The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Rick Santorum’s Iowa Barn Party

Posted on | August 6, 2011 | 27 Comments

ROLAND, Iowa
Rick Santorum just finished doing a “barn party” here at the home of Scott and Susan Hurd. While I have no firm estimate of how many eligible voters were in attendance, I can state officially that the number of kids was ginormous. Lots of big home-schooling families showed up — families with seven, eight, nine kids. Santorum is traveling with his own family of seven kids, so the super-size families certainly seem simpatico with the former Pennsylvania senator.

Also in attendance was local Republican Rep. Steve King, who introduced Santorum. The candidate spoke for nearly a half-hour and then took questions. I’ve got video, audio and notes, but that will take time to process, and I’m blogging this from a McDonald’s beside the I-35 exit and just want to get up a quick post with a few photos. Santorum noted that he has visited some 51 different cities in Iowa, with more than 100 stops. He spoke about the need to repeal ObamaCare and – in response to a question about foreign policy – gave a splendid account of Obama’s failures, going into some detail about Honduras. (How many candidates have you heard talk about Honduras? How many of people even know how Obama screwed over Honduras?) He was quite impressive, and I very much agree with Santorum’s complaint that the media has unfairly ignored his candidacy.

Santorum and his wife Karen talk with supporters. You can see Rep. King in the background.

Santorum talks on the phone with Lisa Graas, his No. 1 Twitter supporter, who was positively ecstatic about the chance to talk to her hero — on my cell phone.

Karen Santorum with her two oldest daughters, Sarah and Elizabeth. Right after I took this photo, Santorum’s press aide told me that the family are “off limits” to the media. But, of course, I’m just a friend of Lisa Graas, right? It’s not fair to treat me as “media.”

OK, so that’s it for now. I’ll have more later, but I’ve got to hit the road to Sioux City tonight. And you’ve got to hit the tip jar.

Category: Election 2012, Fear and Loathing in Iowa, Iowa, Lisa Graas, Rick Santorum

Comments

27 Responses to “Rick Santorum’s Iowa Barn Party”

  1. ‘Streets’ and ‘Avenues’ in Rural Iowa : The Other McCain
    August 6th, 2011 @ 9:14 pm

    […] distinctive, would it?UPDATE: Linked by Don Surber and Simply Timothy – thanks — and you can see some photos of Rick Santorum’s barn party event here.Category: Fear and Loathing in IowaComments http://thatmrgguy.wordpress.com/ MikeThey do the same […]

  2. victoria_29
    August 7th, 2011 @ 1:29 am

    He should never try to wear jeans & boots, it is so obviously not his style.

  3. Adjoran
    August 7th, 2011 @ 1:40 am

    Well, in another week they can go home.

  4. Robbyahm
    August 7th, 2011 @ 1:41 am

    That’s Right! I have forgotten about Honduras, I remember reading something online about the Chavez-Dictator wannabe being allowed back into the country without being arrested not too long ago? Is the wannabe in power again or something? Lets not forget also Israel, Britain, Poland, and the whole Arab Spring (sounds like a soap opera)

  5. Julie
    August 7th, 2011 @ 1:45 am

    I’ve been ranting about Honduras ever since.   It was appalling and humiliating to us, as a nation, to have officially supported the blatantly rigged and unconstitutional power grab by Zelaya.  

    And all with the excuse of the will of the “people.”  

    We ought to remember, this was when Obama was going on strong with his Organize America thing, trying to rally foot-soldiers to some sort of siege of our ordinary political process, including citizens reporting those citizens who objected to Obama.   We do remember that, don’t we?

    We recall that Honduras’ constitution limits a leader to one term.   We recall that after Zelaya was deposed the voting machines/computers were found to already have the result of the election, long before it was planned, showing Zelaya winning by a landslide.

    And still, Obama said this was about the will of the Honduran people.

    But even if Zelaya hadn’t been so obviously in the wrong, and so obviously making a power grab, what are we supposed to think about a president who does not understand, at a gut level, that the most important element of stability in a democracy is to maintain an interchangeability in leadership?    As soon as it all depends on one man staying in power, democracy is over.    The will of the people may be Chavez, may be Mubarak or Qadaffi, or Fidel Castro.    The revolution and will of the people places the strong-man in power,   it is ALWAYS the will of the people.

    The will of the people of Honduras was that the president serve and step aside, and it never become anything other than a temporary post, taken up and freely given up, peacefully.

    That Obama did not even have the CONCEPT is frightening.    That so few thought it even mattered, is nearly as much so.

  6. MrPaulRevere
    August 7th, 2011 @ 2:17 am

    “Lots of big home-schooling families showed up – families with seven, eight, nine kids. Santorum is traveling with his own family of seven kids, so the super-size families certainly seem simpatico with the former Pennsylvania senator.” Somewhere, Dan Savage and Andrew Sullivan are having migraines.

  7. Went To A Garden Party To See Some Old Friends « That Mr. G Guy's Blog
    August 6th, 2011 @ 10:29 pm

    […] Rick Santorum’s Iowa Barn Party. […]

  8. Lisa Graas
    August 7th, 2011 @ 2:59 am

    Thanks, Stacy! You rock!

  9. ThePaganTemple
    August 7th, 2011 @ 3:43 am

    I knew about Honduras, but forgot about it. Its one of those things that would get played as a minor misstep if he could get away with it. Far from minor, its major proof, and the first example of it, that Obama is an internationalist with no respect for national sovereignty in any form and the same with Hillary Clinton.

