There were a few key themes in republican nominee Rick Santorum’s address to the Lake County GOP at Friday’s Lincoln Day Dinner, and none of them pertained directly to college students.

Santorum’s televised speech was originally set to start at 7 p.m., but was delayed until 7:45 p.m. The 900-person crowd waited impatiently as the emcee reminded them to be quiet as other republican nominees for local offices made their speeches.

Santorum started his speech with an issue of intense debate in this region—the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns. But this playful topic didn’t last long before Santorum dove into a campaign speech that rallied support from the crowd.

“I’ve gotten some grief from the media lately,” Santorum said, “because, well, I’m a little bit too passionate. I say things that sometimes offend people.”

“Keep it up,” one man yelled out.

Santorum continued his speech speaking out against Obamacare and government controlled health care plans.

“Once they have your health,” Santorum said. “They’ve got you.”

He stood firmly behind the idea that health savings accounts would help the economy and be more beneficial for people.

“Obamacare is public enemy number one against freedom in America and must be removed,” Santorum said.

He went on to make several campaign promises, one of which was reducing the number of government regulations, though he wasn’t clear on what type of regulations he was looking to reduce.

“Every single Obama regulation that costs the economy more than $100 million a year will be repealed on day one of my presidency,” Santorum said.

He said that one of his main goals is to reduce the control of government.

“Whatever it is, they know better,” Santorum said. “They’re going to micromanage us because you are incapable of freedom. That’s what they believe. That’s what the kings and emperors and queens of old believed.”

He also shared his ideas on tax reform, saying that he wanted “the smallest business and the biggest business spend the same amount of time on their tax form.”

Santorum said he wants to reduce the top tax bracket to 28 percent like it was in the time of Reagan, “it’s good enough for Reagan, it’s good enough for me.”

Other made several other promises during his speech, including balancing the federal budget within five years, cutting $5 trillion in five years and getting people off of government benefits.

Santorum was quick to point fingers as well.

He blamed President Obama for the price at the pump, though he didn’t say what exactly Obama did or didn’t do to cause the increase in price.

He also blamed part of the economic failure on the idea that “40 percent of children are born out of wedlock.”

Scott and Stacey Pfeifer were two of the youngest people in attendance at 35 and 38-years-old respectively. Both said they wish more younger people would get more involved with the Republican Party.

Stacey said she enjoyed Santorum’s speech, but wished he would have touched on a few more topics.

“I would have liked to have heard more about religion and the abortion topic,” Stacey said.

Throughout his speech he also did not address any issues of education or federal student aid.

Santorum will be speaking in Cuyahoga Falls Monday at the Falls River Square pavilion in a last attempt to gain votes before Tuesday’s primary.

Contact Britni Williams at [email protected].