Karen Santorum's moving book "Letters to Gabriel" is back in print!

 Setting the Record Straight

I was suffering from my third miscarriage and seeking a book which would offer me comforting words from a another Catholic mother who had lost a child. I found "Letters to Gabriel" by Karen Garver Santorum. In the pages of the book I got to know Karen as she spoke to her son Gabriel, who was now with God. Gabriel had a urinary tract irregularity which was life threatening, he was not producing urine and was going to die. Karen, a neo-natal nurse and Rick did not accept this, and traveled out of state to a doctor who was able to do inter-uterine surgery. The surgery was successful but left Karen with an infection causing premature labor, and, despite Rick and Karen's best efforts to save him, Gabriel was born to early to survive.

This is the story of a parent's fierce love for their son, a story which has been viciously misrepresented by Rick Santorum's political enemies. I read a piece in The Daily Kos which said Karen had an abortion, and winced as I saw Alan Colmes and Eugene Robinson mock the Santorums' expression of grief over the loss of their precious son. Gabriel was waked at home and buried in the Catholic Church as any other member of the family. Because he is still a member of the family, thanks to the Communion of Saints.

But the story doesn't end at Gabriel's death.Karen tells the story;

"the Senator (Boxer) was thanking the women who had partial birth abortions for coming forward with their stories, . . said she "hears the cries of the women outside this Chamber".

"We would be deafened by the cries of children who are not here to cry because of this procedure," retorted Senator Santorum. The Washington Post described what happened next, 'Republican Senator Rick Santorum turned to face the opposition, and in a high, pleading voice, cried out, "where do we draw the line? Some people have likened this procedure to an appendectomy. This is not an appendix!' he shouted, pointing to a drawing of a fetus, it is a baby. Its a baby.'

"And then, impossibly, in an already hushed gallery . the cry of a baby pierced the room, echoing across the chamber from an outside hallway. Not one mentioned the cry, but for a few seconds no one spoke at all."

Karen continues, "A coincidence? Perhaps. . .or maybe. . it was the cry from the son whose voice we never herd, but whose life had forever changed ours."
Rick concludes, "Sometimes you hear a faint voice inside whispering what you should do. With respect to this issue, I heard the message through a loudspeaker. " (It Takes a Family p 245)

In an interview I did of Rick for Canticle Magazine, he said he felt that it was Gabriel's voice from heaven, supporting his father as he asserted the truth that the unborn is a baby. If ever there was a call to act, this was one. During the interview in late 2007, I told Rick about my daughter Christina who has Down syndrome, and we chatted about the blessing of special needs children. Within a year, baby Isabella Maria Santorum was born with Trisomy 18, an event which Rick said inspired him to run for president, to help create a more welcoming culture for our special needs children.

Letters to Gabriel is a sensitive and comforting book because it reminds a mother who has lost a child whether born to live too briefly, or unborn, that their child matters to God, to her family, and to the world. It is a unique tribute to the value of every human life, and should be a staple on the Catholic family bookshelf. I myself bought several copies, but kept giving them away to friends who had experienced infant loss.

HHS Study Proves Abstinence Ed Works; blocked by Obama

Rick Santorum describes his "Made in America" economic plan. 

My daughter Gabriela is attending a local Community College to pick up her pre-nursing requirements. Among the required courses is Developmental Psychology. As a former Social Work and Psychology major, I warned her that these professors are likely to be liberal ideologues. I was right, the other day, her prof was railing against abstinence programs which 'don't work'. She did not offer her students one shred of evidence to prove her point, but continually insisted that abstinence education and chastity rings are a waste of time. To her credit, my daughter raised her hand and said "I took a vow of chastity and wear a ring". The professor was stunned at her admission and apologized for insulting her, but did not acknowledge that she has a point. I would wager that no one has EVER had the audacity to contradict this position in class before! I am so proud of my daughter, for her outspokenness, and her intelligent decision to follow not only the teachings of the Church, but the smart way to keep her future bright. She is a winner!

Science is of course on the side of those who recommend abstinence until marriage. Liberals may know this, but they'd rather die than admit it, and anyone who dares say it is vilified and humiliated. I was when I dared speak up for abstinence in a public high school on Long Island in 1995 where a good number of my poor minority students were pregnant or post-abortive. I saw firsthand the devastating effect of sexuality on young people whose lives were challenging enough in the ghetto, just getting to school safely and finding a quiet place to study after school. Now thanks to the impact of Planned Parenthood in the schools and on the minds of their social workers and teachers, they were dealing with babies, emotional breakups, the physical and emotional wreckage of post abortion syndrome. No wonder so few graduated high school!

Forty eight news outlets were at St Anselm at Sanorum's talk. 

An excellent article confirms the efficacy of abstinence education from Life Site News:

The study’s success reassured Valerie Huber, executive director of the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA). “This new study adds to 22 other peer reviewed studies showing SRA [Sexual Risk Avoidance] education has a positive impact on student sexual behavior,” she said. “This rigorous research design adds an important exclamation point to the efficacy of abstinence-centered education.”
Meanwhile, researchers say the Obama administration stonewalled releasing another report that showed abstinence attitudes positively impact teens. In 2009, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), funded a study of more than 1,000 young people aged 12-18 but refused to release the results until 2011, even following a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. It found that parental and peer attitudes do more to shape teens’ views of sex and abstinence than “adolescent exposure to sex and abstinence topics in a class or program.”
“Their anti-abstinence position is just as political, if not more so, than the pro-abstinence position of conservatives,” Sprigg told LifeSiteNews. “The liberals often claim it is conservatives who are anti-science, but when the research and the science goes against their ideological position, they are very eager to suppress the findings.”
“Anyone who opposes SRA abstinence-centered education must be honest in their antagonism,” Huber stated. “They can no longer say that the approach ‘doesn’t work,’ but must admit that their opposition is simply an ideological distaste for programs that encourage teens to wait for sex.”

Leticia in front of ABC news debate set in NH in January. 

