March 21, 2012
March 21, 2012. Gettysburg. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is one of the most high-profile Republican candidates in the 2012 presidential election. While he is not the front runner for the Republican nomination, he is currently in second place behind Mitt Romney and has scored several major victories throughout his campaign, most recently in the Alabama and Mississippi primaries. Many analysts are predicting Romney to be the most likely to win the Republican nomination and go up against President Obama this fall, but Santorum has hardly been counted out yet.
Republican Presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.
It’s a well-known fact that Santorum prides himself as being a “true conservative,” a label that has made him so popular in traditionally “red” states such as Alabama and Mississippi. He has made it clear that he is a devout Catholic, which is part of what has made him popular with the religious right. Santorum is arguably the most conservative man in the presidential race and a darling of the far right, but what would a Santorum administration mean for this country? That’s the question on the minds of laypeople and political science majors alike.
A Brief History of Rick Santorum’s Career
Rick Santorum was born Richard John Santorum on May 10, 1958. While he was born in Virginia, he actually spent most of his childhood in West Virginia before settling in Pennsylvania with his parents. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1981 with an MBA in business administration, Santorum worked for a year as an administrative assistant for the office of Pennsylvania Senator Jacob Coyle Dorman, Jr.
He then worked for the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee for the next five years while pursuing his law degree at the Dickinson School of Law. He worked for an attorney for four years before he decided to move into politics. Santorum served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate during his political career, and despite a disastrous defeat in the 2004 Senate race he has been making waves as a candidate for the presidency of the United States of America.
Where Santorum Stands on Issues
As we have previously established, Rick Santorum has prided himself on his conservative values and his staunch Catholic religious beliefs. He is very pro-life, and believes that abortion should be illegal even in the case of incest or rape. He even believes that the lack of social security funds is the direct cause of abortions lowering the population, and would seek to nominate Supreme Court judges who would overturn Roe v. Wade, effectively outlawing abortion.
Economics Blogs could tell you, Santorum is also very conservative when it comes to government spending. He believes that the Bush Tax cuts should be made permanent and that the wealthiest in our country shouldn’t be punished for wanting to keep what they have earned. He also believes that Obama’s health care plan should be repealed, as it is a major cost to the federal government.
One of the more infamous stances that Santorum has taken during his bid for president is his stance against same-sex marriage. He believes that marriage should be defined as being between a man and a woman, and that even civil unions are a bad idea. He sees them as a “slippery slope” that will no doubt lead to the national legalization of same-sex marriage. This has naturally raised the ire of GLBT activists and allies across the country.
In conclusion, it’s clear that a Santorum administration would be a conservative one. His extremely conservative views have made him a controversial figure in American politics, but he has proven to be popular with those on the right. Whether he has a chance of winning the Republican nomination for presidency or of defeating Obama is anyone’s guess, however.
Sources:
Rick Santorum Profile, 2012 Republican Candidates
“Rick Santorum on the Issues,” Republican2012.org
“U.S. Election 2012: Rick Santorum wins Deep South victories.” The Telegraph
The news shouldn’t be left wing or right wing, conservative or liberal. It should be the news. It should be independent – Whiteout Press
