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Crimson Hexagon Inc.
About 20 percent of initial online reaction expressed a clear opinion about Rick Santorum's decision to suspend his campaign, with most of it approving.
Early reaction among supporters and opponents alike approved of Rick Santorum's withdrawal from the Republican presidential race Tuesday, according to msnbc.com's computer-assisted analysis of online reaction.
 M. Alex Johnson is a reporter for msnbc.com. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. |
Santorum, a former senator from Pennsylvania whose strong showing among conservatives in primaries and caucuses surprised many observers, suspended his campaign Tuesday amid concerns for the health of his daughter Bella, who was hospitalized for complications from the chromosomal disorder Trisomy 18.
Santorum suspends presidential campaign
Reaction was swift on social media and political forums. Most of the online discussion simply passed along the news or tried to dispassionately assess the effect on the campaign, according to msnbc.com's analysis of more than 14,500 posts on Twitter, Facebook and forums Tuesday afternoon and evening.
Among those commenters, the consensus was that Santorum's decision cleared the way for the nomination of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, as summarized by James Kust, a sportswriter in Eau Claire, Wis.:
Twitter.com
But about 20 percent did express clear opinions about Santorum's decision, with those welcoming the news outpacing those expressing disappointment by a 9-to-1 ratio through early Tuesday evening. While many people applauded Santorum for putting his family first, others rejoiced that he was leaving the race.
(The analysis uses a tool called ForSight, a natural-language data platform developed by Crimson Hexagon Inc., which is used by many media and research organizations, including the Pew Research Center and ESPN, to gauge public opinion in new media.)
For supporters of Santorum, who ran a strongly conservative campaign opposing same-sex marriage and abortion, the announcement reinforced what attracted them to him in the first place.
One of those was Kelly Clinger of Atlanta, a spokeswoman for the anti-abortion-rights group Silent No More Awareness Campaign:
Twitter.com
Others who may not have supported Santorum still sent him good wishes for his daughter, like Eric Johnson, a student at Kennesaw State University in Georgia:
Twitter.com
But as you would expect for a candidate whose clear-cut positions drew sharp divisions among voters, much of the reaction was political, and most of that was anti-Santorum, including this tweet from Davis Allen, a student at Arizona State University:
Twitter.com
On the political discussion group PeoplesPoliticsIII, a frequent commenter using the name Noserose criticized Santorum for his public expressions of faith:
peoplespoliticsiii.yuku.com
A similar sentiment came from Waymon Hudson, a freelance writer from Chicago, who said on Facebook:
Facebook.com
And for some, Santorum's withdrawal makes the campaign "much less amusing now," as Wes Platt, an online game writer and designer from Durham, N.C., tweeted.
That reaction was summarized by Elliott Lerner, a student at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., who moonlights occasionally as a standup comic:
Twitter.com
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:
Leave a Comment:
Well, now he could run for pope...
he isn't Roman Catholic.
I imagine if he was one of us mortals, his daughter's health care expenses might make medical reform (and not the authored-by-insurance company type) a real priority. Funny how all politicians never seem to care about a cause until they have some sort of anecdotal reason to care.
Breaking News- Santorum quits the race, and almost everyone says 'Eh.'
One down,three to go.
ALRIGHT MARY HOW SWEET it is-turn out the lights the party's overrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, for the GOPers
Be nice to see when they are all done.
whatever sheep this is why we told Dr. Paul to not stop.
Yes, the countdown begins as Obama is re-elected
...and, for the second time, takes the Presidential Oath of Office on January 20, 2013.
Hopefully, Romney will be an invited guest.
AMEN to that... oh wait, i shouldn't use "AMEN" since i'm a liberal and am not really a Christian... LOL...
CHELLE....... You pose a question I DEMAND an answer to...
WHY is it that ONLY GOP "Christians" have been given the Gift by GOD to determine
JUST WHO IS A CHRISTIAN AND WHO IS NOT ?
The religion, Minister, Church & Elders have all accepted my Baptism, conversion & belief
but CONservatives seem to be under the impression that THEY & THEY ALONE (not God or Jesus) are the chosen ones to determine the contents of the heat of anyone claiming CHRISTIANITY .
MY Bible, in the New Testament, clearly states that those who question the commitment to Christ by another are themselves called into question by God, because no one can know the heart of another man better than God .
Those on the RIGHT want to limit my life, choices, Religion & what & where I Worship...... and then they have the gaul to question my belief after dictating THEIR RULES to me !