Rick Santorum, during an economic summit at St Anselm College last January, pointed out what this article maintains, that abstinence education works, but it is being suppressed by the Obama Administration. Forty eight news outlets were present, none of which reported on his hour long treatise on economics, instead focusing on this topic, leveling vicious criticism on him for pointing out that abstinence lead to healthy marriages and families, strong families lead to a healthy economy. Thus he became a lightning rod for vitriol from the left and unjustly branded as a fire-breathing wing nut within  the GOP establishment.
Santorum was merely insightful and courageous enough to point out the obvious, the root problem in this nation is the wreckage caused by the sexual revolution, a dependency society created when 41%of  our nation's children are born out of wedlock, compared to 5% in 1960. He too used science to bolster his point, citing a Brookings Institute Study that linked poverty with out of wedlock births. 

Since 1970, out-of-wedlock birth rates have soared. In 1965, 24 percent of black infants and 3.1 percent of white infants were born to single mothers. By 1990 the rates were 64 percent for black infants, 18 percent for whites. Every year one million more children are born into fatherless families. If we have learned any policy lesson well over the past 25 years, it is that for children living in single-parent homes, the odds of living in poverty are great. The policy implications of the increase in out-of-wedlock births are staggering.

The Brookings Institute is liberal, but even they acknowledge that the soaring illegitimacy rate could be reversed by eliminating contraception and abortion, though that idea is quickly rejected. Yet here a liberal think tank is agreeing with so called right wing ideologue. Rick Santorum Interesting.
But as my daughter and I have found, woe to the teacher, student or politician who sees the solution to poverty in anything other than another government entitlement program, he or she can expect to be destroyed by both sides of the press. Only those who have the courage to view the facts of the destruction of society as a result of contraception and abortion encouraging reckless sexual promiscuity.

Read the entire article in Life Site News.

Women are Santorum's biggest supporters

Great piece on IVillage by cofounder of Smart Girl Politics Terri Christoph on how the liberals are wrong when they say women do not like Santorum with plenty of statistical backing.

Fast-forward to the end of March and Rick Santorum seems to not only not have a woman problem, but his popularity among women is on the rise. A slew of recent polls show him besting his Republican rivals Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich when it comes to the affections of women, who are very likely this election cycle’s most important voting bloc. According toPolitico:
"In 2012, Santorum’s strength with women voters was first demonstrated in Iowa, and the trend continued through Southern states. Exit polls show he won among women in Iowa, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Even in states where he didn’t win the primary, Santorum performed well among women: In Ohio, for example, where Mitt Romney won the popular vote, Santorum still won married women by 4 points."

The only reason liberal pundits think Santorum has a 'woman problem' is that they consider us,  as one PA legislator calls us,  "Men with breasts". If you cherish your children and fight for the freedom to raise them in your traditional values, in an economy where you are not worried about paying your bills, then, according to them, you do not exist. Or is it that you do not matter?
We conservababes know that Rick Santorum has a deep respect for women, from his 92 year old mother, to his wife Karen whom he thanks in every victory speech to his beautiful daughters and particularly that little angel, Bella. He know Rick cherishes the same moral values which our nation was founded on, and we trust him to allow capitalism to work unfettered by cronyism and over-regulation.
Women support Rick, I am the Windham County coordinator for Santorum Connecticut, and most of my volunteers are women.
We know Rick values our work in the home and respects our desires for domestic peace and tranquility for our families. We trust him not to offend us by saying we need contraceptives for equal opportunity. His mother and wife are both professional women who bore children and worked outside the home. He respects our intelligence by not being condescending by assuming we are victims who need handouts, but merely a peaceful, prosperous nation in which to do what we do best.
Rick Santorum has confidence in women's abilities to flourish as their consciences are respected and our feminine genius praised.

"Bella" producer Jason Jones endorses Rick Santorum

From the Rick Santorum campaign;
Republican presidential candidate, Rick Santorum, has secured the endorsement of Jason Jones, an award winning movie producer and founder of the Human-Rights Education and Relief Organization.
"I am proud to endorse Rick Santorum for president," Jones said. "We need a president who will have the courage and the conviction to stand-up for the unborn. Rick has a solid record of defending the dignity of every human life. Of all the candidates, I know that I can trust Rick to remain true to his belief.
Mr. Jones, an executive producer best known for his work on the critically acclaimed film, "Bella." Additionally, as a leader in the Catholic community and a staunch advocate for prolife issues, Jones' humanitarian work with HERO promotes human dignity in all stages of life through international education and relief programs.
Rick Santorum is one of our nation's foremost pro-life, pro-family proponents, authoring the law that banned the heinous procedure known as Partial Birth Abortion Ban. He also authored the Born Alive Infants Protection Act and the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. Since leaving the Senate, Santorum was highly involved in working with pro-life groups such as the Susan B. Anthony List, Family Research Council, and the Americans United for Life.

I met Jason Jones while selling my book at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on January 22, the night of the Vigil Mass for Life. We chatted and soon discovered our mutual respect for Rick Santorum. Jason was leading a group in support of Rick  in the March for Life and said he had no signs. I had carried a parade banner with me in hopes of using it, but did not have enough people to carry it along with our KIDS signs, so I dropped off the banner at Jason's hotel, across New Jersey Ave from the Hyatt where I was staying. Jason is an engaging and energetic person, on fire for the cause of the dignity of human life. He was campaigning for Rick at every opportunity, and Rick is fortunate to have an ally in Hollywood. I am honored to support the fine work of Jason, in the film "Bella" and to join him in supporting Rick Santorum for president.

Support Rick Santorum in your GOP Primary

April 3, 2012	District of Columbia (primary) Maryland (primary) Wisconsin (primary) Texas (primary)
April 24, 2012	Connecticut (primary) Delaware (primary) New York (primary) Pennsylvania (primary) Rhode Island (primary)
May 8, 2012	Indiana (primary) North Carolina (primary) West Virginia (primary)
May 15, 2012	Nebraska (primary) Oregon (primary)
May 22, 2012	Arkansas (primary) Kentucky (primary)
June 5, 2012	California (primary) Montana (primary) New Jersey (primary) New Mexico (primary) South Dakota (primary)
June 26, 2012	Utah (primary) Does anyone doubt that the Mormon state goes to Mitt? I am working on the Connecticut for Santorum effort. We want to deliver the Second Congressional District, which consists of Eastern CT,  to Santorum for three delegates. Leave a comment below if you want to help our efforts here in CT.

