Why I Support Senator Santorum
It may come as a surprise to anyone that knows me that I even do support Santorum. I am relentlessly critical of his support of Specter, Murkowski, increasing the minimum wage, and his refusal to rule out raising taxes to pay for the cost of Social Security reform. I have had many hard-fought debates with other conservatives about Santorum (I always win, of course), and it may surprise them to know that I will, in fact, be supporting the Senator in his re-election efforts. It may even come as a surprise to the Santorum campaign, which I have been told have taken an interest in some of my past writings in a way that is not necessarily positive.
It is my belief that as Republicans we must hold our own to a higher standard. I expect absolute perfection and ideological purity from every single Republican candidate that wants my support. Yes, very few meet this high standard. However, it is our responsibility to establish this standard and fight for it relentlessly. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t support any candidate that doesn’t 100% fit into this mold. It is a goal that we should strive for. Most candidates fall short. In the case of Rick Santorum, there was a time when he was about as close as you could get. In recent years, we have watched him moderate himself in ways that many find unacceptable. This, in my view, is even worse than having begun from a place of moderation, because it is a way of giving in to the other side.
I realize that thus far this has not been a resounding endorsement. Trust me. I’m getting to that part. The above is simply to illustrate what I expect from a candidate, and also what I abhor. Santorum has crossed a line a few times that I feel that politicians should not cross. But that doesn’t disqualify him from obtaining my support. It simply means that I will be keeping a close eye on him. There are still far more reasons to support the Senator than there are not to support him.
Senator Santorum has been THE conservative voice for years now. He has been a strong proponent and defender of the Bush tax cuts. He supports and fights for Social Security reform, something that young people everywhere should be seriously concerned with. He rabidly defends the unborn (his support of Specter notwithstanding), and this is one of my number one issues. Santorum is a strong socially conservative voice in a world where this position is demonized and forced to the back of the bus. It is rare to find someone of his outspoken faith and unwavering position on social issues in everyday life. When we find one in the United States Senate it becomes critical to support them.
Another key issue is his support of Israel. As a Christian, I believe that the United States must stand with Israel, even when no one else will. Our survival as a nation is directly linked to the future of Israel. Anti-Semitism is rampant in Congress, even if it is thinly veiled. The fate of Israel is probably the most critical and complicated foreign policy issue that exists today. Santorum’s staunch defense of this all-important ally should be reason enough for people of faith to support the Senator.
Santorum and I have differences of opinion on some issues, and I do feel that there are issues and times when he’s let politics trump his principles. Even in his unwillingness to acknowledge these times, it is my firm belief that Santorum struggles internally with the requirement to “play the game” and the desire stand firm on principle. While sometimes it appears that politics wins out, in the end I believe that Santorum is a man of principle. At a time and in a city where so few appear to have true conviction, Santorum is a lone, shining star of hope. Even when that star seems to flicker every so slightly, we can’t help but to be drawn to it. Such is the case with Santorum. Although our star has flickered in recent years, conservatives must draw to it. Santorum’s fate is entirely dependent on the support of his conservative base. Will we allow this shining beacon of principle to die out, or will we ensure his re-election and fight to keep the flame alive? I, for one, will stand on the side of principle and conviction to fight for Santorum.
It is my belief that as Republicans we must hold our own to a higher standard. I expect absolute perfection and ideological purity from every single Republican candidate that wants my support. Yes, very few meet this high standard. However, it is our responsibility to establish this standard and fight for it relentlessly. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t support any candidate that doesn’t 100% fit into this mold. It is a goal that we should strive for. Most candidates fall short. In the case of Rick Santorum, there was a time when he was about as close as you could get. In recent years, we have watched him moderate himself in ways that many find unacceptable. This, in my view, is even worse than having begun from a place of moderation, because it is a way of giving in to the other side.
I realize that thus far this has not been a resounding endorsement. Trust me. I’m getting to that part. The above is simply to illustrate what I expect from a candidate, and also what I abhor. Santorum has crossed a line a few times that I feel that politicians should not cross. But that doesn’t disqualify him from obtaining my support. It simply means that I will be keeping a close eye on him. There are still far more reasons to support the Senator than there are not to support him.
Senator Santorum has been THE conservative voice for years now. He has been a strong proponent and defender of the Bush tax cuts. He supports and fights for Social Security reform, something that young people everywhere should be seriously concerned with. He rabidly defends the unborn (his support of Specter notwithstanding), and this is one of my number one issues. Santorum is a strong socially conservative voice in a world where this position is demonized and forced to the back of the bus. It is rare to find someone of his outspoken faith and unwavering position on social issues in everyday life. When we find one in the United States Senate it becomes critical to support them.
Another key issue is his support of Israel. As a Christian, I believe that the United States must stand with Israel, even when no one else will. Our survival as a nation is directly linked to the future of Israel. Anti-Semitism is rampant in Congress, even if it is thinly veiled. The fate of Israel is probably the most critical and complicated foreign policy issue that exists today. Santorum’s staunch defense of this all-important ally should be reason enough for people of faith to support the Senator.
Santorum and I have differences of opinion on some issues, and I do feel that there are issues and times when he’s let politics trump his principles. Even in his unwillingness to acknowledge these times, it is my firm belief that Santorum struggles internally with the requirement to “play the game” and the desire stand firm on principle. While sometimes it appears that politics wins out, in the end I believe that Santorum is a man of principle. At a time and in a city where so few appear to have true conviction, Santorum is a lone, shining star of hope. Even when that star seems to flicker every so slightly, we can’t help but to be drawn to it. Such is the case with Santorum. Although our star has flickered in recent years, conservatives must draw to it. Santorum’s fate is entirely dependent on the support of his conservative base. Will we allow this shining beacon of principle to die out, or will we ensure his re-election and fight to keep the flame alive? I, for one, will stand on the side of principle and conviction to fight for Santorum.
Comments on "Why I Support Senator Santorum"
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Anonymous said ... (6/02/2006 11:03:42 PM) :
post a commentYou say you're a Christian, but you oppose raising the minimum wage?
How can you be a Christian and think that it is morally acceptable to pay people $5.15 an hour?
Ever read Matthew 25?