Author: Lisa Graas, assisted by Grok.
Rick Santorum, once a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and a prominent figure in the Republican Party, made significant waves during the 2012 presidential primaries. His defeat, both in the primaries and later in his career, has sparked a dialogue about the direction and identity of the conservative movement in America. This article explores how Santorum’s failure to secure the Republican nomination signifies a shift away from traditional conservative principles.
Santorum’s Brand of Conservatism
Santorum was known for his staunch social conservatism, emphasizing traditional family values, opposition to abortion, and a firm stance against same-sex marriage. His 2012 presidential campaign was marked by these themes, positioning him as one of the more ideologically pure candidates on these issues. His rhetoric often harked back to a time when, in his view, conservatism was about economic policy, national security, and moral cultural governance.
During his campaign, Santorum was vocal about his belief in government participation in family values, arguing that individuals cannot “go it alone” and that the government should play a role in cultural issues—a stance that contrasted with the growing libertarian wing within the Republican Party, which prioritizes what they define as personal liberty and limited government intervention.
The Shift Post-Santorum
After Santorum’s defeat in the 2012 primaries, where he was outmaneuvered by Mitt Romney, the conservative movement seemed to undergo a transformation. Romney, who had a more moderate record in Massachusetts, particularly on health care, represented a shift towards a more economically focused conservatism. This was further evidenced by the subsequent years where economic issues like tax policy, deregulation, and free-market capitalism took precedence over social issues in Republican political rhetoric.
The rise of figures like Donald Trump in 2016 further altered the landscape. Trump’s campaign and presidency combined elements of populism with conservative economic policies but often diverged from traditional social conservatism, particularly in his personal conduct and policy approach toward issues like marriage and to some extent, abortion. This period saw the conservative movement grappling with a new identity, one where cultural conservatism was less central to the discourse.
The Dilution of Conservative Ideals
Many argue that the conservative movement has become less about preserving traditional values and more about a broad, often populist appeal. Santorum’s loss can be seen as a watershed moment when the movement began to pivot away from its roots in social conservatism toward a supposedly more pragmatic, power-focused strategy.
- Economic over Social: The focus has increasingly shifted towards economic conservatism, with tax cuts, business deregulation, and trade policies becoming the mainstays of Republican platforms. This is a departure from the balanced view of traditional conservatism that Santorum represented, where social issues were equally, if not more, important.
- Populism and Personality: The movement has also embraced a form of populism, where personality and voter appeal can overshadow policy consistency. This was notably evident in the Trump era, where traditional conservative positions on trade, foreign policy, and even fiscal discipline were sometimes jettisoned for more immediate political gains or to align with voter sentiment indicated by polling.
- Identity Politics: While Santorum’s campaign was about reinforcing cultural identity, post-2012 conservatism has seen a rise in identity politics, albeit from a different angle, focusing on issues like immigration and nationalism rather than moral and family values.
- Libertarian Influence: The growing influence of libertarianism within the GOP, arguing for minimal government intervention in personal lives, directly contrasts with Santorum’s vision of active government involvement in cultural issues. This ideological shift has diluted the traditional conservative stance on social policy.
Conclusion
Rick Santorum’s defeat in the presidential race was not just a personal loss but symbolically marked a turning point for conservatism in America. His campaign highlighted the tension between traditional social conservatism and the evolving conservative identity that seeks to balance economic policy with broader voter appeal. Some would argue that whether this represents a dilution or an evolution of conservatism is subject to debate, but what is clear is that the movement has changed in ways that might have once been unrecognizable to figures like Santorum. The conservative movement, in navigating these changes, continues to redefine what it means to be conservative in modern America…and that is a crying shame.
For this author, the conservative movement is decidedly dead in America, for all intents and purposes, but we are not without hope. As a Christian, I believe God can take what is dead and resurrect it provided that it is good, holy, and worthy of being resurrected. Time will tell when this will happen but I believe that it will happen. Meanwhile, I wait at the tomb.
