If Republicans had compelling arguments to make they would not be wasting valuable convention time rehashing manufactured, debunked charges about welfare policy.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum accused President Obama of creating a “nightmare of dependency” and undermining welfare reform as he became the only one of Mitt Romney’s primary rivals to receive a significant speaking role at the Republican convention.

In a speech that mentioned Obama frequently, but Romney only in passing, Santorum attacked the president for trying to centralize control over education and for undermining families and freedom.

But it was his reprise of an inaccurate Romney campaign attack on Obama over welfare that gave Santorum’s speech its hardest edge.

“I helped write the welfare reform bill; we made the law crystal-clear: No president can waive the work requirement. But as with his refusal to enforce our immigration laws, President Obama rules like he is above the law.”

In fact, Obama did not waive the work requirement.