Santorum Warns Of Doomsday Under Obama

February 3, 2012 5:54 AM

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum speaks at a town hall meeting at the Tea Party and Republicans Uniting Nevada Conservatives (TRUNC) office on Jan. 31, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nev. (credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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LAKEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Rick Santorum’s campaign slogan could very well be one word: doomsday.

To hear him tell it, the United States will collapse under the weight of its health care system and basic freedoms will be history. Iran will annihilate Israel and then South Carolina if Iran isn’t blocked from building a nuclear weapon. And divorce will yield higher taxes for all Americans.

Unless, of course, Republicans pick Santorum as the party’s presidential nominee and he goes on to defeat President Barack Obama.

“Go back and read what the sirens did once you arrived on that island,” Santorum warned students at Colorado Christian University this week, invoking mythology. “They devour you. They destroy you. They consume you.”

“Ladies and gentleman we cannot listen to the siren song,” he added. “We cannot listen to President Obama and we can’t listen to those in our party who want to be just a little bit less than what the Democrats and the left is doing to our country.”

It was standard fare for the former Pennsylvania senator. He doesn’t mince words in campaign speeches in which he describes how — in his view — the country is heading down the wrong path and the government is growing too big. Gloom and doom usually pepper his remarks. And he often argues that America will falter if he fails to win the nomination.

“You have honor to live up to, to hand off to the next generation as least as great a country as given to you. And you all know that is in jeopardy,” he told a crowd in Colorado Springs.

The dire warnings contrast directly with the sunny optimism his top rivals often exude.

GOP front-runner Mitt Romney talks about how much he loves America. And Newt Gingrich lectures on the nation’s unique place in the world and its potential to free the world.

They are following legions of other politicians who have used optimism to court voters with visions of the country’s greatness.

Ronald Reagan ousted Jimmy Carter in 1980 by asking whether Americans wanted a chance for a better tomorrow. Four years later, Reagan won with his rhetoric about America as a “shining city on a hill,” a notion borrowed from a 17th-century Puritan. Bill Clinton captured the presidency by appealing to voters’ middle-class struggles and urging them “don’t stop thinking about tomorrow.”

George W. Bush captured the White House in 2000 with the promise to restore dignity to the office after the scandal-ridden Clinton years. And Obama won his first term in the White House on a message of hope and change, appealing to voters’ desire to turn the page after eight years of Bush.

At times, Santorum seems to be doing the exact opposite, currying favor with voters by appealing to their frustrations with Washington as he looks to regain his own political footing after three consecutive losses in the GOP nomination race.

“Every once in a while Rick may get passionate and come across as angry, but Americans can appreciate that, because a lot of people out there are angry at where we are right now and they’re looking for a fighter who understands their struggle,” Santorum spokesman Hogan Gidley said.

The former senator pitches himself as the only politician standing between a wholesale meltdown of American values and a political tsunami for his GOP.

On the health care overhaul, Santorum warns: “Be careful what you do … because once the government creates a right, it can tell you how to exercise that right.”

On Obama’s regulations, he says: ‘Under Obamacare, you are going to have to provide insurance coverage, free coverage, for things that are absolutely against the teaching of the Catholic Church: free sterilization, free abortions. … This is just the tip of the iceberg of what we can expect.”

On Iranian policy, he warns that Tehran first would destroy Israel and then turn its sights on the United States. “They cannot have a nuclear weapon, because you, in Greenville, will not be safe,” he said in South Carolina.

And on declining marriage rates, he adds: “Taxes go up and the economy struggles. We know that marriage and the two-parent family is the unit upon which this country was founded.”

Santorum also constantly warns that neither Romney nor Gingrich would be an effective challenger to Obama and says he’s sounding the alarm against a political disaster.

“Barack Obama, in a debate or in this election, is going to destroy Mitt Romney on the issue of health care,” Santorum told a crowd in Woodland Park.

