10 reasons religious conservatives love Rick Santorum

CNN ^ | February 8, 2012 | Dan Gilgoff

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

For all the attention paid to the clout of fiscally focused tea party conservatives and of the primacy of jobs in the 2012 election, Rick Santorum’s trifecta victories Tuesday night are a good reminder of the powerful role religious conservatives play in the GOP. They fueled Santorum’s wins in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado – and his earlier victory in the Iowa caucuses.

But why, exactly, do religious conservatives love the former senator from Pennsylvania? There are obvious reasons – his advocacy against abortion and same-sex marriage, for instance – but plenty of less obvious ones, too.

Here’s my list. What would you add?

1.Santorum’s a family man. “He’s got this big, vibrant family and he left the campaign trail last week to go back and be with his daughter in the hospital,” says Eli Bremer, chairman of Colorado's El Paso County Republican Party, centered around evangelical-heavy Colorado Springs. Santorum recently returned to Pennsylvania to respond to a health scare involving daughter Isabella – the youngest of his seven children – who suffers from a genetic disease. “I spent time with him last year, and he’s constantly thinking about his family,” Bremer says of Santorum. “It’s not just a political stunt.”

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

For those interested:

Rick Santorum yard signs seem to be a tough item for some to get. The store at the Rick Santorum website (www.ricksantorum.com) appears to have rally signs, but not yard signs. (You can volunteer to post yard signs, which I did, but I don't know if that will enable you to get a yard sign from the campaign or not.)

I did a little bit of research on the web and found about half a dozen sites that sell Santorum yard signs. Most are in the $15 to $20 range, which is rather steep for yard signs. Many of them aren't very aesthetically pleasing, either.

I was pleased with the signs at one place, though, called the Victory Store. The signs were nice and at least more reasonable priced (if not cheap) than at other places. (And I have no financial attachment to this store.)

http://www.victorystore.com/rick_santorum/index.php

The prices are $9.95 each, 2/$16.00, 5/$35.00, 10/$50.00, 50/$200.00, 100/$375.00.

I started to order ten and put them out around town, but the right of way issues pose a problem. I ordered a couple for my yard. Shipping was $10 (kind of steep, but the total price was better than at other sites).

This was the sign that I ordered. (Somebody on eBay is selling the same thing on eBay for $20 each, so, if you want some, it's much cheaper to use the Victory Store site than to use the eBay guy.)

[Responsibility2nd]

Rick Santorum’s trifecta victories Tuesday night are a good reminder of the powerful role religious conservatives play in the GOP. They fueled Santorum’s wins in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado – and his earlier victory in the Iowa caucuses.

 

 

The GOP will ignore Evangelicals at their own peril. Evangelicals are the key demographic group that elected Bush and kept him in office for 8 years. And because religous conservatives were ignored in 2008, the country got Obamanted.

 

Same thing will happen this year unless the Repubs wake up and recognize their base.

[gogogodzilla]

I’ve long wondered how one can be a dedicated religious conservative and still support a small, Constitutionalist government and low taxes.

After all, how can you force proper ethical behavior onto a resistant populace (ex: San Francisco) without strong, centralized government powerful enough to do so?

[Prokopton]

After all, how can you force proper ethical behavior onto a resistant populace (ex: San Francisco) without strong, centralized government powerful enough to do so?

Religious Conservatives have no interest in "forcing proper ethical behavior" on anyone. They do, however, believe in preventing murder of unborn babies and being able to practice their religion without government interference.

[napscoordinator]

This guy is incredible. These are a great top 10 but you could easily do a top 100. Yes he is that good. I can’t wait to vote for President Santorum! It will be the first time in my voting life that I get to be excited voting for someone.

[Responsibility2nd]

Correct. And I would add that Religious Conservatives object (Strongly object) to Big Gubmint using our tax dollars to fund and support a resistant populace that endorses the gay agenda, the pro-abortion agenda, and which supports a thousand other liberal agendas that are in conflict with our morals and in conflict with the Constitution.

[Bigg Red]

I am afraid to get my hopes up, but I would also be really excited to vote for him.

[Responsibility2nd]

Agreed. I had no idea that .....”Santorum sponsored a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage at a time when many Republicans lawmakers didn’t want to touch such a hot potato.”

[gogogodzilla]

Which is, like I said, "After all, how can you force proper ethical behavior onto a resistant populace (ex: San Francisco) without strong, centralized government powerful enough to do so?"

How else do you stop abortion should the populace not agree with your values? Pass a law? As if that worked with illegal immigration (sanctuary cities, anyone?).

Think about it.

How do you make someone change their behavior if they do not wish to... and will resist you if try.

[alstewartfan]

I like the fact that Rick has run with the Palin line, “Game on!” Thanks to his campaign, I feel much less disappointed with Sarah’s decision not to run. Bob
P.S Great yard sign, plus he has the best-looking logo that I’ve ever seen in a campaign.