Extremism in the Church is the work of the Devil, I was told......
So, he pulled out early.
If only his daddy did the same.
@jam: Hands down yours is the best comment of the day! LOL
awrighttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
I think his comment is really mean, and I wasn't even voting for Santorum.
Wow, jam, we're all really impressed with your sophisticated humor. What do you do for an encore, jam your hand in your underarm and make fart noises?
Spider, it wasnt sophisticated humor, it was base humor. Nevertheless it was funny, considering the Frothy One's stance on birth control. I had a good hearty laugh! LOL!
OK that was funny as hell
I believe pulling out early is one method Rick doesn't disapprove of.
Now, now! Be nice, unlike Ricky~
"the Frothy One" hahahahahahahha
Santorum knew he was heading for defeat (again) in his home state of Pennsylvania -that coupled with poor organization, little money, only one deep pocket benefactor (Foster Friess - "hold the aspirin between your knees, ladies"), and a message rooted in the 1850's sealed his fate. There's always a spot on Fox "News" though for the likes of Santorum. It's where failed politicians find continuing employment.
Glad to be done with crazy ol' Santorum. He was good for some laughs, and my sweater vest stocks have doubled in value.
Hey, now that the MEGA out-of-touch Romney has successfully bought the GOP nomination,...corporate welfare is good, right ?
He may not like NASCAR, but he does "know a lot of the "OWNERS" (aaahhhh yes,...a man of the people)
I have always wanted a Mormon bishop to run our country. Maybe he'll legalize polygamy ??
This'll be just grand. He's got the right smile and skin color, anyway,....?
PREPARE TO BE FLEECED.
For so many reasons,...Romney is UNELECTABLE. All the more so if he picks Ryan ( the Norquist extremist) as his running mate. The majority of the people just are not going to buy what they are selling (corporate welfare on the backs of the middle class)
Now, we are going to take a much closer look at Mr Romney,....what we've seen and know (lame and out-of-touch) and,...what we haven't,...(??? look out).
It is about to get interesting for the mormon bishop.
All the independents, women and minorities who are in Romney's GOP corner say "Aye" !!!
(crickets)
Support our president, Barack Obama and give him the time he needs to make the change he promised. The GOP obstructionist have gone to great lengths to slow or stop all progress in social reform and universal healthcare,...it is not surprising AT ALL that things have not developed quicker.
Obama needs a second term to deliver.
If we allow the GOP to define the legacy of our first black president,...you will not see another minority president for a long time. We MUST re-elect Obama.
Unite for "WE THE PEOPLE".
Obama/Biden 2012.
serfdom101, I totally agree with you. You made some excellent points.
We can’t afford four more years of the first HALF Black President, loans to his buddies for a half a billion a pop or Obama care. Sounds to me like you are more concerned about retaining a minority in that office than the best person for the job. I would rather have a Mormon Bishop than an anti-Christian any day!
serfdom101
"social reform and universal healthcare"
Definition: Welfare paid by those that work.
Thanks, but no! I would rather have a President who made welfare recipients clean our streets in their spare time in order to deserve what they get.
Obama biden' his timin' til' the unemployment linin'
Dear John and Mark;
Shut up.
Sincerely,
Everyone sane
Gee, Orthoscopy, do you have a monopoly on the 1st Amendment, or you just under the illusion that your opinion actually counts for something special?
No monopoly. I like the first amendment. It lets me know who the ignorant tools are.
Orthosophy
I will admit I was a tool 3 years ago when i voted for the President as an Independent. After what I have seen, it will never happen again. I would guess you have no mirrors in your home to take a look at the real tool.
And no, I will not "shut up" as you put it. It is my obligation as a citizen to point out that the President is a failure, and most of the country is worse off now than three years ago.
it is not enough to merely reelect President Obama. We as Progressives and Independents need to elect a LARGE majority in the House and hold onto the Senate..... the Republicans have all but given up on the presidency, despite their happy talk, but they figure if they take the Senate and hold onto the House they can block the President at every turn.
