1. Santorum's charity "Operation Good Neighbor" (2001-07), doled out just 36% of income as grants, far less than the 75% of responsible causes. It can only be coincidence the charity which spent most of its money on lobbyists, aides and fundraisers closed after he was defeated for reelection. /s
2. Santorum's "leadership PAC," called "American's Foundation," was worse--just 18% went to actual candidates. That's well below similar PACs. The rest went into overhead like trips to Starbucks for staffers.
3. The $500,000 mortgage for his Leesburg mansion came from a private bank run by a big campaign donor. By all appearances, Santorum was not eligible for the closed program since it was for high-wealth investors in the trust.
4. Santorum bilked a Pennsylvania school district out of $72,000 to pay for home "cyberschooling" of five of his kids ... in Virginia. (He makes a great Tea Party candidate, don't you think?)
5. As the third-ranking Republican, he worked closely with House majority leader Tom DeLay, now felon, on the "K-Street Project" to grow ties between the GOP and major lobbyists. Twenty-three of his own staffers landed well-paying jobs at lobbying firms. When he was fired by the PA voters? Santorum turned to lobbyists.
6. This supporter of Medicare Part D was so important to this culture of crony capitalism, an internal memo at pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline said his loss "creates a big hole that we need to fill."
7. Before anyone heard of Solyndra, on behalf of a major supporter Santorum was securing $100 million federal loans for a coal-to-liquids plant that was never built. The project's lobbyist was PA's top GOP power broker, Bob Ashner, and paid nearly $1 million.
That's seven places just to start. Besides his unheard of 18-point loss for reelection, putting electability in question there's also his hypocrisy of campaigning on requiring health insurance in 1994, on his public tort reform position vs. his testimony in his wife's own legal case, his "problem" with working women, his union pandering and more. Lots more.
What has this failed lawyer and career politician really done? What credibility does he bring to reform, what does he propose to "drain the swamp" he help create as project point-man while part of the leadership?
We all know what Romney is.
Newt's been vetted for more than a decade.
Can you honestly say you know all there is you need to know about Rick Santorum?
Don't fall for his "family values" cover; open the book on Santorum and start reading.
The idea the former third-ranking Republican is some how not part-and-parcel of the establishment is ludicrous on its face. He made his choice for traitor Spector over conservative Toomey in the senate GOP primary.
Thank you for your reply on Santorum. You raise good points. My point was I heard all the debates where the candidates were quizzed on that they would do as President. These matters you mentioned were not mentioned. Maybe now they will be so he can answer. I will see. But I am really looking for what a candidate wants to do more than what he has done in the past. This may limit my outlook but now I see Santorum as the least encumbered as one owing something to the major contributors.