Game On! Rick Santorum Scores Big in the Iowa Caucus in a Stunning 8 Vote Spread

By Keith A. Fournier
1/5/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Rick Santorum's opening words were very apropos: Game On!

In one of the closest and most dramatic Caucus votes in US history, Senator Rick Santorum shocked the political establishment - and captured the Nations attention - in a stunning come from behind near victory in the Iowa Caucus of 2012. At the end of a very long evening he stepped to the microphone and exclaimed,"Game On".

Rick Santorum's speech after the Iowa victory

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AMES,IA (Catholic Online) - In one of the closest and most dramatic Caucus votes in US history, Senator Rick Santorum shocked the political establishment - and captured the Nations attention - in a stunning come from behind near victory in the Iowa Caucus of 2012. He lost to Mitt Romney by only 8 votes - but he clearly and decisively won the contest and the admiration of a Nation.

At the end of a very long evening - where the tally separating him from Mitt Romney was simply too close to call - the former Senator from Pennsylvania finally appeared, stepped to the microphone to deliver his speech and exclaimed "Game On".

Then, he gave an extraordinary, extemporaneous speech, revealing his tremendous gift of communication. He moved the crowd gathered both before him and people gathered before televisions and computers all over the nation.It was an historic evening and marked the beginning of a new chapter in this 2012 Presidential campaign.

He began his remarks by giving thanks. First, he thanked his beloved wife Karen. He quoted CS Lewis, "A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words" and gave her an embrace which left few eyes without tears - in Iowa and throughout America.

Next, he thanked God for his friendship. His sincere words revealed the source of the strength of this man. With a humble faith, he expressed deep gratitude to God for the daily grace he receives. What was immediately obvious is that this was real and genuine faith which informs his life.

Finally, he thanked the people of Iowa; comparing them to the hard working people he grew up with in the coal mining and steel mill areas of Pennsylvania. He spoke affectionately of the campaign and thanked so many who had helped his effort.

That comparison between the working people of Iowa and the working people of Pennsylvania served as the backdrop for a speech that one pundit on MSNBC- a man not known for having complimented this candidate over the course of the campaign - properly called a "major league speech."

I expected nothing less. I have the privilege of calling Rick Santorum a friend. He is what much of the Nation finally saw Tuesday night - a sincere, gifted and good man with a heart filled with compassion and a backbone of steel. He is ready to work hard to serve the Nation he loves - should he be given the chance.

His tribute to his immigrant grandfather whose hands working the coal mines the candidate said, "dug freedom for me"- revealed the values based economic populism which Rick Santorum brings to this campaign.

Rick Santorum is not an "establishment" Republican. Rather, his appeal can cross party lines and has the potential to build alliances reminiscent of the Reagan campaign. He could bring some amazing changes to the current political landscape.

His words Tuesday evening revealed the beating heart behind his campaign - his freedom message.

One commentator noted that the speech might be the first time many in America had really been introduced to Rick Santorum - sort of his debut on the public stage. I smiled broadly, because they finally got to hear - and to meet - the man I know could become one of America's finest Presidents at a critical hour in our National history.

Rick Santorum touched upon the points which inform his policy positions such as; the dignity of every human life - from the child in the womb to the worker in the manufacturing lines; marriage and the family and society founded upon it; human freedom; unalienable rights are given to us by God; and good governance comes from the bottom up, respecting and promoting human freedom and flourishing.

His delivery was moving - the response of pundits across the networks affirmed that fact - and his message inspiring. He showed a sincerity borne of deep conviction, a rare quality in politicians. Clearly, to anyone listening, this speech was not political sloganeering; this man is the real deal.

His closing tribute to his children and to Bella, the Santorum's three year old special little girl - whom he noted reminds them always of the beauty and dignity of every human life - brought me, and many others I am sure, to tears. Partly, because I know Bella and my life, along with many others, has been touched by her beauty and dignity.

However, also because I felt a deep joy that many people were finally getting to meet this man, his wife and their family. I hope many Americans finally saw them for the national treasure they truly are. I was reaffirmed in my deep conviction that this country needs this man's leadership.

I have written extensively about Rick Santorum. His stunning performance victory in the Iowa Caucus vote certainly made political history. It will be analyzed and parsed for days to come. It has begun already.

Some of the same pundits who said he could never win Iowa are now saying he cannot raise the funds needed to continue on. They will be proven wrong again. Funds follow momentum in politics.

However, Rick Santorum will be too busy to pay much attention to the pundits - as usual.He is a man on a mission.

He will be off to New Hampshire and then on to South Carolina. This man is a formidable candidate. Governor Mitt Romney, long hailed by the establishment as the "presumptive nominee", clearly has his hands full.

In addition to this come from behind victory of Santorum, the evening brought other major political news concerning the 2012 Republican campaign. Governor Rick Perry, who came in fifth, announced he was returning to Texas to reassess his campaign.

Newt Gingrich, who came in fourth, signaled his intention to fight toe to toe with Mitt Romney. However, he complimented Rick Santorum - congratulating him for his win. This indicates the shift in the dynamic of this race.

