E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSWhen Rick Santorum makes his formal announcement for president this coming Monday, he will do so from the steps of the courthouse in Somerset, PA. The location was picked for a reason -- it was where Santorum's grandfather immigrated to America, and it will allow him to tell the tale of how his grandfather fled fascist Italy in 1925 and worked in the coal mines of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
But the location also reopens old questions about Santorum's legal residence, which has been a source of controversy for the better part of a decade. The issue is significant because Santorum launched his career in politics by attacking his opponents' residency. Back in 1990, the Republican ousted a longtime Democratic incumbent, Rep. Doug Walgren, by waging an aggressive campaign questioning whether Walgren lived in the district. In winning election to the U.S. Senate in 1994, he did the same thing, by raising questions about whether incumbent Harris Wofford lived in Pennsylvania, according to reports.
So it is ironic that questions about Santorum's own residence has dogged him for years. He and his wife Karen have owned a house in the Penn Hills, PA, suburb of Pittsburgh since 1997. But while he was in office, Santorum and his family spent most of their time living in a much larger house the couple owned in Leesburg, VA. Santorum says he kept his legal residence in Pennsylvania and spent holidays and some weekends there. But he always voted absentee, and the local press found another couple listed as registered voters at the same address.
Santorum's five school-age children also lived in Virginia but attended a "cyber" charter school in Pennsylvania (where they could access their classes and schoolwork via computer and not have to physically attend the school). What's more - the Penn Hills, PA, public school district paid 80% of the tuition costs for the five Santorum children.
In 2004, the Penn Hills school district ruled that Santorum did not meet the qualifications of residency because he and his family spent most of the year in Virginia. The district demanded repayment of tuition costs totaling $72,000. Once the controversy surfaced, Santorum withdrew his children from the cyber school and they were home schooled in Virginia. After a protracted legal fight, the PA Dept of Education paid $55,000 to Penn Hills to settle the dispute over tuition costs.
Santorum lost a Senate re-election bid in 2006 to Bob Casey. He and his wife sold their home in Leesburg, VA, late the following year.
Leave a Comment:
Will Dan Savage be introducing him?
Just askin... ;o)
Check out Kiera Knightly's reaction...
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=14&sqi=2&ved=0CHgQFjAN&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aoltv.com%2F2011%2F05%2F10%2Fkiera-knightley-googles-rick-santorum-daily-show-video%2F&ei=-DnpTZ-0IYr50gHw-4mHAQ&usg=AFQjCNFjc8LEm9kwTZ7iC_Lf3RpPn19RNA
*popcorn*?
If this guy isn't a raging closeted homosexual, I don't know who is.
Something tells me he's the one using the "Not tonight honey, I have a ....headache" line every night.
Fielden - from earlier - the article at Salon is entitled Everything you've heard about fossil fuels is wrong, by Michael Lind, dated 51.
SALON. I assume it must have gotten hacked.
DBO - you really ought to check it out, I think you will be amused.
Rich has always had a slimey feel to him, just another right wing religious fanatic, who thinks it's ok for him to break the rules, 'cause he's got religion. What makes him think he has any qualifcations to be Pres.? The gene pool for the Repubs must be getting thin, or too much inbreeding, whatever. Fiesty, I want the salt shaker and a little more butter, please?
I wonder if Rick Santorum is going to bring his dead baby along for the photo op like he brought home his dead son to pose for pictures with his family...that ought to get the cameras clicking for old Rickie Boi...
I think Rick is a silly revisionist politician, but this is a non-starter. Move along...nothing to see here. He was elected to work in DC, so he moved there. I do not think that should ever have a baring on residency if it was the peoples will to send him to represent them away from home. He was a scum to use those horrible residency tactics, but I blame the voting public for being bigger idiots for going along with it.
The donors who support this guy must have money to burn. Note to donors save your money this dude has zero chance.
