Encouraged by his near-tie for first place in Iowa, CatholicVote.org is endorsing Rick Santorum for president this afternoon.
“Pennsylvania Rick Santorum represents our best hope to rally the nation behind a unified moral and economic vision that Americans are clamoring for in a President,” Brian Burch, CatholicVote.org’s president, says in a statement about to be released.
“We think his near victory speech set the perfect tone and message to appeal to blue collar Catholics in the Rust Belt,” Joshua Mercer, CatholicVote.org’s communication director tells me.
“CatholicVote.org is proud to stand with Rick Santorum, and is prepared to mobilize our rapidly-growing grassroots network to help secure him the GOP nomination, and ultimately win the White House,” the endorsement statement continues.
“Too often our debates on ‘social issues’ are fought at the margins with stale-talking points which pit economic justice and moral virtues against each other,” the endorsement says. “The candidacy of Rick Santorum represents a chance to present an integrated approach to voters who are hungry for this kind of message.”
Founded in 2008, the group boasts 600,000 e-mail subscribers and supporters it is in regular communication with.
The full press release follows after the jump:
IT TAKES A RICK SANTORUM
CatholicVote.org Endorses Keystone Senator for President
CHICAGO, IL – CatholicVote.org, a leading national grassroots Catholic advocacy organization, today proudly announced their endorsement of Senator Rick Santorum for President.
CatholicVote.org President Brian Burch issued the following statement explaining the endorsement:
“Pennsylvania Rick Santorum represents our best hope to rally the nation behind a unified moral and economic vision that Americans are clamoring for in a President. CatholicVote.org is proud to stand with Rick Santorum, and is prepared to mobilize our rapidly-growing grassroots network to help secure him the GOP nomination, and ultimately win the White House.
“Catholic voters are looking for a candidate who can successfully combine the principles of the dignity of life and the dignity of work. Senator Santorum understands better than any other candidate the profound link between the moral, cultural and economic principles foundational to the success of America. We are convinced that Rick Santorum is the candidate best equipped to win not only the political arguments, but also the hearts of American voters as he did in Iowa on Tuesday.
“Rick Santorum is a workingman’s Republican with a record and a plan which are especially appealing to Catholic voters. His record in Pennsylvania, and his record as a presidential candidate confirms that Senator Santorum understands why four more years of President Obama would be devastating for America, but also why a GOP message focused too heavily on taxes, spending, and debt is simply not enough.
“Too often our debates on ‘social issues’ are fought at the margins with stale-talking points which pit economic justice and moral virtues against each other. The candidacy of Rick Santorum represents a chance to present an integrated approach to voters who are hungry for this kind of message.
“Catholic voters looking for moral and economic leadership also understand that the 2012 elections will inevitably focus on judges and the courts. With the Supreme Court poised to rule on immigration law, Obamacare, and potentially so-called same-sex marriage this summer, judges and our courts will dominate the debate this fall. On this score, there is no debate over which candidate has led, and can best be trusted to lead the fight over the role of our judiciary and the nomination of qualified judges to the courts that will respect our Constitution.
“Finally, Senator Santorum is a man of honor, integrity, and authenticity. What you see is what you get. He has faithfully served the cause of life and marriage as an elected official and as a husband and father. And while no political candidate, or human being for that matter, is perfect, Rick Santorum’s baggage contains his clothes.
“Republicans hoping to win back the White House in November must unite behind the candidate most dedicated to the foundational issues of faith, family and freedom. If the GOP hopes to defeat President Obama, it takes a Rick Santorum to get it done.”
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Background on CatholicVote.org:
CatholicVote.org was launched in September 2008 as a new effort to educate, organize, and mobilize the Catholic vote. The national group was responsible for one of the most watched online commercials during the 2008 presidential campaign, watched by nearly 3 million viewers on YouTube alone. The group also received national attention for a second life-affirming viral ad depicting ultrasound images celebrating the life of President Obama. The popular website hosts the award winning American Papist blog, along with other political commentary relevant to Catholic voters. The organization regularly communicates with nearly 600,000 email subscribers and supporters.
Full disclosure: I have been a commentator on the CatholicVote.org blog, operated by their 501c4, but I had no role in their endorsement which is being issued by the CatholicVote.org Candidate Fund.
So what does Ms. Lopez think about Romney surrogate Ann Coulter fanning the flames of Anti-Catholicism describing Santorum as "more Catholic than conservative", as if there is something in one that precludes being the other?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThere is nothing Anti-Catholic about what Coulter said. Generally speaking, The Chruch cares not a whiff about reigning in government (i.e. "fiscal conservatism"), as the Church (as most legitimate churches) would rather see all money devoted to the assist the poor and indigent. After all, we are speaking about Christianity here.
Of course, what else would one expect from people who have given up their lives to serve others (which is the way it is SUPPOSED to be) through The Church? Now, that is not to say that is what they all do. That's for sure. But that is the general concept, is it not?
However, as a Catholic, I cannot understand how speaking to this fact makes Coulter "anti-Catholic". I cannot recall any of Jesus' teachings which dealt with limited government and reigning in teh federal budget. If I am mistaken, please let me know. Otherwise, it is completely reasonable a Catholic could be both socially conservative, and fiscally leftist (though I am only speaking about what is acceptable as Catholic doctrine, not my personal views), as far as The Church is concerned.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHey, look, everybody! A Catholic organization endorsed a Catholic! Now, that's news!