Santorum cares deeply about unemployment

There have been a lot of headlines from the Mainstream Media saying "Santorum doesn't care about unemployment numbers". It is just NOT TRUE!
 Its a case of a sound bite being taken out of context. Last night, Rick was on Greta Van Susteren's show and said that the unemployment numbers were caused by too much government interference in the economy and that was the reason the unemployment  numbers were high. He said he didn't care about what the numbers were in November, because even if they go down, the underlying problem of too much government control eroding our freedoms will remain if we re-elect Obama.This must be our focus, regardless of what the numbers are in November.
Rick is anticipating that the Obama Administration will fix the unemployment statistics in time to get him re-elected without eliminating one economy-choking regulation. As it is, the unemployment numbers are doctored to look better, deliberately leaving out those, like me, who have given up on finding a job. I have heard it said that the true unemployment rate is somewhere in the 20% range,  counting those who have given up on finding work. That is the context of his saying he 'doesn't care about unemployment numbers'.
The Obama Administration is expert at covering up the real agenda, increasing government control over every aspect of our lives, with ridiculous overreach like  forcing schoolchildren to undergo lunch inspection while the  administration ignores true risks to children by allowing hardcore pornography on the Internet, defying existing laws. Obama wants to force the Catholic Church and its institutions to pay for abortificacient drugs while they withdraw federal healthcare funds for women from Texas because they passed a mandatory sonogram law which gives women a chance to be informed about what abortion is before she does it.
The Obama spin machine is run by his allies in the New York Times, et al, and is desperate to cover up an abysmal record on the economy, rampant overspending, and his ignoring the financial stress of Americans while he pursues his Bill Ayers, Derrick Bell, George Soros, Jeremiah Wright inspired agenda. Socialism is his goal, and destruction of capitalism is his means to achieve that goal. What will he do in a second term if he is this radical when he knows he will have to be re-elected?
Rick Santorum is the candidate who understands the principal of subsidiarity, the most local level of government possible should be in charge; for example local school boards runs schools better than bloated DC bureaucracies, and parents are the best educators of their children in matters of nutrition and morality.
Rick comes from Western PA a formerly depressed area of the country, which has been experiencing a revival, he wants his Made in American plan to revive American manufacture and bring jobs back from China.
Rick wants to give us the freedom to prosper and raise our families in peace w-thout the nanny state.

CHRISTIAN SINGER AND THREE-TIME GRAMMY WINNER MICHAEL W. SMITH ENDORSES SANTORUM FOR PRESIDENT

The Rick Santorum for President Campaign is proud to announce that it has received the endorsement of Michael W. Smith.

Michael W. Smith said: "Rick has been a friend for many years and know him personally as a man of strong faith, character and conviction. He is committed to his family and has consistently and faithfully served our country. Rick has fought for life, for marriage and for the least of these. And that is why I support my friend - Rick Santorum. We need a leader who will stand fast to his convictions and lead our country with an unwavering moral compass. I know Rick Santorum to be a man of great character - and worthy of the office of President of the United States."

Michael W. Smith is one of Christian contemporary music's most awarded and renowned artists - winning three Grammy Awards and 40 Dove Awards. Smith has sold more than 13 million albums, recorded 29 number one hits, 14 Gold Albums, and 5 Platinum Albums. Smith is active in charity work, including serving as an avid spokesperson for sponsoring children through Compassion International.

I have been to Amy Grant concerts in the 1980's where Michael W. Smith was her warm up act. Here is my favorite song:
Great is the Lord.

The truth about the Catholic vote

Excellent article on American Catholic from David Hartline,  which I hope the Democratic strategists never read.

The divide between the truth of the election results and the punditry of the mainstream media is seemingly growing every major primary election night. Perhaps none more than the recent Super Tuesday results, especially those of Ohio. How could it possibly be that Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania Senator won the youth vote, all voters under 44, and the married women vote? If one listens to the mainstream media, especially that of NBC, MSNBC and the New York Times one would think the only people voting for Rick Santorum would be rust belt pre-Vatican II ordained Catholic priests, and an amalgamation of southern characters such as Jed Clampett, Mr. Haney, as well as some assorted extras from the set of Deliverance.However, the true exit poll results tell us something quite different.

Hartline goes on to give an in-depth analysis of what is the Catholic vote, why it's not monolithic, and how it got that way. And how its changing for the better, thanks to the youth. He describes his youth as a pro-life Democrat, working for the presidential campaign of pro-life Jesse Jackson. You heard me right. Jackson was pro-life until he ran for president.
 At a pro-life pancake breakfast on Long Island, former friend of Rev Jackson and frequent guest on EWTN, Delores Bernadette Grier, told how Jesse who was himself nearly aborted as a baby, was a pro-life activist with the Archdiocese of New York,and  convinced her to become active in the pro-life movement. She said he was told he had to be pro-abortion in order to run for the presidency and gave in.
So many Catholics followed suit, in order to be accepted by the wider culture, and have the luxuries they craved, they used birth control and voted pro-abortion. They are the Cathoiics who voted for Obama and like,  Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, are cultural Catholics from the Coast.
They have no clue that there is a large, vibrant John Paul II generation just now coming of age to vote. Its been said that home-schoolers are Rick's secret army, and even here in Eastern CT we are organizing for him, and praying for him. Rick knows, I think he intentionally chose Steubenville, OH for his speech on Super Tuesday, since it is the home of JPII Catholic bastion, Franciscan University.  I bet he has a lot of support there.At the end of the month, I will be taking my daughter Gabbi for her interview and campus visit, and will investigate the Santorumentum in that school.

 John Kerry, another cultural Catholic found this out the hard way in 2004 during a campaign rally there. Catholic Evangelist Scott Hahn's son led half of t he student body to the rally carrying signs reading, "You can't be Catholic and Pro-abortion!".
I pray that such a surprise awaits our president on a November eve, when we deliver a win to President Rick Santorum.
Read the entire article here. 

The softer side of Rick Santorum; Karen's first interview with CBS

When I met the Santorums together in New Hampshire, there was an empathy between them, they are a team marked by mutual love and respect. This interview shows the type of bonds which are forged in a strong 22 year marriage, bolstered by a vibrant faith and constant prayer. What a couple they would be in the White House!

