Rick Santorum [Hardcover]

Rick Santorum (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: Monument Press (June 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976966808
• ISBN-13: 978-0976966807
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An important record of the Senate speeches of a patriotic American, October 5, 2011

By 

goodmusicman (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rick Santorum (Hardcover)

One reviewer (in their review title) accuses Rick Santorum of being "full of himself" and later questions who would want to "read about Rick Santorum." Well, let me clarify what this book is and what it is not. It is not an autobiography or a political memoir. Technically speaking, one cannot even say that Rick Santorum "authored" this book. That is because this book, part of "Modern American Statesmen Series," is simply a verbatim record of speeches given on the floor of the United States Senate by then-Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorm. There are no forewords or afterwords by Santorum, nor are there any embelishments of any sort. This is simply a collection of Senate speeches on various topics over a 12 year period. If this bores you, that is fine but please don't complain that a particular book in a particular genre of books is worthless merely because you don't like that genre!

Senator Rick Santorum represents the socially conservative wing of the Republican Party, so there are speeches here about abortion and marriage. Some reviewers here indicate their disagreement with the Senator on these issues. Well, that is what this great country is about: disagreeing on key issues and still living together in peace. Senator Santorum has not taken the name of any of his ideological opponents and transformed that name into a vile and filthy word that will pop up any time you put it into Google, although that is precisely what one of the Senator's opponents has done. It is actually quite childish and repulsive, free speech and all. Santorum does not discuss any reason for why we should ban two adults from engaging in consensual acts in private, as one reviewer wonders about, because he opposes any such ban. How could he provide a reason for banning something that he doesn't think should be banned? What that reviewer must be referring to is Santorum's opposition to same-sex marriage. However, that is not an issue of banning any behavior but rather of our government promoting an institution that is key to the welfare of any successful society: marriage. Since Santorum believes (as do most Americans) that marriage is ultimately about producing children and raising them to be upstanding citizens, it must necessarily involve the union of two people who are of the opposite gender. Only a mother and father can produce a child, therefore, Santorum argues, every child should--ideally--be raised by a mother and father. Government recognition of unions that cannot, by definition, produce this outcome poses a threat to the institution of marriage and therefore, Santorum feels, such recognition should not be granted.

There are several powerful essays here about partial-birth abortion. They are graphic and might disturb children. He argues that whatever your view on abortion/choice is, this particular procedure is in a different category altogether. Since it involves the killing of a child that is largely viable and almost fully formed, it ought not be countenanced in a civilized society. In his words: "[it is] a medical procedure which I think is one of the most gruesome medical procedures that if it was being done in China today, human rights activists would be calling on us to sanction China. If it is done on a dog, animal rights activists would be storming the Capitol saying it is inhumane. But if it is done on a 30-week-old baby that is fully viable outside the womb, it is a choice; it is not a baby, it is a choice. It is up to the doctor and the mother to determine what happens to that baby. It is a choice; it is not a baby" (p. 148, from speech given on Sept. 20, 1996). Powerful words indeed.

Senator Santorum also represents the hawkish ("neoconservative") wing of the Republican Party and there are speeches on national security and terrorism. Again, one may agree or disagree with his views, but it is important for those views to be available as part of the public dialogue. Santorum's views on fiscal/economic issues are a bit less conservative (in that he doesn't want to end all federal entitlements as do libertarians) and his speeches on Social Security , Medicare, welfare, and poverty can be found here. Speeches about a number of other issues are also included in this volume.

As a record of what a principled, passionate, and patriotic US Senator said on the floor of the US Senate over a tumultuous 12 years, this book is invaluable. Whether you agree or disagree with his views, this collection does the public a great service.

11 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Santorum Is Awesome!!!!!, January 21, 2007

By 

Carol M. Barry "proud republican" (philadelphia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rick Santorum (Hardcover)

Everyone thinks that Rick Santorum is such an aweful man just because he is a very strong Republican. Why do you think that he won the position for Senator 3 times before being defeated. This book tells what a great man he is and what accomplishements he has made in U.S history. Anyone who gives this book a bad review probably hasn't even read it. I voted for Santorum in the 2006 election and I hope he runs for president in 2008.

37 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I was expecting it to be a Horror novel..., July 21, 2005

By 

Pauline Wilbanks (Pelahatchie, MS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rick Santorum (Hardcover)

At first glance you might mistake Senator Santorum for a charming person. What a mistake that would be! It only takes a comment from Senator Santorum (like comparing a gay couple to a man having sex with a dog) for you to see that this is no charming person. I had to read his book, to see if he could explain how he feels it is OK to lock up two consenting adults for engaging in a sex act that he didn't agree with. He didn't really explain that in the book, so I feel like it was a waste of my time. This was not a good book... It left a lot of unanswered questions.