Know Your Congressman: Rick Santorum

ABOUT THE BOOK

On April 10, 2012, when Rick Santorum announced he was stepping out of the race to become the Republican candidate for President of the United States, he answered a question many have been asking for a several months now: when is this guy gonna just give up? But although his bid for the presidency may have never stood a chance (he was being outspent by Romney on a margin of 10–1), he made it longer and further than anyone ever predicted, and played an interesting and significant role in the shaping of the coming national election.

The primary elections unfolded this year in an unusual pattern. Though it began with a sense of inevitability that Mitt Romney, Santorums multi-multi-multi-millionaire rival, would win the nomination, each candidate had his or her fifteen minutes in the frontrunner position. Yet with each possible Romney alternative, closer inspection always revealed some deal breaking discoveries. Herman Cain was alleged to be a repeat sexual harasser, questions about Rick Perrys intelligence kept surfacing, and Michele Bachmann continued making unsupported statements about the HPV vaccine causing mental retardation.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Deena Shanker is a writer living in San Francisco. After moving to the west coast from New York City in the fall, she is loving San Fran's beautiful weather, colorful architecture, and never-ending vegetarian food options. She loves visiting the beach with her dog, Barley, and eating cheese (also sometimes with Barley). She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Barnard College.

EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK

Though to many Americans, the economy is the most important challenge facing our country, Santorum did not focus on it much on the campaign trail. On March 19, Politico noted that on the economy, Rick Santorum these days has very little to say. His focus had shifted to what he called a campaign for freedom. He even stated I dont care what the unemployment rates going to be…My campaign doesnt hinge on unemployment rates and growth rates. Its something more foundational going on.

Yet according to Santorums campaign website, he does have an economic plan. Dubbed Made In America, it is based on the recognition that to have a strong national economy, we must have strong families… His vision for American is to restore Americas greatness through the promotion of faith, family and freedom. Beyond these platitudes, Santorum provides a number of specific plans including eliminating the estate tax (what Republicans have named the Death Tax), cutting the corporate income tax rate in half, from 35% to 17.5%, and getting rid of all Obama era regulations with economic impact over $100 million.

CHAPTER OUTLINE

Guide to Your Congressman: Rick Santorum

+ Introduction

+ The Story of Rick Santorum

+ Rick Santorum on the Issues

+ Rick Santorum's Voting Record

+ …and much more