Ohio Conservative Leaders coalesce behind Rick Santorum

Verona, PA - The Rick Santorum for President campaign is proud to announce that it has received the endorsement of two dozen Ohio conservative leaders and activists.

In a joint release, Seth Morgan said: "Success in 2012 equals Obama out of the White House," said Seth Morgan. "Rick Santorum can unite the conservative base of our party while appealing to an American public that is fed up with Washington intrusion in our markets, economy, and lives. Rick Santorum needs to win Ohio and then will win America - restoring hope for our future."

Among those who endorsed are:

Seth Morgan, Former State Representative, Radio Show Host, Conservative Coalition Leader

Phil Burress, President of Citizens for Community Values
Tom Zawistowski, Founder of Portage County Tea Party
Lori Viars, President of Conservative Republican Leadership Committee
Linda Theis, President of Ohio ProLife Action
Brad Mattes, Executive Director of Life Issues Institute
Tony Maas, Board Member of Family First
Mark Lucas, Leader of Hilliard-Galloway Tea Party & 912
Diane Stover, Director of NE Ohio Values Voters
Bobbi Radeck, State Director of Concerned Women for America of Ohio
Glenn Newman, Founder of Marietta 912
Burr Robinson, Chairman of Cincinnati East Tea Party
Andy Douglas, Director of Christians for Constitutional Awareness
Larry Heller, Leader of Miami Township Tea Party
Joseph Platt, Board Member of Family First
Sue Hardenbergh, Co-Leader of Anderson Tea Party
Paula Westwood, Executive Director of Cincinnati Right to Life
Scott Nichols, Co-Founder of Clermont County Tea Party
Crystal Gurry, Legislative Liaison of Concerned Women for America of Ohio
Calvin Pauley, Miami Township Tea Party Screening Committee
Kelly Kohls, Chairman of Warren County Tea Party
Debbie Smith, President of Warren County Right to Life
Dawn Slike, Former Operations Director, Lake County Right to Life
Marcie Garrison Longenecker, Executive Committee of Liberty Alliance Cincinnati

Verona, PA - The Rick Santorum for President campaign is proud to announce that it has received the endorsement of two dozen Ohio conservative leaders and activists.

In a joint release, Seth Morgan said: "Success in 2012 equals Obama out of the White House," said Seth Morgan. "Rick Santorum can unite the conservative base of our party while appealing to an American public that is fed up with Washington intrusion in our markets, economy, and lives. Rick Santorum needs to win Ohio and then will win America - restoring hope for our future."

Rick Santorum's Op Ed in the Wall Street Journal

SANTORUM OP-ED IN WALL STREET JOURNAL OUTLINES BOLD ECONOMIC FREEDOM AGENDA

My Economic Freedom Agenda We need bold tax reform, but Mitt Romney wants to tinker at the margins. By RICK SANTORUM, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL America's budget process is broken. Our economy and American families are struggling, and the country needs bold reforms and major restructuring, not tinkering at the margins. Obamanomics has left one in six Americans in poverty, and one in four children on food stamps. Millions seek jobs and others have given up. Meanwhile, my opponent in the Republican primaries, Mitt Romney, had a last-minute conversion. Attempting to distract from his record of tax and fee increases as governor of Massachusetts, poor job creation, and aggressive pursuit of earmarks, he now says he wants to follow my lead and lower individual as well as corporate marginal tax rates. It's a good start. But it doesn't go nearly far enough. He says his proposed tax cuts would be revenue neutral and, borrowing the language of Occupy Wall Street, promises the top 1% will pay for the cuts. No pro-growth tax policy there, just more Obama-style class warfare. By contrast, in my first 100 days as president, I'll submit to Congress and work to pass a comprehensive pro-growth and pro-family Economic Freedom Agenda. Here are 10 of its main initiatives: * Unleash America's energy. I'll approve the Keystone Pipeline for jobs and energy security, and sign an order on day one unleashing America's domestic energy production, allowing states to choose where they want to explore for oil and natural gas and to set their own regulations for hydrofracking. * Stop job-killing regulation. All Obama administration regulations that have an economic burden over $100 million will be repealed, including the Environmental Protection Agency rule on CO2 emissions that's already shut down six power plants. I'll review all regulations, making sure they use sound science and cost benefit analysis. * A pro-growth, pro-family tax policy. I'll submit to Congress comprehensive tax policies to strengthen opportunity in our country, with only two income tax rates of 10% and 28%. To help families, I'll triple the personal deduction for children and eliminate the marriage tax penalty. * Restore America's competitiveness. The corporate tax rate should be halved, to a flat rate of 17.5%. Corporations should be allowed to expense all business equipment and investment. Taxes on corporate earnings repatriated from overseas should be eliminated to bring home manufacturing. I'll take the lead on tort reform to lower costs to consumers. * Rein in spending. I'll propose spending cuts of $5 trillion over five years, including cuts for the remainder of fiscal year 2013. I'll propose budgets that spend less money each year than prior years, and I'll reduce the nondefense-related federal work force by at least 10%, without replacing them with private contractors. * Repeal and replace ObamaCare. I'll submit legislation to repeal ObamaCare, and on day one issue an executive order ending related regulatory obligations on the states. I'll work with Congress to replace ObamaCare with competitive insurance choices to improve quality and limit the costs of health care, while protecting those with uninsurable health conditions. In contrast, Gov. Romney signed into law RomneyCare, which provided the model for ObamaCare. Its best-known feature is its overreaching individual health-care mandate. But it shares over a dozen other similarities with ObamaCare and has given Massachusetts the highest health-care premiums in the nation, and longer waits for health care. * Balance the budget. I'll submit to Congress a budget that will balance within four years and call on Congress to pass a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution which limits federal spending to 18% of GDP. * Negotiate and submit free trade agreements. Because many Americans work for companies which export, I'll initiate negotiations in the first 100 days and submit to Congress five free trade agreements during my first year in office to increase exports. * Reform entitlements. I'll cut means-tested entitlement programs by 10% across the board, freeze them for four years, and block grant them to states-as I did as the author of welfare reform in 1996. I'll reform Medicare and Social Security so they are fiscally sustainable for seniors and young people. * Revive housing. I'll submit plans to Congress to phase out within several years Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's federal housing role, reform and make transparent the Federal Reserve, and allow families whose mortgages are "underwater" to deduct losses from the sale of their home in order to get a fresh start in difficult economic times. I'll work with Congress and the American people to once again create an economic environment where hard work is rewarded, equal opportunity exists for all, and families providing for their children can once again be optimistic about their future.

