Mitt Romney Wins Arizona and Michigan. Republican Primary Race is Far From Over

By Keith A Fournier
2/29/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The blue collar guy from Pennsylvania gave the man from Michigan a run for his money - and nearly won

Those who currently lead the Democratic Party want to paint the Republican Party as the party of the "1%" which does not care about the rest of America. I know it's contrived. I know it is class warfare. I know it is wrong. However, it is working. I have believed from the beginning of this campaign that, even if Mitt Romney is the nicest man in the world, they want him as their opponent. He fits the narrative and they can run against a caricature. Mitt Romney won in Arizona and Michigan on Tuesday - but this race is far from over.

Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum

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GRAND RAPIDS, MI (Catholic Online) - On what can best be described as a nail biter of a Republican primary election evening, no major network had yet called the vote in Michigan when I began writing this article. However, it was clear that if vote tabulation trends continued, Mitt Romney would pull out his second primary win in his own home State. At 10:18 p.m., in the middle of a speech by Rick Santorum, CNN broke away and made the call that Mitt Romney had indeed won the Michigan primary.

At 8 pm in the East, all the major networks called the Arizona Primary for the former Governor of the State of Massachusetts. However, the outcome of that State's race was never in doubt. The man who has emerged as Mitt Romney's number one opponent for the Republican presidential nomination, the one whom the political establishment dismissed, Rick Santorum, came in second.

In what will be a very long night for the political pundits, the Michigan vote will be segmented according to every possible analytical and demographic subgroup. The talking heads will discuss - and discuss - and discuss ad nauseam - what it all "means". However, it was a very tough primary race between two opponents who do not seem to hold one another in high regard.

The self appointed experts will then attempt to explain to us all why this primary race just keeps continuing on. In fact, it has turned into one of the most intriguing political races in recent political history. They will fill every media venue with a lot of political babble which offers little light on the subject. Something happened on the way to the coronation of Mitt Romney. His name is Rick Santorum.

When CNN returned to the Santorum speech, the candidate was gracious in defeat, humble and inspiring. He had a large crowd gathered along with his wife and members of his family. They were all clearly enthused and not overtly disappointed or discouraged. After thanking all who made his surprising showing possible, he returned to overriding theme of his campaign, Freedom.

Next Tuesday is called "Super Tuesday" for a lot of reasons. Rick Santorum may just add one more reason by again surprising the political establishment.

The political "left" knows that Rick Santorum is a formidable candidate from a working class family who connects with the very people whom they claim to represent. They also know he is a formidable communicator, does not need a teleprompter - and will not back down from a fight, whether it is with Mitt Romney or Barack Obama.

They know he possesses the courage needed for the upcoming contest with President Barack Obama. That is why they deride him so viciously. He threatens them. He has shown himself to be a full spectrum candidate, ready to debate every issue. He will not be intimidated by the bullying of their rhetoric nor succumb to the savage insults of their elite media spokespersons. He has thick skin and a strong heart.

Some within the Republican establishment like Rick Santorum's economic conservatism but are uncomfortable with his insistence on discussing the "moral issues". He continues to refer to America as a moral enterprise and it seems to make some of them squirm. Of course, he is correct. There is a moral basis to a truly free society. One cannot - one must not - separate the moral, economic, cultural, and social issues if we want to return to the sources of our liberties and flourish once again.

He insists on protecting human life from conception through natural death and defending marriage and the family and society founded upon it. That doesn't make for comfortable conversation at the country club. Some of the Republican elite have dismissed his chances. Others have used condescending language concerning his candidacy, his competence and his chances. They have all been proven wrong.

I am one of a large group of Americans who are tired of the Republican establishment picking the nominee of the Party. I am a "Reluctant Republican". I have no other choice. I left the Democratic Party when the opponents of the fundamental human right to life took control of the leadership of that Party and turned it upside down.

I grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts in a working class home. Sadly, the bizarre alliance which took over the Democratic Party many years ago has held it captive for decades. People like me have been forcibly evicted, out of conscience. We listen to those who now lead that Party and are disgusted with so much of their agenda.

