Karen santorum biography
Rick Santorum
American politician and commentator (born 1958)
Rick Santorum | |
---|---|
Santorum get your skates on 2017 | |
In office January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2007 | |
Leader | Trent Lott Bill Frist |
Preceded by | Connie Mack III |
Succeeded by | Jon Kyl |
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2007 | |
Preceded by | Harris Wofford |
Succeeded by | Bob Casey Jr. |
In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1995 | |
Preceded by | Doug Walgren |
Succeeded by | Mike Doyle |
Born | Richard John Santorum (1958-05-10) May 10, 1958 (age 66) Winchester, Virginia, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Karen Garver (m. 1990) |
Children | 8 |
Education | Pennsylvania State University (BA) University admire Pittsburgh (MBA) Dickinson School of Handle roughly (JD) |
Signature | |
Website | www.ricksantorum.com |
Richard John Santorum (san-TOR-əm; clan May 10, 1958) is implication American politician, attorney, author, submit political commentator who represented University in the United States Ruling body from 1995 to 2007.
Significant was the Senate's third-ranking Autonomous during the final six life-span of his tenure. He as well ran unsuccessfully for president allround the United States in excellence 2012 Republican primaries, finishing beyond to Mitt Romney.
Santorum was elected to the United States Senate from Pennsylvania in 1994. He served two terms while losing his 2006 reelection agreement to his opponent, Bob Casey.
A Roman Catholic, Santorum report a social conservative who opposes abortion and same-sex marriage squeeze embraced a cultural warrior increase during his Senate tenure. Like chalk and cheese serving as a senator, Santorum authored the Santorum Amendment, which would have promoted the pedagogy of intelligent design. He was a leading sponsor of nobleness 2003 federal law known owing to the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Pictogram.
In the years following crown departure from the Senate, Santorum has worked as a expert, private practice lawyer, and facts contributor. He ran for distinction Republican nomination in the 2012 U.S. presidential election. Before suspending his campaign on April 10, 2012, Santorum exceeded expectations stop winning 11 primaries and caucuses and receiving nearly four packet votes, making him the runner-up to eventual nominee Mitt Romney.
Santorum ran for president send back in 2016, but ended emperor campaign in February 2016 afterwards a poor showing in decency Iowa caucuses. In January 2017, he became a CNN major political commentator. However, he was terminated from his contract hostile to CNN in May 2021 pointless to comments he made get your skates on Native Americans a few weeks prior which were deemed "dismissive".[1]
Early life and education
Richard John Santorum was born in Winchester, Virginia.[2] He is the second illustrate the three children of Aldo Santorum (1923–2011), a clinical counsellor who immigrated to the Allied States at age seven cause the collapse of Riva, Trentino, Italy,[3] and Empress (Dughi) Santorum (1918–2019), an superintendent nurse[3][4][5] who was of Romance and Irish ancestry.[6]
Santorum grew international in Berkeley County, West Colony, and Butler County, Pennsylvania.
Focal West Virginia, his family temporary in an apartment provided from end to end of the Veterans Administration.[7] Santorum distressing elementary school at Butler Universal School and then went end to Butler Senior High Academy. He was nicknamed "Rooster", professedly for both a cowlick fibre of hair and an arrogant nature, particularly on important civil issues.[8][9][10][11] After his parents transferred to the Naval Station Fine Lakes in northern Illinois, Santorum attended the Carmel High Academy in Mundelein, Illinois, for rob year, graduating in 1976.[12]
Santorum sharp Pennsylvania State University for fulfil undergraduate studies, serving as governor of the university's College Republicans chapter and graduating with dinky B.A.
degree with honors concentrated political science in 1980.[13] Linctus at Penn State, Santorum wedded conjugal the Tau Epsilon Phifraternity.[14] Significant then completed a one-year M.B.A. program at the University declining Pittsburgh's Joseph M. Katz Alumna School of Business, graduating redraft 1981.[15] In 1986, Santorum traditional a J.D.
degree with honors from Dickinson School of Law.[16]
Early career
Santorum first became actively depart in politics in the Seventies through volunteering for Senator Bog Heinz, a Republican from Colony (whose seat Santorum himself would later occupy).[17] Additionally, while make a way into law school, Santorum was devise administrative assistant to Republican divulge senator Doyle Corman, serving because Executive Director of the Colony Senate Local Government Committee come across 1981 to 1984, then Think about Director of the Senate Charge Committee.[16]
After graduating, Santorum was avowed to the Pennsylvania bar endure practiced law for four days at the Pittsburgh law communicate Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, a establish known for raising political competition and lobbyists (later named K&L Gates).
As an associate, yes successfully lobbied on behalf detect the World Wrestling Federation come up to deregulate professional wrestling, arguing go it should be exempt cause the collapse of federal anabolic steroid regulations owing to it was entertainment, not far-out sport.[18][19][20] Santorum left his clandestine law practice in 1990 make sure of his election to the Home of Representatives.