What is now obvious to observers is that the Republican primary race has changed. Look for the upcoming New Hampshire debate to be a barn burner.

Rick Santorum's opening words were very apropos: Game On!

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Iowa, Iowa Caucus, Rick Santorum, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, Michelle Bachmann, Republican primary, Game On, Keith A. Fournier

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1 - 10 of 45 Comments

Rob
1 year ago
vance, I have to agree with you. I can't understand the logic of supporting that one.
Vance
1 year ago
Rob, Partial Birth Abortion is a method by which a heinous murderer abortionist pulls the 9 month baby out of the mother by the feet with the head still inside. The murderer stabs the baby in the head with a sharp object and then sucks out the brains with a vacuum device. Once the head is collapsed it comes out easy. What amazed me is how the Marxist Democrat Party fought tooth and nail to keep this murderous act legal. They have on souls. When a person is at this stage he is completely diabolical.
Bulbajer
1 year ago
JoAnn, sorry, I haven't been paying much attention to the conversation. I just thought Rob was being treated poorly. But Vance is right, he can take it. Sorry, and have a wonderful and safe vacation!
Rob
1 year ago
vance, broad shoulder's is about all I have from my youth! LOL. The achievements you described are to be commended. But they were able to achieve it by doing something that is absent in the current GOP platform. They were willing to raise revenue and cut defense. I would have absolutely no problem with a balanced approach, as they did, to achieve those budgets. There is absolutely no reason we should have deficits. If they don't have the courage to make cuts, then we should pay. While that is distasteful to all of us, it's the right thing to do. And I strongly believe that if American's got the tab for the spending, that is when real change will occur. But the longer we kick the can down the road on this, the longer the pain remains. Forgive my lack of knowledge on this, but can you explain what partial birth abortion is? I know we pray regularly at a clinic that provides later term abortions. What is the difference? We have the lucky distiniction of being the only state that allows this amongst our neighbors. I hate that we import abortions.
Vance
1 year ago
Bulbajer, Rob is as tough as nails and has broad shoulders. He can handle it with one hand tied behind his back.
Vance
1 year ago
Rob. Not a good candidate? Santroum and Gingrich both worked together to outlaw Partial Birth Abortion and passed 4 balanced budgets. Where did they go wrong?
JoAnn
1 year ago
Hey Everybody: One more thing. I will not be around for awhile. It's vacation time. Keep all of your awesome posts going. I really enjoy them. Some are very profound. Bye for now and God bless you all.
JoAnn
1 year ago
Bulbajer: I don't think you're into "Kool-aid." Nor do I think Rob is either. Both of your posts are very thought provoking and coherent. They make for interesting dialoogue. But I do want to say something to the Ron Paul supporters and I will probably be called every name in the book for it. But if they do their research on what I'm about to say, they will learn the truth. Whether they accept it or not is another matter. Ron Paul is working with Barney Frank to see if they can cut $1 trillion dollars in the budget. They have 14 members on the committee of which (and here it comes) 11 of them are communists and are working with George Soros. Sooo, you might say that Ron Paul is in Mr. Soros' pocket. I will give Mr. Paul the benefit of the doubt and say I don't think he is aware of it. AND, if you are watching the returns very closely, you will have seen the polls reporting that DEMOCRATS are switching their party affiliation and voting for Paul. After they cast their votes, they again fill out paperwork to switch back to Democrat. Now that sounds pretty fishy to me. Do you think that possibly George Soros is trying to assure that his puppet candidate (Obama) will get re-elected? Something to check into, don't you think? It is easily verified by researching the members of that committee. I know I am being cursed to no end right now and that's okay. BUT don't you think it just might be something you all could look into and try to prove me wrong. God bless.
Bulbajer
1 year ago
Hey, if anyone here is a Marxist Democrat Robot, it's not Rob. I don't know why you guys are attacking Rob when he's been roughly centrist and always reasonable the whole time. I'm the one with the Koolaid, not him!
Rob
1 year ago
vance, my brother, the only person clicking their heals and saluting is folks like you that continue to close you eyes and pretend that the right is really offereing anything different from the left. Maybe there was a time, as JoAnn and others have commented, that they did. Heck, maybe there was a time when democrats has morals, but those days are gone my friend. What mostly has folks like you so worked up and unwilling to see the complete lie the right has been is the fact that because of this, you can't get a decent candidate. This election cycle should have been a walk in the park for the GOP, but nope, because the lie is becoming more and more apparent and voters are beginning to see all these politcians for who and what they are, these guys are barely polling above Obama. Maybe some of you have convinced yourself that what they spin, right or left, is actually true. As for me, the only person I follow is Christ. As for these idiots in DC, keep clicking your heels, give more money to these guys but I wouldn't hold your breath that anything is going to change. Will be interesting to see just how different things will be in four years, regardless of who wins. But I'd be willing to be money that the things fought about most will still be here, mostly left intact. We'll still have deficits, debt and no reform of anything. Honestly, doesn't matter who we elect today.

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