No More Leading from Behind for America
My passion for protecting and preserving freedom is a gift that comes to me from my grandfather, an immigrant who brought my father to this country and whose well-weathered hands mined coal in Southwestern Pennsylvania until he was 72. He left the totalitarian regime of Mussolini's Italy to bring his family to freedom.
We Hold These Truths
The White House recently told the press there couldn’t be more difference between my position on gay marriage and President Obama’s.
On reflection, I agree.
President Obama’s position on marriage is constantly “evolving,” as he so often says. He’s not sure what marriage is, or what it should become, and no doubt right now he’s consulting highly-paid polling experts to determine how his position – and marriage itself – should morph next. This should come as no surprise given the President’s musings about the other great moral issue of our time, the protection of human life.
Unleashing America's Domestic Energy
America’s energy policy is critical to our national security and economic growth. Dependence upon foreign sources of oil limits our national security options, undermines our interests, and raises the cost of doing business in America. Unfortunately, President’s Obama’s approach has facilitated foreign dependence by restricting oil and gas drilling, making it more difficult to get nuclear permits, and picking winners and losers through failed pet energy projects. We must employ a policy that makes energy more affordable, makes our nation more secure by lessening dependence on unreliable or adversarial foreign sources, and increases conservation through efficient use and diverse energy sources. An effective energy policy will expand economic development and create high-quality jobs, resulting in a strong economy for America’s families and workers. It is time to get serious about unleashing America’s domestic energy sources.
Bold Solutions for America’s Families
I am excited about America and her future. In this election the American people have an opportunity to restore her greatness and to focus once again on protecting liberty and creating opportunity for all. No longer should it be harder for people to succeed economically than it was for their parents. No longer should upward mobility be better in parts of Europe than in America. We need a renewed focus on creating opportunity, not dividing Americans by class; on creating wealth, not distributing it; and on promoting savings rather than dependency.
Immigration Reform: Securing And Strengthing America
As the son of an Italian immigrant, Rick Santorum values the important role immigrants have played and continue to play in shaping our nation. One thing that makes America exceptional is that anyone from any part of the world can become an American by embracing our ideals and following our laws. Moving forward, America needs fair and robust immigration policy that will continue to protect Americans, reward lawful citizens, and help grow our economy. Rick Santorum believes that the key to a strong immigration policy begins with securing the American border. For America to grow and prosper, developing a strong immigration policy must become a priority. Unfortunately, President Obama has not only failed to reform America’s broken immigration system, he has also failed to secure the border against serious threats that imperil all Americans. His first visit to the border was two and a half years into his term; not exactly border first.
ObamaRegs Versus Freedom
Healthy families and a strong economy go hand in hand, each reinforcing the other. Now more than ever before, the size and scope of federal regulation threatens the ability of Americans to create goods, provide services, and choose the household products that best suit their needs. Federal regulations extend to every aspect of modern American life, so it’s certainly no surprise that they have a very high cost for American families, including those in South Carolina.
Santorum Record on Defending the Dignity of Every Human Life
Rick Santorum has been a national leader on pro-life issues with a clear record of results. He has a broad and impressive record when it came to defending the dignity of every human life, especially the most vulnerable among us. In the U.S. Senate, he authored two of the priority pro-life efforts that were signed into law by President George W. Bush – the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act and the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. He cosponsored and strongly supported numerous other bills that defended unborn victims of violence, ensured state laws on parental consent are observed by neighboring states, and championed legislation to protect the conscious rights of individuals and health care providers so they need not choose between their work and their moral principles. He steadfastly opposed the federal funding of abortion and supported President Reagan’s Mexico City Policy (abandoned by President Clinton and President Obama) that kept U.S. taxpayer dollars from going to organizations that perform or promote abortion overseas.
Appointing Constitutionalist Justices and Judges Who Refuse to Legislate from the Bench
Rick Santorum is no stranger to the issue of judges. As a U.S. Senator, he stood against activist judicial nominees time and again. As a Republican leader in the Senate, he was pivotal in the fight to confirm U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito. Rick Santorum knows what it is like to take on the left and to win on judges. He is the only Republican Candidate for President to have done so. In addition, in 2004 when activist judges sought to legislate from the bench and redefine marriage, Rick spearheaded the debate in favor of the Federal Marriage Amendment. When the Partial Birth Abortion law was improperly struck down by the Supreme Court, he led the charge in Congress to send it back to them to get it right which they did the second time, ending a horrific procedure. He believes that the time has come to break up the 9th Circuit and send a message that judicial activism is not acceptable and to provide other Western states appellate judges that better reflect their values and the U.S. Constitution.
Restoring America's Greatness Through Educational Freedom And Opportunity
Rick Santorum believes that education is the responsibility of the consumer, the parent. Putting “parents first” is how best we put “students first”. Parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children with local school systems supporting, as desired. As a homeschooling parent and consumer of different schools, he has learned the importance of flexible and personalized approaches to education for each child to best maximize their potential.
Defending 2nd Amendment Rights
Coming from Pennsylvania, a state with a rich heritage of hunting and fishing, Senator Santorum understands firsthand the importance of preserving our constitutionally protected rights found in the 2nd Amendment. Senator Santorum fights to preserve this tradition, and will work to ensure these rights are not infringed upon.
As a Senator, Rick Santorum opposed frivolous lawsuits against the gun industry by supporting legislation (The Protection of Lawful Commerce Act) that would protect law abiding firearms manufacturers and dealers from frivolous lawsuits attempting to hold them liable for criminal acts of third parties.
