Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum makes the best of protests at Tacoma rally

Maybe it wasn’t the best site to host a rally for a Republican presidential candidate, right next to the Occupy Tacoma encampment.

Then again, there may have been no better way to motivate a crowd of hundreds of conservatives whose support in Washington’s March 3 precinct caucuses might help pick the GOP standard bearer against President Barack Obama.

Rick Santorum had no sooner started speaking outside the Washington State History Museum than protesters in the crowd interrupted him with chants. The former Pennsylvania senator pivoted to make them a focus of his speech, along with Obama, whom he painted as their ally.

Santorum – a social conservative criticized by some as intolerant – said while he respects their right to demonstrate, the protesters represent “true intolerance” for trying to shout down opposing views.

“We hear people here tonight trying to divide America into one percentage and another percentage,” Santorum said, referring to the Occupy movement’s critique of the “1 percent” richest Americans. And he made a suggestion for them:“Instead of standing here unemployed yelling at somebody, to go out and get a job and work for a living.”

Police stepped in to move protesters away. Three people were arrested at the event, said Tacoma Police spokesman Mark Fulghum, who didn’t have details on charges but said two of them had been fighting. One protester was arrested after throwing a pile of glitter, Fulghum said – not the first time Santorum has been “glitter bombed.”

Once the chants died down somewhat, Santorum launched into a call for repealing Obama’s health care overhaul. The topic allowed him to criticize both the Democratic president and the Republican frontrunner, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, saying the Bay State’s “Romneycare was the model for Obamacare.”

But gay marriage took center stage in Santorum’s visit to Olympia and Tacoma. His visit coincided with Gov. Chris Gregoire’s signing of a law allowing same-sex marriage.

Santorum stopped at Calvary Chapel on Olympia’s west side to give a pep talk to gay-marriage opponents meeting to plan strategy for a referendum to overturn the new law.

“I encouraged them to continue the fight,” Santorum told reporters later. “There are ebbs and flows in every battle. This is not the final word.”

Assistant Pastor Tad Sowers said the speech was “very well-received” by about 125 people inside the church. Most were pastors from around the state.

“The thing about Santorum is he has been really consistent over the years,” said Sowers, who said Santorum would make a fine president but so would other Republican candidates. “He has been a pretty faithful spokesperson for social issues.”

Santorum criticized a federal appeals court in California for ruling that state’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. He told the Tacoma crowd the decision’s implication is that “anybody who disagreed with them were irrational and the only reason they could possibly disagree was they were a hater or a bigot.”

Given the leanings of many expected to vote in Washington’s GOP caucuses, “He’s probably got a pretty good chance of picking up some votes,” said state Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester, who attended the Olympia meeting.

Santorum also visited the Capitol and spoke to House and Senate Republicans. Rep. Barbara Bailey of Oak Harbor said she asked him about health care reform and was encouraged by his comments that health care should be the responsibility of an individual, not the government.

“I lean toward Romney,” said another Republican lawmaker, Rep. Larry Haler of Richland, “but after hearing Mr. Santorum today I’m very impressed with him and his credentials.”

Jordan Schrader: 360-786-1826
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