Santorum on Romney: ‘We Cannot Put Up A Presidential Candidate’ Who Is Same as Obama on Health Care
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Rick Santorum’s top opponent in Iowa is Mitt Romney and the biggest argument against a President Romney is health care, the former Pennsylvania senator told me.
“This has been a debate about health care, that’s what the behemoth of government, the signature issue is Obamacare. We cannot put up a presidential candidate who is in basically in the same place as Obama on government-run health care” Santorum said on “GMA.”
He acknowledged that he supported Romney in 2008 but said there was only “one question” about health care in a debate four years ago. This year it’s one of the biggest issues.
The latest Des Moines register poll showed that Santorum is gaining momentum heading into the caucuses and he told me he’s confident he’ll “do very well tonight.”
The former Senator spent the majority of his campaign in the Hawkeye state, held hundreds of town hall meetings and visited all 99 counties. But if he wins tonight he’ll be up against a well funded Romney in New Hampshire, who has raised more than $32 million compared to Santorum’s $1.2 million.
Santorum admitted low fundraising, telling me “I would say we’ve done this on shoestring but that would be insulting shoestrings.” But he was optimistic tonight’s results will help.
“We feel very, very good that we’ve got the organization and money is coming in better than it’s ever come in and when we do well tonight we suspect we’ll have the resources to be able – not just to compete in New Hampshire but to compete all the way thru,” Santorum said.
He hopes to face the president in the general election and has been aggressive criticizing Obama on national security. Yesterday he attacked Obama for siding “with our enemies on almost every single” foreign conflict, according to the Washington Post, despite taking out Osama bin Laden and other top al Qaeda leadership.
“That was a mission that was already decided. That was U.S. policy to kill Osama Bin Laden and to kill al-Qaeda and to treat them as enemy combatants. The president did not change that policy, but that was not a policy or problem that came up under his watch,” Santorum said on “GMA.” “The ones that did come up under his watch – Iran, Egypt, Syria, Honduras, you can go on down the list, Poland, the UK, the Czechs,- ask all of them – Israel – whether we’ve been a good ally, one that you can stand by and look at the ones who have been enemies of the United States, and we have appeased and pandered. This is a president that has gotten it wrong when every time there has been a decision to be made when it is in the interest of the United States, when a contingency came up under his watch, he’s blown it.”
Watch my interview here:
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Rick Santorum might win in Iowa today but he’ll never get the republican nomination. He’s too middle class. The republicans want a fat cat who will defend their business interests.
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2012, 8:30 am 8:30 am
100% typical rhetoric, 0% lack of real ideas. Just more of the same. Might as well change the channel to the cartoon network. you will see far more clever creatures there.
Posted by: Wayne | January 3, 2012, 8:36 am 8:36 am
Another typical Republican wanting to do away with Obamacare. That’s fine but offer another solution that protects patients against private insurance company cherry-picking. Provide another solution that is affordable to the uninsured instead of telling them they have to pay just about everything out of pocket through deductibles and co-insurance. Provide a solution that does not bankrupt sick citizens. Santorum may be the most conservative candidate but he wants to bomb Iran. How dangerous is that? Do we need another trillion dollar war and disruption to oil supplies and our troops being killed en masse in Afghanistan before they are able to leave in 2014? Iran is run by nutty clerics and an insane president and the covert Quds force. They will use everything at their disposal if we or Israel bomb them. Focus on the US and the economy instead of picking fights with terrorists.
Posted by: Bob | January 3, 2012, 9:02 am 9:02 am
I’ve got my insurance, to heck with you.
Posted by: lexingtonlady | January 3, 2012, 9:14 am 9:14 am
All I see and hear is bashing of this president and each other…No REAL solutions, just attacks….same old stuff. I’m voting for Pres. Obama….The GOP loves to complain and attack and this is the CREAM of their crop! Unreal!
