Santorum Shines: Coalminers Grandson Rises in Polls, Wins Catholic Endorsement

I have to be honest; the Romney rush to the Republican nomination in 2012 feels a lot like the Bob Dole campaign in 1996 to me

The day after candidate Rick Santorum shocked the Republican political establishment with his extraordinary showing in the Iowa Caucus, his campaign brought in One Million Dollars. It came mostly in small contributions - from folks drawn to the man, the message, the manner and sincerity of this coal-miner's grandson from working class Pensylvania.

P>WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - The day after Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum shocked the Republican political establishment with his extraordinary showing in the Iowa Caucus, his campaign brought in One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in contributions online.

It came mostly in small contributions - from the folks who are being drawn to the man, the message, the manner and sincerity of this coal-miner's grandson from working class Pensylvania. They are being drawn partly because he speaks the language of those who didn't come over on the Mayflower. And the country club set, on both the left and on the right, is apoplectic.

After all, the pre-selected Republican nominee of the party "elders" was supposed to have wrapped this thing up by now. Remember, the "old guard" Republican Party does things in orderly succession and does not like all this messiness. And the country club democrats who have played their "we care about the poor" card for so long, are worried about losing their power.

After all - it's Mitt Romney's turn, isn't it? Just like it was John McCain's turn last time around? Oh, that's right; he endorsed Mitt Romney just the other day. That endorsement only confirmed what I thought during the last Presidential campaign about the entire process.

I am a reluctant Republican. I was driven out of the Democratic Party when the last truly Pro-Life, Pro-Family and truly Pro-Poor Democrat, Governor Bob Casey, was censored at the Democratic convention for his support of the fundamental Human Right to Life.

That was when the strange alliance of those who oppose the Right to Life - failing to hear the cry of those whom Mother Teresa rightly called the poorest of the poor, children in the womb - took over the Democratic Party I once thought really cared about people like my own family.

I grew up in Dorchester, Massachusetts in a working class home. Sadly, the bizarre alliance which took over the Democratic Party many years ago has held it captive for decades. People like me have been forcibly evicted, out of conscience.

I have to be honest; the Romney rush to the Republican nomination in 2012 feels a lot like the Bob Dole campaign in 1996 to me. That is why I must speak out.

I distinctly remember when Bob Dole told a crowd, "If you want me to be Reagan, I'll be Reagan." I know where I was when I heard those words. I even remember what I was doing at the time. I knew it was the end of that Republican Presidential campaign.

Oddly enough, that kind of verbal pandering may not be present this time around. However, the pandering is found in the behavior of establishment Republicans in the 2012 Primary campaign who mouth the positions of those generically called "values voters" but act in a manner quite at odds with the convictions which fuel those voters to political participation. 

If I hear one more establishment Republican or, for that matter, fair weather "conservative" Republican tell the main stream media that Mitt Romney is the "most electable" or the "inevitable candidate", I think I will be sick. I get the same pit in my stomach I got back during the Dole campaign.

Is this Republican primary a monarchical succession plan with a self chosen candidate from the Republican elite? Are we all really supposed to accept the use of slogans concerning the issues which yanked me out of the Party of my youth?

I voted for my first Republican when Ronald Reagan grabbed the heart of blue collar background democrats like me. I recognized that this good man had real conviction and a genuine concern for the working class.

I never "officially" left the Democratic Party. I moved to Virginia where you do not have to register with a Party. However, like Ronald Reagan, I can honestly say, "I didn't leave the Democratic Party. The party left me." 

In the 2012 primary campaign, do the Republican Party keepers really think people like me (and there are many) will be duped by rhetoric as a substitute for real conviction? Do they really think we will just line up like sheep?

The events of the last few weeks remind this aging former hippie of the refrain from one of my favorite songs by the Who entitled, "We don't get Fooled Again". Those old enough to remember will recognize them - "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss". I will do everything I can to avoid that kind of result.