Pro-family Santorum supporters tour Michigan

Santorum may not have big money, but he has supporters! Here's a press release from the Susan B Anthony List a grassroots pro-life group.

Social Conservatives to Kick-Off Michigan Bus Tour SupportingRick Santorum for President
Susan B. Anthony List Leads Effort to Elect Proven Leader

WASHINGTON, DC ─ On Thursday, February 23, 2012 the Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) will launch a six-day bus tour and pro-life grassroots mobilization effort across the state of Michigan to support Rick Santorum’s presidential candidacy leading up to the Tuesday primary. Joining the Susan B. Anthony List will be representatives from the Culture War Victory Fund, Catholic Vote, Campaign for Working Families and Let Freedom Ring, as well as local leaders from each city. Tour stops and information is available at: http://www.sba-list.org/rickbus.
“Among the field of strong pro-life candidates in the GOP primary, Rick Santorum stands out as a proven leader. None of the candidates have the record of consistent leadership that Rick Santorum has demonstrated on these key issues,” said Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, Project Director at SBA List.


WHO: Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs at SBA List and former Member of Congress from Colorado
Maggie Gallagher, Director of Culture War Victory Fund and co-founder of the National Organization for Marriage
Brian Burch, Founder of Catholic Vote
Gary Bauer, President of Campaign for Working Families
Colin Hanna, Let Freedom Ring
Local Michigan leaders

WHAT: Michigan social conservatives press tour and mobilization campaign
TOUR SCHEDULE (all times EST)

Thursday, February 23
Grand Rapids, 10:00am ET; Holiday Inn, 310 Pearl St. NW

Muskegon, 12:15pm ET; Convention & Visitors Bureau, 610 Western Ave.

Holland, 2:30pm ET; Centennial Park. 10th Street side near Gazebo

St. Joseph/Benton Harbor, 4:45pm ET; Lake Bluff Park, Intersection of Lake Blvd. & Market St.

Friday, February 24

Kalamazoo, 10:00am ET; TownePlace Suites, 5683 S. 9th St

Battle Creek, 12:00pm ET; Bob Evans, 5421 North Beckley Rd.

Lansing, 2:30pm ET; Outside State Capitol, Capitol Ave. and Michigan Ave.

Saturday, February 25

Jackson, 10:00am ET; Holiday Inn, 2696 Bob McClain Dr.

Hillsdale, 12:30pm ET; Hillsdale College (In front of Student Union)

Detroit, 6:00pm ET; TBD

Sunday, February 26

Flint, 4:00pm ET, Applebee’s; G-3129 Miller Road

Monday, February 27

Saginaw, 10:00am ET; Fairfield Inn, 5200 Fashion Square Boulevard

Midland, 12:00pm ET; Bob Evans, 7000 Eastman Ave.

Traverse City, 3:45pm ET; Holiday Inn, 615 East Front St.

Tuesday, February 28

Mount Pleasant, 1:00pm ET; Ponderosa Steakhouse, 1301 E. Pickard Rd.

Santorum stands against Eugenic abortion of disabled babies

There has been no outcry by the Mainstream Media on this one.Funny.
 Rick Santorum mentioned in an interview with Bob Schiffer that prenatal testing leads to abortion almost 100% of the time. Santorum then explained that the Obama Administration wants to mandate prenatal testing for all women, at the taxpayer's expense. Its merely a way to cut costs, force moms to know that their babies have a disability and she'll be pressured into an abortion. It has been told to me by nearly all the contributors to my book "A Special Mother is Born" how, when they either refused testing or expressed their wish to give birth to a disabled baby, that the doctors put tremendous pressure on them. Here we see no respect for women's informed consent, or her choice. Or the babies themselves. I thought we respected diversity in America, but if you have an extra chromosome, you are deemed unfit to live..
Santorum knows this and though he doesn't oppose prenatal testing, he knows what's behind the Obama mandate of pre-natal testing; A plan to cut costs by killing babies with disabilities. Its cheaper to perform "search-and-destroy" missions on babies prenatally than pay for special education afterwards.  Money over precious babies. That's how he's going to pay for those free contraception, the other cost cutting measure.

“The bottom line is that a lot of prenatal tests are done to identify deformities in utero and the customary procedure is to encourage abortion,” he said. Santorum said he is concerned because “because free prenatal testing ends up in more abortions and therefore less care that has to be done because we cull the ranks of the disabled in our society.”
“That, too, is part of Obamacare, another hidden message as to what President Obama thinks of those who are less able than the elites who want to govern our country,” Santorum said.

 No one in the media touched this except Chris Matthews who talked about it in one sentence, but quickly left the topic, saying that pre-natal testing was 'controversial'. Yes it is, and he knows that Santorum's comments could potentially raise alarm bells if too many people were to find out he's defending unborn babies from abortion for their disabilities. That might put Santorum in the position of being a hero. too late Chris, we already see him that way! Here's why;

Santorum faced another crisis when his daughter, Bella, was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, a chromosomal condition which results in stillbirth 50 percent of the time. At first, Santorum was emotionally detached from his disabled daughter but, when she faced her own battle for life, he suddenly realized, “This child…can do nothing but love me.”
Santorum observed, “That’s me with the (Heavenly) Father—I am so profoundly disabled in His eyes.”

He may be disabled in god's eyes, but far more disabled is Obama who will push eugenic abortion if re-elected. His soul is damaged beyond words to support eugenic abortions.

Read more of Santorum's interview on Life News. 

Santorum: thank you for the contraception conversation

If a year ago, you told me that Americans would be discussing the pros and cons of  the use of contraception in every major news outlet, I would have questioned your sanity. Before I was old enough to vote, a series of Supreme Court decisions had legalized contraception, and during my single years, contraception became the easiest and cheapest medication available.It was pushed at me from every angle, whether I wanted it or not.  It was considered a must for healthy living, as necessary as your toothpaste or vitamins. The debate was declared officially over.
Now, thanks to Rick Santorum's bold comments in 2006

“I don’t think it works, I think it’s harmful to women, I think it’s harmful to our society, to have a society that says that sex outside of marriage is something that should be encouraged or tolerated, particularly among the young, and I think we’ve seen very, very harmful long term consequences to society,” said Santorum in a 2006 interview

 Santorum did the unthinkable;  he dared to call into question the accepted wisdom of society on contraception, all hell has broken loose. Look at the culture of death, its beside itself with rage over this issue!

