Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum Headlined a Fundraiser for the 10th District GOP Monday at Verdict Ridge

By Jason Saine

DENVER, NC - Ending a day long tour of the middle part of the state of North Carolina, former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum was the featured speaker at a fundraiser for the 10th Congressional District Republican Party at Verdict Ridge Country Club in Denver on Monday night.

The former Senator has been very active since leaving the U.S. Senate and has some speculating that his activism may be overtures to a future presidential run.

The fundraiser also brought out other potential Republican candidates for local office including Marc Walker, a Denver resident and career law enforcement officer who is said to be considering a run for Lincoln County Sheriff. Walker was listed as one of the primary sponsors of the event and was said to be instrumental in planning the event that brought Santorum.

Walker had the honor of introducing Santorum at the event.

Other Republicans that attended the event and are said to be considering runs for office were Martin Oakes, also of Denver, who ran for County Commissioner in 2008 and narrowly missed receiving the GOP nomination in a crowded primary, Vance Patterson of Morganton who has announced he will challenge Rep. Patrick McHenry for Congress, and Lisa Cooper of Iron Station who is considering a run for local office but has not revealed yet which office that may be.

(Photo: Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum speaks at a fundraiser on Monday night at Verdict Ridge Country Club in Denver, N.C. Photo by M. Dawn Crouse.)

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Republican officeholders made appearances as well including co-sponsor of the event, N.C. Representative Johnathan Rhyne of Lincolnton and Lincoln County Clerk of Court, Fred Hatley, also of Lincolnton.

Lincoln County Republican Party Chairman, Fred Jarrett, welcomed the sponsors and attendees to the fundraiser and announced a free event that is being held this Saturday for candidates for city council at the Citizens Center in Lincolnton from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. that will include free hot dogs and drinks for the public.

Santorum who already had a reputation for not mincing words the way other politicians do, was critical of the “Chicago Style” politics that many political observers have said is the way President Barrack Obama now runs the White House.

With regards to the Obama administration and how those who disagree with them are treated, Santorum quipped: “You are either at the table, or you’re on the menu.”

The current health care debate exemplifies the “heavy handedness” of President Obama according to Santorum.

“The message to those who would oppose the administration is clear. If you don’t sign off, we’ll get you,” he said referring to recent retaliatory attacks by the Administration on the insurance industry and the Chamber of Commerce.

In September, the Health and Human Services Department launched an investigation of Humana after getting a complaint from Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., after the insurance company sent out a letter to its members questioning the level of health care services that would be provided by the government under the Obama plan.

Recent attacks by Administration officials on the free enterprise system did not go unnoticed either.

Ron Bloom, who is President Obama’s Manufacturing Czar, recently was exposed for being an anti-capitalist and who said he agreed with the former Communist Leader Mao on how political power is obtained.
In 2009, Bloom said: “Generally speaking, we get the joke. We know that the free market is nonsense. We know that the whole point is to game the system, to beat the market. Or at least find someone who will pay you a lot of money, ’cause they’re convinced that there is a free lunch. We know this is largely about power, that it’s an adults-only, no-limit game. We kind of agree with Mao that political power comes largely from the barrel of a gun.”

Santorum took great exception with those remarks.

“The free enterprise system is what has made us the greatest country in the world,” he told the audience who vigorously applauded his remark.

His appearance marked the second potential candidate that has headlined an event for the 10th Congressional District Republican Party. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee came in June to Kings Mountain for an event for the GOP.

With big political names like Huckabee and Santorum stumping in the district it helps Republican candidates for office according to Wayne King of Kings Mountain who is the Chairman of the district.

“We are excited that we can attract the caliber of speakers that we have so far. Our district sends conservative activists across the district, across the state and across the nation to help Republican candidates for office. These folks recognize what a force we can be in elections and are glad to help us generate interest,” King said.

“We are planning more events and we would love to have Senator Santorum back as soon as he can come,” he said.