An open letter to Rick Santorum

James Gartner | 5/1/04 | James Gartner

[smokeyb]

AN OPEN LETTER TO U.S. SENATOR RICK SANTORUM:

Thanks, Rick. You have just performed a partial-birth abortion on the political system.

Words will never be able to fully convey the deep sense of loss I feel in my heart. Pat Toomey is a principled conservative Republican. That is what I had always believed you to have been.

Rick, you have hurt us; rest assured, though, we will heal from the wounds that you have inflicted upon us. Equally rest assured, Rick, that I'm certain that you won't heal from the wounds that you have inflicted upon yourself.

Rick, one of the most stunning comments I heard you make as you strongly supported one of the most liberal and dishonorable senators, one who has consistently turned his back on the Republican Party, was "it's not possible to elect a conservative in Pennsylvania".

Do you forget 1990? Perhaps you should know that the same people who gathered in a couple of rooms on primary election night this year for Pat Toomey were the very same people who gathered for you in 1990? Do you remember the grassroots people who toiled for you on a volunteer basis? Do you remember the loyal pro-life community who worked for you? You never would have beaten Doug Walgren in that election had it not been for these same very loyal supporters. Rick, I was there... I witnessed first-hand the difference that the grassroots made for you in that election.

Fast forward to 1994. Do you remember the late night when you eeked out an important win in your first Senate run? Do you remember who was there for you, who worked the phones, knocked on the doors, manned the polls, among many other volunteer countless tasks? Yes, the same volunteers that tried to bring another principled conservative Republican candidate, by the name of Pat Toomey, to join with you in the U.S. Senate, to propel this nation forward.

But you turned your back on your supporters. Now, Arlen Specter has an opportunity to win that 5th term with your assistance. At this moment, with over 99% of the vote counted, Senator Specter leads by a slim margin of less than 12,000 votes. You can be assured that there are well over 6,000 voters who were influenced by your appearance with Arlen Specter, just days prior to the election, clips of which were gratuitously used by Specter on his television advertisements. You can be equally assured that you influenced scores of voters with the radio and television advertisements that you ran where you ardently voiced your support for Senator Specter. Are you proud of yourself? Are you proud that he has a chance to move into the Chairmanship of the powerful Judiciary Committee, to be there to block potential judicial appointments of President Bush?

You will have to live with your conscience. Each and every time a beautiful human life is snuffed out, recall how you stood beside a vicious, lifetime pro-abortion supporter and uttered the words "Arlen Specter is there when the votes count".

Please remove me from your supporter list. I now regret having supported you in the past, not seeing that your political ambition outweighed your principles. What really hurts is that you had been there. You championed the partial-birth abortion ban, among other achievements. But you have single-handedly reversed every possible achievement in a single motion by performing the partial-birth abortion on our political system. It was no surprise, sir, that this just-completed primary drew not only national but international attention. We had an opportunity to further define the Republican Party, to ensure that it was the principled party. But you voted nay.

Sincerely,

James F. Gartner Penn Hills, PA

[smokeyb]

This letter was written to Rick Santorum by a good friend of mine...

[Delphinium]

I live in Idaho and I want to send something similar.

[GOPMark]

From what the rumours are on the Hill and elsewhere Rick is a very unpopular guy right now. His reception at the Catholic Prayer Breakfast was supposedly very lukewarm. Its pretty clear now that the base of the Republican Party in Pennsylvania has a new hero, Pat Toomey. Now don't get me wrong, I am still going to help Rick, because he's genuinely the best we have and better him Senate leader than Frist, BUT please call his office and let him know how outraged you are at his support for Specter.

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[FairOpinion]

We had a legal election and the other guy won.

Santorum didn't hold the gun on anyone.

Instead of playing the blame game, attacking our own (Sean Hannity is RIGHT!), it's time to focus on the November election and make sure that we re-elect President Bush AND elect Republicans to Congress, unless you want to cede leadership of Congress to Daschle and the Democrats.

Santorum supported Specter, because he looked at the big picuture -- the Republican Majority in the Senate exists by a razor-thin margin. Specter's chance of beating the Democrat, I always forget his name, is virtually 100%. With Toomey being the Republican nominee, he would have had a 50-50 shot or less. THAT might have been the race, which threw control of the Senate to the Republicans.

