Tim Noah argued last week that Rick Santorum is the likely pick for the number-two slot on the Republican presidential ticket, a prediction that Dave Weigel endorsed soon after. With this in mind, it was noteworthy when Mitt Romney addressed the possibility during a Fox News interview yesterday.
Note that host Neil Cavuto didn't bring up Santorum's name; Romney did. Asked about running mates, the former governor said:
"I find it interesting that [Santorum] continues to describe himself as the real conservative. This is the guy who voted against right-to-work. This is the guy that voted to fund Planned Parenthood. This is the person who voted to raise the debt ceiling five times without any compensating cuts."
This is just fascinating. Mitt Romney, of all people, seriously wants Fox News viewers to believe that Rick Santorum just isn't conservative enough.
Romney's the guy who used to support abortion rights, gay rights, gun control, "amnesty" for undocumented immigrants, and combating climate change. He distanced himself from Reagan, voted in a Democratic primary, helped create the blueprint for the Affordable Care Act, and described his political views as "progressive."
"I find it interesting that [Santorum] continues to describe himself as the real conservative"? I find it interesting that Romney continues to present himself as an arbiter of such ideological tests.
As for Santorum's votes to fund Planned Parenthood -- Republicans, including Reagan, have generally supported Planned Parenthood funding for decades -- this is especially rich. Not only was Romney comfortable with Planned Parenthood funding during his term as governor, but Romney even attended a Planned Parenthood fundraiser -- at which Ann Romney dropped off a $150 donation to the group -- during his first U.S. Senate campaign.
If nothing else, it takes real chutzpah to make arguments like this on national television and assume no one will notice.