2012 Presidential Campaign Blog

Rick Santorum Comments On Herman Cain Decision To Suspend His Candidacy

SANTORUM COMMENTS ON CAIN DECISION TO SUSPEND HIS CANDIDACY
 
Verona, PA - Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum made the following comment in reaction to Herman Cain's decision to suspend his campaign for President of the United States.

Senator Santorum said: "Karen and I understand how trying national political campaigns are - not just on the candidates, but the candidate's family. We respect Herman's decision to suspend his campaign and trust that he made the best decision for his family.  As we have for all our fellow candidates, we will continue to keep Herman and his entire family in our prayers."

On Huckabee Tonight: Santorum Stands As The Consistent Full Spectrum Conservative Candidate For President

ON HUCKABEE TONIGHT: SANTORUM STANDS AS THE CONSISTENT FULL SPECTRUM CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT
 
Verona, PA - At tonight's Republican Presidential Forum hosted by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum stood tall in support of the family values that make our nation the greatest in the history of the world.

SANTORUM SAID

On Strengthening The Family:

My wife Karen and I are the parents of seven children.  Family is important to me and to America, and we have a government that has undermined the family.  Look at our welfare programs, where parents stay unmarried so that the mother can receive welfare benefits.  We are doing things to break families and we do not encourage marriage.  There are things a president can do beyond laws.  I wrote a book called "It Takes A Family."  In the book, I talked about a program in Chattanooga, TN where the city, non-profits, and the educational community came together to promote marriage.  The President has that power to convene.

On States Rights And Abortion:

I support Personhood Amendment to our Constitution to ban abortion, and that certainly involves the states through ratification.  I have always been a supporter of uniform laws on values that undergird the family.  That's why I supported the Federal Marriage Amendment - you cannot have 50 different marriage laws.  And you cannot have 50 different abortion laws.

On The EPA:

We have seen a radical environmental policy that is based out of very poorly crafted legislation, with the Endangered Species Act as case in point.  We have legislation that is too broadly crafted and gives too much authority to the agency to rewrite the law.  I will not sign a reauthorization of these bills unless they are strictly crafted with definitions of what the laws are to do.

On The Separation Of Powers:

Our Founders created a separation of powers to protect the rights of the States and the citizens.  Look at the Senate, it was originally selected by the states so that the states would have the belt and suspenders to keep power at the state level - closer to the people.

On the Defense of Marriage Act:

The President has an obligation to defend the laws of this country, and the Defense of Marriage Act passed overwhelmingly.  When a law is challenged it is the obligation of the President to defend it...  I would do everything to go around the courts if they struck down DOMA, and I've already done it.  Look at the Partial Birth Abortion Ban.  The Supreme Court called it unconstitutional, so we passed an almost identical bill, where the first two sections of the bill told the Court why they were wrong, and five years later the Court ruled that it was constitutional.  The President and Congress are co-equal branches of the government to the Supreme Court!... The Courts are not the final arbiter, absolutely not!

In Closing:

Everyone says we need a truce on social issues, that we need to focus on jobs and the economy.  But what is at the heart of this country is that America is a moral enterprise and we are sick at the heart of our country - when we see millions of children being aborted and marriage not being defended.  A truce is not a truce, it is a surrender.  I will not surrender, I will fight and defend America.

Rick Santorum Returns To New Hampshire Hosts Toys-For-Tots Toy Drive

SANTORUM RETURNS TO NEW HAMPSHIRE HOSTS TOYS-FOR-TOTS TOY DRIVE
Santorum Takes Part In New Hampshire Christmas Traditions
 
Verona, PA - Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum will return to New Hampshire on Friday, December 2nd. All times are local.

Friday, December 2:

6:00pm ET: Senator Santorum and Team Santorum New Hampshire will host a Toys-for-Tots toy drive at the Rick Santorum for President New Hampshire Headquarters. The event is open to the public, but all attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for charity.

Location:

Rick Santorum for President New Hampshire Headquarters
273 South River Road
Bedford, NH

7:30pm ET: Senator Santorum will take part in "Midnight Merriment" to support locally owned businesses in downtown Concord, NH.