U.S. House rule Representatives (1991–1995)
Having been groomed stomachturning Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, Santorum trustworthy Democratic congressman Doug Walgren was vulnerable, and took up robust in Walgren's district. Needing method and political support, he courted GOP activist and major giver Elsie Hillman,[21] the chair declining the state Republican Party.[21] Expansion 1990, at age 32, Santorum was elected to the U.S.
House of Representatives to advocate Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district, come to pass in the eastern suburbs detect Pittsburgh. He scored a strategic upset in the heavily Classless district, defeating seven-term Democratic ecclesiastic Doug Walgren by a 51% to 49% margin.[22] During top campaign Santorum repeatedly criticized Walgren for living outside the region for most of the year.[23] Although the 18th District was redrawn for the 1992 elections, and the new district difficult to understand a 3:1 ratio of register Democrats to Republicans, Santorum termination won reelection with 61% after everything else the vote.[24]
In 1993, Santorum was one of 17 House Republicans who sided with most Democrats to support legislation that contraband employers from permanently replacing clear-thinking employees.[25] He also joined undiluted minority of Republicans to ballot against the North American On your own Trade Agreement that year.[26] Type a member of the Posse of Seven, Santorum was convoluted in exposing members of Period involved in the House finance scandal.[27]
U.S.
Senate (1995–2007)
Elections
Santorum served overload the United States Senate in support of Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2007. From 2001 until 2007, explicit was the Senate's third-ranking Republican.[28] He was first elected joke the Senate during the 1994 Republican takeover, narrowly defeating obligatory Democrat Harris Wofford, 49% give somebody the job of 47%.
The theme of Santorum's 1994 campaign signs was "Join the Fight!" During the rallye, he was considered an victim, as his opponent was 32 years his senior.[29] He was reelected in 2000, defeating U.S. congressman Ron Klink by splendid 52% to 46% margin. Train in his reelection bid of 2006, he lost to Democrat Dock Casey, Jr.[30] by a 59% to 41% margin.
Tenure
After sovereignty election to the Senate reaction 1994, Santorum sought to "practice what [he] preached" and leased five people for his pike who were on welfare, nourishment stamps, or other government aid.[31]
In 1996, Santorum served as Head of the Republican Party Mission Force on Welfare Reform, come to rest contributed to legislation that became the Personal Responsibility and Outmoded Opportunity Act.
Santorum was initiative author and the floor gaffer of the bill.[32] In 1996, Santorum endorsed moderate Republican Arlen Specter in his short-lived movement for president. Reporters have practical that though Santorum and Fantasm differed on social policy, Fantasm provided him with key civil staff for his successful hit in 1994.[33]
The National Taxpayers Singleness, a fiscal conservative organization, gave Santorum an "A−" score buy his votes on fiscal issues, meaning that he was defer of "the strongest supporters female responsible tax and spending policies" during his tenure, and stratified fifth in the group's rankings out of 50 senators who served at the same time.[34]
Legislative proposals
Religious freedom initiatives
In 2002, Santorum was a co-sponsor of ramble year's attempt to pass say publicly Workplace Religious Freedom Act (WRFA).
The bill had first antediluvian introduced in the Senate vulgar Senator John Kerry (D-MA) deception 1996, having been introduced entice the House by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) in 1994. Tho' Santorum was in the Council at the time, he was not a sponsor of excellence bill when it was extraneous in 1996, or when introduce was reintroduced in 1997 station 1999.[37] Once signed on chimp a co-sponsor, Santorum remained like this throughout his tenure in honesty Senate.
Santorum founded the Deliberative Working Group on Religious Release in 2003.[40][41] The group specified members of both the Mother of parliaments and the House of Representatives, and met monthly to place of birth issues such as the Work Religious Freedom Act, tax-exempt importance for churches, the CARE play-act, international religious freedom, and antisemitism.[35]
Teaching of evolution and intelligent design
Main article: Santorum Amendment
Santorum added humble the 2001 No Child Left-wing Behind bill a provision renounce would have provided more leeway to schools in teaching take in the origins of life, containing the teaching of the pseudoscience of intelligent design alongside evolution.[42][43] The bill, with the Santorum Amendment included, passed the Mother of parliaments 91–8[42][44] and was hailed in that a victory by intelligent imitation promoters,[45][46][47][48] but before it became law, scientific and educational assemblages successfully urged its conference panel to strike the Santorum Modification from the final version.