to John-737278... I find your post bordering on the moronic. By all objective evidence, this President has most certainly NOT been a failure. When this man came into office, this country was laying off 700,000 workers A MONTH, the auto industry was all but about to disappear, which would have added millions to the unemployment line, the banking system was about to go kaboom and credit worldwide had frozen. NO INVESTMENT WAS BEING MADE ANYWHERE. This President has turned 700,000 job losses into 24 months of positive jobs growth. This man has created more net jobs than the previous president created in EIGHT YEARS. This president passed the most sweeping health care legislation that despite all republican opposition THEY HAVE NEVER COME UP WITH A PLAN OTHER THAN LEAVING 50 MILLION UNINSURED AND THOSE WITH PREEXISTING CONDITIONS WITHOUT ANY HOPE OF EVER GETTING HEALTH COVERAGE. So if we are talking about objective evidence, yeah you do need a mirror because you are a fully formed tool. It makes one wonder just exactly what you expected this president to achieve with a Republican party whose sole aim was to tank this economy, lay millions off of work and then turn around and BLAME the President for the mess THEY CREATED. Go vote for Mittens if you want. The only experience THAT man has had regarding jobs is taking over companies LAYING OFF WORKERS and making a profit for his investors by either saddling many of the corporations with debt to pay them back or cannibalizing the company and selling it off piece by piece while handing out pink slips to employees. Has this President been a total success? No. He wouldn't claim that. But the disingenuousness you display is staggering. If you're an Independent, I'll eat my shorts. All you are is a disaffected Republican mad at the mess that your last president left and now having the cojones to blame this president for it.
phillycap
First of all, I don't care for Romney either. I think he is a stuffed shirt, only care about the rich and corporations plastic man. So please don't label me.
Secondly, What policies of the President do you believe have actually created jobs? He had nothing to do with the gains, that would be companies needing more employees, not due to government intervention. Even the Democrats in the Senate table most of his proposals. And this recession is far from over.
Finally, While I agree that there are good things in the healthcare bill such as pre-existing conditions and children being able to stay on their parents insurance, it will become the largest increase to to the welfare state in history. I will explain why.
The law allows anyone making 133% of the poverty line to go on Medicaid(Welfare). A family of 5 making $26,170 at 133% of the poverty line will qualify for "free" healthcare( or $34,800 per year). 35% of US households make less than $35,000 a year. That means that 35% of the US population could end up on Welfare. People my be dumb, but they are not stupid. If they don't qualify, have a puppy or two, and if they still don't reduce income to lower than 133% of the poverty line. It is cheaper than paying $10,000 a year for Insurance plus paying for everyone on Medicaid.
http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/11fedreg.shtml
http://www.mybudget360.com/plundering-the-middle-class-35-percent-of-american-households-live-on-35000-or-less/
Millionaires are leaving the country in droves to preserve their wealth. How do you propose to pay for these programs when none are left?
You may want to call me a moron, but I can do math, and I guarantee you that if the healthcare bill goes into affect, I will drop my income to qualify, so you can pay my bills.
@surfdon101; "Support our president, Barack Obama and give him the time he needs to make the change he promised."
And time to make good on all the lies?
john have you ever needed to go to the er when you don't have insurance and you cant afford to purchase insurance? i have you twit and i got slapped with a 10k+ bill i most certainly could not afford to pay due to being out of work at the time. guess who ended up paying for it? you did thru taxes. that system is already in place and has been for years. all this does is make it so that system is more transparent and that people wont have to run to the er for everything. i had no choice, hr of 170 at rest and abnormal heartbeat is a medical emergency. but for everyone else they can go to their doctor and get treated at a much lower cost than going to the er and paying 10x what you would pay to see a regular doctor.
John, you are paying their bills anyway!! As an insured person, you pay for every uninsured person to go to the hospital and get healthcare for free. Maybe this is incentive for corporations to pay people a decent wage, instead of milking the working class out of every penny they have. The big corporations do not want to give up their money, and that will lead to the same thing is has repeatedly throughout history. The richest win, the rest lose, until there is a revolution. When will the morons wake up and realize that having a balanced population is the only true way to have a sustainable society? You may not like that, but it's true.
ChrisFromCincy
There is a huge difference between paying for emergency care and giving full coverage and every drug known to man to 35% of the population on the taxpayers dime. Is it any wonder why Insurance companies and the drug companies helped to draft the bill? All you have to do is follow the money.
A fair and balanced society is one where everyone works and is willing to. When you create a situation where it is easier to do nothing and get benefits from the government, what is the motivation to do better for yourself and yours? I agree that corporations bleed us dry, and that loopholes should be closed, and that they should pay taxes because they benefit from doing business in America. But blaming them for some Americans sloth is wrong. They are both at fault.
ChrisFromCincy
Oh, and by the way, if you are going to blame corporations for the ills in this country, you should include all of them. Including the ones that profited more than any other during this recession, the healthcare industry.