Posted by: Barb | January 3, 2012, 9:14 am 9:14 am
Bob: 9:02 am. Excellent post! And may I also point out some people will vote for one of these candidates and I have heard them say so, because they are pro-life…But they ignore the fact that they want to bomb Iran, and other scary things. I wish they would keep abortion and gay rights out of politics….they are personal and religious topics and like it or not Rowe v Wade has been decided. And who cares if gays want to marry? These are topics they use to cover up the REAL issues.
Posted by: Barb | January 3, 2012, 9:17 am 9:17 am
Santorum was one of the MOST CORRUPT politicians in 2006 according to the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). He received huge contributions from companies that he helped by pushing legislation that would profit them.
Posted by: Renfro | January 3, 2012, 9:34 am 9:34 am
“100% typical rhetoric, 0% lack of real ideas.”
POSTED BY: WAYNE
I realize that some see Obama this way so far, but if we give him 4 more years, I still believe he can do better.
Posted by: lexingtonlady | January 3, 2012, 9:35 am 9:35 am
Same as it ever was. Nothing has changed: Obama sucks.
Posted by: Sai | January 3, 2012, 9:37 am 9:37 am
Santorum is either a liar or lacks knowledge. The Affordable Care Act is not ‘government- run health care’ as he described it. It is simply regulating the excesses of the insurance industry who were using every way possible to not cover the sickest and to deny coverage for many who became sick while insured or else not pay enough to prevent the family from going bankrupt because of medical bills.
To say any regulations of a huge, life-affecting industry is making it ‘government- run’ is just false and dangerously foolish. Our pharmaceutical companies are highly regulated to insure safe storage and dispensing of drugs that will kill if not handled correctly. Does that make it ‘government-run’? No, of course not. It is simply our government doing what it supposed to do, protect the people.
Posted by: Librarian53 | January 3, 2012, 9:43 am 9:43 am
“I’m voting for Pres. Obama….”
POSTED BY: BARB
I’m wondering if he got that new teleprompter he wanted for Christmas so he can keep his talking points organized good.
Just sayin’, lol.
Posted by: Kimberly | January 3, 2012, 9:46 am 9:46 am
The affordable Health Care bill was never intended to solve all our problems with the health care system but it is a start. Having people who have no health care insurance pay at least something will reduce costs not only from the increased revenue but also people will go to as doctor before their health care becomes more expensive.
Another important cost reduction measure is to stop the monopolies the health insurance companies have in most states. House bill HR4626, which has been blocked by the republicans for years, and negate the McCarran-Ferguson Act would open insurance competition in those states.
The tea party opposes HR4626 because thet are bought and paid for by the health insurance industry
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2012, 9:58 am 9:58 am
LOL. Yeah right. Obamacare isn’t ‘government- run health care’ just as most of the Nazis officers “didn’t know” what was going on during the Holocaust. LIBRARIAN53, It is more effective to have your spin and silly talking points at least be in a galaxy close to the one called Reality. LOL.
Posted by: Bobbie | January 3, 2012, 10:00 am 10:00 am
“The affordable Health Care bill was never intended to solve all our problems with the health care system but it is a start.”
POSTED BY: TMFERRETTI
For the cost and bureaucracy involved, it should pretty much solve more than half of the world’s problems. But it won’t. It is a huge, misguided mess. A swamp of sheer stupidity.
Posted by: Rafael M | January 3, 2012, 10:07 am 10:07 am
Thankfully, the US Supreme Court will soon put a stake in the heart (unconstitutional individual mandate) of Obamacare — and another marxist experiment will thus bite the dust. Count on it.
Posted by: mary contrary | January 3, 2012, 10:22 am 10:22 am
If there is a better solution to The Obamacare medical plan I’d love to hear it. I’ve been waiting a long time and nothing yet.
Posted by: Bill | January 3, 2012, 10:31 am 10:31 am
Not sure what will happen with the Republicans, but at least they all have one large and key advantage in the fact that Obama has nearly no positive record to run on at all. Just setbacks and fiascos and failures to defend against. (But maybe it is all still “George Bush’s fault”.)
