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Rick Santorum (born May 10, 1958) is a former United States Senator from Pennsylvania. Santorum is a Republican.

The St. Petersburg Times' Politifact researched and rated the truthfulness of this politician's statements. On average, the Truth-O-Meter determined that his statements are "Mostly False".

Foreign policy and war issues: I believe we are at war with Islamic fascists and I singled out Iran and Syria as examples of Islamic fascist regimes. Santorum is rapidly emerging as one of Israel's leading Senate spokesmen. Source.
Rick Santorum said the United States should be open to a military strike to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. “A country that is developing a weapon of mass destruction to use it to destroy another country must be stopped in a preemptive strike,” Santorum told a crowd of about 50 people in a rural part of New Hampshire this evening. Source.

Security/liberties: Voted YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act. (Mar 2006) Voted YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's wiretap provision. (Dec 2005)
Favors waterboarding of terrorism suspects considering it a method of "enhanced interrogation". Source.
GOP debate: all (including this candidate) but Ron Paul want Patriot Act extended. At the same debate, Santorum advocated profiling Muslims as potential terrorists. Views expressed the Heritage Foundation/AEI/CNN debate (Nov. 22, 2011) Source

Social Security: Supports privatization if voluntary. (Sep 2006)

Stem cell research: Opposes federal funding of stem cell research. "I think that you cannot take a utilitarian approach to human life - and this is an innocent human life. You're destroying this human life for the purpose of research that has questionable value." Source

Budget issues: Voted "yes" on prioritizing national debt reduction below tax cuts. (Apr 2000) Rated 81% by NTU, indicating a "Taxpayer's Friend" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)

Abortion issues: He is pro-life.

Same sex issues: "Every society in the history of man has upheld the institution of marriage as a bond between a man and a woman. Why? Because society is based on one thing: that society is based on the future of the society. And that's what? Children. Monogamous relationships. In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That's not to pick on homosexuality. It's not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be. It is one thing. And when you destroy that you have a dramatic impact on the quality".

Trade issues: Rated 100% by CATO, indicating a pro-free trade voting record. (Dec 2002)

Business & labor issues: Santorum has an acrimonious relationship with labor unions.

Capital punishment: Favors the death penalty.

Marijuana:

Gun control: Voted NO on background checks at gun shows. (May 1999)

Minimum Wage: Voted NO on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 rather than $6.25. (Mar 2005)

Health care: Favors repealing the Health Care Reform bill signed by Obama.

Environmental issues: Rated 0% by the League of Conservation Voters, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)

Immigration issues: In 2006, Santorum opposed the Senate immigration reform proposal.[25] Instead, Santorum stated that the US should act to enforce currently existing laws. He has openly stated his strong opposition to amnesty for illegal immigrants. He supports the construction of a barrier along the U.S.-Mexican border, an increase in the number of border patrol agents on the border, and the stationing of National Guard troops along the border. Rick Santorum weighs in on Arizona's immigration law on Steve Malzberg's show. "If the people committing crimes look a certain way, you're foolish not to include that as part of your police work, and you know, that's not profiling, that is doing your job and understanding what's happening. The fact of the matter is the vast majority of people crossing the border are Mexicans. That's just the reality. And if they were something else, we'd be profiling something else. But they are what they are."

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Education issues: Supports and has voted for school vouchers.

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