the way our political process works and how a President is elected. We're very protective of our family time when Rick is able to be home these days, and we maximize that time together. No one is allowed to intrude!

To be honest, Rick had no desire to run until Obamacare. That was the final straw for him, the line in the sand. Something has to be done. That law will change our country fundamentally forever, and as parents of a special-needs child we knew that they would be the first to be denied care under Obamacare. Rick and I can't stand on the sidelines and allow Obama to bring our nation to its knees. We knew we had to get in and fight.

But ultimately, we are just trusting God and praying for His will to be done. He could end this tomorrow and we'd be at peace with it. It could be God's will that Rick just has a voice in the mix; it could be God's will that he get to the Caucus and he's not the guy; or it could be His will that Rick is the guy. Trust and be faithful is all any of us can do.

JH: What are the unique gifts and strengths that Rick brings to the table to solve our nation's biggest challenges?

KS: Most important, he's rock-solid. Rick is rooted in his faith and has a solid foundation. You get what you see. He walks the walk. He's someone who goes after the issues with such a passion. Preserving marriage, the sanctity of Life; these are things we really have to roll up our sleeves and fight for. He's also brilliant in matters of the economy and national security. He has a mind for history and facts and numbers. There's no doubt in my mind he'll be a great leader to this nation.

JH: Why should Catholics vote for Rick Santorum?

KS: He's a devout Catholic who lives his faith, is very prayerful and will always stay grounded. He's a loving, devoted, faithful husband and father. It's one thing to take the pro-life stance and another thing to fight for it and yet another thing to live it. Rick lives it every day.

Catholics in America need to understand the critical importance of their votes in 2012. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were both elected because they won the Catholic vote. That is not to our credit! I see America right now literally poised on the edge of a cliff, and Catholics will decide whether the nation goes over the edge or gets pulled back. We have a huge responsibility.

Life with Bella

Here is where Karen's heart and passion come shining through. Here is also where the mama bear's claws come out. ...

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1 - 10 of 10 Comments

Theresa H.
1 year ago
Would that all American homes had the spirit of the Santorum Family! Rick Santorum gained a little ground in the FL straw pole today, but he is still quite a bit behind. Nonetheless, I'm supporting him...and pray God's will be done for our Country! (Happy the people whose God is the Lord! [Ps 144:15]) I also think we do well to emphasize the Natural Law when we are debating with non-Catholics out and about.... Comparatively few people understand this "Law" that all Americans and all peoples are obligated to follow by "nature's God." Is it any wonder that we are in such dire straights, and activist judges have started removing the Ten Commandments at the bidding of a few who hate God, midst the more-or-less silence of most of the rest of us? It is time for us to stand up and peacefully protest!
"G.G." a pro-life Catholic
1 year ago
Thank you Robert for expressing my beliefs...From this moment on I will learn all I can
about Rick Santorum and support him....After viewing Fox News yesterday, I knew that
Rick Santorum stood above the other candidates with his faith and honesty...He was not afraid to express his belief in GOD...I pray that American Catholics will not allow
themselves to be led astray again as they did in voting for Obama..My prayers for Rick Santorum and his family....
MarkM
1 year ago
Is R.Santorum Catholic? I just don't understand why this website for Catholics is making such a hard polical push for a candidate. Seems like we shouldnt be led astray by politics, but still Im curious why the pseudo-endorsement.
David Carlon
1 year ago
I don't know Mr. Santorum but I suspect he is a decent man which will disqualify him from serious consideration for POTUS. That being said, it appears the Lord has passed judgment on this wicked and depraved nation, as the reptile heretics posing as Christians are transparently clueless as leaders... "What do you mean by crushing my people, and grinding down the faces of the poor? says the Lord, the GOD of hosts." The atheist liberals murder the unborn and the fascist and Christian in name only republicans starve and murder our children in endless wars of profit... their avarice and lust is never satiated.
Robert Burford
1 year ago
They are too good for politics They are a model couple of good Catholic values. It is unfortunate that my State has a primary so late in the season.He will be forced out by lack of campaign funding or resolve because his message of hope will be sound bited out of existance by the campaign advertisements of those he opposes.He may not win but he will have my vote and prayerful support. The important thing to note is that he will influence the attitude and issues of the election, because the real electorate out in the heartland want sacramental marriage between a man and a woman.They are offended by the fact that Planned Parenthood benefits from tax dollars. They are offended by abortion. Because of their lack of "ego" and sevant attitude I will vote and financially support them if I get the opportunity.God Bless them!
Linda
1 year ago
Everything you said, Robert, is exactly how I believe. Thank you for saying it
so well. This article just sealed it for me. My prayers will be constant for him
(them) as they are completing the call that they have prayed for for a year.
I believe with our prayers and our actions we can open doors for him to be heard, and that his torch for truth spoken in clarity will begin to transform his listeners in to believers as well.
Liz
1 year ago
Should have mentioned that Karen Santorum has written a wonderful book for children called Everyday Graces - I bought them a couple years back for my grandchildren and this is book is truly awesome. Both Rick and his wife are special blessings - we need more people like them in our world today.
Liza Koon
1 year ago
LOVED this article!!!! I did not know about Bella!! What a beautiful witness they are to the beauty of the cross. Can we even dare dream of such a righteous president and first lady! Thank you for this article. Their story needs to get out there!! I was so excited about the Bob Turner win today in such a liberal district. I know Santorum would win if people start ignoring the polls and naysayers. More articles like this are what we need!! Thank you again!!
Donald Steinfelt
1 year ago
Awesome Video! Has my prayers and my vote.

Sent with a prayer.

Don S.
Robert
1 year ago
Dear fellow christians and catholics,

Rick Santorum can help our country repair its moral compass.

I ask you to support his campaign for president. If all you do is "Not vote for Obama" you will be supporting Santorum. I am a conservative republican from Texas and I support Rick because of his pro-life, pro family- traditional marriage, a balanced budget( not adding to the amount of debt passed on to our children), pro legal immigration, anti illegal immigration, pro business positions. It is clear from the article above that he is a terrific father and husband.

Please support his campaign if for no other reason to strengthen the weight his views hold within the republican party and the whomever the nominee may be.

Please support his campaign as you will be strengthening the voice of the unborn.
Please support his campaign as you will be strengthening the voice of legal immigrants. Please support his campaign as you will be strengthening the voice that marriage is between one man and one woman.

I pray that more men like Rick Santorum run for public office and uproot the evil that permeates within the walls of White House as they support abortion, gay marriage, illegal immigration, free contraceptives, anti christian rhetoric, sex ed for our children based on their secular beliefs, and free handouts to keep the poor dependent on the government with no hope of or need for personal responsibility.

I support Rick's campaign because he lives the Catholic faith he practices. He is not afraid to call himself a catholic and act like a catholic.

I have never met Rick nor his family. I have studied his positions and have concluded, I have spent a small amount of my God given treasure in support of a man who's platform supports the teaching of our heavenly father.

My prayer is that american catholic examine vote for people who will uphold the teachings of our Lord.

"...may God's will be done on EARTH as it is in heaven...."

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