by Jill Zuckman
Few Republicans were more caustic when it came to John McCain's candidacy in the GOP presidential primary than former Sen. Rick Santorum.
He castigated McCain on the issues - immigration, global warming, gay marriage and embryonic stem cell research, to name just a few. And he complained about McCain's style - "he plays rough in the sandbox," was his euphemistic way of calling McCain mean.
Today, however, Santorum makes the case in the Philadelphia Inquirer for why conservatives should support McCain.
While acknowledging his "serious reservations" about McCain, Santorum cites the presumptive Republican nominee's knowledge about the military.
"I served eight years with him on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and I can assure you he knows our military," Santorum wrote. "Importantly, he also knows our enemies. He understands their capabilities and their aims. He will not sugarcoat the human or financial commitment and cost needed to defeat this enemy.
On the abortion issue, which Santorum calls "the most important social issue," he said he wishes that McCain had helped him debate Sen. Barbara Boxer on the floor of the Senate. "In the end, with the exception of embryonic stem cell funding, he always voted for life and stood for the culture of life," said Santorum.
Santorum also defended McCain against criticism for his involvement in the "Gang of 14," which prevented Republicans from eliminating the use of a filibuster in confirming judicial nominations. At the time, Santorum was fighting the gang and arguing that the filibusters were unconstitutional. Today he says, "it probably was for the best" and the compromise resulted in numerous conservatives getting on the bench.
Here's his final argument for McCain: he's not Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.
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Comments
I'll have to admit it. He does provide more knowledge with his military experience. McCain offers an object lesson for new pilot recruits. Hey flyboys, avoid flying your jet into missiles!!!
Posted by: sam | April 21, 2008 1:29 PM
Hey Rick, can you go back to opposing us? You were doing a better job of helping us when you were against us.
Posted by: Jeff | April 21, 2008 1:34 PM
I think Rick should have had a little more foresight when he decided to lay into the Arizona Senator like he did some time ago. Everyone knew John McCain was winning and he lambasted him as though he were Lincoln Chafee. That wasn't fair and while we must make sure Senator McCain tows the line when he becomes President, we have to understand that he has a pretty solid conservative record on the social issues.
Posted by: Steve | April 21, 2008 1:35 PM
That's because it concerned one flip-flopper to another flip-flopper!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | April 21, 2008 1:47 PM
Why is it "former" Sen. Rick Santorum?
Perhaps his views do not align with the people that VOTER him out of office. I certainly hope Rick puts his stamp of loss on McCain as well.
Posted by: Frank | April 21, 2008 1:50 PM
Friends don't let friend vote for John McCain until they read Cliff Schecter's The Real McCain (getting all five stars on Amazon) first. For bookstore browsers, the last chapter is a preview of what we might expect in a cabinet. And just when I thought we had had enough Armageddon hysteria. No. Seems we are paving the way for some more of it. But at least vote informed, vote awake. That's all any of us can do.
Posted by: Gaias Child | April 21, 2008 2:30 PM
"BROKE SANTORIUM SPEAKS"
YES, I FLIPPED FLOPPED ON A LOT OF AMERICAN ISSUES. YES, I TOO WAS STUCK ON "TERRY SCHIAVO" AND "FRISK CARE"
YES, I HATED JOHN MCCAIN. I ALWAYS KNEW HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY "FAMILY VALUES" LIKE MINE. I KNOW HE SHORT SIGHTED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DURING THE "KEATING FIVE" 3.5 BILLION SAVINGS AND LOAN SCANDAL. IT WAS JUST A BANK, IT WAS JUST ELDERLY PEOPLE'S 401K, SOCIAL SECURITY, AND THEIR HOMES THAT WERE LOST.
I KNOW HE TAKES MONEY FROM REV HAGEE, BUT HE DIDN'T WANT TO, HE WAS BROKE.
WE KNOW HE HAS FLIPPED FLOPPED ON EVERY ISSUE AT HAND BUT, HE IS A REPUBLICAN AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVEN IF THERE IS NO DAY, WE ALL WILL "CROSSOVER" LEGALLY OR ILLEGALLY AND VOTE FOR HIM.
THERE IS A "BLACK MAN" RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AMERICA. THERE IS A "WOMAN" RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, AND THE STAKES ARE HIGH.
SO I TOO, THINK IT IS TIME TO GET SERIOUS AND PROTECT THE COMPANIES, "THE CHAIRMAN" THAT PROTECTED US!
THANK YOU FOR EVEN KNOWING MY NAME AS I TOO UNDERSTAND THE EMBROYNIC STAGE HIS VICE PRESIDENT CANDIDATE IS STILL IN!
WE TOOK IT HOME THIS WEEKEND AND SHOWED THE KIDS!
HE GETS MY "FLIPPED-FLOPPED VOTE"
Posted by: Roger Morris | April 21, 2008 2:38 PM
Jill, in any election, folks who support one candidate over another often come around to support the candidate that is the nominee. That is as old as the hills.
While the Queen B and St. Obama have been fighting tooth and nail, and far nastier than any Republican got with another in the primary, aren't some folks hoping they come together in the general election??
Non story, non issue, non flip flop.
Posted by: John D | April 21, 2008 3:20 PM
Here's his final argument for McCain: he's not Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.
Yes, heaven forbid we get peace and prosperity back in this country.
Posted by: Paul | April 21, 2008 4:41 PM
Why anyone would care what Rick Santorum has to say is beyond me. The voters in his state heard enough to vote him out. He's another mistake we'd rather forget.
Posted by: Tom O | April 21, 2008 5:01 PM
Another 'nut' endorsement for McBush.
Look out, my friend, this guy is poison.
Posted by: C.Morris | April 21, 2008 8:44 PM
Santorum is now backing the McCainiac's. After 8 years of a puppet we sure as hell don't need someone with a short fuse in the White House.
Posted by: whiteagle38 | April 21, 2008 10:49 PM