Chuck Norris Chops Rick Santorum For Past Support Of Mitt Romney

02/13/2012 02:19 pm ET

Leigh Owens Politics Editor, The Huffington Post

Chuck Norris wants everyone to know the facts about Rick Santorum.

In an article for World Net Daily on Sunday, the actor and martial arts legend explains why he chose to endorse Newt Gingrich for president last week and gives a detailed account of why he thinks the former Pennsylvania senator is the wrong candidate to represent the Republican party in November.

"How can the alternative to Romney also be a Romney supporter?" Norris asks, citing Santorum's support for Mitt Romney during the 2008 election:

Just three years ago in his interview with radio host and conservative commentator Laura Ingraham, Santorum also emphatically told millions of listening Americans: "If you're a conservative, if you're a Republican, there is only one place to go, and that's Mitt Romney."

Why an alleged conservative like Santorum would fight for the flip-flopping Massachusetts moderate on the presidential campaign trail, especially in light of the fact that Huckabee and even McCain were running then with a much clearer conservative record, I will never know.

Norris' op-ed comes on the heels of Santorum's sweep last week of the Colorado and Minnesota caucuses and the Missouri primary, and a sharp rise in the polls which has put Santorum ahead of Gingrich.

In addition to Santorum's past support of Romney, Norris cites key components of Santorum's record as a Pennsylvania senator that are likely to irk conservative voters, such as his strong support for earmarks, votes to raise the debt ceiling, and past support for Medicare Part D.

"We truly believe Newt's experience, leadership, knowledge, wisdom, faith and even humility to learn from his failures (personal and public) can return America to her glory days," Norris writes, explaining why he and his wife, Gena, are supporting Gingrich. "He is the best man on the battlefield who is able to outwit, outplay and outlast Obama and his billion-dollar campaign machine."

Norris' support for Gingrich has landed him a spot on the front page of Gingrich's campaign website, along with other key supporters. Yet until recently, Norris has kept specific details behind his support under the radar.