Location:

Downtown Concord, NH

Saturday, December 3:

9:30am ET: Senator Santorum will host a breakfast meet-and-greet with area ministers and faith leaders in Nashua, NH.

Location:

Bonhoeffer's Café
8 Franklin Street
Nashua, NH

Cornerstone Founder and Former Gubernatorial Candidate Karen Testerman Endorses Santorum for President

LEADING NEW HAMPSHIRE SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE STANDS WITH SANTORUM
Cornerstone Founder and Former Gubernatorial Candidate Karen Testerman Endorses Santorum for President
 
Verona, PA - Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum has received the endorsement of Cornerstone founder and former New Hampshire gubernatorial candidate Karen Testerman. Testerman will serve as Chairman of Senator Santorum's "Faith and Family Coalition" in New Hampshire.

Karen Testerman said: "Since meeting Rick Santorum a decade ago, I have observed his unwavering support for the core values of family, faith and freedom.  He is the one candidate who is casting a vision for America beyond eight years.  Not only does Rick Santorum's record match his rhetoric, I am confident that he is the one who is ready to lead America to greatness. I look forward to working with him towards the New Hampshire first-in-the-nation primary."

Senator Santorum said: Senator Santorum said: "I am honored to receive Karen's endorsement today.  Karen has been a steadfast defender of life, family and the foundational values that make our nation great, and she has been a leader for those values in good times and in bad.  Karen understands the magnitude of this election, and her vote of confidence tonight is truly an honor.  I am excited to work with her as we move toward victory in the first-in-the-nation primary."

Karen Testerman is a leading New Hampshire conservative, founding the influential Cornerstone Policy Research, a family policy organization advocating for the traditional family. Karen has led the fight on numerous family rights issues and has become the recognized "go-to" social conservative in New Hampshire. Karen is the recipient of the Family Research Council's "Family, Faith and Freedom" award and is active in Concerned Women for America, New Hampshire Right to Life, and served as co-chair to develop the Faith Based Community Initiative in NMH. Testerman was the only New Hampshire representative to former First Lady Laura Bush's Conference on Helping America's Youth. Prior to joining the Rick Santorum for President campaign, Testerman had supported Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) for President.
 

Rick Santorum "Faith, Family and Freedom Tour" Returns to Western Iowa on Sunday, December 4, 2011 *Updated

SANTORUM "FAITH, FAMILY AND FREEDOM TOUR" RETURNS TO WESTERN IOWA

Verona, PA - Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum will return to northwest Iowa on Sunday, December 4th on the latest leg of his "Faith, Family and Freedom Tour."

All times are local.

Sunday, December 4:

2:00pm CT:      Senator Santorum will host a "Faith, Family and Freedom" Town Hall meeting in Sidney, IA where Senator Santorum will focus on job creation and economic growth.

Location:

Sidney Senior Center
2820 Northridge Road
Sidney, IA

5:30pm CT: Senator Santorum will hold a "Faith, Family and Freedom" Rally in Council Bluffs, IA.

Location:

Mid-America Center
1 Arena Way
Council Bluffs, IA

6:30pm CT: Senator Santorum will hold a media availability following his "Faith, Family and Freedom" Rally in Council Bluffs, IA.

Location:

Mid-America Center
1 Arena Way
Council Bluffs, IA

Monday, December 5:

9:00am CT: Senator Santorum will hold a media availability prior to his "Faith, Family and Freedom" Town Hall Meeting in Sioux City, IA

Location:

Stoney Creek Inn
300 3rd Street
Sioux City, IA

9:30am CT: Senator Santorum will host a "Faith, Family and Freedom" Town Hall meeting Sioux City, IA.

Location

Stoney Creek Inn
300 3rd Street
Sioux City, IA

12:30pm CT: Senator Santorum will host a "Faith, Family and Freedom" Town Hall in Le Mars, IA.

Location:

4 Brother's Restaurant
1430 Two Rivers Boulevard
Le Mars, IA

5:30pm CT: Senator Santorum will be the featured guest at the Sanborn Winter Gala in Sanborn, IA.

Location:

Jay's Restaurant & Lounge
120 West 7th Street
Sanborn, IA

7:30pm CT: Senator Santorum will hold a "Faith, Family and Freedom" Rally in Sioux Center, IA.

