Santorum Focuses on Iran in Debate, on the Campaign Trail, and in New Radio Ad
EmailJust minutes before the GOP 2012 contenders took the stage in Spartanburg, S.C. for the CBS/National Journal debate on foreign policy, Rick Santorum released a radio ad touting his experience and toughness on Iran while calling President Obama a “disaster.”
As in an earlier address on Iran this week in New Hampshire, during the debate the former Pennsylvania senator said there needs to be a “laser- beam focus” on preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
He said “covert operations” were ongoing to slow the development of those weapons and added that he hoped the deaths of some Iranian scientists were the result of American involvement.
“This is the most important national security issue, the Iranian nuke. All of us should be able to answer that question. We need to put tough sanctions in place for Iran,” Santorum said before criticizing both the Bush and Obama administrations for not being strong enough on Iran.
“President Bush and President Obama did not give money to the pro-democracy movement in Iran. Sanctions are not going to be enough. You need to read the IAEA report. We should be working with Israel right now. Take out the nuclear capability. We need to stop this before we have a nuclear explosion in Iran and the world changes,” Santorum said.
The ad titled “Disaster” has tough words for Obama, and says Santorum is the only candidate “talking about Iran.”
“Some say Barack Obama is a disaster. The truth, he’d have to dramatically improve to be considered a disaster. And now, a new report exposes how Iran is moving rapidly to develop a nuclear weapon and once again Obama has no plan,” the ad says referring to the IAEA report released this week. “Unfortunately, the Republican presidential candidates aren’t talking about Iran either, except one: Rick Santorum. But it’s not surprising, Rick Santorum served on the Armed Services Committee for 8 years and he wrote tough legislation to help stop Iran’s growing aggression. Even Newt Gingrich said no one has done more than Santorum to alert America to the dangers posed by Iran.”
Santorum is not the only candidate mentioning Iran on the stump. Mitt Romney released an op-ed this week in the Wall Street Journal writing that he also would not let Iran develop nuclear weapons.
In Santorum’s speech on Iran Thursday, he called for a “preemptive strike” on that country if Iran is indeed building nuclear weapons.
Santorum’s ad will air in the early states beginning this Tuesday, but according to a campaign aide the other details, like exactly which states and how large the buy will be, are still being determined.
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THIS is your article on the debate? An entire article on Santorum?
Posted by: keredte | November 12, 2011, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm
Before ABC writes any follow-up articles, they should read same very informative articles.
“Iran Nuclear Report” Why It May Not be a Game Changer After All” (Christian Science Monitor11-09-2011) and IAEA’s Soviet Nuclear Scientist Never Worked on Weapons”. The deliberate misinformation that was fed to IAEA by Israel and their willing accomplises at the US State Deaprtment has been used by all the Republicans to demonize the Iranians and threaten war. Too many Republican candidates are willing to demagogue the issue for votes from an amazing crowd of ignorant voters.fa
Posted by: Aarky | November 12, 2011, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm
Is this guy even running at 2%? I’m so sick of war mongers.
Posted by: lexingtonlady | November 12, 2011, 11:04 pm 11:04 pm
Not the best responses for the night.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | November 12, 2011, 11:46 pm 11:46 pm
Thanks, Rick! You are so helpful, while your country is obviously in a delicate diplomatic situation concerning Iran’s alleged nuclear arms program. Just let it be known that if you are elected, the United States will almost certainly and immediately begin another prolonged, expensive, unwanted war in the Middle East, without a care in the world for the obvious wave of terror attacks on United States citizens and interests worldwide which will surely follow if Iran is struck militarily by Israel or the U.S. You lack forethought and wisdom, as did your equally moronic Republican predecessor, George W. Bush. I am grateful that you are a long shot for the White House. I’m sure there are high school students in virtually any U.S. county who would show better judgement and patriotism than you are demonstrating, right now.
I think we have to decide whether we want worldwide war with Russia and China (Iran’s allies) in order to stop the Iranian nuke, or whether we should just let Iran spend the billions of dollars they will inevitably spend on their now-obvious weapons program. So what? Yes, we would rather they didn’t get the bomb. But they will have it sooner or later. Meanwhile, we already have a policy of mutually-assured destruction which has successfully prevented any nuclear confrontation with any nuclear-armed nation on Earth to date, including hostile players like North Korea and dubious players like Pakistan. Just tell the Iranian regime, go ahead, get the bomb. But know that you have just spent untold blood and treasure to aquire something you can only tout, but never, ever use, or so much as test. Because if you do, your entire nation and every single person in it will burn in a nuclear holocaust that cannot be denied. Tell Russia, we would hate to see you get drawn into this mess. But know that if Iran uses nukes once, we will see to it there is never a second time, even if every Russian citizen has to die along with them, so re-think your alliance with Iran.
Posted by: John Bell | November 13, 2011, 1:26 am 1:26 am
the 1%er exSen Santorum….warmongering imperialist and Constitution-ignoring megalomaniac………….
