The Iowa Derby: In the Final Lap Rick Santorum Comes From Behind

By Keith A. Fournier
1/3/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Rick Santorum may pull from behind to actually win this race. However, most see him at least getting one of those three 'tickets' out of Iowa

Rick Santorum is a refreshing example of moral coherence - a politician who refuses to buy the party line that one can separate out the so called "social" and "moral" issues from the economic and foreign policy issues. In fact, he will not accept the idea that morality should be confined to the walls of one's home or house of worship. Instead, he insists that America as a Nation is a "moral enterprise". He recently told one the crowds attending his pre-caucus events, that America will not remain free "without a good strong moral compass."

Republican Presidential contender Rick Santorum

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POLK CITY, IA (Catholic Online) - In May of 2011 I watched the Kentucky Derby with my wife. My wife loves horses and enjoys watching the Derby every year. We do not bet on the race, but we do enjoy hearing the human interest stories behind the horses, their jockeys, their owners, and the struggles which accompany their arrival at the Derby.

Often, the stories - and the race - become an inspiring metaphor for life. That particular 2011 Derby was touted as the most wide open field in over a decade; somewhat like the Republican primary field of candidates for the 2012 Presidential campaign.

As the afternoon unfolded, the stories about the horses, jockeys, trainers, owners and all of the human interest stories just kept getting more interesting. However, no-one expected the eventual result in that 2011 Derby.

A horse who had never raced on dirt, or finished first in any major race, ridden by a last minute replacement jockey, with 20-1 odds against it - not even considered in the top tier by many "experts"- won the most exciting Kentucky Derby in years!

I later used the race in an article to describe the possibility of Rick Santorum emerging as a leader in the field of contenders for the Republican nomination for President. Back then, most people thought I was engaging in what is called "wishful thinking". After all, he is a friend - and I obviously have a great deal of respect for his faith, his family, his positions and his courage.

He passionately defends the fundamental Human Right to Life. He courageously defends marriage and the family and society founded upon it. He is unafraid to speak to the moral issues which lie at the root of many of our challenges - including our economic challenges. He has an authentic understanding of the sources of our liberties and the responsibilities they bring with them.

Most importantly, Rick Santorum is a refreshing example of moral coherence - a politician who refuses to buy the party line that one can separate out the so called "social" and "moral" issues from the economic and foreign policy issues.

In fact, he will not accept the idea that morality should be confined to the walls of one's home or house of worship. Instead, he insists that America as a Nation is a "moral enterprise". He recently told one the crowds attending his pre-caucus events, that America will not remain free "without a good strong moral compass."

On April 28, 2011 Rick Santorum gave an address on foreign policy at the National Press Club entitled "Americans & the World: Resetting Our Course." He concluded with these words: "The world will soon consider the life and contribution of a partner of Ronald Reagan's in reshaping the world, Pope John Paul II. He, along with another Polish hero Lech Walesa, helped to bring freedom back to Poland. His faith informed his courageous stand against a totalitarian regime. John Paul II warned of the "death of true freedom" and observed that "freedom itself needs to be set free. Lech Walesa last visited our nation last year (2010) and he offered this observation:

"The United States is the only superpower. Today they lead the world. Nobody has doubts about it - Militarily. They also lead economically but they're getting weak. But they don't lead morally and politically anymore. The world has no leadership. The United States was always the last resort and hope for all other nations. There was the hope, whenever something was going wrong, one could count on the United States. Today, we have lost that hope..."

Santorum told the group listening to that profound address: "But I have not and my sense from traveling the country is that neither have the American people - they are bursting at the seams to have a leader who believes in them and our country again.

"In his farewell address to the nation, President Reagan reminded us of this when he told the story of the USS Midway that was patrolling the South China Sea in the early 1980s. A sailor on the Midway saw a tiny boat, filled with refugees from Indochina, and a rescue launch was sent to them.

"As the Americans came into view, one of the refugees smiled, stood up, and shouted out: "Hello American Sailor. Hello Freedom Man!" That is who we are-Freedom Men - And Women - And Children. Let us not forget that privilege nor neglect that legacy."

On January 2, 2011, Rick Santorum continued barnstorming Iowa. At a stop in Polk City at the Rising Sun Caf� he told a large crowd that his surge in the polls is due to Iowans "doing their homework". They seemed to enthusiastically agree.

Now, the Press seems to be chasing after the candidate they had so little interest in just a few short weeks ago. We are witnessing what the pundits said could never happen. The campaign of Rick Santorum is on fire.

Rick Santorum may ...

