Wednesday, January 04, 2012

"Santorum? Really?!"

Well, the much-touted Iowa caucuses are over, thankfully, but the Republicans still haven't managed to admit they have to choose Romney. Sure, Romney won Iowa by a whopping 8 votes, but the fact that Rick Santorum nearly tied him should give all sane people pause. When I first heard that Santorum was even running, I couldn't take it seriously. The man was voted out of office in Pennsylvania by 18 percentage points in 2006 for a lot of good reasons (see link for a number of lapses in integrity and episodes of crass hypocrisy) and his history of homophobia was (and still is) so rabid that his opponents, led by Dan Savage, actually made his name a definition for an unsavory type of substance, which shows up pretty close to the top of any Google search you do on his name. (No, I won't link it here, but feel free to Google if you are one of the few who has not already heard about it).

So I may be forgiven if I thought we'd seen the last of him. But strangely, he's baaaack! Santorum is running for President and has managed to promote himself as the sole keeper of family values competing for the Republican nomination, thus siphoning off all of the hardcore right-wing evangelical Republicans in Iowa and managing to nearly topple Romney. You almost have to feel sorry for Romney; he's doing everything right and yet the GOP voters still don't want him.
Just in case anyone has forgotten what a nutjob Santorum really is, let's revisit a few of his positions. This link will take you to a site that lists a number of quotes by Santorum on various subjects. A few choice examples:
  • “The reason Social Security is in big trouble is we don’t have enough workers to support the retirees. A third of all the young people in America are not in America today because of abortion, because one in three pregnancies end in abortion.” - Rick Santorum on how abortion is responsible for Social Security’s problems, 3/29/11
  • “I find it almost remarkable for a black man to say ‘now we are going to decide who are people and who are not people’.” - Rick Santorum on President Obama’s race and pro-choice beliefs, 1/19/2011 
  • “Is anyone saying same-sex couples can’t love each other? I love my children. I love my friends, my brother. Heck, I even love my mother-in-law. Should we call these relationships marriage, too?" - Rick Santorum comparing his love for his mother-in-law to the love that same-sex couples share, 5/22/2008
In case you wonder whether he really believes some of the things he says, you can see his beliefs on his own website, where he states he will do the following things, among others:
  • "Repeal Clinton-era Title X family planning regulations, and will direct HHS to restore the separation of Title X family planning from abortion practices and restore a ban on referrals for abortion 
  • Reinstitute the Mexico City Policy to stop tax-payer funding or promotion of abortion overseas
  • Ban federal funding for embryonic stem cell research 
  • Restore conscience clause protections for health care workers 
  • Defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court 
  • Ban military chaplains from performing same sex marriage ceremonies on military bases or other Federal properties
  • Repeal Obamacare mandate for contraceptive services in healthcare plans... 
  • Veto any bill or budget that funds abortion or funds any organization that performs abortions including Planned Parenthood 
  • Call on Congress to abolish the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals 
  • Advocate for a Personhood Amendment to the Constitution... 
  • Advocate for a Federal Marriage Amendment to the Constitution 
  • Call on Congress to reinstitute Don't Ask/Don't Tell 
  • Call on Congress to pass the Workplace Religious Freedom Act 
  • Call on Congress to reinstitute 2008-level funding for the Community Based Abstinence Education program 
  • Advocate for a federal law permitting schools to allow prayer at graduations, football games and other school functions." 
Anyone who cares about a woman's right to choose - including the choice of using birth control - should be very afraid if Santorum ever got elected. And forget separation of church and state - such as it is - this guy would love to see a theocracy.

On last night's Daily Show, Jon Stewart used a great analogy to point out that in the end, the Republicans just have to pick Romney. I'm just hoping he's right, for the sake of the country. While I do feel that Romney may have the best chance of beating Obama, which is not good from my perspective, on the other hand, the voters in this country are just crazy enough that they might actually elect a Santorum or some other equally unsuitable person as president, and that would be so much worse than having a President Romney that I can't even think about it.  Of course, there are a lot of reasons Romney should not be the next president.  We can get into that next time!

The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Indecision 2012 - Romspringa - Rick Santorum's Surge
www.thedailyshow.com
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14 comments:

MRMacrum said...

Santorum's just another Republican cowpoke being used to round up the core value crowd. Once a few real primaries go down, he will fade into the sunset leaving his fans nobody but Romney to vote for.

Of course he could be chosen as a running mate. That would pick up some votes.

We'll see.

Mauigirl said...

Ugh, I wouldn't even want him that close to being president! :-)

KGMom said...

I loved the Jon Stewart box of chocolates scene.

Oh, I had exactly the same reaction--Santorum, really? Proves to me how crazy Republicans are right now.

One possibility--if Romney is the nominee, and Repubs are unhappy, more likely scenario for a 3rd party challenger--which should help Obama.

Fran said...

SANTORUM IS A CAVEMAN. SURPRISING A STATE W LEGAL SAME SEX MARRIAGE CAN EVEN CONSIDER SANTORUM- BUT THIS WAS A REPUB PRIMARY- THERE ARE A MAJORITY OF SANE DEMS WHO DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS FOLLY.

THE WORST 3 GINGRICH, PERRY & BACHMANN GOT 13 % & UNDER, BACHMANN IS OUT & SANTORUM'S CAMPAIGN IS RUNNING OUT OF $. HE SHOULD BE OUT BY S.C.

Kulkuri said...

With the beating Romney is taking from the other Circus Clowns, I doubt if he would chose one as a running mate. Big Money likes Romney and not so much the others, so guess who'll come out on top.(unintended pun, but what the hell I'll go with it anywho!!)

Liked the box of chocolates bit!!

Mauigirl said...

Just read this and it shows Santorum's vision of America is certainly not about equality... he thinks Americans should have "the freedom" to go out and get a job with an employer who has healthcare or to pay for it themselves. No insurance for kids either, those families aren't all below the poverty level! Jeez, has he noticed how low that poverty bar is set? No one at that level could afford insurance! http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/01/05/398330/santorum-mocks-obama-for-extending-health-care-coverage-to-everybody/

Mauigirl said...

KGMom, that would be a good scenario for sure! Maybe Ron Paul would like to do it!

Fran, "caveman" is a very apt description!

Kulkuri, good pun - and I agree, I don't think he'd pick any of these losers. I've heard suggestions like Mark Rubio or even NJ's own Chris Christie (heaven forfend).

okjimm said...

with a name like Santorum... you know he's gotta be nutz

Dave Dubya said...

Santorum for Ayatollah!

susan said...

Is it just me or are election year politics getting more scary all the time?

Dr. Zaius said...

Yeah. but I hear that he is a great little dancer. ;o)

Mauigirl said...

I'm with Susan, politics IS getting scarier!

Mauigirl said...

er, ARE getting scarier?

1138 said...

scary because the Reapers have gone simply bat sh*t insane. It's the incestuous nature of the party doctrine for the last two and a half decades. The ideas have been locked in a closed mined circle with enemies predeclared at every potential point for engaging reason.