Rick Santorum, the candidate who I supported in the primaries, has endorsed Romney in an e-mail to his supporters. I agree with every word of his email:
Thank you again for all you did as one of my strongest and committed supporters. Your belief in our campaign helped us start a movement of Americans who believe deeply that our best days are ahead as long as we fight to strengthen our families, unshackle our economy and promote freedom here and around the world. Karen and I will be forever grateful for the support, kindness and commitment you showed us, as well as our children, over these last months.
On Friday, Governor Romney came to Pittsburgh for an over-hour long one-on-one meeting. The conversation was candid, collegial and focused on the issues that you helped me give voice to during our campaign; because I believe they are essential ingredients to not only winning this fall, but turning our country around.
While the issue of my endorsement did not come up, I certainly have heard from many of you who have weighed in on whether or not I should issue a formal endorsement. Thank you for your counsel, it has been most helpful. However, I felt that it was completely impossible for me to even consider an endorsement until after a meeting to discuss issues critical to those of us who often feel our voices are not heard by the establishment: social conservatives, tea-party supporters, lower and middle income working families.
Clearly without the overwhelming support from you all, I never would have won 11 states and over 3 million votes, and we would not have won more counties than all the other candidates combined. I can assure you that even though I am no longer a candidate for president, I will still continue to fight every day for our shared values – the values that made America the greatest country in the history of the world.
During our meeting I felt a deep responsibility to assess Governor Romney’s commitment to addressing the issues most important to conservatives, as well his commitment to ensuring our appropriate representation in a Romney administration.
The family and its foundational role in America’s economic success, a central point of our campaign, was discussed at length. I was impressed with the Governor’s deep understanding of this connection and his commitment to economic policies that preserve and strengthen families. He clearly understands that having pro-family initiatives are not only the morally and economically right thing to do, but that the family is the basic building block of our society and must be preserved.
I also shared with Governor Romney my belief that we cannot restore America as the greatest economic engine the world has ever seen until we return America to being a manufacturing superpower. He listened very carefully to my advice on this matter, and while our policy prescriptions differed, he clearly expressed his desire to create more opportunities for those that are feeling left behind in this economy.
As it is often said, “personnel is policy.” I strongly encouraged Governor Romney as he builds out his campaign staff and advisors that he add more conservative leaders as an integral part of his team. And you can be sure that I will work with the Governor to help him in this task to ensure he has a strong team that will support him in his conservative policy initiatives.
Of course we talked about what it would take to win this election. As you know I started almost every speech with the phrase that this was the most important election since the election of 1860 and four more years of President Obama is simply not an option. As I contemplated what further steps I will take, that reality weighed heavy on me. The America we know is being fundamentally changed to look more like a European socialist state than the land of opportunity our founding fathers established.
Freedom and personal responsibility are being replaced with big government dependency. The greatest and most productive workers in the world are being hamstrung by excessive regulations making it impossible to compete. Our healthcare system had been socialized, and the worth of each life dictated by some government bureaucrat. Our allies are insulted while our enemies are appeased. And our religious beliefs and freedom have come under attack.
What is even more troubling is what a second term of an Obama administration could bring. President Obama’s admission to the Russians that he will have more flexibility in a second term can only be translated to “if you thought I was liberal in the first four years you haven’t seen anything yet!”
The primary campaign certainly made it clear that Governor Romney and I have some differences. But there are many significant areas in which we agree: the need for lower taxes, smaller government, and a reduction in out-of-control spending. We certainly agree that abortion is wrong and marriage should be between one man and one woman. I am also comfortable with Governor Romney on foreign policy matters, and we share the belief that we can never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons. And while I had concerns about Governor Romney making a case as a candidate about fighting against Obamacare, I have no doubt if elected he will work with a Republican Congress to repeal it and replace it with a bottom up, patient, not government, driven system.
Above all else, we both agree that President Obama must be defeated. The task will not be easy. It will require all hands on deck if our nominee is to be victorious. Governor Romney will be that nominee and he has my endorsement and support to win this the most critical election of our lifetime.
My conversation with Governor Romney was very productive, but I intend to keep lines of communication open with him and his campaign. I hope to ensure that the values that made America that shining city on the hill are illuminated brightly by our party and our candidates thus ensuring not just a victory, but a mandate for conservative governance.
Karen and I know firsthand how difficult the campaign trail can be particularly as governor Romney faces relentless attacks from the democrats. We have been praying for him and his family and will continue to do so in the weeks and months ahead.
Thank you again for all you have done for us, and I look forward to working together to defeat President Obama this fall and to protect faith, family, freedom and opportunity in America.
With Gratitude, 
Rick Santorum
P.S. As promised, very soon we will be making another big announcement, and I will be asking you to once again join forces with me to keep up the fight, together. Stay tuned.
