5 Reasons Democrats Should Love GOP Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum

Impact

Former Senator Santorum’s voting record in Congress cannot be disputed. From his pro-labor positions to his support for illegal immigrates to his protection of entitlement programs to his role in increasing our national debt, Santorum proved time and time again that he was not a pro-growth or a fiscal conservative.

Reviewing the actual facts about Santorum’s voting record, Democrats should love him. But as to why Republicans are sharing in that sentiment, I don’t have a clue.

5) Rick Santorum is an old softy when it comes to defending the rights of union workers and our working poor, especially as his voting record supports. He voted against the National Right to Work Act and voted for minimum wage increases six times.

4) Senator Santorum supported the special needs of illegal immigrants in vote after vote. Santorum voted to give Social Security insurance benefits to legal aliens. He voted to allow illegal immigrants to receive the earned income credit before becoming citizens. Santorum even voted against increasing boarder guards and inspectors.

3) When it comes to reform, this 16-year veteran of Congress knows how to say no. He voted against food stamp reform. He voted against Medicaid reform. Santorum insured hundreds of billions in benefits continued to flow to those who needed them as well as those who perhaps didn’t need them.

2) Santorum loves big government. He voted against increasing defense spending offset by equivalent cuts in non-defense spending. Voted to make Medicare part B premium subsidies a new entitlement. Santorum voted against paying off the debt ($5.6 trillion at the time).

1) But the top reason Democrats should thank Santorum is because he voted against Senate Republicans who put forth a bill to end the practise of using the Social Security trust fund surplus to pay general expenses in 2000. If not for that vote, the Bush Tax cuts would not have been possible as they would have been in violation of the “Byrd Rule” for budgetary compliance having produced a CBO scoring with immediate deficits.

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore