Watch for Rick Santorum for President

He’s not on Pravda’s radar screen at the moment, and when he finally pops up, he’ll be dismissed as a ‘social issues’ guy only, and one whose last election was a big loss in a swing state—but former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is a name to watch for in the emerging field of Republican candidates for President in 2012.

Santorum is currently conducting an ad hoc guerilla ground war in early primary states, meeting with Republican/conservative/tea party activists, and his message is connecting.

Reason No. 1: Santorum has done his homework on Islam; he knows Islamic history; he knows American history; and he sees the nature of the enemy and is unafraid to say exactly what it is. He does not mouth politically correct platitudes, and he will not be bamboozled or intimidated by any Q&A session on this subject. The American people will be refreshed and relieved when they hear an American leader is fully informed regarding Islam and unconfused about the irreconcilable nature of the American system of government and jurisprudence vs. Islam and sharia law.

Reason No. 2: Santorum will state clearly that his No. 1 priority for legislative action upon taking office as President would be the outright repeal of Obamacare. That’s exactly what the large majority of Americans want; it’s what they told their elected leaders in November 2010; and it’s why the occasional signals from Republican establishment types that even hint at giving up on repeal are driving the tea parties to even higher levels of activism and membership.

Reason No. 3: Santorum as a Presidential candidate is right out of central casting: youthful-looking, handsome, broad-shouldered, an apparently happily married man with seven children; knows his way around Washington but has had recent time away from it to get recharged and re-energized; is informed and knowledgeable about almost any subject through his years in the Senate. He can deliver a good speech; he hosts a radio show once a week (akin to Ronald Reagan’s radio connections to the public) and is at ease in front of all kinds of media. He would likely shine in public debates. He is a devout Catholic, which may have been a challenge in the America of 1960 but will not be in 2012. Instead, his faith will give Americans the assurance that his values, instincts and judgment as to America’s best interests in any future crisis will be aligned with the values, instincts and judgments of the vast majority of Americans (in ways that Obama’s simply are not). And his Catholicism—however much it might be distrusted by some elements of non-Catholic Christianity--will be beyond the reach of the shameless tactics of Mike Huckabee toward Mitt Romney and his Mormonism in 2008.

Reason No. 4: Santorum offers a fresh, competent and unscarred face. That portion of the rest of the field which is recycled from 2008 (Romney, Huckabee, Giulani) reminds Americans of the weakness that brought about John McCain—which is what brought about Barack Obama. Newcomers like Tim Pawlenty and Haley Barbour don’t have the baggage of 2008, but Pawlenty is ‘telegenically challenged’ and Barbour is too easily caricatured as the ‘good ole boy’ from the South who belongs to an era gone by. Newt Gingrich is kind of a hybrid--not exactly a retread but not exactly an unscarred newcomer, either. Sarah Palin is still our first choice, but an awful lot of Republicans have bought the lie that the left’s attacks have left her too scarred to be electable. Michelle Bachmann is another great choice, but appears at this moment to be one or two election cycles away from being ready in all ways for the Presidential campaign ordeal. Allen West is in the same boat as Bachmann (either would make excellent VP running mates for the eventual Republican nominee).

The first hit on Santorum—that he is just a social issues guy— simply will not stick after he hits the campaign trail. He is too knowledgeable across too many subjects, and campaign appearances will prove it. The second hit on Santorum--his loss to Bob Casey in 2006—won’t have legs either. Six years is a long time in normal political times; it is ancient history in the American political world of the past six years.

His main weak spot will be his status as a former Senator, not a former Governor or executive. The plate of the next President will be as full as any Presidential plate ever, and despite the achievement represented by winning the election, the real task will be that of governing effectively, and that will depend on executive level selection, organization and delegation skills that are typically the Achilles heel of Senators. But if Santorum can early on indicate the kind of people he expects to be able to bring into his Cabinet (who are hopefully much more than recycled political hacks), and show in other ways that he has given thought to how to set the course and agenda and priorities and then ride herd on implementation, he will shore up this weakness.

We’re aware that the left will try to make Santorum’s past comments regarding homosexuality as grounds for his immediate disqualification, and Pravda will jump on board to try and make it so. But we’re highly doubtful that the militant gay community and Pravda have the persuasive power that its members may believe they have. Americans are sick of gay rights and gay marriage being treated as the critical issues of the era as they watch the Middle East go up in flames, gas prices go to $4 and $5 per gallon and more, the federal government spend its way into fiscal oblivion while unionized public employees vandalize public buildings—as Obama fills out his NCAA basketball tournament brackets.

Rick Santorum understands the mess America is in and the grave danger that has been created by the gigantic fraud that is Obama and his radical leftist regime. We don’t sense a craving by Santorum for fame or celebrity or power or women; we sense a love for America and a calling to step up and be a force for facing down the evil. Americans will discern his honesty of purpose and motive; they will warm to him as a candidate who feels like one of them. If Santorum can just pull off a breakthrough in Iowa or New Hampshire, he could jump to the top of the list and ride the momentum all the way to the White House. And America might very well be on the way to becoming America again.

Paul Gable

March 19, 2011