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1 - 10 of 23 Comments

Rob
1 year ago
vance, the only people's tax that skyrocket's are the rich. Did you honestly have a massive change in your tax bill under the bush tax cuts? If you did, then I understand your anger. I have no issue with the continuance of the rates. But don't you agree that as a conservative we should pay for them? They have generated about a trillion dollars in deficits that we've borrowed to pay for. And they have not created jobs and will not create jobs. I have no issue with tax policy being used as a means to stimulate growth, but when it hasn't or doesn't, then we need to re-think our strategy, particularly when we consider that we can no longer afford to continue them. Our debt and deficits is impacting our country's ability to attract investment. At some point we are going to have to suck it up and pay our bills. The extremely wealthy have had a good ride and the 300% increase in their wealth has been good. But now it's time to re-think how we are subsidizing it, get our country on the right path and move forward. Who cares if Santorum and Gingrich balanced a budget? Their repeal of financial regulations played the lead role in the mess we now find ourselves in. Clinton and every GOP senator and house member who supported that should be jailed. And as far as our debt is concerned, they should be thanking Bush and Obama for using our tax dollars to cover up their fraud. I'm sorry vance, maybe you can over look that, but I can't.
Vance
1 year ago
Rob, I'm intellectually dishonest about Obama and the Marxist Democrat Party bankrupting our country?? You may get your wish from your Dear Leader because the Bush Tax Rates are coming up for a vote again. The Bush Tax Rates don't go far enough. If your Dear Leader allows the Bush Tax Rates to expire, YOUR TAX, mine, and everyone else's tax immediately skyrocket. Bankrupting our country and massive unemployment aside, Companies have repeatedly stated that they are not going to do anything with Obamacare hanging over their heads and many can't do anything because of the EPA regulating them to the max. Santorum and Gingrich worked together to pass 4 balanced budgets and reformed welfare. Two Catholics who have my vote.
Rob
1 year ago
I'm no lover of Obama and will be the first one to state that the policies he's attempted (same old tired policies) have not worked in regards to unemployment. Massive government spending (let's assume a Dem strategy but also GOP as of late) and massive tax cuts (GOP) have done nothing for job creation. Obama has done both and nothing has improved. Vance, to carry on like this is solely the fault of the president and the dems is just intellecutally dishonest and ignores the GOP's role in financial deregulation that played the lead role in our eoncomy collapsing. To ignore that fact ensures that we'll never do anything to change course. Case in point, there is absolutely no talk about any sort of restoration of financial controls that would have prevented this fraud in the first place in any of the GOP platforms. In fact, they speak of more deregulation! Again, completely fair to say that the presidents policies have not worked, but it is not fair to point to him and say he caused unemployment, he caused the real estate crash. And sadly, Rick Santorum voted in favor of the Gram bill that set this whole party in motion. But I know on this we will have to agree to disagree with the exception of the facts.
A. Wolf
1 year ago
I agree it is invigorating to see Santorum squeaking out a number-two victory. After a long push from behind, Santorum has clearly emerged from the rear of GOP contenders. If Santorum can come from behind today, we should expect to see more of him coming up in the near future.
vance
1 year ago
Liza, are you kidding me?? You must have returned to Earth from a distant planet from vacation. Obama, Reid, and Pelosi have increased the numbers of people in poverty to those of the 1960's. Their policies have put 15 Million people out of work. This morning's news reveals that average income among the middle class has "Shrunk" 6.7% from a year ago. Obama's Marxists running the Environmental Protection Agency has created 469 new regulations that have closed businesses or run them out of the country to Europe or China. I doubt that the 15Million+ people agree that the Marxist Democrat Party are great for the poor. I doubt that the millions of working class people whose houses are "Under Water" would agree with you.
Liza
1 year ago
Marianna - I understand your frustration and appreciate your thoughtfulness and independence. I have decided that for me, the other issues you mention, combined with how the Republicans' position on social services have been hurting the poor and the elderly, outweigh their positions on marriage and abortion. Lately, Republicans' pro-family policies seem to stop at birth. We have a responsibility to make sure families have the resources to bring their babies to term and raise healthy, educated children. I think their policies on economic issues like health care are not pro-family - they hurt families in all kinds of ways. And their positions on the poor are, to me, deeply immoral. This is why Catholic professors and bishops have been criticizing House Republicans for their cuts affecting the most vulnerable while supporting policies for the richest: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/12/catholic-professors-slam-boehner-gop-budget-cuts/
Rob
1 year ago
Kae, I agree with you. But there is never a uniform application of these principles. When the dust settles cuts and spending are always done along ideological, party lines. Given the state of our House and Senate, I have no idea how any presidential candidate would plan on implementing anything that changes the status quo too much. At the end of the day they will never push anything too hard that might compromise their seat at the table.
Joe Grundy
1 year ago
It's been tight, but somehow things have opened up for Santorum. He'll finish strong, you'll see. You'll be seeing Santorum all over the place.
JoAnn
1 year ago
Marianna Sylvia: I am not telling you who to vote for but never compromise your Faith or your principles. If you are a true Catholic, you will never go against the teachings of the Church We should vote a Catholic conscience, pray and leave the rest up to God. We are to imitate Jesus and he would never compromise. He could have done that numerous times but He didn't. He was sent here to die for our sins and die for sins was what He did. If you read or listen to those CD's I told you about, you will know who to vote for. It would also be a good idea to talk to your favorite priest (provided he is not a far left socialist) No one wants to stand before Jesus one day and explain to Him why you compromised on His teachings and your Catholic Faith. Those CD's I told you about can be found at www.stjosephradio.com. I don't know about you but when someone says don't do this or that or don't read this or that, I get suspicious. Must be something in it they don't want us to see. Good luck with your journey. God bless.
John
1 year ago
Marianna-

Don't listen to JoAnn. At all. Doing so would make you a closed-minded, single-issue voter. The fact that you can see through Santorum's faux-righteousness and into how hypocritical he is, wearing Catholic values on his arm on one hand while brushing them aside on the other, shows that you're more open minded than the usual voter. Contrary to what JoAnn says, there is much, much more for a Catholic voter to consider than a cherry-picked handful of issues.

The answer is that politics are an ugly business that reduce a massive number of potential issues to a choice of a tiny number of candidates. Go with whomever you feel is most qualified to lead our country. Sometimes, that means voting for someone who doesn't meet all our parameters.

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