Location:

Dordt College Campus Center
498 4th Avenue NE
Sioux Center, IA

8:30pm CT: Senator Santorum will hold a media availability following his "Faith, Family and Freedom" Rally in Sioux Center, IA.

Location

Dordt College Campus Center
498 4th Avenue NE
Sioux Center, IA

Tuesday, December 6:

8:00am CT: Senator Santorum will hold a "Faith, Family and Freedom" Town Hall meeting in Storm Lake, IA.

Location:

Lake Shore Café
1520 Lake Avenue

12:00pm CT: Senator Santorum will hold a "Faith, Family and Freedom" Town Hall meeting in Spencer, IA.

Location:

Pizza Ranch
528 Grand Avenue
Spencer, IA

Rick Santorum Brings The "Faith, Family And Freedom Tour" To Duluth, Georgia

SANTORUM BRINGS THE "FAITH, FAMILY AND FREEDOM TOUR" TO GEORGIA
Santorum Headlines Georgia GOP 7th District Presidential Forum
 
Verona, PA - Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum (R-PA) will headline the Georgia Republican Party 7th District Presidential Forum on Tuesday, November 29th in Duluth, GA.

Who: Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum (R-PA)

What: Georgia Republican Party 7th District Presidential Forum

When: Tuesday, November 29th
    Noon, ET

Where:           

Gwinnett Place Marriott
1775 Pleasant Hill Road
Duluth, GA

Rick Santorum National Communications Director Hogan Gidley Statement On This Evening's CNN/Heritage Foundation/AEI Republican National Security Debate

SANTORUM ISN'T POLITICALLYCORRECT, HE'S JUST CORRECT
 
Washington, DC - At this evening's CNN/Heritage Foundation/AEI Republican National Security Debate, Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum (R-PA) showed he is the one candidate ready and able to answer the 3am phone call to ensure our nation's security and safety.

Hogan Gidley, National Communications Director, said: "Rick Santorum isn't politically correct, he's just correct. Should we be profiling grandma? No, we should profile the people who fit the description of radical Islamic terrorists. Senator Santorum is the one candidate with the experience, knowledge, and the willingness to level with the American people about the threats and challenges facing America."

SANTORUM SAID:

On Profiling:

"We should be looking to find the bomber, not the bomb. To put the enormous responsibility on the Federal government and TSA is too much. I voted to allow privatization of the TSA. But the issue is the PATRIOT Act, we are at war. The last time we had a threat like this at home, Lincoln ran over civil rights because we had a domestic threat. But I disagree with Governor Huntsman. We have had the debate (on the PATRIOT Act and profiling) and it does show the values of our country."

On Time Lines For Afghan Withdrawal:

"We are not fighting a tactic (terrorism), we are fighting radical Islam. All the radical Islamists are saying just wait America out - they are weak, they will set time limits and we will tell the people in Afghanistan and Iraq that we will be the strong horse in the region."

On Foreign Aid To Africa:

"I believe it is essential. Africa was on the brink of chaos, where radical Islamists could take hold. While humanitarian in nature, (the aid) was essential for our national security.... We must promote our values. We are the shining city on the Hill."

On Compromise:

"If the things you have to give up make the things you are trying to do harder, no. By raising taxes, what the Democrats are trying to do is slow down the economy. You don't undermine the ability of our economy to grow. This president has poisoned the well. He's divided group from group to position himself to win this election. I have a long record of bipartisan accomplishment. I point to Welfare Reform. We instituted work requirements, time limits on welfare. Yes, I compromised on some child care, transportation, but we 100% changed the welfare system because we stuck to our principles."

On Highly Skilled Immigrants:

"As a son of a legal immigrant, I strongly believe in legal immigration because we are the shining city a hill unto the world. A huge percentage of legal immigrants come here want to innovate. That's one of the reasons I put forward my economic plan to take advantage of legal immigration and encourage innovation. We need to make sure things are made in America. We need to make sure we create an environment to help innovation and create income mobility. That is why I have called for a zeroing out of the corporate tax for manufacturers, regulatory reform, repatriation of foreign profits, and increasing energy exploration to improve income mobility. Greatness has come from (legal) immigrants who have worked hard, created businesses, and created jobs."