As for Gingrich, he says this of the former House speaker: “Way too erratic.”

ricardo maxwell

Only real conservative left in the race. Hope the leftist thugs don’t bring him down.

joe

they don’t need to, he’ll do a good job of it all by himself

latinos_for_ron_paul

Whether he’s a pineapple or not, Barack is as corrupt as the Trailer-trash Twins and the syndicate of Prescott Bush. For Neo-Cons are just Trotskyists, and Barry disgraces the egalitarian legacy of Dr. King.

This is why the 20% loyal to Ron will deny any Neo-Con the margin of victory. And why an Independent candidacy’s a wild card. Existentialism’s a b!tch.

Don

No kidding, is this A/P story an opinion piece, or a “news” story? Perfect example of why the media has lost most all credibility, and a textbook example of a “journalist” masquerading as “objective”.

Texas Freedom

Exactly.
CGray – Denver

I agree. From the first paragraph it was clear that this is not a “news” story as news was designed to be. It is a fluff piece, an opinion piece, and not worth reading the whole thing. It’s as if the person writing it is claiming that Santorum thinks pigs can and will fly. This so-called writer needs an adjustment in objectivity.
Naomi Spear

I am a public high school teacher. I will use this “news” piece as an example of the subtle propaganda being employed by the “mainstream media.”

Juan

Naomi;watch out for the “politically correct we need balance” doom squad, and God Bless your efforts.
FSantorum

Maybe you should learn the basics of reading comprehension first before you tackle such a broad topic as propaganda with the kids. The first paragraph starts with “TO HEAR HIM TELL IT” meaning the following sentences are describing RICK SANTORUM’s viewpoints not the writer’s. The next few paragraphs are quotes from Rick himself. And then some more paragraphs explaining the similarities of the current election with historical references. Not quite propaganda, but I can see how you all would think that based on your poor reading skills.

MrLawless Antipc

Santorum is right, Obama just suggested he may be president in 10 years.. how could he pull that off? See vid at http://www.WarnWire.com

miked

OBOZO IS A JOKE ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE HE COULDNT LEAD A HORSE TO WATER,HE IS CLUELESS

D

Does someone need a hug?
Timothy Hughes

Obozo just saw 23rd straight month of economic growth, and did I mention yet today that he whacked bin laden? Good luck trying to beat him in nov.
Jeanine Ruby

Obozo’s policies are bring back jobs to America, unemployment is down under Obozo’s leadership, two illegal wars are ended under Obozo, al queda has weakened to the point of being ineffective, Under Obozo’s leadership, USA’s enemies #1, #2 and #3 are gone.

Yea, Obozo’s policies are bringing down America. Good grief.
Juan

Unfortunately Jeanine,socialism has failed every where it’s been tried and it will continue to do so. It does not work in Cuba,Greece, Europe etc.. The ladder is for you to make an effort and climb up,not to bring those already up, down to your level.What Obozo is proposing is class envy and jealousy. His motto is to “take from those who have made it and give to those down looking up.” The bad thing about its is that those on the bottom,will still be there,looking up.Its called dependency on someone else efforts for your well being,no personal responsibility.

Josh Hardy

No wonder this guy lost by a record margin the last time he ran for Senate. He could not be more out of touch. Likely time for him to return home and become the face of the christian conservative movement so he can bilk them out of millions while defending himself as doing “god’s work.” What a fraud.

Frank Dominguez

another “useful idiot” speaking
Ron Burgandy

Josh: a conservative like Santorum winning AGAIN in blue Pennsylvania at the peak of the anti-Bush rhetoric would have been difficult to pull off.

Besides he ran against Bob Casey, and all the Dems thought they were voting for the former governor, not his son.

“Out of touch” is a term exclusively reserved for the current regime.
Kenyon Hull

You need to post Santorum’s speech on your wall and if Obummer is re-elected, I wish it could be different, but I want to see you eat crow and write about it on the internet, if the government will let you on.

Frank Dominguez

“in his views the country in heading down the wrong path” well i guess everything is coming up roses, with a marxist president what is there to worry about?
Ron Burgandy

To hear him tell it, the United States will collapse under the weight of its health care system and basic freedoms will be history. Iran will annihilate Israel and then South Carolina if Iran isn’t blocked from building a nuclear weapon.

So South Carolina is the bullseye in the U.S. or did I miss something?

