Santorum: Separation of Church and State “Makes Me Want to Throw Up”

By Paul Johnson | February 26, 2012 - 7:06 PM | 2012 Election, Arizona, Conservatives, Family Values, Michigan, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Statements, Unravel the Sweater 1 views

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Santorum on Saturday, from the AP

In just the latest statement proving Santorum is not electable, today Santurom said JFK’s speech about separation of church and state “makes me want to throw up.”

The story was reported at Politico:

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum says the notion of religion not playing role in politics “makes me want to throw up.”

“To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes me want to throw up. What kind of country do we live in where only people of non-faith can come in the public square and make their case? That makes me throw up. And that should make every American [throw up],” Santorum said on ABC’s “This Week.”

Part of the problem is, of course, that JFK was trying to address a broader question at the time. When JFK made his speech, he was trying to reassure non-Catholics that he would not blindly follow the commands of the Vatican if elected president. What JFK said that Santorum found nauseating was the following (quote below is from JFK):

I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute–where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote–where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference–and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the President who might appoint him or the people who might elect him.

I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish–where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source–where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials–and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all.

Rick, on the other hand, says:
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Huckabee Says Romney Will Likely Win Iowa

By Ben Collins | December 25, 2011 - 1:07 PM | 2012 Election, Abortion, Family Values, Fox News, Iowa, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, Values 1 views

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The race for Iowa is a dead heat at this point, but the man who won Iowa last time, Gov. Mike Huckabee, believes that the victor will most likely be Romney. In an interview this morning on Fox News Sunday, Huckabee said this:

“I would probably say Mitt Romney will end up winning it today. I think again, Ron Paul because of his organization could, and that’s where Mitt is really at a disadvantage. He doesn’t have the devotion. If the weather is good, Mitt Romney is in better shape. If the weather is bad and it’s real tough to get out, Ron Paul will win.”

That’s welcome news for camp Romney, especially considering the source.

I think the interesting development lately has been the noticeable thawing of relations between Huckabee and Romney. During the 2008 Republican Presidential race, Huckabee and Romney developed a very strained relationship with one another as they competed for much of the same conservative voting bloc in Iowa and elsewhere. The dislike between the two seemed palpable at times.

Recently, however, several gestures have been made by both men that indicates a warming between the two. For example, Huckabee invited Romney to appear as a guest on his Fox News show. In one interview, Huckabee also defended Romney’s credentials on being pro-life, and later went on to say that the Tea Party may need to get behind Romney because “lets face it, Romney may be the most electable candidate.”

Huckabee has said that he will most likely not endorse any candidate during this election cycle, but the kind words expressed by the two candidates represents a significant warming between the two men.

What do you think? Is Huckabee going to be an ally to the Romney camp, or will the two work together in some way in the future?

~Addendum from Ross

The videos referenced above are now posted below.

Gov Tim Pawlenty: “Romney Electable, Extraordinary Command of Economic Challenges”

By Jayde Wyatt | September 23, 2011 - 2:16 PM | 2012 Election, Conservatives, GOP, Mitt Romney, Op-eds, Tim Pawlenty 1 views

2 Comments

Governor Tim Pawlenty wrote a strong op-ed in support of Mitt Romney which was published by Politico yesterday:

“Romney Is Electable” – By Tim Pawlenty

September 21, 2011

What do Republicans want in a presidential candidate in 2012? Certainly, someone who passionately believes in our conservative values.

But considering what’s at stake — the possibility of four more years of President Barack Obama’s ruinously wrongheaded ideas — electability is a key factor. We have to win.

This is a topic I know something about. It’s one reason I endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president.

I served two terms as a Republican governor of a blue state. The last time Minnesota voted for a Republican candidate for president was 1972. It has the dubious distinction of the nation’s longest streak of voting for the Democratic presidential candidate.

But Republicans can be elected statewide in Minnesota. I was. The reason is fairly straightforward.

Practical, common-sense conservative ideas to increase jobs and reduce government burdens improve people’s lives. Voters, whether Republican, Democrat or independent, understand this. As governor, I found innovative ways to balance Minnesota’s budget, cut spending, reform health care and bolster education — all without raising taxes.

I also did my best to lead with a hopeful and positive message and leadership style.

Mitt has done the same. A conservative businessman, he won the support of independent voters — and even some Democrats — to win election as governor of the blue state of Massachusetts. That is no small accomplishment.

It reveals Romney’s tremendous strength in bringing Americans together.

He also governed successfully. His state’s economy was mired in recession when he took office. Expenditures exceeded revenue. Without raising taxes — he cut taxes on 19 occasions — he balanced the budget and led the effort to turn the state’s economy around.

By the time he left office, Massachusetts had a $2 billion budget surplus — and was again gaining jobs.

While all the Republican candidates have their respective strengths, Romney is uniquely positioned to help the Republican Party return to the White House.

Though he had an outstanding tenure as governor, Romney’s not a career politician. He’s spent most of his adult life working in the private sector — launching new businesses and rescuing failing ones.

He has an extraordinary command of the economic challenges we face, gained from day-in, day-out experience working in the marketplace. If ever America needed a leader who knows his way around the business world, it is now. Unemployment is more than 9 percent, and the economy is poised for a second recession.
[...]

(emphasis added) Continue reading here.

