Santorum on Marianne Gingrich accusations: These are issues of character

http://hotair.com/archives/2012/01/20/santorum-on-marianne-gingrich-accusations-these-are-issues-of-character/ ^

[chessplayer]

Rick Santorum walked a fine line in his response to questions about Marianne Gingrich’s accusations against her ex-husband and Santorum’s GOP rival, Newt.

“Personal matters are personal matters, but they are matters that are — particularly when you are in public life as he was at the time and the people involved were also in a sense in public life — those issues are issues that people will look at,” Santorum responded.

“I believe in forgiveness, I’m called to believe in forgiveness,” he continued. “I do believe having some accountability to a higher calling other than self is a very, very important aspect and perspective that is important for leaders.

“To make the final comment, these are issues of character and these are issues that people will consider based upon the time, when, where, how all those thing will factor in and I’ll let people make that decision, I’m certainly not going to make it for them,” he said to a crowd of about 150 people.

[ansel12]

Romney’s personal failings and immorality are vastly greater than Newts.

We live in PC times when watching Mitt Romney speaking to millions of Americans, children and families, and young women, promoting abortion with a moving, emotional appeal, involving the death of a young family friend, and then fighting and clawing his way into elective office to create free abortions for that TV audience, doesn’t count as a scandal.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

Wow hate much?

[Doc Savage]

Hey Ricky, I’ll give you an issue of character you retard! Arlen! All you had to do you weak spined little twit was stand up to him the GOP, but you’re are coward you sniveling little prick!

[kevao]

Santorum endorsed RINO Arlen Specter (!) over conservative Pat Toomey. That indefensible act is also an issue of character that needs to be addressed by those claiming that Santorum is “the only conservative left in the race.”

[gov_bean_ counter]

Isn’t that the truth.

[Grunthor]

ROFLMAO!!!! Good one!

[WestSylvanian]

“Blue nose”? What does that mean? Santorum is the son of Italian immigrants. His grandfather worked in the coal mines until he was in his 70s. Santorum is a graduate of Dickinson College and the University of Pittsburgh, not Ivy-League schools. He’s no spoiled rich kid from a privileged background. He won four of five elections in a state in which Democrats greatly outnumber Republicans. Gingrich won elections in safe Republican districts in Georgia. He only served four years as speaker before his own colleagues kicked him out. Many of them have now come forward publicly to say he lacks the discipline, temperament and managerial skills to be president. I don’t think they should be dismissed as quickly as some on this forum are willing to do.

[Grunthor]

Anything that helps Mitt, you are in favor of. Let us not play games here.

[kimoajax]

Too cute.

[chessplayer]

I was wondering about that. First his comments about being tired of hearing people say they want less govt. Now will he play useful idiot for the libs regarding Newts past personal life?

[Cyber Liberty]

In the old days FR was a place where most folks would say if his wife can’t trust him how can the country.

I hate it when people say that. Especially nOObs. These are "the old days" someday. Anybody who laid such judgement to a politician's wife was ridiculed, "back in the day." And will be again.

[jwalsh07]

But Newts support of Dede Scozzafava is eminently defensible, right kevao?

[patriot08]

From DRUDGE:

Rick Santorum said Friday he will continue his campaign on into Florida regardless of how he does this weekend in South Carolina’s primary, saying the last 24 hours have been so dramatic they could alter the race in fundamental way.

And he said he wants to see how Thursday’s other events — Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s withdrawal from the race, and new allegations of marital and temperament problems with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich — play out.

http://www.drudgereport.com/

RINO voter Santorum needs to set aside his ego, place his country before himself, drop out and endorse Newt.

( see What A Big Government Conservative Looks Like http://www.redstate.com/erick/2012/01/06/what-a-big-government-conservative-looks-like/)

[WestSylvanian]

And Palin endorsed McCain.

[duffee]

Santorum made a big deal of his finishing ahead of Newt in NH (4th & 5th). I wonder if he knew that this had been reversed, I did.

[jwalsh07]

Can you translate that into English?

[freepersup]

Was Bill Clinton ever repentant? Did he confess of his sins or elaborate about his transgressions in anyway? I’m someone that would seek an evangelical candidate above any other... until now- Santorum doesn’t have the ability or willingness to convey the damage wrought upon the USA by Barack Hussein Obama Soebarkah, like Newt does, and I approve of his message and strategy, and I want him to elevate his rhetoric as the electoral situations dictate.

[true believer forever]

During a recent debate, an ABC News commentator passed a bag of stones to Republicans on stage. Every candidate, except for one,  grabbed a handful of rocks, to throw at the man they considered the sinner amongst them.  In a scene right out of, well, the Bible, Republican candidates - again and again - pelted the sinner, a great sinner, to be sure, with stones; all the while, reassuring the audience: they, the upstanding candidates, were nothing like the sinner.  Each of them, they made it clear, were more fit to the hold the office. Their sins were small, not the large sort the sinner was guilty of;  humans of quality, they.

In another scene, right out of, well, the Bible, Jesus once spoke to those with great confidence in their own goodness: "Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a dishonest tax collector. The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: `I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don't sin, I don't commit adultery, I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.'

But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, `O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.' I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God."

This sinner.  Old as the Message is, it is so new and wonderful, if rightly presented, as to awaken astonishment in the weary, imperfect hearts who hear.  When babes in Christ give themselves to the Lord - justified through the Redeemer's sacrifice, brought into the family of God, begotten of the Holy Spirit - it means a great change for these. It means a Miracle.  Old things pass away; all things become new.

Only Now, just like Then – whited walls, the outside-of-the-cup crowd,  invested in the appearance of good conduct and their "core" principles,  make the Precious Savior, Bringer of Peace,  Lifter of Burdens, unapproachable, uninviting, intimidating, to sinners seeking forgiveness, desperate for a second chance.  The Rick Perrys, the Michelle Bachmanns, the Ron Pauls, the Rick Santorums and Mitt Romneys of today's world, their banners of spiritual pride waving high, keep multitudes of  sinners standing afar off, sure they are unworthy to approach the only One who can make them new.

On that stage, that night, there was not one word - not one word - from the political Christians about the miraculous saving work of Christ Jesus, sufficient to change, to make all things new, to transform the worst sinner, even Newt, into a new creature. 

America is full of sinners, who love their country, many of whom would die for it, and according to the purity test of  the republicans on stage that night, they probably couldn’t run for dog catcher.  Steve Deace sees things a little differently: sometimes the greatest sinners, "the most broken people are the ones God does the most tremendous work through." 

No one has walked a mile in Newt's shoes, except for Newt.  No one on that stage knows the crowded corners of Newt's heart.  There is only one thing every believer truly knows about Newt... he is forgiven. 

forgiven

[kaki]

I must agree with some posts that I read earlier. This does not sound like the FR I am used to. There have got to be “hackers” or liberals posting here. Although we may disagree about candidates, it has never been this vicious with attacks.

[dandiegirl]

Normally, Gingrich's past may bother me, but this is not a normal election by a wide mile. We need a tough, intelligent, brave fighter to go up against the liberal media and their darling Barack Hussein Obama. If we don't have a fighter, the Republicans will lose and our country will take a hard left nosedive to the bottom of the heap. Newt's past marriages mean nothing to me this time, in fact , he should be able to gain a few dem votes because of his past. They seem to love people with imperfect pasts and presents for that matter.