Whatta’ guy?

This opportuni$t who did not represent Pennsylvanians well when he was a $enator is catching some attention in the $earch for the next Republican candidate for president.  The plastic $mile and $weater vest  candidate moved to prominence in Iowa with his “family value$” palaver. But $cratch the $urface of this holy roller veneer and the true “$antorum value$” $pring forth:  He’s out for the CA$h! He’s building his family’s dollar value!

That’s the real $et of $antorum value$!!! He get$ hi$ but he want$ to $lash your $ocial $ecurity!

Here’s a guy who was so less than stellar during his tenure as an elected “public servant” allegedly representing Pennsylvania’s citizens that he could not get invited back to the trough. After he was trounced in his re-election bit, he pursued his true ambition. He used his political experience to build his personal CA$H RESERVE$. He became a highly paid lobbyi$t.

Take a look at the real $antorum; take a look at what news sources are saying now (what Pennsylvania’s citizens already knew):

• “Turns out he was a tough-guy lawmaker  …  made a bundle after leaving the Senate.” – the Daily Beast

• “In 2006, Mr. Santorum led all federal candidates in contributions from lobbyists and their family members, taking in roughly $500,000, nearly 40 percent more than the next closest candidate … ” – The New York Times

• I got mine; too bad for you – “Rick Santorum called Friday for immediate cuts to Social Security benefits, ” – Sacramento Bee

• $antorum does not speak for you, unless you are a corporation with CA$H – “This Rick Santorum favors big business, curries favor from lobbyists, and helped to bind the Washington influence industry to the Republican Party while serving in Congress.” – Huffington Post

• Pennsylvanians knew then and know now – “His landslide defeat in his last race, the 2006 Pennsylvania Senate contest, undermines this central message of his surging presidential bid. … Santorum’s loss was a long time coming. By the time of his nearly 18-point loss — a stunning margin for a two-term incumbent — he had also alienated women voters, moderate Republicans and independents — not to mention the Democrats he had once won over. He lost almost every region of the state and almost every demographic group, including the blue-collar workers he singles out on the campaign trail in 2012. – politico.com

• Lobbyists run $antorum’$ charity – “But Santorum’s charity has also put money — $216,000 — into unexplained travel and meetings through 2004. That’s almost half of the $501,000 donated to community organizations, mostly in Philadelphia.” – WTAE-TV (Pittsburgh)

• “And that cozy association with lobbyists might not be worth bragging about in the current political environment. But those connections apparently served him well politically.” – rollcall.com

• Stealth lobbyist: “Rick Santorum entered Congress with modest means. But not long after he left in 2006, the former two-term senator reaped the rewards of his time on Capitol Hill, earning more than $1 million last year in cash and stock for advising corporate clients, sharing his insights with social organizations, and consulting for media outlets.” – ABCNews

• Do as I say, not as I do: “Among a staggering array of human-rights abuses that Rick Santorum used his office as a United States senator to enable were forced prostitution and… wait for it… coerced abortions. This is what a man now running as the candidate of “faith, family and freedom” helped protect in the 1990’s — what Tom DeLay called “a petri dish of capitalism.” And if there’s anyone who could find an ethical sewer, it was certainly Tom DeLay. Santorum was hip-deep in the beginnings of what became a virtual takeover of the entire K Street lobbying community by DeLay and his gunsels, including Abramoff … ” – Esquire.com – the Politics Blog

• ” … (for) two decades … Santorum was a central and often high-ranking player in Washington politics, with a long history of connections to K Street lobbyists and a lucrative consulting career that made him a millionaire.” – Ft. Wayne (IN) Journal Gazette

• “He drowned in charges of hypocrisy … ” – Politico.com

• $antorum’$ ca$h cow$ – “Lawyers and employees from law firms have donated $2 million to the former senator; the securities and investment sector, insurance sector, health care professionals and the real estate sector each ponied up $1 million or more.” – Sunlightfoundation.com

• “And although he has been out of political office for more than four years, Santorum has stayed heavily involved in the world of money-in-politics.” – OpenSecrets.org

• “January 07, 2012 — WASHINGTON (AP) — Losing his Senate seat might have been the best thing that ever happened to Rick Santorum’s bank account. In 2006, the Republican presidential hopeful earned about $200,000 from his Senate salary and book royalties. From January 2010 to August 2011, he earned at least $1.3 million as he cashed in on his 16 years in Congress by working as a corporate consultant, political pundit and board member.” – mail.com

Lancaster Intelligencer Journal/New Era column writer, Tom Murse, wrote a column just the other day about folks like “$weater-ve$ted $antorum” – when his column about career politicians like Tom Creighton who, when you shucked away the wrapping, was in it for the $$$$$’s. Read that column here. [NOTE: Columbia news, views & reviews added the yellow highlighting for emphasis.]

“Saturday Night Live” $antorum

“Adding insult to injury, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum saw his lackluster Saturday night debate performance compounded by a Saturday Night Live send-up. The variety show’s opening comedy sketch consisted of actor Andy Samberg impersonating Santorum in a mock speech to American voters.” Watch it here.