“The essential issue in this race is freedom,” said Senator Rick
Santorum in a triumphant speech on the eve of his strong
second-place showing in the Iowa caucus.

But what kind of freedom is Santorum talking about? Reason.tv
caught up with Santorum at a campaign stop at Des Moines Christian
Assembly in Urbandale, Iowa, where he spoke to schoolchildren and
their parents about the importance of electing a leader who will
promote good social values to the citizens. 

“Why wouldn’t leaders in this country stand up and promote
marriage?” asked Santorum. “Stop, in any way they could, the sexual
promiscuity that goes on that leads to out-of-wedlock births.”

Santorum picked up the
endorsement of Jim Bob Duggar, patriarch of the Duggar family
(of TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting”), who sung the national anthem to
kick off the festivities. Also in attendance was social
conservative activist and founder of the Faith and Freedom
Coalition Ralph
Reed. Reed has not endorsed a candidate in the race yet, but he
stresses that social conservatism remains a core value to GOP
voters. 

“You’re not going to do well, either in Iowa or beyond, if
you’re not pro-marriage, pro-family, and pro-life,” said Reed.
“Whether you’re coming from a libertarian perspective or a more
traditional conservative perspective.”

If GOP voters want candidates who are ready to fight the culture
war, Santorum seems ready to deliver.  

“I love it when the Left, and the president, says, ‘Don’t try to
impose your values on us, you folks who hold your Bibles in your
hand and cling to your guns,'” Santorum said. “It’s equally
imposing values. It’s just in their world, if it’s Biblically based
or religiously based, it’s out. If it’s anything else, bring it
on.” 

About 2:30 minutes.
 Produced by Sharif Matar and Zach
Weissmueller.

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