Santorums grandfather fled the fascism of Italy in 1925 .. Rick embraces fascism in 2000 .. What would his Grandfather say
I have a number of rocks in my backyard that are smarter than this guy. Just ask him how old the planet is and watch his brain lock up.
Bluelake, hahaha!
Yup: Redhead never disappoints. Still no intelligent comments from her.
In this day and age, with the majority of time of any Congressman or Senator required to be spent in DC, what's the big surprise? Personally, I'd like to go back to the way it was originally done. The met every other year for a few months and went home to their regular occupations. One thing you can count on: the longer Congress is in session, the more damage they do.
Feisty Redhead, you are so obviously thinking with your emotions that you come across as not very bright but that's not true is it?
timewonttell
Santorums grandfather fled the fascism of Italy in 1925 .. Rick embraces fascism in 2000 .. What would his Grandfather say
==================
Sieg Heil! Just like the rest of the lock step fascist rethugli-cants.
Have you seen the new line of Santorum dolls being made? The dolls look dead but are oh so cuddly. Buy one and pass it around. Hey, the joke could be worse based on the definition of "Santorum." Ugh, now I can't eat the popcorn.
Long live the Christian Fascists of America!
After the first primary, he will be renting Palin's bus and will be headed back to...does it matter?
Or driving Palin's bus.
Did you see Palin behave like a sixth grader trying to BS her way around her explanation of Paul Revere's Midnight Ride:
That's right people, Paul Revere warned the British. The British planned to destroy a munitions depot, as all army's do, but to hear Palin tell it Paul Revere founded the NRA. And this was AFTER Stephen Cobert's joke about donating to help Palin learn American History.
@ TruePatriot, SO What the hell did that have to do with this article? You guys just can't stop talking about Sarah, that is EXACTLY why she is making so much money.
Yup, frothy that just about sums it up
Racist, Yep that pretty much Sums it up. Just stop talking no one wants to hear from a Black Racist woman.....
one good thing about Santorum running .. it sucks up money that would be put up for a real candidate
Steve:
You still in here posting your accusations/fantasies(calling Bev a racist) without any proof to back it up, squirt?
I thought your mommy grounded you from using her PC, after you were reprimanded for making baseless accusations the other day.
Guess you must have gone to the library or internet cafe to post your garbage.
timewonttell
one good thing about Santorum running .. it sucks up money that would be put up for a real candidate
_________________
And in the rethugli-con party, that would be WHO?
What, again? Do we have to listen to him?
I'm losing track of these wankers. Is this the one they call 'dog-style'?
Thanks for this important news item. This is the reason why I always check this site FIRST, because if a Trump, Palin or a truly inspiring and viable candidate of national importance like this guy is making a statement, the intrepid reporters of FR are all over it...KUDOS!
This guy is a viable candidate? Didn't he lose the last election for the Senate by 18 points? He can't get elected dgocatcher in his own state, but he can get to be president? Conservatives really dwell in an echo chamber.
bev and feisty, Illinois is issuing same sex unions. Will you two be tying the knot?
Romney vs Obama
what does that have to do with Santorum being a fascist
Sli-mee.... slimy
The place where Rick, his wife and children lie their heads on theirs pillows the majoirty of nights is where they live, where they reside. Until Rick was caught, he and his family were defrauding the PA school district. Where has Rick paid taxes over the years, to Pennsylvania or Virginia?
Rick was the No. 3 Republican in the Senate when Trent Lott made his comments about Strom Thurmond. While walking down the halls of the Senate, if Trent would have stopped to answer questions, Rick's nose would have become very brown and probably broken. Rick's interest were in furthering his own career rather than serving the citizens of Pennsylvania or being the third Senator from Virginia.
How often does a sitting two term Senator loose reelection by 18%. That should speak volumes.
Santorum: "The often frothy mixture of lube and fecal material present after exuberant anal copulation."
the yuck factor is extremely high... this guy reminds me of pond scum. but if the right like him maybe he should be part of their circular firing squad.
So the circus tents gettin bigger.
Yawn!
