Social conservatives rally behind Santorum

Rick Santorum's quest to emerge as the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney received a boost Saturday from a group of evangelicals and others who voted to back his candidacy in a last-ditch effort to stop the front-runner's march to the nomination.

About 150 social conservatives meeting in Texas sided with Santorum over a home-state favorite, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

The gathering reflected their dissatisfaction with Romney over abortion rights and other issues, and their belief that they needed to unite behind one contender if they had any hope of derailing the former Massachusetts governor after his victories in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Their decision comes a week before the next contest, Jan. 21 in South Carolina, where social conservatives are an influential voting bloc. But it was not immediately clear what effect the backing will have.

One participant at the meeting, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, said Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, ended up with 75 percent of the vote.

South Carolina's Republican voters are some of the nation's most conservative. In exit polling from the 2008 Republican presidential contest there, 60 percent of primary voters said they were born-again Christians. Romney - whose Mormon faith is not considered a Christian denomination by some - carried just 11 percent of their votes in 2008, fewer than his 15 percent tally overall. Mormons consider themselves Christians.

Conservatives looking to back someone else have a heavy workload in a compressed period of time.

Although Santorum is Romney's closest rival, he's 18 points behind in South Carolina, followed by Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Perry and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, according to the CNN/Time/ORC International poll. Six percent are undecided, the survey found.

Santorum has risen here since his breakthrough near-tie with Romney in the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3. He has a robust state organization and is making aggressive inroads with evangelical conservatives, like many of those who were at the Country Ham House in Greenville on Saturday.

[GeraldMon]

Happy to see so many social conservatives following their hearts and minds rather than their anointed leaders. First commandment: Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.

[Jefferson3000]

This social conservative (me) doesn't need a bunch of Christian media mongers to tell him how to vote. That's why this person is voting for Ron Paul and not for Santorum. There is nothing about Santorum that is honest, and very little that is conservative. If evangelicals were researching for themselves in an honest fashion, and not just listening to 24 hour news channels and the rest of the MSM, they would recognize the value in supporting Ron paul over ANY of the candidates. However, these groups get lots of money from Israel lobby groups to support Israeli welfare (foreign aid), so that the US can keep Israel under its thumb.

So sad.

[GeraldMon]

In a summary about his faith, Ron Paul writes, "I have never been one who is comfortable talking about my faith in the political arena. In fact, the pandering that typically occurs in the election season I find to be distasteful. But for those who have asked, I freely confess that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior, and that I seek His guidance in all that I do. I know, as you do, that our freedoms come not from man, but from God. My record of public service reflects my reverence for the Natural Rights with which we have been endowed by a loving Creator."

[maggyjiggs1]

Santorum is very honest...I have had the benefit of being able to watch his growth from his early days working for another PA Senator. While I don't know him personally I believe that he is committed to his beliefs and believes in hard work...it is sad that we elect our president based on who outspends the other candidates thereby forcing those with less monetary support to drop out of the race...it would be nice to have someone in the office who didn't buying the election and to have someone who is willing to work hard sends a loud message to everyone...work ethics in the US are awful...what happened to the values of our forefathers...hard work & pull yourself up by your boot straps...these are beliefs of Rick Santorum; beliefs that would help our country get back on the right track with job creation and with that will come economic growth...you are right about listening to the liberal media put their spin on the primary...do you really think that they want the strongest candidate who has a chance to beat Obama to come out of this...no, that is why they continue to push Romney because true conservatives will have difficulty voting for him which will insure another term for Obama...God help us!

[LudwigVonMises]

WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

RICK SANTORUM IS A CONSERVATIVE


~ An updated version of the Ministry of Truth's slogan from George Orwell's 1984

[GeorgeHew]

Paul is the only Evangelical Christian in the race with a chance to win at this point. Ron Paul is in second place nationally, and if religion matters to certain Evangelicals, he is certainly their best choice. He does seem to be the most in tune with Christ's teachings: married 50 years, the most honest man in Washington, sticking to principles when everyone around you suggests you do evil, teaching people to stand on their own, and leading us to want to be charitable to others and do the right things toward them, rather than forcing us to do either. He doesn't just talk about being a good Christian, he acts as a Christian should act. He doesn't promise that he will use government programs to force people to be more Christian, but he demonstrates Christian values, and does so better than anyone else running, and better than many of our preachers today really. Sadly, many of our preachers today are so interested in politics that they nearly give up on the teachings of Jesus to work on political efforts.