On The Most Under Discussed Foreign Policy Threat:

"I have spent a lot of time concerned with the militant socialists and radical Islamists bonding together in Central and South America... We have sent all the wrong signals to Central and South America. We need to build a solid hemisphere and they need to know we are in solidarity."

Santorum Family Spends The Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend In The Granite State

SANTORUM FAMILY SPENDS THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WEEKEND IN THE GRANITE STATE
"Faith, Family and Freedom Tour" To Stop In Each New Hampshire County During Campaign Swing
 
Verona, PA - Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) announced that he and his family will embark on a post-Thanksgiving family tour through New Hampshire on November 25th - 28th, visiting all 10 New Hampshire counties on the campaign swing.

Senator Santorum said: "Holidays are marked by memories of faith and family, which is why I am thrilled my family will be joining me on the road to take in the sights and landmarks of the Granite State Thanksgiving weekend. From visiting a Christmas tree farm to taking part in the great tradition of the Nashua Holiday Stroll, I am excited for my family to see firsthand what I've had the joy of experiencing on the trail in New Hampshire since I made my first visit to Keene over a year ago."

All times are local.

Friday, November 25:

8:00pm ET: Senator Santorum will host a "Faith, Family and Freedom" Town Hall meeting in Meredith, NH.

Location:

The Inns at Mill Falls
Garwood Room at Church Landing
312 Daniel Webster Highway
Meredith, NH

Saturday, November 26:

7:45am ET: Senator Santorum will meet-and-greet patrons at Annie's Overflow Restaurant in Holderness, NH.

Location:

Annie's Overflow Restaurant
Route 175 A
Holderness, NH

10:00am ET: Senator Santorum will host a "Faith, Family and Freedom" Town Hall meeting in Wolfeboro, NH.

Location:

90 North Main Street
Wolfeboro, NH

12:50pm ET: The Santorum Family will visit the Charmingfare Farm where they will take part in traditional New Hampshire holiday festivities around the farm such as a sleigh ride.

Location:

Charmingfare Farm
774 High Street
Candia, NH

2:45pm ET: The Santorum Family will visit the Milford Tree Farm where they will cut down a Christmas tree for the Rick Santorum for President New Hampshire Campaign Headquarters.

Location:

Miracle Acres Farm
523 Mason Road
Milford, NH

4:00pm ET: Senator Santorum will host a "Faith, Family and Freedom" Town Hall in Hudson, NH.

Location:

American Legion Hudson Post 48
1 Fulton Street
Hudson, NH

7:10pm ET: The Santorum Family will take part in the annual Nashua Holiday Stroll in Nashua, NH.

Location:

Downtown Nashua
Nashua, NH

Sunday, November 27:

8:30am ET: The Santorum Family will join parishioners of the St. Benedict Center for a coffee social in Richmond, NH.

Location:

St. Benedict Center
95 Fay Martin Road
Richmond, NH

1:00pm ET: Senator Santorum will host a "Faith, Family and Freedom" Town Hall in Jefferson, NH.

Location:

698 Presidential Highway
Jefferson, NH

6:00pm ET: Senator Santorum will host a "Faith, Family and Freedom" Town Hall in Newport, NH.

Location:

Sullivan County GOP Office
12 Main Street
Newport, NH

Monday, November 28:

6:30am ET: Senator Santorum will be live in-studio with WOKQ, 97.5 radio in Dover, NH.

8:00am ET: Senator Santorum will meet-and-greet with patrons of Good & Plenty in Barrington, NH.

Location:

Good & Plenty
Route 125
Barrington, NH

3:30pm ET: Senator Santorum will host a "Faith, Family and Freedom" Town Hall at the Home of Cornerstone founder Karen Testerman in Franklin, NH.

Location:

Home of Karen Testerman
9 Stone Avenue
Franklin, NH

Santorum Comments On Supercommittee's Failure To Reach Consensus

SANTORUM COMMENTS ON SUPERCOMMITTEE'S FAILURE TO REACH CONSENSUS
 
Verona, PA - Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum made the following statement in reaction to the Congressional Supercommittee's failure to reach a consensus on budget cuts.