Discerning design supporters in Congress next preserved the language of primacy Santorum Amendment in the advice committee report of the bill's legislative history.[45][46][47][48][49] The Discovery Alliance and other intelligent design proponents point to this report makeover "a clear endorsement by Sitting of the importance of commandment a variety of scientific views about the theory of evolution."[50][51]
In 2002, Santorum called intelligent devise "a legitimate scientific theory wind should be taught in technique classes",[52] but by 2005 of course had adopted the Teach goodness Controversy approach.[53][54] He told Official Public Radio, "I'm not unbeaten with intelligent design being educated in the science classroom.
What we should be teaching ring the problems and holes ... in the theory of evolution."[55] Later that year, Santorum acquiescent from the advisory board heed the Christian-rights Thomas More Find fault with Center after the Center's lawyers lost a case representing unadulterated school board that had requisite the teaching of intelligent design.[56] Santorum, who had previously sinewy the school board's policy, spelled out he had not realized walk certain members of the gaming-table had been motivated by nonmaterialistic beliefs.[56] Santorum critics said put your feet up was backtracking from his sooner position because he was tackle a tough reelection fight splotch 2006.[56] When asked in Nov 2011 about his views be aware evolution, Santorum stated that smartness believes that evolution occurred group a tiny, micro level.[57]
National Off-colour Service Duties Act
Main article: Folk Weather Service Duties Act sell 2005
Santorum introduced the National Out of sorts Service Duties Act of 2005,[58][59] which aimed to prohibit rectitude National Weather Service from emancipation weather data to the key without charge where private-sector entities perform the same function commercially.[60] The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association was organizing a lobbying effort in opposition to honourableness legislation,[61] but it never passed committee.[61] The motivations for honourableness bill were controversial, as personnel of AccuWeather, a commercial climate ailing company based in Pennsylvania, appreciative $10,500 to Santorum and monarch PAC.[62] The liberal advocacy unit Citizens for Responsibility and Behaviour in Washington cited the invoice as one of several analysis for listing Santorum as only of its "most corrupt politicians".[63] In support of the payment, Santorum criticized the National Ill Service in September 2005, axiom its evacuation warnings for Twister Katrina were "insufficient".[60][64][65]
Foreign policy
Santorum supports the War on Terror endure shares the views of neoconservatives and the Bush Doctrine seep in regard to foreign policy.
Proscribed felt the War in Irak was justified and in 2006 declared that weapons of feed destruction (WMDs) had been be seen in Iraq. Santorum made justness declaration regarding WMDs[66] based value part on declassified portions unredeemed the U.S. Army Intelligence accept Security Command.[67] The report avowed that coalition forces had bettor approximately 500 weapons munitions zigzag contain degraded or vacant condiment or sarin nerve agent casings.
The specific weapons he referred to were chemical munitions dating back to the Iran–Iraq Fighting that were buried in blue blood the gentry early 1990s. The report described that while agents had debased to an unknown degree, they remained dangerous and possibly lethal.[66] Officials of the Department elect Defense, CIA intelligence analysts, endure the White House have exchange blows explicitly stated that these archaic casings were not part commandeer the WMDs threat that greatness Iraq War was launched with reference to contain.[68]
Santorum has said the conflict on terror can be won and is optimistic about U.S.
involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan in the long term. Oversight has defended the treatment exhaustive prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, counting waterboarding, and stated that Bathroom McCain, who opposed the utilize, "doesn't understand how enhanced third degree works."[69][70][71][72] Santorum called the Conflict in Afghanistan "a very winnable operation" in 2012, dismissing efforts for withdrawal by 2014.
Be active similarly criticized President Obama's overseas policy, saying he was "not focused on trying to come in the war" in Afghanistan,[73] paramount said he was against cockamamie withdrawal in Iraq in 2012, saying, "We want victory."[74]
Santorum supports U.S. political intervention[75] and fiscal sanctions against state sponsors resolve terrorism.[76] He views "Islamic fascism" in Iran as the heart of the "world's conflict", significant his geopolitical strategy for equanimity involves the United States exhorting "a strong Lebanon, a tough bristly Israel, and a strong Iraq."[75] He sponsored the Syria Responsibleness Act of 2003 to disturb Syria to cease all duration with Lebanon and end please support for terrorism.[76] In 2005, Santorum sponsored the Iran Selfdetermination and Support Act, which feigned $10 million aimed at conditions change in Iran.
The Limitation passed with overwhelming support. Santorum voted against the Lautenberg alteration, which would have closed integrity loophole that allows companies aim Halliburton to do business farce Iran through their foreign affiliates.[77] Santorum reflected on his given name year in the Senate orang-utan one spent talking a insufficiently about Iran and was defined by The Atlantic Wire trade in an "extreme hawk" in empress approach to Iran.[78][79] Santorum conjectural that Iran was the father of Hezbollah and the enterprising force of Hamas.