Santorum connects with people like us. Many are still in the Democratic Party. That is why he reached out to Democrats in Michigan. They live in the blue collar sections of this great Nation. With a Santorum candidacy they would become one of the most potent segments of the electorate for the Republicans. The Democratic Party knows this. They do not want to ...

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1 - 10 of 29 Comments

Andre Budianto
1 year ago
I think Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum still have a chance for Catholic Representation of Presidential nomination. I wish he could help US Catholic prayer besides Pope Bennedict XVI as the leader.
vance
1 year ago
Rob, when I was talking about Moderates, I was thinking about someone else. I know Santorum scares you because he is not Obama. He supported Gingrich's 4 balanced budgets that resulted in a surplus when Bush took office in 2001. He also pushed the 'Partial Birth Abortion Bill that Bill Clinton vetoed. He is not perfect but he is not only heads and shoulders over Obama but also knees and ankles over Obama.
Rob
1 year ago
The only thing that scares me about Santorum is his record on spending. Personally vance, I think he is exactly the type of RINO you have been talking about all along in regards to fiscal matters. Of course he doens't scare seniors. The Ryan plan for all those currently enjoying the big government programs we call Medicare and Social Security are left untouched. It's folks in my age group that should be scared. Protect seniors and the heck with everyone else right? He is spot on with the teachings in regards to life. But as to the other things you mention vance, about the only thing I see guaranteed is endless money on the military as I'm sure they are chomping at the bit to start the next war we'll never get out of. Fiscally sound? Sure, if you are in the one percent. 30 years of economic data doesn't lie. Sadly killing babies and contraception seems to survive no matter who is at the helm. Not sure I trust that will change no matter who we elect. Call me jaded, but I just don't buy any of it. About the only thing I trust is that Santorum would be pro-life, but I draw no conclusions if that would change a darn thing legislatively. As he said, sometimes you have to take one for the team. Not sure where that ends on any matter of the government. Today, I just can't accept the fact that I'm going to have to vote for one of these guys. Maybe, please, please, please, I hope they prove me wrong.
vance
1 year ago
Isn't it amazing how some say that Rick Santorum is ((( TOO ))) conservative. Yet it is OK to elect a straight up Saul Alinsky Communist to the White House. You can't get farther left than Obama. Rick Santorum stands for everything Catholic. Obama stripped a 1/2 Trillion dollars from Medicare and that doesn't scare the hell out of seniors? So, I take it that these so-called Moderates or Centerists are scared of Santorum because he addresses the abortion and birth control issue from a Catholic point of view. According to you Moderates, it is more important to kill babies and have marathon sex with no consequences than to have a nation that is fiscally sound, Freedom of Religion, low unemployment, high opportunities for an individual to advance himself in society, and a strong military to defend us against our sworn enemies. Just thinking out loud.
Bulbajer
1 year ago
About the JFK/theocracy thing: regardless of what JFK meant by his statement, I think we can all agree that conscience should never be left out of political decision-making. Politics is dirty enough as it is; we don't need to make it worse. For some people, conscience lies in specific religious teachings; for others, it doesn't. This is where people disagree - not on whether conscience should be involved, but on whether religion should be involved, because conscience and religion are two closely related but separate ideas.
JoAnn
1 year ago
Brian: Could you tell me where it says in the Constitution that there is a separation of church and state? God bless.
Rob
1 year ago
Old Soldier, since Santorum embraces the Ryan plan, if you are currently enrolled in Medicare, I think you are held harmless. The costs of the baby boomers retirement will be the sole burden of the younger generation who will see their benefits eliminated.
JoAnn
1 year ago
Old Soldier: From one senior citizen to another, don't accept the leftist propaganda. They are just trying to scare us. Just do some more homework, like I did. I am not one bit worried which is saying pretty much because "worry" is my middle name. Have faith. Anybody but Obama and Santorum has my full support. God bless.
Bulbajer
1 year ago
I have to admit, Santorum is the most likeable GOP candidate. He's so conservative though... This election is not going to be a happy one.
Lisa L
1 year ago
Never before have I heard or witnessed such a humble politician. He is a genuine leader that not only has a good heart but is also smart and unwavering in his beliefs. Rick Santorum is exactly the kind of President our wayward nation needs if the US wants to see change for the better.

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