Michael Gaynor
Will the personal ambition and egos of Romney rivals make Obama a two-term president?
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By Michael Gaynor
January 4, 2012

Santorum was right about Romney in 2008 and Romney remains "the clear conservative candidate that can go into the general election with a united Republican party" and actually defeat Obama instead of lose.

Make no mistake: Republicans can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory and the current race for the Republican presidential nomination may save Barack Obama from being a one-term President.

Polls and Team Obama attacks show that Mitt Romney is the strongest candidate that Republicans can nominate to run against Obama and there's no dispute that it is vital that Obama not be re-elected.

Unfortunately, that has not stopped ego-driven, unviable presidential aspirants such as Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, the last two Republican presidential hopefuls to surge as the alternative to Mitt Romney, from quibbling that Romney isn't conservative enough or hasn't always been conservative.

When Romney sought the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, he was acknowledged as a true conservative who had learned over time bylifelong conservative Laura Ingraham. Ingraham described Romney as the "the conservative's conservative" and "a class act" when she enthusiastically introduced him at CPAC 2008. Her praise of Romney was unstinting. She not only assured that Romney was proud to be a conservative, but that he "embodies conservative ideals." She lauded Romney as a national security conservative, a social conservative and a fiscal conservative and for "selflessness" and "exhibit[ing] on a daily basis sacrificial concerns."

What did Santorum say?

On February 1, 2008, Santorum declared:

"In a few short days, Republicans from across this country will decide more than their party's nominee. They will decide the very future of our party and the conservative coalition that Ronald Reagan built. Conservatives can no longer afford to stand on the sidelines in this election, and Governor Romney is the candidate who will stand up for the conservative principles that we hold dear.

"Governor Romney has a deep understanding of the important issues confronting our country today, and he is the clear conservative candidate that can go into the general election with a united Republican party."

Santorum has flip flopped on Romney since he decided to run for President himself.

When asked about his 2008 endorsement of Romney, Santorum recently said: "I made, I hate to say it, a calculated political decision that Romney was the stronger horse and had a better chance to win Super Tuesday with the resources he had."

Romney hasn't become less conservative since the Santorum endorsement, but Santorum has become an opportunistic flip flopper.

This morning I received this email from Santorum:

Dear Patriot:

It's Now or Never for Conservative voters. We can either unite now behind one candidate and have a conservative standard bearer in 2012, or have the GOP establishment choose another moderate Republican who will have a difficult time defeating Barack Obama in November.

I don't think that's what you want. Neither do I. My name is Rick Santorum, and I am the only authentic, passionate conservative who can unite the GOP.

I need an URGENT contribution of at least $35 today to unite conservative voters and win the Republican nomination.

We shocked the world last night in Iowa. We did it with a coalition of conservatives, Tea Party members, and values voters who recognized that my successful conservative record gives the GOP the best chance to defeat Barack Obama.

No more sitting on the sidelines. Now is the time to act or get stuck with a bland, boring, career politician who will lose to Barack Obama. Tomorrow will be too late. Will you unite with me, merge conservative support, and help us hold our banner high? Your contribution of $35, $50, or even $75 can make sure this happens.

The next test is New Hampshire ... a state Mitt Romney has campaigned in for over four years. This is why I need your immediate support. I'm counting on conservatives around America to respond to this call for help. If we are divided in New Hampshire, we will lose this opportunity to keep the momentum.

I will be the most conservative President since Ronald Reagan. I am not going to Washington to blend in and hope people like me. I am running to dismantle the Obama Agenda and lead — like Reagan did.

The Washington Post said, "Rick Santorum was a tea-party kind of guy before the tea-party even existed." As a conservative U.S. Senator from the swing state of Pennsylvania, I led the overhaul of welfare that moved millions from welfare to work. I authored the bill banning partial-birth abortion, and I passed legislation that protected America from Iran's growing nuclear threat.

If you want a President who will stand up for conservative values, who is consistent on the issues, and who has a record to back it up, then I need you to join my campaign.

I need you to join me today. Right now. Not tomorrow or next week. If you want to roll back the Obama Agenda with a real conservative, this is your chance. The future of our country depends on what conservatives like you do in the next 72 hours.

Will you join us today with a generous contribution of whatever you can afford?

I give Republicans the best option to put a full-spectrum conservative in the White House. Help me make history!

Sincerely,

Rick Santorum

P.S. I went from longshot to the Iowa Caucus "surprise candidate" overnight. Now conservatives must unite or be defeated. Please donate today and take a stand with my campaign. Join the fight!

We can't afford Santorum's ambition and egotism or Gingrich's ambition, egotism and anger.

Santorum and Ingraham were right about Romney in 2008 and Romney remains "the clear conservative candidate that can go into the general election with a united Republican party" and actually defeat Obama instead of lose.

Like campaigning in a sweater, the fundraising email from Santorum is a "calculated political decision" by a man who knows better than to help Obama.

© Michael Gaynor

 

The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
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Michael Gaynor

Michael J. Gaynor has been practicing law in New York since 1973. A former partner at Fulton, Duncombe & Rowe and Gaynor & Bass, he is a solo practitioner admitted to practice in New York state and federal courts and an Association of the Bar of the City of New York member... (more)

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