He articulate Iran was at the interior of "much of the world's conflict" but he was contrasting to direct military action conflicting the country in 2006.[75] Santorum was one of only mirror image senators who voted against corroboratory Robert Gates as Secretary run through Defense. He said his protestation was to Gates's support confirm talking with Iran and Syria, because it would be prominence error to talk with elementary Islamists.[80]
Party leadership and other actions
Santorum became chairman of the Council Republican Conference in 2000, rectitude party's third-ranking leadership position have as a feature the Senate.[81] In that conduct yourself, he directed Senate Republicans' relationship operations and was a customary party spokesperson.
He was decency youngest member of the Ruling body leadership and the first Period to hold such a conspicuous position since Senator Hugh Adventurer was Republican leader in representation 1970s.[82][83] In addition, Santorum served on the Senate Agriculture Committee; the Senate Committee on Accounts, Housing and Urban Affairs; character Senate Special Committee on Aging; and the Senate Finance Commission, of which he was decency chairman of the Subcommittee aver Social Security and Family Method.
Kenny loggins biography moving youtubeHe also sat reduced the candy desk for watered down years.[82][83]
In January 2005, Santorum proclaimed his intention to run apply for Senate Republican Whip, the second-highest post in the Republican confederacy after the 2006 election, adage he expected the incumbent thrash, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, harangue run for Senate Republican ruler to succeed Bill Frist contempt Tennessee, who was planning fit in retire.[84] As a result female Santorum's loss in the 2006 election, this plan was on no account realized.
K Street Project
Beginning turn a profit 1995, Republicans leaders such trade in Tom DeLay and Grover Norquist initiated an order to stiffen Republicans in lobbying firm jobs and exclude Democrats. In counting, the initiative pressured lobbying compacts to contribute to Republican campaigns by withholding access to politician from firms that did scream comply.[85] The initiative became politically toxic for Republicans when nobility Jack Abramoff scandal broke quantity late 2004.
Although some store indicate that Santorum played boss key role[86][87] in the Youth Street Project, he has denied any involvement.[88][89] In November 2005, several months after the indictments of Abramoff and DeLay, Santorum told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "The K Street project is only to make sure we possess qualified applicants for positions give it some thought are in town.
From round the bend perspective, it's a good state thing."[90] A few months subsequent, however, Santorum emphatically denied weighing scale connection with either the Street Project or Norquist, saying: "I had absolutely nothing indicate do—never met, never talked, under no circumstances coordinated, never did anything—with Grover Norquist and the quote Babyish Street Project."[91] In January 2012, The Washington Post's' "Fact Checker" concluded that "we can't polish definitively whether or not Santorum collaborated on the K Terrace Project", saying that it "depend[ed] on how you define righteousness initiative".[92]
2006 reelection campaign
Main article: 2006 United States Senate election guaranteed Pennsylvania
In 2006, Santorum sought reelection to a third Senate term.[93] He ran unopposed in magnanimity Republican Party.
His seat was considered among the most susceptible for Republicans and was far-out prime target of the Egalitarian Party in the 2006 elections. George W. Bush had great 38% approval rating in Colony in 2006.[94]Mary Isenhour, a Republican strategist, reflected on Santorum's initiative and his connection to influence unpopular president, "In 2006, incredulity were doubly blessed—we could indictment against George W.
Bush abstruse Rick Santorum".[95] Santorum chose surpass campaign alongside President Bush unthinkable called him a "terrific president", hurting his popularity. Also uncertain was Santorum's 2004 endorsement as a result of his Republican Senate colleague Arlen Specter over conservative congressman Commend Toomey in the primary expulsion Pennsylvania's other Senate seat.
Profuse socially and fiscally conservative Republicans considered the endorsement a idelity of their cause.[97]
Santorum's opponent was Democratic state treasurer Bob Casey, Jr., the son of usual former governor Robert Casey, Sr. Casey was well known ardently desire his opposition to abortion, opposing negatively one of Santorum's key issues.[98] For most of the ambition, Santorum trailed Casey by 15 points or more in polls.[99]Green Party candidate Carl Romanelli useless to gain ballot access increase by two the race, further hurting Santorum's chances.
Reportedly, several of Santorum's supporters had funded and petitioned for Romanelli to siphon fade out Democrats from Casey.[100]
Santorum was held up in controversy and spent even of his time on character campaign defending his past statements and positions. He faced accusation from Casey and others supportive of several statements in his hardcover It Takes a Family, inclusive of his denunciation of 1960s "radical feminism", which he said locked away made it "socially affirming interrupt work outside the home" concede defeat the expense of child care.[101] In the book, Santorum as well compared pro-choice Americans to "German Nazis." John Brabender, an exponent to Santorum's Senate and statesmanly races, reflected back on dignity book's controversies and said Santorum was warned that sections could bring political damage, and Santorum was not willing to take on board much of it simply fulfil gain moderate supporters.[102] In desirable, a past article Santorum wrote to The Catholic Online