Crossing The Line

Let's be honest, watching a presidential primary race is exhausting.  It is tricky for candidates to differentiate themselves on shared ideology.  It is kind of like watching two comrades argue about who likes the color blue better than the other.  They both like blue, so each must carefully articulate their case over their rival.  They try to be persuasive.  They try to differentiate.  They try to be clever, but inevitably somone always goes too far and ends up actually covering themselves in blue paint.

It never works.  They look foolish and wind up appearing less and less like a viable candidate and more like a wanna-be contestant for the Blue Man Group.

Well, I think the GOP race has officially entered the "covered-in-blue-paint" phase.  Rick Santorum just may have crossed that fine line of desire and ridiculousness.  He is officially covered in "blue paint."

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Last night, standing in front a crowd in Texas, Santorum suggested that voters would be better off sticking with Obama than supporting his rival Mitt Romney.  He argued that Mitt is no diffferent than Obama and therefore, "If you are going to be a little different, we might as well stay with what we have (President Obama) instead of taking a risk with what may be the Etch A Sketch candidate of the future."

It is exhausting to think about how damaging his statement really is. 

Photo from Bob Owen, San Antonio Express-News

Are you serious Mr. Santorum?  America would be better off with a President who has quadrupled the debt, driven the economy to near ruin, used any means necessary to pass his very controversial legislation "Obamacare," has radically changed the culture of our government and who continues to encourage a deeply ideologically divided America?

I cannot believe that Santorum has resorted to this.  I cannot believe that he said that.  It is foolish. It is offensive.  It is damaging.  And he is wrong.  Santorum should be ashamed of himself.  He is no longer fighting for the greatest good, he seems to be fighting for his political pursuits.

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Our party is looking for the best, most prepared candidate to take on the difficult fight to defeat an incumbent president.  So much is on the line this election and voters know the importance of getting it right.  Voters have had months to get to know these candidates.  They have looked at the candidates, scrutinized their records and are beginning to coalesce around one. 

Millions of voters overwhelmingly agree that Mitt Romney is our best chance.  He has the best organization.  He has the most money, but above all of that, Mitt Romney has the best record.  His experiences and successes will swallow President Obama's.  But more importantly, his resume shows that he knows how to lead America out of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression. 

Santorum has lost sight of the real goal which is to replace President Obama.  Unforutunately it appears that his desire to be that replacement has become his obsession and will stop at nothing to be the replacement.  It is not what is best for our party and it is not what is best for our nation.

Perhaps that is why Newt Gingrich came out today and said that Rick Santorum may have gone too far.   In reference to Santorum's remarks, Gingrich said, "I frankly was very surprised that he said it and that I hope he's taking it back."

 Gingrich went on to say, "I may have some very substantial disagreements with Governor Romney.  There is no doubt in my mind that if the choice was Governor Romney or Barack Obama, we would have no choice.  The danger of Obama is so great that I would hope that every candidate running--Ron Paul, Governor Romney, and Senator Santorum--that we would all agree that whoever becomes the Republican nonimee, we have one common goal and that is to defeat Barack Obama."

I couldn't agree more.

Santorum has made a foolish and novice mistake.  He has forgotten that the fight is bigger than one man.  He has also forgotten that it if he drops out, he will be expected to endorse his rival--even if that rival is Mitt.

Santorum has also forgotten that his political future is bright.  He will need a political figure like Romney to help down the road.  He needs to be careful not to poison the waters. 

I hope that Santorum will remember the analogy of frogs in a bucket which I talked about here.  If a frog is placed in an empty bucket, within minutes it can climb and hop its way out, but when multiple frogs are placed in the same bucket, they continually pull each other down and none of them can escape.

If left long enough, all of the frogs will die.

Santorum needs to recognize that the strongest candidate has emerged and it is not him.  Santorum needs to stop pulling and start the role of pushing his rival ahead. 

Mitt Romney is the stronger candidate.  His record is remarkable.  Our party will benefit from his experience and America will prosper under his vision.  Millions of people have recognized it, it might be time for one particular candidate to realize it as well.

Sorry Mr. Satorum, your latest antics demonstrate that you no longer understand the fragile line between political pursuits and looking foolish.  I hate to say it, but I think you are now covered in "blue paint." It isn't working.