Rick Santorum: Obama Doesn’t Love America

Several weeks ago I spent some time on the road with former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, as he lays the groundwork for a possible Presidential run in 2012. In both his speeches and his exchanges with me, he certainly didn’t pull any punches about what he thinks of Barack Obama. Read the full story about Santorum here. A few highlights of what he had to say:

* On Obama’s patriotism: “I am … deeply concerned that we have a President who doesn’t love America for what it is, but likes America for what he can transform it into. This means that he wants to change the free-market system that has allowed Americans to succeed or fail greatly, at the same time not believing that America has a special place on the world stage to lead. As a country we go on believing every day that we will always remain a great power. I’m sure the Greeks and Romans did, too.”

* On Obamacare:  “I think ultimately this is the most important issue that has maybe ever faced this country. If Obamacare goes into effect, America as we know it … is going to go away. We will go from a government that is limited to a government that has the ability to do whatever it wants — make you buy anything, sell anything.”

* On Obama and foreign policy: “You can’t be a president who wants to be the most loved character in the world. I think President Bush is a lot more respected in the world than Barack Obama is.”