Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Santorum - Better Campaign Practices Displayed

The Republican presidential contest is down to a scrappy few. It's not been pretty and the ugliness is mounting rapidly as the unaccounted millions of dollars pour into the primary states, thanks to the recent Supreme Court ruling. Not having been in a primary state we have been spared the trudge through the manure yard of modern media campaigning.

While the leading candidates make every more incredible claims about each other and President Obama there is one candidate that leaves a different impression, Rick Santorum. Even some commentators on MSNBC have expressed admiration of his genuinely candid and personal campaigning style. Last week he was interviewed by  Piers Morgan on CNN. I think we got a little of what the political commentator saw out on the stump. Very respectful and calm responses to all questions.

Later his family joined in the interview and I was again impressed. His kids were asked how they dealt with the the tough aspects of political campaigning. One of his daughters said that when someone unfairly attacks her father she always prays for the attacker. Now, there is a Catholic answer from the real world.

His answers to questions about abortion were uncharacteristic of a Republican politician in that they were clearly about the value of life for all humans. His retelling of bringing his son's body home for a family funeral was a moving example of honoring life even at the time of death.

Disappointing were his unsure answers about the death penalty, his support of torture and his eagerness to use war as an easy tool of international policy. All three of these are also life issues but his answers were not Catholic answers.





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