GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum spoke to a house full of 1,400 Michiganders in Novi Thursday night, focusing on the importance of America’s foundations, family, and building a government from the bottom-up.
He spoke as part of the Oakland County Republicans Lincoln Day Dinner at Suburban Collection Showplace.
Santorum began his speech by stating that he was excited to be back in Michigan, where his family has some roots. His grandfather worked in an auto factory in Detroit for two years when he first came to America, and like many Michigan residents today, he ended up losing his job.
He said his roots have helped him understand the foundations of the country and the importance of the industrial heartland of America.
“One of the reasons that I decided to get involved in this race is that I thought it was important to have someone out there speaking for folks who seem to be out there paddling alone in our society. Folks who have been left behind by our economy,” he said.
Santorum later went on to say that the people of Michigan helped build America by creating wealth and creating opportunities.
“It’s amazing what you’ve contributed to the greatest country in the history of the world,” he said. “You’re not done building. Your honor is at stake to stand up in this election and to do your duty to stand for the things that made us special. To stand up for the founding principles of our country – the things that bring us together.”
Foundations of America
One of Santorum’s main points Thursday was getting back to the foundations of America.
“We are a great country, not because we have a great government, not because we have a strong economy, not because we have a strong military. We are a great country because the roots of America, the foundation of our country is different than any other country in the history of the world. It’s a foundation based upon a document,” he said.
Santorum said the Constitution is the operator’s manual of America. He said that the founding rights of America come from God, and it’s the Constitution’s job to protect those rights.
He said that the government has been operating the guidelines of the Constitution and needs to get back to them.
Bottom-up government
Santorum said that he would not be in the presidential race if it were not for the issue of ‘Obamacare,’ a nickname for the health care plan pushed by President Brack Obama.
“This is the most important election of your lifetime. If we do not appeal Obamacare, if we do not stop the government from being involved in your personal decisions, if we do not reject the idea that government can create rights and then tell you how to exercise those rights, then we will be the generation that lost faith in the greatness of America,” he said.
Santorum said that the country could dismantle big government by giving the people responsibility.
“We need someone in this election, unlike in 2008 when Americans were looking for someone that they could believe in. We need a president who believes in you,” he said.
In addition to loosening government control, Santorum said that as president he would like to zero out the corporate tax on manufacturing so that America can better compete with other countries. He also talked about creating an energy policy that will ensure safe, reliable and plentiful energy.
“America is a great country because we believe in a great country being built from the bottom-up. A great society that trusts free people. One of the great things this country has shown the world is the ability of people, free people to change the world,” he said.
The importance of family
Santorum also placed a lot of emphasis on the importance of family.
He and his wife have seven children, ages 3-20.
“It’s not the best time for me to be running for president, but I’m running because, just like you, you’re concerned about your kids. You’re concerned about what you’re going to leave behind.”
He said that families are the building blocks of a free society, and that the best gift you can give the next generation is freedom.
“What I am asking you to do is to pledge your honor. You stand on the shoulders of your parents and grandparents. Your duty is to uphold the honor of your family,” he said.
Santorum said that Michigan will have an historic place in the upcoming election, and it is important to think about your place in history.
“Show America that you believe in yourselves. Show America that our better days are ahead of us. Show America that you’re not done building here in Detroit,” he said.
Santorum supports contraception; voted for Title X - which supports contraception. End of story. Your points are spot on: 1. National Security; won't be discussed until another major building comes down. The press just ignores it. Obama defunds it. Israel may or may not drop bombs on Iran, before Iran definitely plans to drop bombs on Israel. USA energy sources/prices swing in the balance. 2. Mention of the 0bama economy is a no-no, because it is so bad. The Leftist media has shut down stories on: U-6 unemployment is at 15%. The Country lost 1.2 million jobs in January, "Job participation" fallen below 64% a shocking new low level. 49% of American households get some sort of direct assistance from the Gov. The amount of money that the federal government gives directly to Americans has increased by 32 percent since Barack Obama entered the White House. Americans on food-stamps at an all time high. 42% of single mothers are on food-stamps. The percentage of people who do not pay federal income taxes has risen to 49.5% in 2009. Could go on and on. . . The statistics are a nightmare for the country. Talk about 'wrong direction"
Was trying to "sweeten" the conversation. ;-) Thanks Jerry.