 And we are all talking about contraception.On TV, on the radio, in the papers, on the web, and over the back fence.  And, contrary to conventional wisdom, that convention is a gotcha issue, toxic to a presidential campaign, its become a powerful unifying force according to Kathleen Gilbert at Life Site News;

The controversy could be seen as pumping renewed energy into America’s conservative religious identity, and by extension, its most religiously conservative candidate. The latest Pew Research Center poll found Santorum ahead of Romney nationally by two points, 30-28%.
The events are a felicitous twist for the senator who entered the race with a plan to enter territory few politicians are wont to go. Even before the mandate became front-and-center news last month, Santorum had already signaled that he was planning on bringing his views about contraception to the surface.
“One of the things I will talk about that no president has talked about before is I think the dangers of contraception in this country, the whole sexual libertine idea,” he said in an October interview.
As Rubin noted in her recent column, Santorum’s heretofore obscure effort has wound up radically successful. “Santorum’s beliefs about contraception have injected Catholic theology into a presidential campaign season that was supposed to be all about the economy,” she wrote.

I  believe that because forty years of contraception on demand has so negatively affected women's health (read Dr Gerard Nadal on how the WHO considers the pill a Class 1 carcinogen) and relationships (the steep decline of marriage and the objectification of women  is directly related to removing procreation from sexual relations) that we as a society are beginning to realize that the Catholic Church was right when she alone remained the only Church to maintain the ban on contraception.Before the Lambeth Conference of 1930 ALL major religious groups banned contraception. And,  disobedient Catholics, as well as our non-Catholic bretheren may be rethinking the wisdom of Humanae Vitae, thanks be to God.
We can thank Obama for the resplendent display of ecumenical unity against the HHS mandate, with the "We are all Catholic" now movement, but without those courageous comments by Santorum setting off a firestorm once they surfaced in an attempt to discredit him as a viable candidate, I doubt this conversation would be taking place.
Catholics, make good use of this evangelical opportunity of a lifetime. Remember it was the Church's stand on contraception which brought us outstanding converts like Dr Scott and Kimberly Hahn. When the Church shows her wisdom boldly,   it is irresistible. People who at first rant and rave, are really listening. And hearts will change if we continue to proclaim the truth that contraception is wrong with clarity and without shame.

Read the entire Life Site Article here. 

What's with the focus on contraception?

Martin Bashir on MSNBC was postulating that Santorum SuperPac funder Foster Friess' reference to contraception means the end of Santorum's campaign. At least his liberal panel, who were salivating at the prospect of taking out Santorum, agreed. Jonathan Alter said, in effect, just give it time, we will make contraception an election-winning issue. These pundits are jumping ahead of the game, according to Ann Coulter who has made the argument that making social issues like contraception prevalent, is Obama's way of giving Santorum the nomination, since he will be easier to beat than Romney in the general election.

I disagree in my piece over at Catholic Lane. 

Obama and Ann Coulter think they have the election figured out

Ann Coulter on The Sean Hannity Show with guest host Mark Simone. She bragged about Romney, her candidate winning the CPAC Straw Poll, and how she swayed the crowd. She pointed out the weaknesses of Rick Santorum in a recent interview with Mike Wallace. He always gets nervous about providing a sound bite that can be used against him with social issues(can you blame him?) and awkwardly tried to squirm away from a quote from his book, "It Takes a Family" saying that the feminist movement demeans the role of stay at home moms. Ann was right, that is a wonderful book and there is nothing to be ashamed of in that sound quote, so Rick blew it when he said Karen wrote that chapter, even though her name is not listed as co-author of the book. Who knows how she helped him word that as we worked on it so as not to offend women. 

But to use that minor mishap as a reason for Rick being unelectable is on its face, ridiculous. Its awkward but not as bad as Romney saying "I like to fire people" or "I don't care about the very poor". Those are election losing quotes. Remember when George HW Bush had never before seen a scanner at the supermarket, or McCain couldn't tell a reporter how many houses he owns? Those were election killers.Rick's dodge may not be smooth, but it hardly reveals unsavory things about his character or kills his chances at being elected.

Ann Coulter went on to assert that the Obama Administration is releasing a moral outrage a week(Susan B Komen, Proposition 8, HHS mandate) in order to keep the social conservatives riled up and keep Santorum winning elections because they are so sure that they can beat him. I suppose Ann hasn't seen the poll where Santorum beats Obama in a one on one match-up. And she didn't hear the pundits on MSNBC bemoaning the fact that Obama (who is living like a billionaire with his golf outings, multiple luxury vacations and wife's expensive wardrobe) is alienating 66% of swing voters. Maybe they'll prefer the son of an Italian immigrant, grandson of a coal miner, from a steel town in Western PA. David Brooks seems to think so in his piece, "Workers of the World, Unite!"

This year, Romney is trying to establish some emotional bond with the working class by waging a hyperpatriotic campaign: I may be the son of a millionaire with a religion that makes you uncomfortable, but I love this country just like you. The strategy appears to be only a partial success.
Enter Rick Santorum.
Santorum is the grandson of a coal miner and the son of an Italian immigrant. For years, he represented the steel towns of western Pennsylvania. He has spent the last year scorned by the news media — working relentlessly, riding around in a pickup truck to more than 370 towns. He tells that story of hard work and elite disrespect with great fervor at his meetings.
His worldview is not individualistic. His book, “It Takes a Family,” was infused with the conservative wing of Catholic social teaching. It was a broadside against Barry Goldwater-style conservatism in favor of one that emphasized family and social solidarity. While in Congress, he was a leader in nearly every serious piece of antipoverty legislation. On the stump, he cries, “The left has a religion, too. It’s just not based on the Bible. It’s based on the religion of self.”

