Very special event here at the Gerald R Ford president ial museum. Really proud to see all of you coming out to enjoy, i think, whats going be a very stimulating discussion about. Our home, we dont know enough about. Im gleaves. Im the executive director of the Gerald R Ford president ial foundation. My this evening is jon lauck, whos a writer and researcher hes written many books. Ive got several of them here that he and i have worked on together on, the midwest. And were going to explore that. So im welcoming you, our Live Audience and our cspan viewers everywhere. So, john, i think we ought get right into it. Please tell us about your background and you have real midwestern roots. I mean, you come by all of this honestly raised on a midwestern you know, you went to big colleges, you know, both your ph. D. In history and your law degree, and youve had quite a career in the midwest. So tell us yourself. Well, thank you. And thanks to everyone here in grand rapids for coming out tonigh
Good evening and welcome to this very special event here at the Gerald R Ford president ial museum. Really proud to see all of you coming out to enjoy, i think, whats going be a very stimulating discussion about. Our home, we dont know enough about. Im gleaves. Im the executive director of the Gerald R Ford president ial foundation. My this evening is jon lauck, whos a writer and researcher hes written many books. Ive got several of them here that he and i have worked on together on, the midwest. And were going to explore that. So im welcoming you, our Live Audience and our cspan viewers everywhere. So, john, i think we ought get right into it. Please tell us about your background and you have real midwestern roots. I mean, you come by all of this honestly raised on a midwestern you know, you went to big colleges, you know, both your ph. D. In history and your law degree, and youve had quite a career in the midwest. So tell us yourself. Well, thank you. And thanks to everyone here in g
He served in the u. S. House and senate from 1995 to 2007 in the state of pennsylvania. He was a leading contender for the nomination in 2012 it was the right to life of traditional marriage. Hes now the ceo of eecho mmike studios the growing faith and family Film Production company. He cofounded the patriot voices the grassroots Online Community of americans committed faith, family, freedom and opportunity. His other book includes it takes a family and american patriots answering the call to freedom. Please welcome the former senator rick santorum. [applause] thank you everyone for inviting me to be here. To be congratulated in the wisdom into choosing to help in that organization. Im going to be appear next month in this room to i guess you could say pretty or in washington the next movie. One is just a couple of months ago to hallmark. I thought it was important to weigh into an area that i think is the quintessential issue of our time with respect to faith and that is our religious
This guy is a divider and we have made the mistake of joining along and we are doing the same thing. We are being just as vitriolic as he is right back at him. It doesnt help this country. We need a message ladies and gentlemen that is a positive message for americas future. Something that includes all americans and it. We should be the party. The Republican Party is the party of the union. We want to unite people. The Democratic Party wins elections by dividing america into classes and groups. That is how they win and they go out and try to pump up the boats within their own little groups. The Democratic Party is a collection of these groups labor unions and trial lawyers abortion activists environmentalists. That is who they are. All these little groups. That is not who we are. That is not who the Republican Party is. We are the party that is a broadbased party that doesnt rely on any special Interest Group to fund us. That is who we are. Theres a message that appeals to that broad g
Happen. I am tired of hearing that, you have no idea. This is the first time i met you but i am inspired by you, i am inspired to get more involved and work harder. Thank you, appreciate it. Read his book, by the book, pass it on. I didnt say much about my book. Thank you for being here. Thank you very much. Rick santorum is the author of bluecollar conservatives. [laughter] remember they were colleagues in the senate together. He is the author of bluecollar conservatives recommitting to an america that works. I guess as a bluecollar conservative that is why hes not wearing a coat and tie today. Rick santorum served in the u. S. House and the u. S. Senate from 95 to 2007 in the state of pennsylvania. He was a leading contender for the nomination in 2012. He was a staunch defender of the right to life and marriage of a growing faith and family Film Production company. After the 2012 election he cofounded patriot voices a grassroots and on Line Community of americans committed to faith f