Senator Santorum said: "This President has played class warfare to divide America.  It's an intentional political device to divide America for political purposes, and it is resulting in an increasingly divided Congress that can't work under this President.  The consequences of the Supercommittee's failure will be devastating to the military, putting far too much of a burden on our men and women in the Armed Services thanks to inhumane under-resourcing and over-rotation."

Rick Santorum At This Afternoon's FAMiLY Leader Thanksgiving Family Forum, "The Winner Was Clearly The Voters"

"IT IS CLEAR WHO WON TONIGHT'S FORUM... THE VOTERS."- SENATOR RICK SANTORUM
 
Urbandale, IA - At this afternoon's FAMiLY Leader Thanksgiving Family Forum, the winner was clearly the voters.

Senator Santorum said: "When given the opportunity to have a real discussion between candidates, the voters had the opportunity to see into each of our hearts and minds. A great thanks is owed to the FAMiLY Leader, Frank Luntz, and all the organizers of this event for giving each of us at the table the opportunity to show the voters who we are, what shapes our conscience, and what drives our passion for making America the greatest nation in the history of the World. It is clear that each of us would be better than President Obama, and after tonight, the voters don't have to make that judgment based off of just sound-bites."

During this afternoon's forum in Des Moines, Senator Santorum made the following points:

On The Number One Thing Missing In America

"America is a country founded on the concept that our rights come to us from our creator and when God gives us rights, he has laws that we must abide by. We have civil laws that must comport with the higher laws. And as long as abortion is legal, we are not (comporting with the higher laws)."

On Who He Is Accountable To:

"When I was elected, I knew I had a constituency of one - God."

On Why Some Are Afraid Of Talking About Faith:

"The Left has taken over the culture... We all have an obligation, all of us, not just those of us on stage, to engage the culture (to take it back)."

On The 10th Amendment:

"Our country is based on a moral enterprise. Gay marriage is wrong. As Abraham Lincoln said, states do not have the right to do wrong. Some on this stage said they will not get involved (in states' rights to allow gay marriage). I will. States do not have the right. America... is a set of morals and ideals. The President has an obligation to work in the states. I was the only one who came to Iowa (to campaign) to defeat those justices (who redefined marriage) because it was that important."

On Activist Courts:

I would go one step further, I would abolish the entire 9th Circuit. And the idea that the Third Branch, Article 3 - the least important because it's last - could be unchecked is something our Founders would be astounded by. I haven't just detailed a plan though, I've done something. When I was in the Senate, I stood up and told Court they were wrong. When they struck down the (Nebraska) partial birth abortion ban, I worked with the House to draft an almost identical bill, where the first two sections (of the bill) told the Court why they were wrong and that we (the Congress) have an equal right to say what's constitutional and the Supreme Court upheld our law. That's a track record of standing up to the court, not just a plan.

On The Need For A Federal Marriage Amendment:

"If you look at Roe versus Wade, you had a variety of states who legalized the right to an abortion. The pro-life movement didn't have its act together and didn't fight in the states.   Eventually one of these laws went to Supreme Court and they said you needed uniform laws. This is exactly what will happen with same sex marriage unless we fight it right now. I am for a Federal Marriage Amendment. I authored it, I forced the only vote on it. I'm all for doing it. But we need to stop this problem like we have here in Iowa. Get it on the ballot. We have to fight the battles in the states, we cannot defer, we cannot rest on the 10th Amendment... Without the institution of marriage our country will fall."

On The Role Of Education:

"The education system is fundamentally broken. Period. The reason it is broken is because it is a system designed over 100 years ago to educate "children" - at large. We should have an education system that focuses on the customer and the educational establishment says that customer is not the parent. The customer IS the parent because it is the parent's responsibility to educate their children. We homeschool and we think that's best for us, not saying that necessarily for everyone. We need a system to work with each parent to design an educational experience for each child to give them the best possible chance. How many are only concerned with academic achievement? But that's all we measure. It is broken. The only way we get around it is to customize the system. And don't tell me there's not enough money, because it's already spent on the institution not the parents and what is best for their child."