He is not a representative of the corporate or financial wing of the party. Santorum certainly wants to reduce government spending (faster even than Representative Paul Ryan). He certainly wants tax reform. But he goes out of his way in his speeches to pick fights with the “supply-siders.” He scorns the Wall Street bailouts. His economic arguments are couched as values arguments: If you want to enhance long-term competitiveness, you need to strengthen families. If companies want productive workers, they need to be embedded in wholesome communities.

David Brooks, a moderate Republican thinks that Santorum's populism may resonate with Reagan Democrats, who are more socially conservative than most pundits give them credit for. They are in dire straits financially, since many of them are in the manufacturing sector, and normally consider the GOP too full of fat cats to be responsive to their needs.  These voters reject  candidates like Dole, George HW Bush,  McCain and Romney. Perhaps that is why they also are giving Obama abysmal poll numbers. They want a regular guy candidate in a sweater vest. So if Obama chases the electorate into Santorum's camp, they may never leave. 

How do I know this?

I, a lifelong pro-lifer, come from a long line of Catholic Democrats. My Grandma from Ireland signed unto the Democratic Party somewhere on Ellis Island. My Italian grandparents were Democratic committeemen, but in the 1976 GOP Convention, my Grandma who was a huge Kennedy fan, began to notice another Irishman in the crowd, by the name of Ronnie Reagan. She noticed a Republican because of his principled stand on abortion, one which the Democrats were leaving behind. And in 1980, she nearly cast her first vote for a Republican, by voting for Ronald Reagan for President. But an accident landed her in the hospital with a broken hip. "See", she told me ruefully, "God didn't want me to vote for a Republican!"

I didn't have the heart to tell her that I voted that year, for the very first time at 18, for Reagan. 

Grandma always told me, "the Republicans are for the rich, Democrats are for the little guy". That used to be the case, and if we put up Romney as our candidate, it will continue to be. She is not alone. 

Brooks says, 

If you took a working-class candidate from the right, like Santorum, and a working-class candidate from the left, like Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and you found a few islands of common ground, you could win this election by a landslide. The country doesn’t want an election that is Harvard Law versus Harvard Law.

 Obama is distant, elitist, and has let the economy slip further downhill,  and Romney is big money. Only Santorum appeals  to the regular guy look in his nerdy sweater vest. He has a Made in America plan to revive ailing manufacturers and entice those offshore to return to the USA by eliminating their corporate taxes.The Wall Street Journal did not like his favoring the manufacturing sector of the economy.

But, the swing voters, the ones who decide elections  just might.

Why Rick Santorum can win the election

According to David Brooks in his article in the New York Times, "Workers of the World Unite" 
 Rick is exactly what Reagan Democrats and working class Republicans are looking for and not finding in the rich 'front-runners' of either party.
Brooks explains:

It’s a diverse group, obviously, but its members generally share certain beliefs and experiences. The economy has been moving away from them. The ethnic makeup of the country is shifting away from them. They sense that the nation has gone astray: marriage is in crisis; the work ethic is eroding; living standards are in danger; the elites have failed; the news media sends out messages that make it harder to raise decent kids. They face greater challenges, and they’re on their own.
The Republicans harvest their votes but have done a poor job responding to their needs. The leading lights of the party tend to be former College Republicans who have a more individualistic and even Randian worldview than most members of the working class. Most Republican presidential candidates, from George H.W. Bush to John McCain to Mitt Romney, emerge from an entirely different set of experiences.

 Rick is man of the people who understands the real suffering this economy is inflicting on those of us who wonder if we can afford to buy gas if it goes up to $5/gallon. Do you think Romney ever pumped his own gas? He can't even wear a pair of Levis convincingly.
Rick's Made in America plan to revive the manufacturing sector is based on his experience in rust belt. His down to earth style and honesty are winning hearts and votes, in the Heartland. Pittsburgh whose empty factories experienced a renewal through the medical technology industry.

Here's how Brooks sees him;

Santorum is the grandson of a coal miner and the son of an Italian immigrant. For years, he represented the steel towns of western Pennsylvania. He has spent the last year scorned by the news media — working relentlessly, riding around in a pickup truck to more than 370 towns. He tells that story of hard work and elite disrespect with great fervor at his meetings.
His worldview is not individualistic. His book, “It Takes a Family,” was infused with the conservative wing of Catholic social teaching. It was a broadside against Barry Goldwater-style conservatism in favor of one that emphasized family and social solidarity. While in Congress, he was a leader in nearly every serious piece of antipoverty legislation. On the stump, he cries, “The left has a religion, too. It’s just not based on the Bible. It’s based on the religion of self.”

Rick is a Catholic first and a Republican second. Of course pundits and GOP leadership are not comfortable with that. I think I actually saw Sean Hannity trying not to wince as he announced Santorum's victories. But that non-conformity with the elites in each party may the the reason he resonates so well in the Heartland.

Rick sweeps Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado!

 Santorum is the superior candidate in policy and in his ability to articulate a conservative agenda to heal the economy and society, but so often Americans listen to the media when they annoint someone (Romney) or fall for the catchy soundbites of a candidate with no stability (Newt), that I had trouble keeping the faith that the stellar qualities of Rick Santorum would have a chance in the spotlight. Especially since he was cheated out of his Iowa bounce and is too easily written off by the media. Charles Krauthammer led the Fox Allstars in a group mea culpa last night which was very gratifying!
Let me be clear; Santorum is THE best chance we have to beat Obama.
I watch MSNBC and CNN to see what the enemy is thinking and the left has been lamenting lately that Obama has lost 2/3 of the Reagan Democrats. THEY ARE THE SWING VOTERS ON WHOM THIS ELECTION DEPENDS. And they are up for grabs. Rick can win them. Here's how.
They are conservative, midwest high school graduates, blue collar workers who are afraid of the direction in which this nation is heading. They don't like snobs like McCain who doesn't remember how many houses he owns, Obama with his fancy Hawaiian vacations, or Romney who doesn't worry about the poor. They want a man from steel country whose grandfather was a coal miner, and who helped downtrodden Pittsburgh rise from the ashes. Rick's populist message resonates with them and they agree with his solid economic policy and family values. AND they know that with Rick, what you see is what you get. He is the real deal.

Here is his victory speech. I love how God, Karen and the kids get first mention! He sounds presidential, doesn't he?

