Trailing in the polls in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania putting new emphasis on social and cultural issues as he seeks to gain momentum.
On Friday in Urbandale, Iowa, Santorum kicked off what his campaign has dubbed the "Faith, Family, and Freedom Tour" to highlight the former senators positions on social issues. Having placed a surprisingly strong fourth place in the Iowa Republican straw poll in Ames back in August, Santorum continues to focus on the Hawkeye State, which holds the first presidential caucus. Santorum has been highlighting the fact that he has campaigned in all 99 counties in the Hawkeye State -- the first Republican hopeful to do so.
On Friday, Santorum dismissed arguments that Americans are more concerned with economic matters than social ones.
"The economy is inextricably linked to the moral fabric of this country, Santorum said in a statement. And we can't have a real solution-based conversation about fixing the economic problems in this country without faith and family being a large part of that conversation.
Santorum pledged to defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act and restore the Mexico City Policy which pulled the plug on public funding of abortion overseas. He also called for ending federal funding of stem cell research and repealing the federal health-care measures signed into law by President Barack Obama. Santorum promised, if elected, to ban military chaplains from performing same-sex marriage ceremonies on federal grounds, including military bases. Santorum promised to veto any federal funding of groups that perform abortions, including Planned Parenthood.
The former senator said, if he is elected, he will push two amendments to the U.S. Constitution -- the Personhood Amendment, which would define human life as starting at the moment of conception, and the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would define marriage as being solely between a man and a woman. Santorum also called for restoring the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military, backing workplace freedom and abstinence education legislation and pushing for a federal law allowing increased school prayer.
It's wrong for anyone to try and reduce the idea of America solely to economy -- because the spirit of America is much more than money; it's faith, family and freedom, said Santorum. The strength of the traditional family, the moral fabric of our nation, and basic value of human life greatly impact our economy.In fact, the family is the first economy, and without strong families we cannot have limited government, nor can we have a vibrant free-market economy. Our founders understood this basic fact, which is why they explicitly declared that our rights come to each and every individual from God and not to a king to be spread around. Our founders trusted in free people to make good and moral choices, and we must do that again today if we hope to remain a free and vibrant society."
Hogan Gidley, Santorums communications director who worked for Mike Huckabee in the last presidential election, stressed the importance of social issues at the national level.
"The next president must have the trust of the American people and must possess experience, knowledge, and ability to lead this nation forward, said Gidley.A President Santorum will be able to successfully address all major issues that confront this nation -- the economic, the national security and the moral, cultural issues. The press would have you believe that the only issue is the economy --and yes, the economy is certainly a pressing issue. However, to have debates with no questions about the threat of a nuclear Iran and no questions about preserving the traditional American family is a disservice to American people.
Gidley drew upon his experience in the 2008 cycle to offer an example of how issues can be ignored in presidential campaigns -- only to resurface as important ones.
I will remind folks that in 2008, only one candidate -- Tommy Thompson -- received the lone health care-related question in the presidential debates, and now, health care is the cornerstone issue of this election season, Gidley said. We must have a president ready to deal with all issues that come across his desk, and Rick Santorum is the one candidate prepared to do just that."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