Thanks, Donald, for posting this.
Sounds like damning with faint praise or praising with faint damns. As a Libertarian who believes a choice between Obama and Romney is a choice between Tweedledum and Tweedledee, or to be less charitable, between Dumb and Dumber, I’m rooting for Ron Paul to stay in and play spoiler. Neither Obama nor Romney will drastically change the way America is run — business as usual.
Your vote to re-elect Obama is duly noted Joe.
Don, given Romney’s flip-flopping and inability to state any position clearly, I would welcome any clarification of where he stands on any given issue. It’s fair to say that Mr. Etch-A-Sketch is trying to conjure up a new image but it has yet to emerge as one that I can discern. I welcome any enlightenment you can shed as to how a President Romney would be markedly different than a President Obama on foreign policy, health care and the economy.
President Romney would not be waging a war against the Catholic Church for starters Joe. In regard to the economy we would have no further talk of trillion dollar stimulus bills. In regard to ObamaCare it would be dead, as President Romney would effectively cut off funding for its implementation. In regard to foreign policy President Romney would cease the Obama policy of alienating our allies and mistaking our allies for enemies.
As my previous posts on the Weathervane amply indicated, I have no illusions about Romney and I hate that he is going to be the standard bearer of the GOP. However, compared to Obama Romney is the reincarnation of Reagan. Defeating Obama is my top priority in this election cycle and Romney is the only candidate who can do that.
Don, I likely will hold my nose and vote Romney but only because I agree that he is the lesser of two evils. Now that Joe Biden, a professed Roman Catholic, has come out for homosexual ‘marriage’ and Obama is “evolving” toward that view, that further tips the scales. I know you take a dim view of Paul, and I would agree he has his defects — mainly age, in my view — but gutting or eliminating the Fed and returning to the gold standards, disentangling ourselves from foreign alliances and other Jeffersonian principles — limited government, states rights and less intrusion into individual freedoms — all resonate within this true conservative’s heart. What worries me about Romney is the likelihood that the neocon hawks like Newt will have his ear and goad us into more foreign misadventures with disastrous results. If Romney sides with Bibi and supports a military attack on Iran, the game is up and WWIII is assured.
My husband and I have been struggling with voting for Romney.
We got this note from Rick whom we supported financially prayerfully and oh so hopefully… Rick is trying to work within the framework of traditional party politics and be a team player, keeping the end goal of greater good in mind. It looks like Paul is going outsides those bounds…
Voting for Romney may be The Right Thing To Do but golly, I don’t want to.
Maybe it is exactly the wrong thing to do .. in some way enabling a broken system.
I don’t know what I am going to do but pray for wisdom for Romney in his appointments and the people he surrounds hinself with. God can make good come out of this mess.
“It looks like Paul is going outsides those bounds…”
I doubt it. Paul will keep hinting that he is going to run third party to keep getting the media coverage, but I think he will due not. Senator Rand Paul likely has a big political future ahead of him and I suspect that Ron Paul will do nothing to hinder that.
Good point about Rand P.
and I think that is one of the things that irks me about the Paul campaign — this idea I have heard of setting up the son. doesn’t seem American does it?
Although Paul the dad comes across as above playing politics, a wisp of a fellow from the countryside of Texas who squares his thin shoulders to do battle with the pork barrelers and sausage makers — that guy still manipulates manfully.
Ah, the true conservative mentions nothing about the protection of marriage.
Considering that Romney is on record against gay marriage, I find the omission insignificant. Anyone who suggests that Santorum is soft on the issue of gay marriage simply isn’t inhabiting the same frame of reality as the rest of us.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/no-comparison-between-obama-and-romney-on-same-sex-marriage/2012/05/07/gIQAVvsn8T_blog.html
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
What is frightening is that such a dull and illogical nobody like Obama became president.
What is more frightening is that any American spends one breath or thought on anything other than the horrid economic conditions Obama’s anti-private sector policies have wrought.
Give Obama four more years and he can completely ruin America.
I really doubt Ron Paul would run third party this time. His son Rand’s political career could be tarnished by such a run. And as Don says, Rand has a bright future (and I personally find him more palatable than his father). I really don’t know how much of a spoiler he could be in the general election. His support is pretty loyal, and likely a large chunk of that support will abstain, write-in, or go Constitution party. Of course, I base this on the Ron Paul supporters I know up here in Seattle. The question is, in my mind, how many delegates does Paul amass prior to the convention and what sort of havoc does that cause. I.e. Does he get enough to deny Romney the nomination on the first vote? Time will tell, I suppose. But now that Santorum has endorsed Romney, that equation now has shifted. Where’s my popcorn?
“Mitt Romney is the worst Republican in the country to put up against Obama.” — Rick Santorum in Wisconsin just before primary. This will no doubt be used constantly in Democratic ads from now on.