Just because he once voted for Title X funding doesn't mean he still supports contraceptive choice, he was once pro-choice too. Things change. “One of the things I will talk about that no president has talked about before is I think the dangers of contraception in this country,” he told an evangelical blog. “Many in the Christian faith have said, ‘Well, that’s okay. Contraception’s okay.’ It’s not okay because it’s a license to do things in the sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.” Yep, Santorum said this. In an interview in 2006, then-Sen. Santorum said he is "not a believer in birth control." The socially-conservative candidate said birth control harms women. "I think it's harmful to women; I think it's harmful to society," Santorum said in this interview found by the Washington Post. And frankly, when a candidate for President wants to take away individual freedoms because of his extreme belief system, that is a major issue since America is supposedly all about individual freedom and liberty - it's fundamental to our way of life. Without it, the terrorists really have won.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/22/alan-simpson-rick-santorum_n_1293757.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009 http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7399675n When Republicans manage to take back their party from the incendiary and divisive tactics employed by the likes of Santorum, then maybe we can actually have a real conversation about the economic direction of this country, social safety-nets, foreign & domestic policy, employment, etc. Until then, blame the Republican party for making wedge issues the hot topic of the day.
I'm in the the ad business, all four of the remaining Rebublican candidates have serious marketing issues and their ad campaigns aren't helping. We are smarter than 5 graders. And what happened to the 11th commandment they threw that down the toilet. Rick Santorum to far to the Christian right, read his book, many in America think it's downright scary... don't think woman want to be thrown back into the 13th century. And come on give us a brake, sex is only for making babes... please it's takes independents to win the presidency and Rick is not going to get that vote. If I were Barack Obama I'd be thrilled if the "party" pick this guy. Suggestion for Rick, please get out of this "party" and start a new one, your far right agenda is destroying the fabric of this nation and the Republican party. Yvonne and Atticus...would love to read your comments on the Mitt Romoney in Utica post by Marnia... thanks
Simply because one does not agree with actions our government has taken in our name does not make one disloyal.I believe we have been justified in some matters but certainly not in all.We are lucky enough to able to say those words as well, because it is one of our rights.
1st - No where did Yvonne "whine on behalf of our enemies and vilify the United States as the real demons of the world?" Looking at other perspectives actually provides one with more perspective, not less. It provides a more full view of the issues & an understanding of how to better attack the underlying problems. The type of one-way thinking you are promoting is short-sighted at best. 2nd - There are a lot of assumptions & no real arguments in your post. Just a lot of self-aggrandizing rhetoric backed up with probablys and I bets. Not particularly strong on the argument front, there. 3rd - Attempting to shame & demean someone in such a way as to compare them Hitler/Tojo is the truly reckless thinking. Are you even aware of what the hallmarks of fascism are, or are you just trying to win your point? Nothing about Yvonne's posts have even remotely resembled fascistic thinking or rhetoric, so you didn't win any points, but you did lose credibility, as Yvonne noted. 4th - To assume, once again, that liberals have "fluffy and compassionate feelings" for terrorists is, once again, reckless thinking and counterproductive. And, I would like to note, that for someone who purports to be such a God-loving Christian, perhaps you should practice a little more compassion and humility. As I said before, if this is you behaving in a Christian way, then you've perfectly illustrated my point. Thank you.
I really do think it's a shame that the Republican party has been hijacked by the extremists. And I tend to agree, Santorum's extreme views scare me to no end - even scarier is the fact that he has so many people buying into him. Again, thanks for your posts, and your recommendations.
An enlightened, mature society should be well beyond the Stalinist concept of "The winners write the history books."
"Liberalism is a mental disorder"...Dr. Savage.
Exactly 2 people called him that back in the day - both were insults. One was after his death. The Left has to push this deist lie - or their godless version of America does not hold water. There are over one hundred different prayers composed and written by Geroge Washington in his own hand, with his own words, in his writings.... he never once used the word “Deist” in his voluminous writings, he often mentioned religion, Christianity, and the Gospel. His own writing are by far a better source for this argument than some progressive university professor with an axe to grind.
Read up on the practice of Religion in Washington's day and you quickly see that only a pastor would use the name "Jesus Christ" or "God" and then only during a sermon - serious practicing Christians actually made a serious attempt to not use nor write God's name. - If you want to read up on what Washington actually wrote and said himself, his journals, letters, manuscripts, and those of his closest family and confidants - and can handle 1200 pages - read 'Washington's Sacred Fire'. With 500 pages of footnotes - George Washington's own words - regarding his religious practice and faith. Washington never was deist - not even close.
Want to really know about the Treaty of Tripoli and the Jefferson Koran? Here is a bit of news few today can recall . . . . "By 1801, however, it became clear that the policy of appeasement had failed. The Pasha of Tripoli, who five years earlier had been satisfied with a payment of $56,000, now demanded increasingly larger sums. When they were not forthcoming, piracy resumed! The same held true for the other Barbary states. The Algerians received payments from the U.S. totaling $990,000 plus another $585,000 in 1793 to cover the ransom of 11 American ships. These were extraordinary sums for a nation with a budget of no more than $7 million, but the appetite of the Muslim states seemed to grow evermore insatiable." . And now you know some of the background behind the Treaty of Tripoli (blackmail) and Jefferson's Koran (research into the Barbary Pirate Nations).