On Tuesday, the presidential race lost the “Champion of Traditional American Values.”

Rick Santorum announced that he will suspend his 2012 presidential campaign. Without this uncompromising man, who will be left to voice conservative views? Who will be left to limit spending and keep big government out of our hair?

Many people believe that Mitt Romney is too afraid to take a stand on the issues that matter. Santorum, on the other hand, was the only candidate, who as a senator, voted for the line-item veto. This power would give the president the ability to mark out and edit congressional bills and in effect write law.

The Pennsylvania candidate has always been a strong supporter of state’s rights or at least the state’s right to limit individuals.

“There is no constitutionally based right to privacy,” Santorum said in a 2005 interview. “Each state should be free to legislate contraception) on it’s own. If that means the banning of contraception or adultery or premarital sex, then so be it.”

Santorum was the only man in the race willing to speak out against such evils as “radical feminism,” oral sex and contraceptives. He publically stated that he would like to ban all pornography in the United States.

When speaking later on contraception he said, “It’s not OK. It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.”

Clearly Santorum’s opinion of how things are “supposed to be” is the only one who counts. Which is good because, like it or not, the man’s personal views and beliefs are going to play a role in his politics and voting behavior. Santorum said he “almost threw up” when he read President Kennedy’s speech on the separation of church and state.

“I don’t believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute,” Santorum said. “The idea that the church can have no influence or no involvement in the operation of the state is absolutely antithetical to the objectives and vision of our country.”

Strangely enough, this is the same man argues for a strict, word-for-word interpretation of the constitution.

I can breathe much easier knowing that there is one less raving lunatic trying to become one of the most powerful leaders in the world. However, it is more than a little disturbing how much support Santorum gained.

The problem isn’t with one misguided man but with a large percentage of Americans who believe it is acceptable to dictate matters of other people’s private life. If it doesn’t affect you, then don’t impose on other people. Don’t try to take BJs from me, and I won’t try to take your guns, Rick.