He clearly understands that having pro-family initiatives are not only the morally and economically right thing to do, but that the family is the basic building block of our society and must be preserved.
Well unless those of us who supported and voted for Santorum think he is a big phony we need to take him at his word.
I for one feel much better about Romney with Santorums endorsement.
Deleted your last comment Joe. I will tolerate no bashing of a man for following the faith of his ancestors.
Interesting three way Poll by Rasmussen: Romney-Obama-Paul
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/may_2012/three_way_race_romney_44_obama_39_ron_paul_13
Don, I think Romney’s religious beliefs are on the minds of many but understand your reluctance to go there.
At some point we are going to have to state that this is a country of religious freedom where LDS members are entitled to every bit of the same respect that we would give Catholics, Protestants, Jews or Muslims; and that this is NOT a country of sexual libertinism where abortion on demand and homosexual marriage may be considered civil rights.
An LDS member has as much right to run for and serve in the Presidency as any Catholic or Protestant. However, a person who supports the murder of the unborn or the unholy union of man with man or woman with woman is not entitled to sit in that august office regardless of whatever pretense of religious belief he may offer.
But we need to think through our principles to their logical conclusion. If one may not be discriminated against on the basis of religion (e.g., being an LDS member) to run for President, then that principle of non-discrimination extends to Shiite and Sunni Muslims as well.
If Romney does what is wise and chooses Rand Paul as his running mate, I will endorse him, support him, and campaign for him, and gosh darn it, I’ll like every second of it, as you will tell by the grin on my face.
If he picks someone like Rubio, whose views on foreign policy I find reckless and irresponsible, I’ll do what I’ve always pretty much planned on doing: reluctantly slogging my way to the polls and holding my nose as I vote for him.
If Obamacare is nullified by the SCOTUS, however, and Obama’s contraception Kulturkampf fizzles out, I’ll strongly consider voting Constitution Party.
Bonchamps, with whom I disagree on most things “Ron Paul”, is being reasonable (though I don’t necessarily share his view of Marco Rubio, yet I don’t know enough about Rubio’s views to dispute him).
PS, what about Colonel Allen West as a running mate? All the race baiters wouldn’t know what to do, then! Just fantasizing.
West is worse than Rubio in my book on foreign policy.
He is right, however, about communist infiltration of the Democratic Party.
Col West was in the Army serving overseas. 20 years of active duty service if memory serves me correctly. Therefore, he probably knows more about foreign affairs than Rubio, Bonchamps and Primavera all put together. Another reason perhaps for Romney to consider him!
😉
Sorry. can’t help myself. Yeah, I know! Don’t goad the Ron Paulists.
Please stop talking about us as if we’re dangerous animals. As long as you have a valid point to make, I don’t care what your position is on anything.
Bon, as much as I like Paul, Romney won’t pick him. They are oil and water on so many things.
Paul P – yes we need to think it through; what is good for the goose etc. If we ask for completely equal treatment- as my Dad used to say: “Then what?”
To me it is important what a person believes– so I can’t say that a candidate’s religion doesn’t matter– some are more amenable to our American Traditions than others.
I happen to hold Catholicism to be True religion– and the others some shade short of that… some religions are just plain false. So it is hard to think we have to treat all religions equally since they have such a potent effect on our behavior and choices.. and they are not all Good.
At the same time, it is hard to really understand the shades of each person’s faith– some Catholics are more Catholic than others– perhaps some Sunni’s may take their faith more to heart than others ( I don’t know any Sunnis) — some Mormons etc… so I try to honestly look at the candidate, his professed beliefs and his record of integrity — what else can I do?
[…] Obama Must Be Defeated: Santorum Endorses Romney – D. McClarey, The American Cthlc […]
Thanks, Anzlyn!
Coincidentally two LDS missionary girls canvassing the neighborhood stopped by my apartment last night after work. We talked from 5 till 7:50 pm about the Scriptures, our different beliefs, some LDS history, etc. They were really very nice and my two cats just loved the both of them. But we did part ways agreeing to disagree.
Truthfully, I have met more LDS folk qualified for public office than I have met Catholic folk. I suspect the reason is the loss of morality on the part of too many Catholics that comes with the embrace of the false gospel of social justice and the common good from Caesar’s hand. But while that explains Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden, it does nothing to explain Harry Reid. I once joked with an LDS friend of mine, saying that the Pope should publicly excommunicate Pelosi at the same time as the Quorum of Twelve excommunicates Reid. We both had a good laugh over that.
Frankly, Romney being LDS is not an impediment to me. Being a Weathervane, however, is. But better him than Obama any day of the week.
Mormon or Marxist? I’ll be voting for the Mormon on Nov 6th 2012