I wish these guys and girls would call me before they announce, I could save them a whole lot of other peoples money and time, can't they tell, none of them can win. Not saying the republicans don't have a chance, just saying ain't nobody in the race yet that does!
I still have some bumper stickers from his last failed Pa. re-election campaign that say "DUMPRICK" in red, white and blue. I kept them just-in-case.
Republicans suck. They like to pretend to play by the rules, but if it gets in the way of power, they break the rules when it is convenient. Conversely, nobody else is allowed to behave this way.
"Because what the American economy needs is less man-on-dog action!"
See, Rick, it'll even fit on a bumper-sticker.
What's the dog reference?
Please see Santorum's collected works regarding same-sex marriage.
Google Rick Santorum - you'll be amazed!
He's a 'frothy' kind of guy! ;o)
These people sure have an active imagination. It's a wonder they don't walk around in Tyvek suits and rubber gloves when they're out with the rest of us...
does frothying and fistying go together?
He will never make it.
The biggest reason I am against school vouchers is exactly the kind of shenanigans that Santorum and others like him are doing. Once again it's robbing the poor and thumbing their noses at them. This idiot was a horrible Senator and would make a worse President. Once more he hasn't a prayer's chance in the place reserved for people like him, even if he does try to hide behind his religious beliefs. He makes a mockery of everything Christ stands for!
I heard Rick was going to announce at an S.P.C.A. facility. I think he may be going for the animal lovers vote...
These republicans are only coming out because they think "we" the american people are sleep, but we are not and they will not win come 2012.
Google the name Santorum. It's all you need to know.
So Santorum is a PERSON?? I thought it was a waste disposal unit.
About the stupid voters... we got rid of him the first chance we got... and we got rid of him BIG time..... he's a nutcase... but then so are most of the people on Fox... and that's what he's looking for... a new career as some sort of pundit!
As a lifelong Republican, I am pleased to say that my first vote for Democrat was for Bob Casey when he beat Santorum. Santorum has always been way too slimy and self-righteous for me.
This is "need to know"news because..............?
Oh right............horrible,horrible, horrible economic news out today. It appears the big O's attempt at a big-boy job is a total failure. Oh well, he can always be a celebrity groupie.
Quick! flash something shiny for the feeble minded Obots.
Who out there thinks the whereabouts of Rick Santorum's announcement of his run at the Presidency is news? He will not be the nominee.
Doug, this is not an article about Obama.
Then again, something tells me, every article is to you, correct?
His residency is news because he lied about it. You have to reside in the state you serve. By the sounds of it, he rented out his home of residence and lived out of state. How else do you explain other registered voters listed at that address that he claimed to be residing in?
If you allegedly lie about your residency, which is a big deal being a politician, what other lies are being told. A liar doesn't just stop at a single lie.
Pure conjecture from the Obots that he "lied" about his residency. And you buy into it because they tell you he did. Nowhere does it mention that there may be charges filed. What the article says is he had two residences. My bet would be you sided with that azzwipe Rahm Emmanuel even if you were not qualified to vote for him for mayor. Am I right?
Considering that Santorum is irrelevant and our nation struggles under the idiocy that is Obama.......
yeah, every story concerning politics is pretty much about the O failure......
until he is gone in 2012.
You're right about the lying part......ever question the multitude of lies Obama has told?
Doug, please list the lies Obama has told -- with the PROOF, please. REAL proof, not quotes from the Fox idiots.
Our nation struggles because of the incredible disaster that the last president and his wealthy, greedy oil and wall street cronies -- and the policies of de-regulation -- left us. We may never completely recover. But it doesn't matter to all those rich repubs - they'll continue to get tax breaks on the backs of the middle class (many of whom are, gasp, republicans -- what the heck are you guys thinking? Why do you vote against your own best interests?), and continue to live like Bush in fancy gated-community mansions with his oil company buddies for neighbors, where they're sheltered from the damage they've done. Remember when you voted for Bush because he's just like you, the kind of guy you could have a beer with? THEY'RE LAUGHING AT YOU!!!
