Is Rick Santorum Really a 'Big Government' Guy?

That's the line being spouted by the establishment Republicans in an effort to offer covering fire for Mitt Romney's, eh, schizophrenic policy positions.

So Rick Santorum's really a 'Big Government' guy?

Santorum has a legislative record. Check it out.

Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
Voted YES on $40B in reduced federal overall spending. (Dec 2005)
Voted YES on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts. (Apr 2000)
Voted YES on 1998 GOP budget. (May 1997)
Voted YES on Balanced-budget constitutional amendment. (Mar 1997)

Rated 25% by CURE, indicating anti-rehabilitation crime votes. (Dec 2000)
Rated 27% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record. (Dec 2002)
Rated 0% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by the AFL-CIO, indicating an anti-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 81% by NTU, indicating a “Taxpayer’s Friend” on tax votes. (Dec 2003)

--Source: Issues 2000 Legislation Tracker

I'll say this:

Rick Santorum is a true, God-fearing, Constitutional conservative in the mold of Ronald Reagan. If we are to begin repairing this country, we need him or someone like him as President. His speech on Tuesday night was truly inspirational. Almost Reagan-esque, if it's not too trite to say that.

He is opposed by the Beltway establishment -- who has pre-ordained a Mitt Romney/Barack Obama faceoff in 2012. But they don't get to say who the GOP candidate is. You and I do. I urge you to support Rick Santorum for President, who has built a successful campaign out of sheer will, character and faith.

Four years of Barack Obama will have seen roughly $6 trillion added to the national debt -- with $10 trillion more to come on this trajectory in short order. Based on these spending levels, the Congressional Budget Office told Paul Ryan that they could not run their computer models another 25 years because the models collapse. The amount of debt they project simply cannot be rolled over -- there isn't enough money in the world.

Are you or your kids going to be around in 25 years? If so, I'd recommend you support someone who is a true Conservative, who believes in a Balanced Budget Amendment, fair taxation rules for all, and the will -- the fight -- to strip away the federal leviathan that dictates how much water your toilet tank holds, what kinds of light bulbs you're allowed to buy, how much mileage your car must get, and what kind of health care you'll receive.

Or we can continue kicking the can down the road and wait until the last possible minute to try to fix things, right before the civil society unravels.

It's now or never, folks.

If you feel the same way, I urge you to support Rick Santorum today.


Others writing about Santorum: Marathon Pundit ("The real Santorum web site is RickSantorum.com"), Mental Recession ("Here's the Real Rick Santorum Website") and Fausta's Blog.