Fortunately, that is not the only story line in this extraordinary Republican Primary campaign. Let me share just two excerpts out of a very different playbook.

As a "political wonk" seeking to integrate my faith in the public square for decades, I have become a poll watcher. One of the most reliable pollsters is Scott Rasmussen.

The Rasmussen poll of Thursday January 5, 2012 is well worth noting. Here is an excerpt:

"Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum, coming off his photo finish with Mitt Romney in the Iowa caucuses, is now in second place among Republican voters in the race for the party's 2012 presidential nomination.

"The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey, taken the night after the caucuses, shows Romney again in first place with support from 29% of Likely Republican Primary Voters, followed by Santorum with 21%.

" Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who led the pack in late November with 38% of the vote, now runs third with 16%. Texas Congressman Ron Paul, the third place finisher in Iowa, picks up 12% of the vote, up from eight percent (8%) in the previous survey.

"The two remaining Republicans in the race, Texas Governor Rick Perry and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, each earn four percent (4%), marking essentially no change from late November."

In addition, one of the fastest growing policy and political activist efforts among Catholics is called "Catholic Vote" . The leaders of this grass roots lay Catholic initiative polled their members recently. They made a bold step Thursday after consulting their constituency.

Here is a snippet from their Thursday, January 5, 2012 Press Release entitled "It Takes a Rick Santorum: Catholic Vote Endorses Keystone Senator for President"

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CHICAGO, IL - CatholicVote.org, a leading national grassroots Catholic advocacy organization, today proudly announced their endorsement of Senator Rick Santorum for President.

CatholicVote.org President Brian Burch issued the following statement explaining the endorsement:

"Pennsylvania Rick Santorum represents our best hope to rally the nation behind a unified moral and economic vision that Americans are clamoring for in a President. CatholicVote.org is proud to stand with Rick Santorum, and is prepared to mobilize our rapidly-growing grassroots network to help secure him the GOP nomination, and ultimately win the White House.

"Catholic voters are looking for a candidate who can successfully combine the principles of the dignity of life and the dignity of work. Senator Santorum understands better than any other candidate the profound link between the moral, cultural and economic principles foundational to the success of America.

We are convinced that Rick Santorum is the candidate best equipped to win not only the political arguments, but also the hearts of American voters as he did in Iowa on Tuesday.

"Rick Santorum is a workingman's Republican with a record and a plan which are especially appealing to Catholic voters. His record in Pennsylvania, and his record as a presidential candidate confirms that Senator Santorum understands why four more years of President Obama would be devastating for America, but also why a GOP message focused too heavily on taxes, spending, and debt is simply not enough.

"Too often our debates on 'social issues' are fought at the margins with stale-talking points which pit economic justice and moral virtues against each other. The candidacy of Rick Santorum represents a chance to present an integrated approach to voters who are hungry for this kind of message.

"Catholic voters looking for moral and economic leadership also understand that the 2012 elections will inevitably focus on judges and the courts. With the Supreme Court poised to rule on immigration law, Obamacare, and potentially so-called same-sex marriage this summer, judges and our courts will dominate the debate this fall.

"On this score, there is no debate over which candidate has led, and can best be trusted to lead the fight over the role of our judiciary and the nomination of qualified judges to the courts that will respect our Constitution.

"Finally, Senator Santorum is a man of honor, integrity, and authenticity. What you see is what you get. He has faithfully served the cause of life and marriage as an elected official and as a husband and father. And while no political candidate, or human being for that matter, is perfect, Rick Santorum's baggage contains his clothes.

"Republicans hoping to win back the White House in November must unite behind the candidate most dedicated to the foundational issues of faith, family and freedom. If the GOP hopes to defeat President Obama, it takes a Rick Santorum to get it done."

*****
As I conclude, let me reach once again into my old music memories. Some of my readers may remember the words of Bob Dylan from "Subterranean Homesick Blues" - "You don't need a weather man to know which way the wind blows." There is wind in the sails of Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum that cannot be denied.

The Republican establishment is in for a real surprise.

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