Bella Santorum recovering from double pneumonia

From the Family Research Council:

If you've been following the Santorum campaign, then you know Rick and his wife, Karen, had quite a scare last weekend when their littlest daughter, Bella, was hospitalized. The Santorums' three-year-old suffers from a genetic disorder called Trisomy 18, and a complication like pneumonia can be deadly. Rick cancelled his campaign appearances to be with Bella, but they're happy to report that their daughter is making a miraculous recovery.

I had the opportunity to talk with Fox News's Megyn Kelly yesterday about Bella Santorum and kids like her. FRC had just finished up a special conference on the topic of prenatal disability diagnosis. Tragically, about 90% of the kids who have conditions like Bella's are aborted. Sometimes parents are misled into thinking that their baby or their family will have a poor quality of life. But a study released this fall found the opposite. It showed that adolescent children with Down Syndrome are actually very happy--off-the-charts happy compared to the average teenager. And of all those parents who followed through and had their children, 97% were proud of them. Seventy-nine percent said their outlook on life was more positive because of their Down Syndrome child. Just ask the Santorums. Rick and Karen admit that Bella has some difficulties, but she brings them more joy than anyone could imagine. Join us in praying for a complete and speedy recovery!

See Megan Kelly interview Tony Perkins about Rick and Bella Santorum here. 

Why Santorum is a lightning rod and a savior

It is painfully clear why the liberal left hates Rick Santorum; its his stand on moral issues. But where does that visceral hatred originate? It goes way beyond partisanship, to deep emotional wounds which are the consequences of the very sexual immorality he opposes.Otherwise there would be opposition to him but not hatred. And sadly I don't believe its limited to the left. I think millions of Republicans have hatred for him because he occupies the high moral ground which they have ceded to the culture of death and they, instead of seeking healing by supporting him, are trying to silence his voice.

Most of this is a result of the pain caused by abortion. It is said that forty percent of women have had an abortion in the USA, many of them repeat abortions. This is creating untold, unspoken, buried suffering in millions of women and men, and it makes me angry. I am not so angry at those who have had abortions, many of them were lied to, told there was no baby, it would not affect them any more than an appendectomy, that their problems would be solved, or in the case of special needs children, that they were being good parents and sparing their children suffering. I am angry at those whose livelihood require perpetuating this lie. Like the Planned Parenthood reps who invaded the public high schools in minority neighborhoods where I taught to encourage sexual promiscuity with a wink, knowing that such activity would lead these youths into the abortion mill where Planned Parenthood makes its living. According to an article in the Star Exponent on Bella Santorum and abortion;

British Journal of Psychiatry contains the research findings of Prof. Priscilla Coleman, Ph.D. of Bowling Green State University entitled, “Abortion and mental health: quantitative synthesis and analysis of research published 1995–2009”.
Dr. Coleman concludes that: “Based on data extracted from 22 studies, the results of this meta-analytic review of the abortion and mental health literature indicate quite consistently that abortion is associated with moderate to highly increased risks of psychological problems subsequent to the procedure…Overall, the results revealed that women who had undergone an abortion experienced an 81% increased risk of mental health problems"

So many Republicans have not been living up to those moral ideals held by Santorum, and are suffering the regret and denial which post-abortive women and men suffer, but instead of seeking healing, they are shooting the messenger, moral issue candidate Rick Santorum with a long, faithful marriage and eight children (one of whom Gabriel has left this world for heaven). Most of his fellow Catholics are using forbidden contraception, and hate Santorum for correctly stating that is is the cause of abortion in this nation. The great majority of abortions are performed on women whose contraception has failed, in fact the Supreme Court used our dependence on contraception as an excuse for abortion according to Professor Janet Smith;

Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the recent Supreme Court decision that confirmed Roe v. Wade, stated, "in some critical respects abortion is of the same character as the decision to use contraception . . . . for two decades of economic and social developments, people have organized intimate relationships and made choices that define their views of themselves and their places in society, in reliance on the availability of abortion in the event that contraception should fail."

So, I firmly believe that there is a large, but silent group of Republicans and Catholics who know Santorum is right on abortion and marriage but that to endorse him would mean they would have to face their own moral failures, choose instead to support Newt whose serial adulteries and three marriages make them feel more comfortable or Mitt whose liberal past makes his protestations of moral conservatism laughable.

Rush Limbaugh once said, after Bill Clinton was elected that we get the candidate we deserve. He was referring to Clinton's addictive womanizing which he covered up by perjury which brought on his impeachment, and lowered the moral tone of the nation. My homeschooled Catholic children know what oral sex is thanks to Bill Clinton. Now we have a president who is mandating birth control coverage by Catholic institutions, and soon abortions will be forced upon them as well either causing them to cave in and cease being a light in the darkness or close their doors. Obama had a slight majority of the Catholic vote, and useful Catholic idiots like Biden, Pelosi, Doug Kmiec and Chris Matthews on his side. Once again, we got the immoral president we deserve.

Do we deserve Rick Santorum? Perhaps not, but I have hope that the Obama Administration's arrogance and recent overreaching may yet awakened the sleeping giant of Catholic conscience, and remind us that the only candidate who reflects our all important moral values was just off the campaign trail to be at his daughter Bella Maria's bedside in the hospital this weekend.

We are at a crossroads. This may be our last chance to try and regain the family structure and moral stability on which American was built. We cannot afford the social programs required by the social and economic chaos created by the rampant promiscuity in America :welfare, prisons, subsidized contraception and abortion, and food stamps to replace responsible, married love and solid moral character supported by good parenting.Rush Limbaugh in a transcript from his show, admits Santorum is right on the link between social and economic issues.

I have the greatest admiration for Santorum. He had a statement or debate, somebody, a think tank person, Brookings or whatever, something like three things -- it might not have been Brookings, but some think tank -- three things you could do that take care of income inequality, that take care of cultural rot, and they were all family-oriented type issues, and one of them was don't have kids before you get married. It's amazing when you look at the numbers of single-parent households, out of wedlock births. If you look at that definition, if you accept it as a sign of the disintegration of culture, the family breakup, it is amazing. Santorum is right.

Santorum offers us a way out; support the family and restore moral, civil and financial order. Are we wise enough and moral enough to take him up on it?