Posted by: bobomcstevens | January 3, 2012, 10:31 am 10:31 am
RAFAEL M and MARY CONTRARY
Isn’t this the same thing you said about Social Security and Medicare (Marxist experiments)?
Do you prefer to have people who pay nothing for health care now, at least pay something, or would you rather your state taxes pay for their emergency room care? What are your solutions, or do you prefer to leave things as they are now?
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2012, 10:44 am 10:44 am
Obamacare will be repealed, America doesn’t want it
Posted by: average-mom | January 3, 2012, 10:48 am 10:48 am
There are plenty of people who will and still are paying nothing for healthcare. Obamacare did not correct that or did it address one of the main problems with healthcare. Big Pharma….Obama saw to it that they got a free pass.
Posted by: ginny | January 3, 2012, 10:52 am 10:52 am
Obamacare will be improved and widened – America wants it.
Posted by: A Veteran | January 3, 2012, 10:53 am 10:53 am
Obamacare will be improved and widened – America wants it.
POSTED BY: A VETERAN | JANUARY 3, 2012, 10:53 AM++++Bzzz wrong…..all polls indicate otherwise. Its more unpopular now than ever by a majority of the country.
Posted by: sophie | January 3, 2012, 10:55 am 10:55 am
If there is a better solution to The Obamacare medical plan I’d love to hear it. I’ve been waiting a long time and nothing yet. Posted by: Bill | January 3, 2012, 10:31 am.
Last year President Obama said that ANY state in the union can opt out of the new Health care law. IF they came up with a plan that covers as many people for the same or less money. So far, not one single Republican-led state has offered a better plan for their state. The ONLY state considering this action and actually working on developing a different plan is New Hampshire. And THEIR plan is a single-payer, universal coverage plan. Republicans love to slam the health care law, yet they themselves have nothing better to offer America, and they have deliberately been blocking ALL health care reform attempts for over 20 years. Heck, the Individual Mandate was THEIR IDEA, back in 1993. Republican politicians don’t really want health care reform, period. Never have, never will. It doesn’t jibe with their core ideology of ‘Let the corporations and big business do whatever the hell they want to America’.
Posted by: A Cynic | January 3, 2012, 10:58 am 10:58 am
“Obamacare will be improved and widened – America wants it.”
Posted by: A “Veteran”
So far at least, probably the funniest post of the day, especially the “widened” part..
Too bad for you and “America” (huge lol) that the Supreme Court will hinder your marxist whims.
Posted by: mary contrary | January 3, 2012, 11:28 am 11:28 am
85% of Americans think our health care system is broken and needs changing. The Affordable Health Care Bill is a start. I don’t think it goes far enough but it is flexible and can be changed. 51% (and growing) of Americans thinks it’s a good idea. Once they found out that there were no “death committees” deciding if grandma would live or die as the republicans thought.
I have heard not one counter proposal, except Newt’s idea that we should all contribute to a charity that would provide health care for those who don’t have it.
Posted by: tmferretti | January 3, 2012, 11:37 am 11:37 am
Having free health is not a right..
Posted by: susan | January 3, 2012, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
Having free healthcare is not a right..
Posted by: susan | January 3, 2012, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
About George Stephanopoulos
George Stephanopoulos is anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America.” He is also the network’s chief political correspondent, reporting on political and policy stories for all ABC News broadcasts and platforms.
Little Georgie is also a democratic talking head and former clinton operative, that spreads only DNC talking points
Santorum made little Georgie look silly on his defense of his buddy Obama
OBAMA______VS_____AMERICA
Posted by: Yep I said that | January 3, 2012, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm
tmferretti | January 3, 2012, 11:37 am ——- You have no idea what your talking about!! —- Obamacare includes government-run healthcare committees with sweeping powers, including the power to engage in competitive pricing and cost analysis, a system Britain uses that has led to rationing of medical care for the elderly!! —— It DOES have “death panels”, just by another name!!