► Jayde Wyatt

UPDATE:

Gov Tim Pawlenty Endorses Mitt Romney, Named Natl Co-Chair

By Jayde Wyatt | September 12, 2011 - 6:20 AM | 2012 Election, Endorsements, Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Videos 1 views

6 Comments

Tim Pawlenty has endorsed Mitt Romney this morning. He has also been named National Co-Chair of Romney's campaign. Sept 12, 2011

HUGE NEWS!

Appearing on FOX & Friends this morning, Governor Tim Pawlenty gave a big announcement. *HE HAS ENDORSED MITT ROMNEY and will be his NATIONAL CO-CHAIR!

Business Insider

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty just endorsed former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney in an interview on Fox News, revealing he will become co-chair of his former opponents campaign.

Pawlenty called Romney “the “complete package,” but specifically cited his leadership on the economy as the reason for his decision.

He added that Romney “doesn’t want to abolish or end” Social Security, but made the point that front-runner Texas Gov. does.
[...]

The prominent endorsement gives Romney more ammunition in his campaign to be seen as the more electable candidate — as the debate prepares to center, at least temporarily, on Social Security.

Politico

Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty endorsed Mitt Romney for president Monday, praising his onetime rival for his “leadership ability” and the “depth and scope of [his] private-sector experience.”

“I believe he’s going to be our party’s nominee,” Pawlenty said on “Fox and Friends,” predicting Romney would be a “transformational and great president.”

Less than a month after ending his own White House bid, Pawlenty was in sync with the Romney campaign’s message on everything from jobs to health care, to Social Security and Rick Perry.

Asked how he could endorse a candidate who he once mocked as the author of “Obamneycare,” Pawlenty said he’d spoken about health care with Romney and concluded: “Mitt Romney is 100 percent dedicated and committed to repealing Obamacare.”

Defending Romney’s jobs record as governor of Massachusetts, Pawlenty said Romney had “great success when it comes to growing jobs and the economy,” citing his time in business and leading the Salt Lake City Oympics.

Pawlenty also joined the escalating back-and-forth between Romney and Rick Perry over entitlement programs, which Pawlenty said Perry may want to end.

“Gov. Romney wants to fix Social Security. He doesn’t want to abolish it or end it,” Pawlenty said. “Gov. Perry has said in the past that he thought it was ‘failed.’”

Pawlenty, who is joining the Romney campaign as a national co-chairman, said he wasn’t angling for any other job in giving Romney an early endorsement.

“I’m not going to consider being VP. I was down that path once before with John McCain,” he said. “That won’t be part of the future for me.”
[...]

(emphasis added)

Tweet from The Gov:

Proud & honored to have the support of @TimPawlenty http://t.co/cQ5f2oBless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyMitt Romney
MittRomney

Quick ‘tout’ video with Mitt and Tim:

Read Gov Pawlently’s endorsement after the fold.

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Natl Journal Poll: Dem & Repub Insiders Say ROMNEY Best to Defeat Obama

By Jayde Wyatt | September 1, 2011 - 2:13 PM | 2012 Election, Barack Obama, Conservatives, Democrats, Mitt Romney, Polls 1 views

3 Comments

The National Journal has conducted a poll of political insiders from the Republican and Democrat parties. Democrats cast 88 votes; Republicans cast 97 votes:

Insiders: GOP Would Be Better Off With Romney for 2012

Texas Gov. Rick Perry may be surging in polls of Republican primary voters, but his party’s Insiders aren’t convinced he’d be the best general election candidate. More than two-thirds of Republican Insiders say Mitt Romney has a better chance than Perry of defeating President Obama in 2012, according to this week’s National Journal Political Insiders Poll.Who has a better chance of beating President Obama in 2012, Mitt Romney or Rick Perry?

Mitt Romney – Dems 83% Repub 69%
Rick Perry – Dems 17% Repubs 31%

Many Republican Insiders acknowledged Perry’s appeal to conservatives but questioned his ability to win over independent voters. “Perry can fire up the base, but this election will be won in the middle, not on the fringes,” said one. Said another, “Having trouble ID-ing a single independent who’d vote for Perry.”

Democratic Insiders echoed that assessment by an even larger majority. “This election is sitting on a platter for Republicans if they do it right,” said one. “Romney is probably good enough. Perry will get drilled by independent voters and women.” Another quipped, “Rick Perry is all base and no swing.”

Insiders in both parties raised questions about Perry’s durability under the intense scrutiny of a presidential campaign. “As a conservative Republican, I love Rick Perry,” said one Republican Insider, who added “but as a campaign strategist, I know the degree to which a few self-reinforcing oppo-hits can devastate a candidate.” A Democratic Insider said plainly, “Perry’s mouth will do him in.”

Republicans and Democrats alike also pointed to Perry’s similarities to another Texas governor as a liability. “Obama’s best argument may be, ‘We won’t go back,’” said one Republican Insider. “Why make it easy for them by nominating someone who can’t help but remind voters of George W. Bush?”

Romney’s strength in the poll wasn’t solely based on concerns about Perry. Insiders identified Romney’s business background, his veteran campaign team, and his appeal to moderate voters as key general election strengths. “Romney has more national experience and more seasoned players, will trip himself up less, and will more successfully make the president’s performance the central issue,” said a Republican Insider.

A Democratic Insider added, “There is no state Perry can win that Mitt Romney won’t. There are some states Romney can put into play (MA, OH, PA, NH) that are harder for Perry to win.”