Rick Santorum CPAC Speech Compares Obama's Vision For America to the French Revolution

Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-Penn.) delivered a somber, philosophical address to CPAC attendees Friday morning, covering everything from Hollywood to the French Revolution to President Obama’s "New Deal" as he reflected upon current American culture. His most damning remarks were saved for President Obama as he claimed Obama wished to "exchange the 'why' of the American Revolution for the 'why' of the French revolution."

Visibly shaken after the recent death of his nephew, Santorum quoted the Buddha observation that "to live is to suffer." From there, the former senator began to explain what he viewed as the United States’ contemporary culture dulling the senses "with an epidemic of addiction." The left has provided a government program "to address almost every pain" while "Hollywood promotes a culture of titillation and violence to numb our senses in an effort please us." The senator quoted a writer who expressed trepidation that "America has concerned the world of pain, but we’ve lost our meaning, our soul, our purpose."

Santorum explained that material prosperity is not the ultimate goal or indicator of a healthy society. By all objective standards of consumption and health, Americans as a whole are better off than 100 years ago. Yet Santorum believes "suffering is greater today because our culture and political leadership have robbed them of the WHY of America — our purpose." Santorum proclaimed that America’s "why" is a "set of principles and values [derived] from … the Declaration of Independence."

Santorum reminded the audience that "we are the only country in the history off the world that had based its premise on rights given to each and every one of from God, not from a sovereign, king, legislature, or a court. We are different … America in its essence is a moral enterprise … [protecting] the dignity of every human person …" The senator warned that President Obama seeks to "exchange the 'why' of the American revolution for the 'why' of the French revolution … They replaced the sovereign king with the sovereign mob, which led to the guillotine." And what is Obama’s "New Deal"? According to Santorum it equals "giving them more power, giving them more authority, and they will take care of you."

Judging from the reaction in the audience, the message resonated. The concept of rights "endowed by nature and nature’s God" conflicts directly with the notion of rights conferred by either the "sovereign" or the mob. Stating that the President favors the principles of the French revolution- which led to tyranny — rather than the American revolution — is a sharp accusation that President Obama lies far outside the mainstream of American thought.