What lies has Obama told?
Wow......you really don't pay attention. But I bet the crease in his slacks gives you a tingle between your legs.....right?
Give you one that is so obvious and pathetic it needs no research unless you are a complete idiot.
"my uncle liberated buchenwald"
"unemployment will not exceed 8% if you give me a trillion dollars"
Only four Americans were involved in the liberation of Buchenwald, None of them related to Obama.
Surely you at least pay enough attention to know where the "official" govt numbers stand on unemployment?
There are many websites dedicated to the lies that spew from obama's mouth. If you bother to look. Even the ones you libbies like to cite, which leans left, has to admit he lies. check it out....Politifact.com
And, coincidentally, you will never be invited to sit with Obama. The elite Democrats, the party of the Poverty Pimps, laugh at you. Because you believe they are there to help you and take care of you. Just like Trumpka, a millionaire, who has never done anything but be a "union rep".
You have no clue what my "interests" are. I have no financial worries. Thanks to the energy sector and hard work.
But keep holding out your hand......eventually someone will sh!t in it. Your whole left wing fanatical ideology is for the bedwetters and those afraid of life.....or too stupid to take advantage of it.
Doug:
Are you really that dense, or do you just like making sh*t up.
"4 Americans" weren't the only ones who liberated Buchenwald. Are you referring to a publicity photo of a few soldiers that were there? The US Third Army were the main forces that arrived at Buchenwald, only to find that many prisoners were free(had overthrown some guards or the guards fled).
Get your facts straight(if that's even possible for you).
Show us where Obama has EVER said "give me a trillion $, and unemployment will not exceed 8%". Obama may have been naive and was guilty of wishful thinking, but he didn't outright lie. Every POTUS in the past 32 years WAS not an economist or financial analyst. They have specialists in their admins. they pay for that. Their policies are only as good as the advice they receive from the "pros" who give it to them.
Unemployment was/is going to be high, no matter who is in the WH.
It started when the US started letting corprations have more of a voice than individual citizens do(money spent on lobbyists), and not taxing them for taking the jobs overseas. Make it more expensive for those US corporations outsourcing jobs outside the US(tariffs), and you can bet more jobs will come back to us.
No POTUS personally "creates jobs" unless they expand the WH staff. Congress holds the purse strings. Private companies are the ones who hire and fire. They are able to do so, stemming from business decisions they make(good and bad). If the owners/shareholders and CEO's want to up their profits, they usually lay off or cut the benefits of those who helped make them their $$, instead of cutting their own salaries and profit shares and bonuses.
But go ahead and accuse Obama, if it makes you feel better(and helps you shift blame from the real culprits).
I didn't vote for Obama(nor McCain), but he's doing a decent job(especially with what was/is on his plate).
Is he a great POTUS? Probably not. I'd still rather have him on the WH, than any who were(or currently are) on the Rep. ticket.
You can bet that things would probably be worse with McCain/Palin in the WH(you betcha!)
AL
You are pathetic and have no clue as to the crap you post.
Read a history book and stop relying on your DOE NEA education. The Russians liberated Buchenwald. 4 Americans observed. NONE of them related to the big O liar.
But hey.......a poor unionized education is no longer an excuse in the world of information technology.
I said there are websites committed to the lies he has told if you cared to look (which, obviously, you did not), so here ya go.....twit
http://obamalies.net/list-of-lies
You fail again Doug.
The Russians liberated Auschwitz, not Buchenwald. The US 3rd Army arrived first at Buchenwald(Obama's uncle was with them), and most of the guards had already fled.
I invite everyone reading our posts, to research and judge for themselves.
You are full of sh*t, and your own posts prove it.
I have no doubt you can find sites that list Obama's "lies"(on right wing/Obama hater sites).
Just like there are sites with those claiming to have proof that there wasn't any Holocaust or that Elvis is still alive. Pure BS.
Night night, squirt. Come on back after you can afford to buy a clue.