How would that have improved the situation?

[smokeyb]

ping

[NittanyLion]

I sent Santorum a letter suggesting that he made a terrible mistake, but since his track record is so outstanding his supporters would be likely to forgive him. The first time.

I also suggested that if this blunder was repeated his ability to win in PA would be diminished permanently.

[Cheapskate]

Rick had that one comin to him.

It looks like he's just another follow the orders from headquarters guy..

[NittanyLion]

Specter's chance of beating the Democrat, I always forget his name, is virtually 100%. With Toomey being the Republican nominee, he would have had a 50-50 shot or less. THAT might have been the race, which threw control of the Senate to the Republicans.

You can't remember HIS NAME, yet you claim to understand the general election dynamics in Pennsylvania?!?

I'd suggest you simply admit that you unfailingly support the most liberal GOP candidate available and be done with it.

By the way, the Democrat candidate's name is Joe Hoeffel. Maybe you should write it down for easy reference.

[SamInTheBurgh]

Fair Opinion - "it's time to focus on the November election and make sure that we re-elect President Bush AND elect Republicans to Congress, unless you want to cede leadership of Congress to Daschle and the Democrats." Maybe that is what needs to happen for the GOP to open its eyes.

[Doug Loss]

Specter's chance of beating the Democrat, I always forget his name, is virtually 100%. With Toomey being the Republican nominee, he would have had a 50-50 shot or less.

You clearly don't know PA politics. Specter came close to losing to a virtually unknown Democrat in '92. This year, his support is weaker. It won't surprise me to see him lose in November. Whereas Toomey would probably have beaten the ultra-liberal Ernie Hoeffel handily.

[smokeyb]

I'd suggest you simply admit that you unfailingly support the most liberal GOP candidate available and be done with it.

You are wrong, Lion. Fair Opinion just drank the GOP kool-aid.

[power2]

Do you think Santorum has a chance of losing the next election, because much of his conservative base will stay at home out of disgust over his actions in this election?

[SamInTheBurgh]

Mark, I understand your point, but I am never going to help, nor vote for Rick Santorum again. This wasn't just a little mistake this was a BIG blunder. He showed he is no longer principled. If we simply complain to him, but then support him in his reelection that sends no message to him whatsoever. If he is now solely concerned with just politics then all that matters to him is getting reelected. How much we scream about what he did will mean nothing. I think any pro-lifer who would support Santorum at this point forward is letting themself be played as a fool again. It's not going to happen to me.

[NittanyLion]

Do you think Santorum has a chance of losing the next election, because much of his conservative base will stay at home out of disgust over his actions in this election?

No - Santorum's been too good to conservatives to be thrown out over this. I suspect most will adopt the stance I have: You get a pass on this one, but don't ever make such a mistake again.

[gdc61]

All of my anger and frustration with Mr. Santorum is expressed in this letter. thanks, copied and saved.

trying to think of a way to magnify this,
send it as an open letter to Rick or the Post Gazette. something to let the perhaps millions of people(500,000+right here in PA.)who feel betrayed know they are not alone.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

My decision between your two positions will be based on Santorum's response to the backlash.

If he offers a mea culpa and truly makes an genuine effort to reconcile with the base, I'm with NL

If he continues to take his current tact of insulting his (formerly) staunchest supporters, which I expect, I'm with Sam.

[Paraclete]

Alas, the power of the "club" overwhelmed Darth Santorum.

It could be an interesting Toomey-Santorum primary if Santorum runs again. When is Santorum up again?

[NittanyLion]

Sam, I would urge you to reconsider. We know Santorum is a reasonable, intelligent person who made a terribile miscalculation here. Concentrate your energy on making sure he sees the error of his ways, and you'll get the same conservative we've always had - only one who will not support another Specter.

People like Specter cannot be trusted and are in this only for their own gain; but I don't believe that's Santorum's motivation.

[uncbob]

Ain't the first time with Santorum

He supported Greenwood up in Buck's county another baby killer and gun grabber