If there's one thing I could care for less than Rick Santorum, is what people think about him on Twitter.
God. There's no point in Twitter other than attention whoring.
I didn't care much for Santorum (or any of my other "choices" in the gop race) but your comment on "twitter" is dead on, sir, dead spot on.
VP Santorum-- has a good ring!!!! He's a good guy!
He is not a "good guy" he is arrogrant, self centered and holier than thou. Why do you think the people of PA kicked him out of the Senate. He wants to tell everyone how to live thier lives, especially women. Sanctimonious twit.
'Kikee,' anyone thinking the way you do with suggesting that Santorium should be VP will doom the ticket to that of the 'McCain-Palin' GOP ticket. Santorium is a disaster and his beliefs are not with the mainstream. His rhetoric would be used as 'minced meat' by his opponents.
Oh, what a pleasant thought! Thanks, Sherwin, I needed a smile today :-)
Good Ridance and not soon enough. Now can someone PLEASE address the issues that are real problems and offer more than sound bites and insults to their opponents? Is there anybody out there that has a real plan??
maybe you should look into Ron Paul and not what the talking heads tell you?
well what are u doing on line get ur fanny out of here and go pick ur coffee beans JUAN VALDEZ
rick i prqay for ur daughter and hope she makes a complete recovery- but im sure glad ur career in politics is over-u couldnt even win back ur senate seat in PENNA. GO GET A JOB AS A VENDOR FOR THE PPITTSBURGH PIRATES
Under Reagan and Bush: $3.4 Trillion increase in the debt.
But wait, there's interest on that debt ... GO HOME YOU TRICKLED DOWN ECONOMIC REPUBLICAN CONSERVATIVE STEAL FROM THE DIRT POOR AND GIVE TO THE FILTHY RICH 1%ers '' H I P O C R I T !!!!!!!!!
Just like a mortgage, the debt earns interest, and so the Reagan-Bush-I debt grew during the Clinton years. The average debt interest rate in those years was about 6.5%, which would increase it over 50% without compounding, but with compound interest the total debt – including interest – increased by $2.2 trillion.
If the Republicans had not run up this $12 Trillion debt, we could easily have pulled out of the Great Recession.
http://zfacts.com/p/1195.html
4 more years and we will be in the same spot Greece is in. Stop giving away our money.
"republicans or just plain greedy,' very well put. I hope most of the bloggers here take a look at your calculations. The filthy rich politicians and those powerful billionaires who back them. Mainstream media should be investigating these powerful people and corporations who back up politicians. At the end of the tunnel after elections the powers to be make up all of the agendas for their own greed and not for the citizens of this country. As a former comedian George Carlin said, "you do have the right to vote, only that it gives you the feeling that you have that right, but by the end of the day, the rich, powerful have their say and deeds are done forthwith by the politicians they backed with their generous coffers."
Is it just me or is everyone else sick of these commentors that insist on using giant freaking font like they have a valid point? "look at me look at me! my opinion is better than yours, I have the font size to prove it!"
Gah.
sorry for your troubles rick and more for your daughters maybe now you can understand some thing i learned years ago SOME THINGS ARE WORST THAN DEATH AND SOME TIMES IT IS BETTER NOT TO BE BORN .
republicans or just plain greedy what the hell did they spend all that money on? did they just give it to there friends? find out where the money went then open your stupid mouth. you are whats wrong with this country.
"Tracey S-4295051," now just take it easy....your blood pressure seems to have hit the roof! Did you take your medications? don't rant like an idiot here and blame others for what's wrong with this country....if you can't rationalize, then you shouldn't comment here....talk to your psycho instead....it's more personal that way......
I am sorry Santorum's daughter is sick, and wish her well.
I am glad that Mr. Santorum is leaving the race, he is stuck in the 1950's with his ideas about women and sex. Unfortunately, I think his opponent, Mr. Romney is not much better. I am afraid for women and this country if the republicans win this fall.
Poor people watch out, the general plan seems to be cut taxes even further for the wealthy and cut services for the poor. I am all for cutting spending, but how can we pay off the debt if we continue to cut taxes.
It is like cutting down to part time work while trying to pay off your mortgage. Crazy.
Now if Romney, Gingrich and Paul would drop out maybe the GOP could find someone at the last minute that might have an iota of common sense about what is truly important to the the real average American. Ooops!! Sorry... I forgot they don't have anyone like that.
