Why oh why don't our victims love us more?

Rick "man on dog" Santorum on charity:

Let's be honest: How much credit do Republicans get for helping the poor? Let me tell you from firsthand knowledge - none, in terms of votes.

...

What I call "common-good" conservatism not only relies as much as possible on private charities and faith organizations, market forces, individual choice and decentralized decision-making, but also sees a role for government in empowering the nongovernmental institutions of civil society that serve the common good.

To wit, "common-good" conservatism means not actually helping people but telling everyone else that it would be really great if they helped the unfortunate. And he bemoans that Republicans don't get any credit for helping the poor.