Romney's Comeuppance

Santorum’s rhetoric is reminiscent of that of priests of his church who are against everything women are for.

Rick Santorum - photo courtesy: paulboylan.wordpress.com

(PASO ROBLES, CA) - Rick Santorum is a Catholic of the first order whose recent remarks is aimed less at President Obama, it seems to me, than at Mitt Romney who is of the Mormon persuasion with a capital M.

It seemed obvious to me from the beginning that Mitt Romney was, in the eyes of the Republican Holy See, not its choice as nominee of the GOP. The die was cast when Rev. Jeffrees of Dallas Mega-Church fame said that Mormonism is a cult - other than a Bible Christian - hence not sufficiently pure for Mitt Romney seriously to be considered as the nominee of his Party. Rick Perry was a pawn who never was quite able to overcome his natural limitations even as a follower, and wisely withdrew from contention.

Newt Gingrich spurted to the forefront as he attacked Mitt Romney’s record with a degree of venom seldom seen on the campaign trail. It earned him a win in South Carolina, but Romney won in Florida which propelled him into the lead again. He barely won in Maine, and when the final votes were counted in Iowa, Rick Santorum was the winner. Ron Paul has so far remained above the fray by choosing quietly to collect delegates in states ahead of the other contenders with some success.

Rick Santorum is the truest Catholic among the lot, and suddenly is making waves as Super Pac donors flock to his position. Consequently, Santorum is enjoying a run in his favor by a means as curious as it is effective. By presumably attacking Obama, what he says effects Romney as well, which leads me to believe this is exactly what the Republican Holy See has in mind.

When Santorum speaks of “phony ideology and a phony theology,” and adds that Obama (?) is not a “Bible Christian,” his refrain is the very song of Rev. Jeffrees about Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith, and is effectively pinning the Donkey’s tail on Romney’s campaign. It will be interesting to see if the debate in Arizona reinforces these presumptions.

Santorum’s rhetoric is reminiscent of that of priests of his church who are against everything women are for. But women will do what they know is in their own best interest. As the pendulum swings more toward common sense, I am reminded of a devout Catholic who years ago told me, “I don’t believe everything the priest says, but I truly love the ceremony.” Good enough! it seems to me; but what chance is there of Rick Santorum ever becoming President if people vote with reason over the demands of their religion?

Kenneth G. Ramey, Salem-News.com's Religion and Philosophy Writer, confronts the hard issues of politics and religion from a logical point of view that combines interesting insight with history into the truth, or lack thereof, that underlies the strengths and weaknesses of the Religious Right’s determination to use American politics for its own misguided, or selfish, interest. It’s rare for a writer to balance his writing between religious values and the secular guarantees of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights with the knowledge that Ken possesses, and to do it so effectively.

Ken was born in Minnesota but was raised in California since 1932. He is the youngest of four boys raised by his mother alone during the dark years of the Great Depression. He Graduated from SFSU in the 1970s when in his mid-forties, majoring in Spanish North American History, and added three years of post-graduate study, much of it in Philosophy and Religion. We live at a critical time in history and believe Ken's views represent the view of many who are tired of the commercialism and false interpretations about religion today. Watch for Ken's articles on religion, philosophy, politics and history. View articles written by Kenneth G. Ramey You can email Ken at: darken1@sbcglobal.net