Though it may seem that Paul has a mean streak in his tone, that streak is much more inline with Jesus cleansing the Temple of its money changers. Others in the race have a different sort of anger, and it is more related to bitterness.

Most of the others have a platform based on anger, bitterness, hating thy neighbors, and other anti-Christian values. The best way to move the world toward Christ is certainly not with force, and with bombs, and military bases in 130 countries. That sort of thinking certainly did not work for the Catholic Church years ago, and our country was formed in opposition to that very idea - we do not need to move back toward those dark days. We need our defense to actually be used for defense rather than as the world's police. Our military should be well trained, well armed, and ready for combat when needed. Then, if they really do need to be sent into combat, they can feel that they are sent to battle for real freedom and a country they truly believe in. Further, they could rest assured that they have the tools they need, and an economy back home to support them in that effort.

Don't let a little group of bitter old men in Texas sway you from what Jesus actually said:

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

[MsmCorrupt]

Santorum can only get the social conservatives vote. That is not enough to become POTUS. Ron Paul 2012

[jautumn]

What??? The article says: "Although Santorum is Romney's closest rival, he's 18 points behind in South Carolina, followed by Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul ..."
This is a LIE!!! The poll this data is from was taken JAN 4-5, 2011, right after Santorum's near-win in Iowa and long before his dismal showing in New Hampshire. Moreover, the poll data did not include Independents, just Republicans, and South Carolina is an OPEN PRIMARY where Independents make up about 20% of the voters.

Here is where Santorum REALLY stands in the race as of now:
Romney 29% / Gingrich 25% / Paul 20% / Perry 8% / Santorum 7%
http://americanresearchgroup.com/pres2012/primary/rep/sc/

CBS, good luck with LYING by using ancient flash-in-the-pan statistics to try to boost Santorum's weak numbers.

[Mormons-Are-Christian]

According to a 2012 Pew Forum poll of members of the Church of Jesus Christ (LDS) 98 percent said they believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and 97 percent say their church is a Christian religion. Mormons have a better understanding of Christianity than any other denomination, according to a 2010 Pew Forum poll.

11 of the signers of the Declaration of Independence (including several presidents) were non-Trinitarian Christians. If some South Carolina voters now insist on their narrow Trinitarian and salvation only by grace definition of Christianity for candidates for public office, they are doing our Republic an injustice.

[SpittinBullitz]

Anyone can say they're a Christian, but by their deeds shall they be known. If Mormons were really Christian they wouldn't ignore the abuse of tens of thousand of innocent women and children in their communities. There are hundreds of fundamentalist polygamous Mormon sects that toss out young boys ("lost boys") so older men can marry underage girls ("child brides"), and they do it in plain sight. Most plural wives and their children qualify for welfare, food stamps, and medical benefits because they're legally considered "single mothers". Taxpayers are supporting this corruption that Mormons conveniently sweep under their rugs. Watch the documentary film "Banking On Heaven", most libraries carry it. It will blow your!

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

Romney - whose Mormon faith is not considered a Christian denomination by some ... Mormons consider themselves Christians.

---

It's hilarious to watch one cult look down on another, eh?

[slownewsday2012]

We have no need for a social conservative at the helm.

It would be a shame to have to share a religious view with a president in order to agree with one of his decisions.

[msimamaji]

How many gay and lesbian teenagers commit suicide each year? How many of these beautiful young people commit suicide because of the hateful teaching of religious organizations,such as the conservative evangelicals who are rallying to support Rick Santorum?

Since religion has become an issue, I will defnitely hold these religious organizations responsible for destroying innocent lives.

I will definitely look at a candidate's record on human rights - including the rights of gays and lesbians. I will not accept as religion as a license to kill.

For that reason I will never vote for any body in the GOP.

[Alan9074]

Ron Paul could care less what people do in their bedrooms.

BTW, if you're voting for Obama, you should know that he's a corporate puppet that bails out failed companies with taxpayer dollars, executes American citizens abroad without charges or trial, and appointed a Secretary of Defense who said that he will attack Iran if they don't comply with our demands.

Are you sure you have your priorities straight?