Posted by: TheLoyalOpoosition | January 3, 2012, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
WHO said that Obamacare is gaining popularity?? — You must be watching MSNBC!! —- Dec 10 2011 Rasmussen poll shows 55% of Likely U.S. Voters “at least somewhat favor” repeal of Obamacare… 35% “at least somewhat oppose” repeal… The findings include 42% who “Strongly Favor repeal” versus 26% who are “Strongly Opposed”. —- Kaiser Family Foundation poll, Oct 2011, finds only 34 percent of Americans now support Obamacare, a 16-point drop from an all-time high of 50 percent in July 2010. A small majority of Americans, 51 percent, now say they oppose the law.
Posted by: TheLoyalOpposition | January 3, 2012, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm
We are all ready paying for all of the uninsured health care in America. In my hometown, the local hospital estimates that over 30% of the people who use their services do not pay or only pay partially. Everyone else is paying more to make up the difference. Also, in our local paper, almost every day someone is having a fundraiser for someone who is getting medical treatmant and cannot afford or does not have insurance. Last week we had two adults and one child who needed help with their medical bills. This is unethical and morally wrong. We should join the rest of the industrialized world and provide medical care for all. And, if more people were given the true facts and not the “embellishments” about “Obamacare,” more people would be for the plan.
Posted by: Walter Davis | January 3, 2012, 6:46 pm 6:46 pm
I was appalled at George Stephanopolis and his attack attitude when interviewing Rick Santorum this morning. Santorum gave clear precise answers and Stephanopolis didn’t even listen, He just kept up his same ole BS. He is so biased, you shouldn’t have him interview people. Compare this to the cup cake interview he did with Obama. If you are truly objective you will put George on indefinite leave of absence.
Your other personalities on GMA I have enjoyed and have so for over 30 years. Hate to admit it. but have watched since David Hartman aired when I got out of college in 1980.
I beg you to objectively review both interviews. This is not fair to your viewers.
You need to put George somewhere else.
Maybe I just need to find another network.
Posted by: wayne Johnson | January 3, 2012, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm
We can’t put up a candidate who could not win his congressional seat in PA! This guy has zero potential to win or raise money. He will do ok with Bible Thumpers but will lack support elsewhere.
Posted by: Dale Gribbel | January 3, 2012, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm
Santorum is another Republican that will be another Christian war monger like most of the Republicans. He wants to bomb Iran. He is so concerned about abortion,when he will send young healthy troops to die for the largely Republican war industry. This is how these old rich men get more wealth. Starting wars in a country’ that cannot fight back. Like Iraq, for its OIL,hows that going for you guys.
ese guys don’t care about God its all talk,to get your votes. Better let Obama do his job.He is a decent man even if he is half black. Thats the problem. No Black Man in the White House.
Posted by: Helene | January 6, 2012, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
Yet Santorum endorsed Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter over the better Pat Toomey in the 2004 GOP primary for U.S. Senate. Santorum’s support for Specter enabled Specter to win a narrow victory, by a bare 20,000 votes. Specter then provided a syncophantic vote for the passage of Obamacare and Obama’s budget busting, Economic Stimulus package, which is ballooning our national debt. Is Santorum still proud of his support for Specter?
Gingrich and Romney have both unveiled there economic plans for the presidency. Where is Santorum’s plan for the Economy? Isn’t that more important than his obsession with gay sex?
Posted by: Tony Hernandez | January 6, 2012, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm
why can’t health care be paid by your total yearly income ,you make a lot of money you pay more, you make less you pay less ! as a cancer survivor i went totally broke from cancer and the v a is the only doctors i have ,i have no insurance and on s/s who can afford it ? it is sad what the country has come to , nothing but greed , like the fuel cost , how do the politicians not see their profits per 1/4 and tell me we are not getting screwed !!! god bless
Posted by: jake | January 16, 2012, 8:08 am 8:08 am