Curmudgeon's Corner

What Was He Thinking?

Posted by Al Campbell on March 23, 2012

U.S., Political, People Making A Difference

Rick Santorum appears to have reached a point in his quest for the Republican nomination that suggests he should simply hang it up and go home.  At the very least, he needs to take a time-out, gather himself, make some apologetic statement and try to resurrect what looks to be very much a lost political opportunity, not that there was much hope prior to this gaffe of major proportions.

To make the utterance that we should simply re-elect President Obama if Republicans are not smart enough to make Santorum their candidate, while obviously intended to belittle Romney's creds as a conservative, paints a picture of a desparate man who will say anything to get one more vote.

The Etch-a-Sketch comment was cute and made his point.  He would have been far better off just sticking to that portrayal, but he didn't seem able to control himself.

This is a 'tell' about Santorum that is very difficult to ignore.  Even Gingrich, he of loose lips on occassion, stated that any Republican is better than Obama, and he has not been terribly kind to Romney during the debates or the campaign.

In response to the rhetorical question posed in the title to this blog, Santorum simply wasn't thinking.  He let his passion and his growing disappointment at not gaining sufficient traction get the best of him.  That is not something one wants to do with the press in the room and the cameras rolling.

The campaign trail is among the ways that people try to prove to us voters that they have the fortitude and wisdom to be able to handle the highest office of our land should we entrust that office to them.

This is not the way to close that deal with me, and I doubt it is with a lot of conservatives.  This shooting of self in the foot might well be a mortal wound for his campaign.