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GOP Candidates Going Too Easy on Each Other?

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    Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum sounds off

  • Duration 4:35
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The GOP presidential candidate hasn't been declared yet a new Gallup poll shows a generic Republican would beat Obama.

But critics say the only way the GOP will get the wind is at the 2012 candidates toughen up and stop following president Reagan's eleventh commandment thou shall not speak -- -- many fellow Republicans when of those candidates joins us live this more.

Senator Rick Santorum thank you so much for -- being with us this morning.

Well good morning Molly thanks for having me -- you -- your professional announcement about two weeks ago even spending a lot of time -- -- for that it Iowa New Hampshire chatting with voters.

We're not hearing a whole lot about foreign policy yet why do you think that is.

Well it I gave a major address about two months ago at the National Press Club laying out a very clear foreign policy direction is as you know Molly have been focused a lot of time and attention -- spent the last four years at the Ethics and Public Policy Center focusing on national security issues and I'm actually very anxious to talk about the debate the other night I think they had two questions out of two hours on national security that's a mistake the one thing that the president does do.

And has real control over is the is the national security of our country and and that say that some that I think is a real strength -- him.

Been very very active -- particularly in the Middle East as a great defender of Israel someone who has been active legislatively have been active on the armed services committee shaping our military so.

It's an -- I'd love to have an opportunity to talk about more.

What are the issues at the forefront right now is Libya of the president's action in Libya his NATO alliance there and when what's happening.

Is a violation of the war powers act.

Yeah I think you know they there's always a tension between the president the congress of the war powers act I think the president is clear my opinion acting within his authority.

In Libya I just think he's doing the wrong thing I think -- the congress should be doing.

Is drawing the line in the -- Mr.

President we don't believe your policy is is incoherent as it is.

Is the proper course for our our nation there's no national security interest there you've not defined.

Who the who the enemy is we don't know who the rebels are we certainly know -- but we don't know if there's that much of a difference between the two.

We don't really know much about what the president's intentions are so.

With the congress should say we will defund this war unless you come forward and it lay out a strategy of why were involved -- what our objective this.

And want to bring things back to kind of where we started with Reagan's eleventh commandment.

They're been debates so far deep -- the Republican candidates yourself included are being a little too nice to each other right now focused on President Obama but may -- in needing to go after each other.

A little bit more so weekend as voters see -- different fashion.

Well two things first we're really early in this process here of introducing ourselves to the people of America I think most of us are interest -- and sort of talking about who we are what are -- -- is why we wanna be president I think that's what the first couple of debates are about.

And it last night you know what it was announced that governor Romney and Herman Cain for example refused to sign the Susan B.

Anthony pro -- -- which is.

You know pretty much of a training wheels pledge for pro life I mean this is not a very tough pro -- legends is sort of the basics defund Planned Parenthood of a few -- you know I think easy pro life issues.

And when governor Romney decided not to not decided I'd put out a statement.

Saying that you know what I was asked that question at CNN about do I believe governor Romney's pro life because he says he has.

And I give the benefit the doubt obviously I misspoke I mean that that it's obvious that the that the governor Romney is not gonna run is -- committed pro lifer and did not sign that pledge means that this is not a presidential candidate that you can trust on the pro life issue.

You know it's interesting to hear you bring this up because you've considered herself a very staunch conservative for a very long time you are known.

For up being very conservative on social issues on gay marriage on abortion as you just said.

Is that -- your position to be able to differentiate yourself from some of these other candidates can that help bring you out of the field if you make attacks on those issues.

Well look the bottom line is that I thought most everybody in the field was strongly pro life and and pro marriage now we're finding out that -- are not so strong I think the difference between me and everybody else generally.

Is that I've had the courage to lead on those issues most everybody else is sort of backed away and really not done much in that field.

Because it's a very -- like it's hot button issue and people stay away from -- I never stay away from issues that I believe are important for the country.

And whether it's national security -- the the economy here our fiscal discipline or the life and marriage issue I stand up and fight if I believe it's important and I do.

Thank you so much senator Rick Santorum a candidate for the GOP nomination for the presidency for joining us this morning and weighing in on some pretty interesting topics today a little outside the field that I'm -- getting asked about lately.

Thank you very much oil is a pleasure to -- -- thank you.

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