Repeal and Replace ObamaCare with Patient-Centered Healthcare
Every American should have access to high-quality, affordable health care, with health care decisions made by patients and their physicians, NOT government bureaucrats
America needs targeted, market-driven, patient-centered solutions to address the costs and underlying causes of being uninsured rather than a one-size fits-all, government-run health care system
Spending Cuts and Entitlements Reform
Reining in Spending and Reforming Government Entitlements for Sustainable and Better Solutions for America’s Families and Future
Made In America
Rick Santorum believes that to have a strong national economy, we must have strong families. America’s government must recognize this and help create a positive pro-family environment for our families, our communities and our businesses. Rick believes we are a land of opportunity where all Americans have the chance to rise on their own merits and hard work. Sadly, President Obama believes just the opposite and using class warfare to divide America.
Rick Santorum is committed to celebrating the family by reviving our economy and creating jobs in America again with a smarter and simpler tax code. Santorum will roll back job-killing regulations, force the federal government to shrink and live within its means by passing a Balanced Budget Amendment and reinvigorate our domestic manufacturing and energy potential. His vision for America is to restore America's greatness through the promotion of faith, family and freedom.
Response To Iran
President Barack Obama naively and cavalierly once declared Iran as a “tiny country” that did not pose a serious threat. However, this week’s report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) now shows that these radical Islamists are on the verge of having a nuclear weapon.
If Barack Obama has taught us anything, it’s that experience matters. Rick Santorum has that experience – serving 8 years on Senate Armed Services Committee, authoring the Iran Freedom and Support Act in 2004 and the Syrian Accountability Act. In fact, Rick Santorum has recognized the looming threat of Iran’s nuclear ambitions for nearly a decade – standing tall against both Republicans and Democrats who have discounted and dismissed the reality that this radical theocracy is intent on destroying Israel and western civilization.
Executive Branch Actions
As a husband and father, Rick Santorum knows the importance of protecting and providing for your family. He believes that at the core of the American experience is the family, and that without strong families, we cannot have a strong and vibrant nation. Senator Santorum believes that at its core, America is a moral enterprise, but that foundation is quickly eroding. As President, Rick Santorum commits to rebuild that foundation and lead the way on restoring traditional American values
Champion of Faith & Families
As a husband and father, Rick Santorum knows the importance of protecting and providing for your family. He believes that at the core of the American experience is the family, and that without strong families, we cannot have a strong and vibrant nation.
During his time in elected office, Rick Santorum fought for the preservation of the traditional American family and for the protection of the most vulnerable in our society. Rick was the author of legislation outlawing the heinous act known as partial-birth abortion and he championed the fight to pass the “Born Alive Infant Protection Act” and the “Unborn Victims of Violence Act.” He also authored legislation to advance adult stem cell research, so that ethical research could take place to fight debilitating diseases without the moral implications associated with embryonic stem cell research that destroys human life.
Defender of the Taxpayer
Rick Santorum believes that to have a strong economy, we must have strong families – because the family is the first economy. Our government must recognize this and create an environment for our families, our small businesses, and our communities to thrive. Senator Santorum believes we are a land of opportunity where all Americans have the chance to rise on their own merits and hard work. Sadly, President Obama has done just the opposite by using class warfare to divide America and limit opportunity for all.
Rick Santorum is committed to reviving our economy, restoring economic growth, and creating jobs in America again by unleashing innovation and entrepreneurship through lower and simpler taxes for American businesses, workers, and families. He also will roll back job killing regulations, restrain our spending by living within our means, and unleash our domestic manufacturing and energy potential. His vision for America is to restore America's greatness through promotion of freedom and opportunity for all. This is just the start. A plan made in America to promote America’s families and prosper its businesses.
Believer in American Exceptionalism
Rick Santorum understands that the events of September 11, 2001 brought to our front door the uncomfortable truth that attacks on our soil are not merely a distant possibility, but a harsh reality.
To combat this threat, Rick refused to back down from those who wish to destroy America. Rick Santorum understands that those who wish to destroy America do so because they hate everything we are – a land of freedom, a land of prosperity, a land of equality. Rick knows that backing down to the Jihadists means that we are only putting our foundational principles at greater risk. As an elected representative, Rick knew that his greatest responsibility was to protect the freedoms we enjoy – and we should not apologize for holding true to these principles.
10 Steps to Promote Our Interests Around the World
… In too many places, we have let allies across the world down, and we have given enemies cause to doubt our resolve. Much of this stems from a political leadership that has serious and systemic doubts about America’s role in the world and the purpose of our moral authority in it.
“Leading from behind” is the phrase one of the president’s own advisers recently used to describe the president’s foreign-policy approach. It couldn’t be more apt. It’s an approach that views America not as an exceptional leader but, rather, as just one more country in the sea of nations, not intrinsically better or worse than any other nation, not intrinsically better prepared to lead than any other nation. It is an abdication.
Enforcing Laws Against Illegal Pornography
America is suffering a pandemic of harm from pornography. A wealth of research is now available demonstrating that pornography causes profound brain changes in both children and adults, resulting in widespread negative consequences. Addiction to pornography is now common for adults and even for some children. The average age of first exposure to hard-core, Internet pornography is now 11. Pornography is toxic to marriages and relationships. It contributes to misogyny and violence against women. It is a contributing factor to prostitution and sex trafficking.
Every family must now be concerned about the harm from pornography. As a parent, I am concerned about the widespread distribution of illegal obscene pornography and its profound effects on our culture.