I, for one, am sad to see the Senator pulling out of the contest. It think it would be better for the nation if this humiliation for the GOP stuck right in there and raked as much right wing muck and possible to the bitter end.
I'll miss him. Who can we turn to now to speak Crazy shyte on an almost daily basis.
RUCK FOMNEY 2012
Chris, Mr Romney won't disappoint you. He has plenty of crazy shyte yet to spew.
I hope he debates the President. And soon. That should be good.
Some of you people on here are so nasty, practically evil! All this constant fighting between candidates, parties, almost makes me feel like this voting thing doesn't even work! I think the American people might have Too much to say!
While I agree that some on here are unable to express themselves without being vulgar, the REAL problem IMO is that the American people are never listened to under Republican administrations. I sometimes question whether the voting process, as it is, works or not myself. Does Florida in 2000 ring a bell?
Remember this... the electoral college was basically invented as a States Rights clause in a time when most people lived their entire lives in one place. IMO it is no longer valid and we need to move to a pure raw popular count vote.
Until you get rid of the Swastica everything you do is vulgar and hateful. Why are you so vile???
I may have never liked Rick Santorum. I thought he was insulting, out of touch, backwards, and I often questioned his sanity. I am extremely glad he pulled out of the race.
However, I do hope his daughter has a good recovery. Just because I despise the man's positions does not mean he doesn't deserve a healthy, happy family.
"Giant Rubber of a Doom," maybe Santorum can afford to pay for his daughter's medical care but it is going to take a massive chunk of his personal fortune to pay for it. It would be interesting since he and the Republican Party opposes the 'Affordable Care Act.' to release to the media and the public the medical cost associated with his daughter's illness. Maybe he like most of those oppose to the 'ACA' would realize that medical cost is unaffordable to the average citizen and even if covered by private insurance, what would be covered. Some think tank can derive the cost.
Totally agree. I wish health and happiness to his family. I hope we still live in a society where we can agree to disagree yet still be civil to each other.
You must be proud. Flying the Swastika. You have no idea how ignorant you look.
Leroy, the obvious insult to FUX News has gone over your head. From reading your other comments, I'm betting most things do.
You want to be civil. Get an American flag. You compare half of America to NAZIs just because they don't agree with you. Vile.
Let's be civil, let's be civil. First chance try to attack someones IQ. What happened to civil? Vile and repugnant more natural for you?
I don't compare any anyone to Nazis other than the FUX news itself. I'm sorry that you are unable to realize their total belief in brainwashing the American people. Some would find your Malcom X avatar offense. I am not among them, but I believe in calling out FUX for what they are.
Wonder why I didn't see a tweet from Newtons big brain demanding all of Ricky's delegates. I guess we get to see Ronny and the Brain shine now...
Ron Paul is licking his chops.
I didn't care for him.I can't wait tho til he tracks down the "guy" who made his name into that vile definition and punches his lights out
agree
Glad I don't have to listen to the sewage that comes out of his mouth anymore, but it was kind've fun seeing the GOP self-destruct. Now Romney has to deal with President Obama one on one. Bet Romney is shaking in his boots. Should be a lot of fun to watch.
Romney is on tv spouting how Obama is the one waging a war on women on the same day Wisconsin GOP blocked a bill to guarantee women equal pay. ROTFL
Romney is a 1% tool and the American people will see through him, Laura. You will never hear me say Obama is perfect, but he sure has brought this country back from the certain destruction of the middle class that Bush43 tried to accomplish.
BTW, if anyone thinks Wisconsin is in a mess, they should start paying attention to what is happening in Michigan. They have just repealed a woman's right to equal pay among other things. Please people... pay attention to your own state as well as the national election. Things are truly scary in this country right now.
The Republican Party has self destructed because of it's extreme polarization of the neon-conservatives and the evangelicals who make up the party's base. Even moderate conservatives are alienated from the base as being 'less conservative' than their counterparts within the party. Their agenda has alienated unions, women, gays, etc. It is as if the Republican party is immune from change on social issues of our times. Then there is the war rhetoric where they talk 'tough' against Iran, North Korea, Syria, etc., except for Ron Paul. Even McCain and Lieberman rhetoric about 'arming' the opposition in Syria like they did in Egypt, Libya, etc.....all disasters for our national interest. The Republican Party can not promote progressive ideas and is in a quagmire of it's own demise with the same old politics of usual. No matter who the nominee is it will be too late for them to win the elections because their ideas are not are not what most Americans would believe in.