Alej

THE US IS collapsing under the weight of the Federal Reserve’s inflationary policies, and the illegal alien’s plan is just another debt-inflating aspect of the fiasco, which has been hallmarked by Obama’s concept that the Constitution was produced by Charmin.

South Carolina is where he was speaking, and he was referring to Iran’s recent report that they have missile capability to reach the continental USA. Which is where Greenville, South Carolina is found.
Michael Baram

Jewish World Review had an article on Iran developing a missile with a 6,000 mile range. Tehran to Raleigh is just over 6,500 miles. Not so far-fetched, is it?
Juan

Ron,That is the state of journalism today,is not journalism,it is propaganda and agenda setting

Jim

I AGREE with Santorum…I wasn’t so keen on him before…but it’s turning out that he may be the best choice for my support.

Mike

You should look at supporting Freedom and Ron Paul, Santorum is just a union loving war monger looking to push his morals on you.

Defund NPR

Ron Paul, or I’m voting for the usurper so as to hasten the collapse.
RightinTexas

Hard to believe this kind of reporting–dismissive and arrogant. What a load!
I daresay their reporting on the Sun King expresses a breathless adoration.

Dwight Lee

I, for one, am eagerly looking forward to the day when the syncophants must report on the arrival of a brand new adminstration. I, for one, will be chortling as certain celebrities, congress(wo)men, and assorted talking heads vent their frustration with the voters and the whole election system in general. November cannot come quickly enough!

Danny

Santorum: Voted to increase debt ceiling multiple times
Voted on Gun Grabbing Legislation
In favor of Foreign Aide to nations that hate us
Campaigned for Arlen Specter who became the deciding vote on Obamacare To Pass
This man just like Obama, Romney and Gingrich aren’t going to change a dang thing.

Defund NPR

Exactly. Ron Paul or one had best begin inquires as to the requirements for a second passport. We are one false terrorism attack away from 1930′s Germany.
Dave

Danny, spot on, and he is calling himself the only conservative in the race.
Camelia

You’re so wrong. It is not the “nations” that hate us it is their evil barbaric regimes installed by the West yes by the West that hate us. Those poor unsupported repressed “nations” love freedom as much as we do and they love America for what it represents and hate and absolutely hate the repressive regimes that control their ways of lives with batons, chains, and swords…
So please read a bit more and do not reflect your wrong views on Santorum. Santorum is an honorable candidate and one great choice as our President.

Paula

Of course he is correct…why else would CBS be knocking him?
interloper5@hotmail.com

Where is my comment

Defund NPR

CBS has very, very odd censorship. Not sure if there’s human intervention or not, but you do get the sense this open commenting is allowed only to gather reactions and sentiment – behavioral analysis by government contractors perhaps? And Drudge constantly links to these upsetting CBS stories on race crimes, banker theft, TSA, police state etc. Something doesn’t pass the small test here. Either way, we’re all on a watch list.

Mudd

HI My name is mudd
Thomas Foster

Critic, realist:

No one has to believe Santorum now, at their peril, but 10 years from now you will be a firm advocate of his truth.
lgccac

Rick Santorum is exactly right.
Turd Ferguson (in honor of Junior High)

The tone of this article is ridiculous…sounds like a smart mouth junior high kid wrote it about another junior high kid running for class president. I’m no Santorum fan but at least write about him fairly. We may disagree with him but the guy is not an idiot. Unless this writer knows everything in which case I am sorry.
‘Nother-son-’O-Ursus

To hear him, (Santorum), tell it, the U.S. will collapse under it’s health care system?
Basic freedoms will be history’?
Iran will annihilate Israel, then South Carolina, if it develops a nuclear weapon? And divorce will yield higher taxes for all Americans…

Well, Well, Well…
Somebody get little Ricky an I.V.-drip-dose of ‘reality’…please!
How would taxes rise by divorce??
Are we instituting a Santorum divorce-penalty, as hetro-marriages fail by greater than 50% over less than 7 years?
Perhaps the gays, who tend to measure relationships in decades, could teach us straight people how it’s done!

