By Gary P Jackson
This is twice now that Big Government Statist Newt Gingrich has demanded Rick Santorum, the only Conservative left in the race for president, to drop out.
Santorum has kicked it in the last two debates. In the CNN debate he took it to both Romney and Newt and never let up. Santorum was particularly strong when he pointed out Newt was still pushing for federally mandated health care insurance. Santorum is the only one who has never supported mandates out of this group.
Gingrich has some real nerve here. We’ve only voted in three of the states so far. There are 2286 delegates up for grabs. It takes 1144 to win. So far only 59 delegates have been handed out. It’s a long way to the nomination and a lot can happen. Newt’s continued whining does not bode well for his long term viability.
I’ve never seen a candidate cry as much as Newt does. He sounds exactly like his fellow travelers in the democrat party.
You can get candidate delegate counts here.
Ed Morrissey over at Hot Air notes:
Oddly, Gingrich didn’t appear as principled on the subject of conservative consolidation when Santorum won Iowa and Gingrich finished fourth, nor when Santorum narrowly edged Gingrich for fourth place in New Hampshire. If he was concerned about a conservative sacrificing to make sure a conservative alternative had the strength to beat Mitt Romney at that time, Gingrich didn’t pull a muscle leaping out of his chair to volunteer.
Ed closes with this, and I totally agree:
Gingrich didn’t lose that lead to Santorum, who has barely budged at all from the low double digits in the last two weeks. He lost support to Romney, thanks to a couple of poor debate performances and this kind of angry, whining behavior on the campaign trail. It seems that Gingrich wants to find someone to take the blame for a Florida flop, and anyone will do but himself.
Read more here.
Ed is right. Many of the former Newt votes are breaking Mitt’s way, not Santorum’s. People are finally starting to remember why they never liked Newt in the first place, and newcomers are just now learning about Newt’s record of continually giving aid and comfort to the socialists, as well as his Big Government notions like mandated insurance and global warming “cures.”
The Hill has Santorum’s response:
“My message is everybody should run,” Santorum told Fox News. “I don’t think people should be telling other folks to get out of the race and get out of my way. If you want to run a race, run a race. You don’t ask someone to quit just because you think you’re the better candidate. I think I’m the better candidate but Newt has every right to run.”
He also shrugged off the persistent speculation over businessman Donald Trump’s possible independent bid for president. “I can’t be diverted by someone who is obviously promoting himself and promoting his brand,” said Santorum.
As readers know, Santorum’s biggest backer has stepped up to offer up a “blank check” to help defeat Obama. Rick will definitely have the ability to stay in the race. I think we should all help him!
Though I’ve not endorsed a candidate yet, Michelle Malkin has, and she’s chosen Rick Santorum. She lays out the perfect case for Rick while explaining why the others simply aren’t the best choice. This is a MUST READ: [emphasis mine]
Rick Santorum opposed TARP.
He didn’t cave when Chicken Littles in Washington invoked a manufactured crisis in 2008. He didn’t follow the pro-bailout GOP crowd — including Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich — and he didn’t have to obfuscate or rationalize his position then or now, like Rick Perry and Herman Cain did. He also opposed the auto bailout, Freddie and Fannie bailout, and porkulus bills.
Santorum opposed individual health care mandates — clearly and forcefully — as far back as his 1994 U.S. Senate run. He has launched the most cogent, forceful fusillade against both Romney and Gingrich for their muddied, pro-individual health care mandate waters.
He voted against cap and trade in 2003, voted yes to drilling in ANWR, and unlike Romney and Gingrich, Santorum has never dabbled with eco-radicals like John Holdren, Al Gore and Nancy Pelosi. He hasn’t written any “Contracts with the Earth.”
Santorum is strong on border security, national security, and defense. Mitt the Flip-Flopper and Open Borders-Pandering Newt have been far less trustworthy on immigration enforcement.
Santorum is an eloquent spokesperson for the culture of life. He has been savaged and ridiculed by leftist elites for upholding traditional family values — not just in word, but in deed.
He won Iowa through hard work and competent campaign management. Santorum has improved in every GOP debate and gave his strongest performance last week in Florida, wherein he both dismantled Romneycare and popped the Newt bubble by directly challenging the front-runners’ character and candor without resorting to their petty tactics.
He rose above the fray by sticking to issues.
Most commendably, he refused to join Gingrich and Perry in indulging in the contemptible Occupier rhetoric against Romney. Character and honor matter. Santorum has it.
Read it all here.
Voters can send Newt Gingrich a strong message by dropping him like a hot potato and getting behind Rick Santorum. It’s time to stop Newt and his Alinsky tactics. It’s time to stop Newt’s continual whining. It’s time to stop Newt’s constant lying. It’s time to whip Newt like a rented mule and send him packing.
None of these candidates are perfect, but Rick Santorum offers a clear choice between both Mitt and Newt. He most certainly offers a clear choice between himself and Obama.
Past that, the sooner we are rid of Newt, the sooner we can see serious debates between Santorum and Romney. Newt’s continued circus antics and drama queen whining are distracting from the real issues.
It’s a time for serious people to talk about serious issues, and as long as Newt is involved this isn’t going to happen. I’ll follow Rick’s example and not call for Newt to drop out. Besides, it’ll be more fun taking him down in battle.
If you want to join in and tell Newt HELL NO on Rick’s behalf, send some cash to his campaign now!