Mitt Romney Can't Be Trusted So Rick Santorum Is More Electable

About Bob Vander Plaats:

Bob Vander Plaats is the president and CEO of The Family Leader, a social conservative organization. Bob was Iowa state chair for "Huckabee for President" campaign in 2007-08. He was the Republican primary gubernatorial candidate in Iowa in both 2002 and 2010.

The United States of America is now interviewing and, in November, will be hiring its CEO we call president. As a leader in the fields of education, healthcare, business, politics, and now ministry, I have hired many individuals. And, regardless of the position, the one common thread in the hiring process is a non-negotiable pillar termed trust.

As the citizens of America interview former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, I believe they are wrestling with an internal, if not overtly audible question, "Can I trust him?" More and more Americans are arriving at the same conclusion. We can trust Santorum ... we can't trust Romney. This "trust factor" has fueled the Santorum surge and given rise to the Romney rejection.

[See a collection of political cartoons on Romney.]

Santorum's message is consistent with his record in the U.S. House and Senate and has not changed from campaign to campaign or audience to audience. When pressed on major issues of the day, one can predict that Candidate Santorum will communicate an optimistic message for America and its relationship to the strength of our families. Upon critical review, Santorum's message of today is backed up by his actions of the past. Analysis: We can trust Santorum.

However, when comparing Romney's rhetoric with his record as governor of Massachusetts and with his stated positions of past campaigns, more and more voters are concluding that Romney is better suited to be a "weatherman" than our president. He can read an audience and a political environment to tailor an effective message, but his inconsistencies on key issues like life, marriage, healthcare, gun rights, foreign policy, immigration, etc., leave the interviewer with an aftertaste of politics not leadership. Analysis: We can't trust Romney.

[See pictures of Rick Santorum.]

This trust factor will be key for the American people to decisively choose the alternative to President Barak Obama. It is highly unlikely Americans will switch from a president they don't trust to a candidate they don't trust.

However, it is my belief that the citizens of this great country will enthusiastically embrace an authentic change inspired with real hope by a candidate they can trust. Santorum can be trusted to strengthen families. Santorum can be trusted to return "American Made" to our economy. Santorum can be trusted to proudly stand for America on the international stage.

With a Santorum presidency, families can rest at night and work during the day knowing they have a leader they can trust.

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Tags:

2012 presidential election,

Mitt Romney,

Rick Santorum