Assuming Iran develops REAL, as opposed to an ‘Imaginary’ W.M.D.’s (imaginary W.M.D.’s apparently being reason-enough for a ten year, 1-trillion-dollar+, 6,400+ U.S. casualty, 1.something million dead Iraqi civilians’ pillage, won’t Amerika’s multi-thousand-W.M.D.’s, sittin’ in their Montana-silo’s &/or under all the world’s oceans, deter Iran from sending a pick-up-truck across the wide-open-U.S.borders, (another Bush-era policy holdover), knowing they’d face a fleet of B-2′s & B-52′s, each with a ‘Slim Pickens’s’ at the controls, (like in “Dr. Strangelove”)?

And if the ayatollahs ARE prepared to see their country turned into a glass-encrusted lunar landscape, anticipating the imminent arrival of their 12TH. Mahaddi, (or for any reason, which I doubt), what would deter them?

On the health care overhaul, Santorum warns: “Be careful what you do … because once the government creates a right, it can tell you how to exercise that right.”
Ricky, baby, you’ve been watching too many anti-abortion PSA’s, which always describe woman & girl’s as ‘jumping for joy’ off the abortionist’s table, ready for their next contraceptive free pregnancy; as opposed to the reality: sadness, at a necesscery, but unpleasant, reality!

Meanwhile…let’s just reflect on the billions of (unwanted) pregnancies humanity has avoided over the past 30-40 years by using the contraceptives Santorum, (& his pious zealots!), wish to make illegal!

Baldy Kirby from Atlanta

‘Nother-son-’O-Ursus

I’m all for abortion, if it wiil eliminate warped bloodclots like YOU.

D

GOP, always selling fear. Don’t you guys ever get tired of it?

WWJD

From a strictly capitalist view, selling fear is the perfect business. Your product is free and everybody on the planet is a potential customer.
Jim in Houston

You are hitting that old bong pretty hard there Leoy.

NYS Parkie

Roomney and Grinchwich are not conservatives. Ron Paul is whacked with a nincompoop foreign policy. The only long lived, staunch Conservative is Santorum. He has my vote as soon as NY Primary and Election Time arrive.

Mike

So, you are saying hte Founding Fathers were wrong and Hitler was right. Hmmm…

elm

Rick Santorum is a prophet. You can believe him or throw him down a cistern at your own peril. This article just makes me more determined to see that he is elected. If you have such fear and trepidation at his becoming president then he must be the one we need.

He sees the light at the end of the tunnel and it is a freight train. Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
Pamlinson

If the communist we have now in the White House and his Soro’s shadow government are allowed 4 more years, they will destroy this country. America as we have know it will cease to exsist. The pain and suffering that we see in other countries is coming to our shores (by design) if we don’t stop it in 2012.
RagnarB

The audacity! There is no byline, but this is clearly an opinion piece. The picture Santorum paints is pretty clear and accurate. He is the only candidate speaking about the family. A large part of the poverty in this country is because of single parents; especially single mothers. We are supporting a sub class of parent-less, rudderless children. Our culture and early sex education has seen to this.
Chic

Gee, can the radical left wingers at the Communist Broadcasting System be anymore biased and slanted in this article. The only thing they didn’t do was photo-shop a Nazi uniform on Santorum’s picture. This is exactly why I no longer watch t.v. news and get my news from sources like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh along with the internet. CBS, you blow.
Jason Jasper

He’s absolutely right.
But he’s not the answer.

http://RightWingStuff.com
Perplexed

Speaking as a conservative, Santorum is the only candiate that I can ideologically identify with. However, on the issue of ‘who can beat obama’ then I start having doubts. I’m not convinced that he can. If I did, I would vote for him without any reservations.

Susan

Gallup only has him trailing by 2%, a statistical tie. He fares better than Gingrich. I think a lot of blue-collar union folk will be receptive to his ideas on bringing manufacturing back to the US. And I, personally, believe a lot of those same blue-collar folk share his conservative views on family and faith. I don’t think his conservative social views will hurt him as much as a lot of other people do. I think there’s still a silent majority that wants to keep the traditional family as our societal gold standard.