  10. Thetreeofwoe
    August 7th, 2011 @ 11:00 am

    Like the man said, at least his kids will be home IN VIRGINIA in time for the first day of school.
    Toast.
     

  11. Doug V
    August 7th, 2011 @ 2:52 pm

    Slightly o/t, but I went to the link for Streisand Effect and saw the picture of her house. Maybe PresBO should say to Babs – “you know, maybe at some point you’ve made enough money” and encourage her to “share the sacrifice.”
    Related (from Ace of Spades): http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/2011/08/sunday-reflection-why-gop-should-give-obama-higher-taxes-he-wants:

  12. Zilla of the Resistance
    August 7th, 2011 @ 2:58 pm

    THIS is why I support Rick Santorum above all of the others in the current field. NOBODY else comes close to his knowledge on foreign issues or national security and the threat of jihad and sharia. NOBODY.  Just so you understand since you gave me crap the last time I mentioned that I support him because you wrongly assumed it was about social issues, which I honestly don’t give much of a rat’s ass about. So there. :p

  13. Zilla of the Resistance
    August 7th, 2011 @ 3:00 pm

    THANK YOU, Stacy! As I have stated many times, this is my first choice candidate and it drives me nuts that not just the media but also BLOGGERS (besides Lisa) won’t cover him. It is his foreign issues knowledge, national security stands and opposition to sharia and jihad that puts him head and shoulders over the rest of the GOP field, if only people would freaking cover his campaign! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

  14. The Santorum Family’s Iowa ‘Vacation’ : The Other McCain
    August 7th, 2011 @ 11:34 am

    […] 3 to 20 — to Iowa for his three-week tour leading up to the Aug. 13 Ames Straw Poll. After yesterday’s “barn party” in Roland, I caught Santorum for a minute just before he left, running late for his next event:Clark […]

  15. Don’t Forget About Rick Santorum | The Lonely Conservative
    August 7th, 2011 @ 11:54 am

    […] RulesHomeDon’t Forget About Rick SantorumAugust 7, 2011 By Lonely Conservative No comments yetStacy took a detour through Roland, Iowa to cover a Rick Santorum barn party. The place was overrun by kids, including […]

  16. ‘The Lunatic Derby’ : The Other McCain
    August 7th, 2011 @ 2:53 pm

    […] in favor of tax increases.PREVIOUSLY:Aug. 7: The Santorum Family’s Iowa ‘Vacation’Aug. 6: Rick Santorum’s Iowa Barn PartyAug. 6: ‘Streets’ and ‘Avenues’ in Rural IowaAug. 6: I Got Iowa, They Got the Virgin […]

  17. rosalie
    August 7th, 2011 @ 7:37 pm

    I don’t know much about him so I appreciate Stacy’s blogs.  I’m just not enthused about any of the other candidates so far.  I’d like to hear more about Santorum.

  18. Zilla of the Resistance
    August 7th, 2011 @ 8:51 pm

    Here you go!
    http://zillablog.marezilla.com/2011/05/how-about-rick-santorum-for-president.html

  19. rosalie
    August 7th, 2011 @ 9:03 pm

    Thanks!

  20. ThePaganTemple
    August 7th, 2011 @ 10:24 pm

    LOL How long have you been saving that up for me Zilla? Sorry if you thought I was giving you crap. I just think the guy’s way down the totem pole and I can’t see him pulling his way much higher. He might make a damn good VP though.

  21. Zilla of the Resistance
    August 7th, 2011 @ 10:34 pm

    Lifelong Republican, more like an Elephant than a “RINO” in that I never forget. Ha ha ha. As for VP, you know, I think he’d be a great Secretary of State or Defense Secretary too. he’d HAVE a chance if he could get some coverage!  but the cocktail party elites are too busy trying to cram the likes of Romney or John McCain again down our throats.

  22. Zilla of the Resistance
    August 7th, 2011 @ 11:27 pm

    John Bolton might make a good POTUS. it would be nice to have a non-dhimmi in the White House for once. (GW Bush was all wrong with that “islam is peace” garbage.)

    ________________________________

  23. Why Robert Stacy McCain Is Invaluable
    August 9th, 2011 @ 1:21 pm

    […] Rick Santorum—he covers ‘em all. He has filed from Sioux City, Des Monies, and Roland, producing story after story in an unending […]

  24. Who is Herman Cain (Video); Candidate Cain on the Campaign Trail | REPUBLICAN REDEFINED
    August 9th, 2011 @ 1:40 pm

    […] Aug. 6: Rick Santorum’s Iowa Barn Party […]

  25. LIVE! AMES STRAW POLL COVERAGE: Fear and Loathing at Hilton Coliseum UPDATE: BACHMANN WINS! : The Other McCain
    August 13th, 2011 @ 7:47 pm

    […] interview with Rick Santorum, who’s feeling very optimistic about his chances. You remember his visit to the barn in Roland, right?I’ll upload that video — and many, many more — later on. But not on this […]

  26. Santorum: ‘We Feel Very Good’ : The Other McCain
    August 14th, 2011 @ 8:55 am

    […] it into my schedule. Partly, this was a favor for Lisa Graas, who is a huge Santorum fan. And when I went to the event, featuring a candidate whom nobody gave a chance, my instinctive sympathy for long shots and […]