Bombing and intervening and sabotage and sanctions and imperialism and unConstitutional rank militarism is what he emits…………………
Why would anyone trust this guy?
Posted by: Chris Bieber | November 13, 2011, 3:47 am 3:47 am
Aw hell… Just let Iran have their nuclear weapons. Why worry? Afterall, the left will vouch for them.
Posted by: Logicsgood5 | November 13, 2011, 10:21 am 10:21 am
“…And now, a new report exposes how Iran is moving rapidly to develop a nuclear weapon and once again Obama has no plan,” the ad says referring to the IAEA report released this week.”
Gee, Rick, did it ever occur to you that the president DOES have a plan, and he just hasn’t shared it with you, an unemployed ex-civil servant from the opposition Party? Do you believe, Rick, that the president SHOULD reveal ALL of his plans for dealing with the nations of the world? Would YOU, Rick, as president, reveal YOUR plans about Iran to the rest of the world? Or would you keep those plans close to the vest. So as not to, ya know, tip them off or anything……………..
Posted by: Searambler | November 13, 2011, 10:28 am 10:28 am
“Gee, Rick, did it ever occur to you that the president DOES have a plan, and he just hasn’t shared it with you…” ———— Maybe. And maybe totally ignoring the 2009 Iranian opposition uprising will turn out to be an ingenious move to help accomplish this plan. (Roll eyes…) – - Sea, we’re afraid this President doesn’t even have a clue, much less a plan.
Posted by: Logicsgood5 | November 13, 2011, 10:50 am 10:50 am
Sea, we’re afraid this President doesn’t even have a clue, much less a plan.
Posted by: Logicsgood5 | November 13, 2011, 10:50 am.
LOL! No you’re not. Only the most rabidly far Right partisan wonk believes the president isn’t one of the smartest guys in the room. You disagree with his politics, fine. But claiming he’s unintelligent or uninformed about Iran is simply ludicrous. I think he’s proven he can be tough when he needs to be, when it comes to dealing with those that seek to harm us (Osama bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki come to mind). I go back to my original thought about his plan: do you really believe he SHOULD go in front of the cameras and tell the world exactly what the plans are for dealing with Iran? Seems like whenever he does something like that, y’all on the Right whine about him ‘telling the enemy our plans, what we’re gonna do to them’. Why is this situation different…?
Posted by: Searambler | November 13, 2011, 11:18 am 11:18 am
Sea – First of all, Obama may be very smart, but smart does not equal wise. I’ll take wise every time… Second, killing terrorist leaders has been a forte of Obama. Kudos to him there for sure. But Sea, why on earth didn’t Obama support the Iranian popular uprising a couple of years ago?? Why is he constantly dissing Israel and its leaders?? Yes, I hope he has a plan to prevent an extremist state and proven enemy of the US from getting nuclear weapons, but I suppose only time will tell… Politics aside, as an American, I am very concerned about this threat to ALL of us and our children and their children from a nuclear Iran.
Posted by: Logicsgood5 | November 13, 2011, 11:43 am 11:43 am
President Obama’s foreign policy has proven far more effective than that of the Neo-Cons to date. There ARE other possible responses to perceived threats than pre-emptive strikes and prolonged wars.
America, just now coming out of its 10 yr nightmare of “endless war on multiple fronts” (the Neo-Con agenda) had better ask itself if it is ready to have ANOTHER protracted war justified on fears of weapons of mass destruction.
Because if she elects a Neo-Con OR a religiously-driven-to-produce- Armeggedon Right-winger, that is what will result in short order.
Posted by: Raven | November 13, 2011, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
Rick….this is the guy who while his Navy seals were capturing and killing Osama Bin Laden….told jokes at a press dinner…cool and collected. He was not afraid to make this decision and was willing to take whatever had it not worked and we all know that the republicans would have had a field day if it failed…however….he took that chance. This is the guy who helped put an end to Gadafi with no loss of lives and shared expenses by Nato and did not stand under a banner and say “we won”….and this is the guy who was responsible for more terrorists being caught or killed than Bush did in 8 years….this is the guy who should be in charge…cool and collected.
Posted by: talmag | November 13, 2011, 1:31 pm 1:31 pm
“…and this is the guy who was responsible for more terrorists being caught or killed than Bush did in 8 years…” ————— Simply not true. (Doesn’t mean we should stop tho!)
Posted by: Logicsgood5 | November 13, 2011, 5:11 pm 5:11 pm
Logicsgood5: Those are judgments that exist solely in your mind and based on your less than objective perspective. What on earth makes you qualified to second guess the POTUS? Maybe you believe Limbaugh when he refers to his program as an “Institute On Conservative Studies”. Wake up ! It’s a one-sided propaganda show that produces nothing but division, hatred and anger. I refer to it only because you’re quoting Limbaugh’s talking points on Israel, Iran and Obama.
Posted by: cloteasboy | November 13, 2011, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
Lofty bye, considerate friend :)
Posted by: Envildend | May 11, 2012, 11:28 pm 11:28 pm