Duh.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOh, goodie, the movement to establish an American religious theocracy and federal morals code commences in earnest in Rick Santorum. Congratulations, K-Lo and Maggie, you ladies finally found someone who could make me rally to Romney. I think Ann Coulter got it right, Santorum is "much more of a Catholic than a conservative." But I guess that's good enough for may at NRO.
If Santorum weren't a foreign policy hawk, he would be Pat Buchanan.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseRook, you remind me of the character name of the lawyer in "Arrested Development", played by Scott Baio. His name as "Bob Loblaw". Please repeat that name out loud a few times, and you will better understand the general reaction to your posts.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWould you call America a theocracy because it is not morally neutral on murder?
Ann Coulter plans to discuss Santorum with her new friend John McCain at the next Romney GOP cocktail party. She shows more respect for Log Cabin Republicans than the Catholic Church, e.g. her shot at the bishops in same article.
Ann's credibility has been so discounted lately that not even K-Mart will bother putting her opinion on blue light.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseA Catholic group founded 3 years ago endorses a Catholic candidate. A tree falls in the forest...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAmazing.
CatholicVote.org endorses "Ban Abortion" "Ban Contraception" "Intelligent Design Mandated In Public Schools" "Big Gov't/Earmarks" Roman Catholic Rick Santorum with Seven kids.
Who new?
A sure fire winner with key swing voters women & independents.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJust curious, do you have a shred of evidence that Santorum wants to ban contraception? Because, repeating lies about a candidate is really kind of silly way to spend your time.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseExcuse me, Ann Coulter didn't include the "much." She did add that Santorum "would be Ted Kennedy if he didn't believe in God." That's a cute line but rather beside the point, since he does believe in God. I'm much more worried, as I said, about his resemblance to Pat Buchanan.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGood for Rick...
He probably would have this endorsement anyhow.
As a Catholic, I grow weary of the exploitation of some pushing religious identity for political gain. In my humble view, just as ugly religious bigotry is not conservatism, neither is the attempt to use one's religious association as an advertisement.
We have watched the intense peddling of Rick this last week, FOX has grown rabid with the push - as they did with Bachmann, Perry, Gingrich, etc. It is over inflating someone we all know quite well, who was in Washington for 17 years - who was overwhelmingly rejected by voters in his own State only a short time ago.
"Encouraged by his near-tie-for-first place in Iowa"
Yes, Rick did very well in Iowa, which has become very different than the rest of the Nation. A little more than a 100.000 taking part in a very strange Caucus system which doesn't quite represent the entire populace of the State. And without the aid of Mr. Vander Plaats and others trying to oppose Mr. Romney, Rick probably would have done as poorly as Perry, Gingrich, etc.. It wasn't truly the Candidate these forces in Iowa were rallying around, they were more of an opposition movement.
And still, Romney won the Caucus in Iowa. Very impressive indeed.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"And still, Romney won the Caucus in Iowa. Very impressive indeed."
Very impressive to win in a category of 1? He only had to win the Romney vote. His vote wasn't split like the non-Romneys.
Your standards are low if you find this impressive. Then again, Romney is your candidate.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMany Catholics grow weary of the exploitation of their religious identity to promote Globalyst lawless borders, the Obama nanny welfare state at the federal level, or a "ban contraception" theocracy mandated on the nation. Those far left or statist mantras won't win the White House to take back the Supreme Court to preserve the "original intent" conservative principles that made this nation great.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe thing you have a to understand about being a Paulbot is, nobody but other Paulbots cares what a Paulbot writes. It's the same mishmash of hysterical half-truths every time. Like it's been copy-pasted from some 2012 digital equivalent of his nutty newsletters. It's not even remotely persuasive, in the exceedingly rare moments where it's read.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhoever wins the nomination is probably going to have to carry the Catholic vote in order to win the presidency. This certainly bolsters Santorum's candidacy and adds to his momentum, though at some point he's going to need some so-called "establishment" endorsements from governors, senators, and the like.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHe's also going to need votes from people who aren't ultra conservative Catholics and evangelicals whose top priority is enacting a federal morals code. Good luck on that.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNo, Santorum's support is broad-based enough that he doesn't need the support of libertarians like yourself.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBased on what evidence do you claim that Santorum's support is that broad?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSantorum's Senate seat is always a tough fight. He was preceded and followed by Democrats in that seat, and traditionally the only Republicans able to win that seat were quite moderate (e.g. John Heinz and Hugh Scott).
Santorum was the first conservative GOP candidate to prove he could win that seat. Then once in the Senate he is credited with being the force that made welfare reform possible.
Contrary to the establishment idea that a RINO is our best chance at winning the White House, Santorum has proven that he can win running as a conservative even in a state that leans blue. And once in office he can accomplish conservative goals that have proven little more than talking points for others.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHe's running for president, so to me, the term "broad" means the entire country. Using Pennsylvania has the base for your argument is very narrowly focused.
Also, Pennsylvania elected Pat Toomey, who, it can be argued, is more conservative than Santorum.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse