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STEUBENVILLE, Ohio -- Facing newfound scrutiny as a frontrunner in the Republican presidential race, Rick Santorum today fired back at national media who he says have given undue attention to comments he made this weekend questioning the president's theology. He also defended comments about World War Two that some saw as linking Hitler and President Obama.
On Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, Santorum told a Tea Party crowd, "It's not about you. It's not about you. It's not about your quality of life. It's not about your job. It's about some phony ideal, some phony theology. Oh, not a theology based on the Bible, a different theology, but no less a theology."
But in front of a crowd of more than 500 people here on Monday, he said the comments were not meant to question the president's religious beliefs, rather a critique of what he called the "extreme" environmental regulations of the Obama administration.
"I referred to it the other day,” he said, “and I got criticized by some of our less than erudite members of the national press corps.”
When pressed by reporters after Saturday's comments, the former Pennsylvania senator maintained he did not mean to suggest that the president is not a Christian. But he did say the president is trumping religious freedoms.
"You may want to call it a theology; you may want to call it secular values,” Santorum said. “Whatever you want to call it, it’s a different moral values. And the president of the United States is exercising his values and trumping the values of the church.”
Today, Santorum did not use the word "theology," instead attacking the president's "ideology."
He was also asked about comments made last night in Georgia that compared America now to Europe during World War Two.
“I’m sure some of you have ancestors who were part of the Greatest Generation,” Santorum said last night. “Why were they the Greatest Generation -- because they were better than we were? Smarter? More courageous? They were they greatest generation, because when their country needed them, at a time of great peril, they met the challenge. Your country needs you. It’s not as clear a challenge. Obviously, World War Two was pretty obvious. But at some point, they knew. Remember, the greatest generation for a year and a half, sat on the sidelines while Europe was under darkness.
“While our closest ally Britain was being bombed and leveled, while Japan was spreading its cancer all throughout Southeast Asia … America sat in 1940 when France fell, December of 1941…Because we’re a hopeful people. We think, well, you know it’ll get better. Yeah, he’s a nice guy. I mean, it won’t be near as bad as what we think. This will be okay. I mean, yeah, maybe he’s not the best guy after a while, after a while you find out some things about this guy over in Europe who’s not so good of a guy after all. You know what … we’ll just take care of our own problems. We’ll just get our families off to work and our kids off to school and we’ll be okay. So with the optimistic spirit of America, sometimes, sometimes it’s not okay. It’ll be harder for this generation to figure it out. There’s no cataclysmic event.”
Santorum defended the comments today. "It’s a World War Two metaphor,” Santorum said. “It's one I've used 100 times."
In response to whether he meant to compare the president to Hitler, Santorum said, "No, of course not."
Those comments were not the only ones from the weekend that the former Pennsylvania senator found himself explaining. In front of the Ohio Christian Alliance, he said the 2010 health-care bill signed by the president encourages aborting children with disabilities by requiring prenatal testing that can detect if a child will not be born healthy. It is an assertion he did not back down from.
"I was criticized for making the comment about prenatal testing when it came to amniocentesis,” he said. “Amniocenteses are done by and large later in pregnancy whether the child in the womb has a disability.” And he claimed, “[A]s we all know, 90 percent of Down Syndrome children in this country are aborted once the mother and father find out that that child is going to be less than what they wanted it to be.”
The candidate, now surging in the polls, has focused almost all his attention on the White House and not so much as mentioning chief rival Mitt Romney. Stumping in Rust Belt states like Michigan and Ohio, Santorum has focused his message on manufacturing and environmental issues like hydrofracking and the Keystone pipeline. Both are issues in which Santorum argues the president has ceded to environmentalists, costing the country jobs.
Just 40 miles outside his hometown of Pittsburgh today, Santorum played up his blue-collar roots growing up as the grandson of a coal miner.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we need someone who understands, who comes from the coal fields, who comes from the steel mills, who understands what average working people in America need to be able to provide for themselves and their families,” he said.
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Th only office Santorum is suited for is Pope.
Hes got too many kids for that
and he's not an ex-nazi
Bunch of republican haters here holy moly.
No No we love republicans, we just hate republican philosophy. Love the sinner hate the sin.
holy moley, roley poley, mother of pearl...
Can't go wrong despising santorum and his merry gang of theocrats - but we REALLY want the bustard to be the RETHUG nominee - it would make the campaign SOOO MUCH EASIER...
He can't deny he said it because it's right there on the video so he says we're just not smart enough to understand what he really meant.
Interesting that he made reference to WWII and Hitler though. After Germany was defeated, the German and Italian citizens were asked how they could have allowed such monsters as Hitler and Musolini to take over their countries. They said that they promised to restore the country to greatness, they embraced the major religion of the country, they were very patriotic, they built up the military and supported the industrialists with government money. Before we knew what was happening they eliminated unions, eliminated the middle class, replaced elected officials with appointees of the Nazi Party, required citizens to work for little or no pay and declared Jews enemies of the state.
If we replace "Nazi" with "Tea" and "Jews" with "Muslims", what we have is the Republican agenda. And this idiot has the nerve to compare the President to Hitler?! No, if he wants to see Hitler, he need only look in the mirror.
You are almost right with your statement until you realize that democrats are trying to water down any idea of religion and the socialist party of this country that doesn't have any morals will destroy our ability to speak up about atrocities that occur. That is more like what happened. The people where given false theology and they embraced it and then it was all about killing the handicapped first and so on down the line. In this country the democrats are eliminating the middle class by making it a welfare state. Nice try but you got a little lost on the way. I guess the socialist party has already had their way with you.
Only up to a point - the jewish problem was unique to Germany - muslims aren't very common in the USA. I don't see any value to attacking the muslim population of the US as a response to militant muslim attacks in other countries.
Think about it, though - had der Fuehrer NOT decided to scapegoat the JEWS, that population would have FOUGHT for GERMANY with the identical vigor that they had in WWI. By scapegoating a significant portion of his population all that he managed to do was to GUARANTEE the death of the reich.
Poetic justice - in effect, the JEWS were a good portion of the downfall of the 3rd reich through loss of MANPOWER, if nothing else.
Santorum: " I got criticized by some of our less than erudite members of the national press corps.”
Seems very much like Santorum is proving to us that he is exactly what he described in the quote above: A less than erudite member of the 4 remaining GOP Presidential candidates. The Tea Party will love him!
"I referred to it the other day,” he said, “and I got criticized by some of our less than erudite members of the national press corps.”
It is just unthinkable that he claims himself to be "erudite" when he can't tell the difference between "theology", "theocracy", or "philosophy".
Ladies and gentlemen we have another Newt Gingrich wanna be. Which is not much to want.
I think Rick Santorum has Chlordane in his brain and that is harmful to the nervous system, watch him in the next debate you will see BB eyes or hes under the influence ?
FOUR remaining candidates? Who is #5 in tweedle dumb-de-dumb land??
FASCIST!
Sorry Frothy, you can't back track and get by with it, and you can't say it was taken out of context either. What a POS. I could not image having a father like that. I feel sorry for his children.
Poor Rick Santorum seems not to understand the meaning of "separation of church and state". I am not interested in having a President who wants to tout the 'values of the church'. ANY church, and particularly the church of Rick Santorum, with it's anti-gay, anti-woman, and racist philosophies. Nonetheless, I hope he gets the GOP nomination - Obama will trample him in the general election.
Rick Santorum the more you talk the crazier you sound. Just shut the pie hole before you sound any dumber.
Yup - he apparently has never learned that when one is in a hole, the first thing to do is STOP DIGGING...
Unfortunately we are witnessing the self-destruction of the GOP. Very sad, Ronald Reagan must have a tear in his eye.
The Tea-ReTards Destroyed the GOP, the Party is "Finished"
well... the question is whether or not the wounds are mortal or merely "severe" - IF the TP can be sent to back under their ROCK(s) and the rightwingnutreligionazis can be excised from any semblance of POWER in the currently RETHUG party, THEN (and likely only then) can there be a return to a "slightly right of center" political party instead of the current "idiot's assembly".
IF they can't, then consign the RETHUG party to the political trash heap
I wonder if the Pope is sending these messages to Rick via Rev. Graham or has the chip already been implanted?
"Stepford Candidate"?
The Republican Party --- the party of such great leaders as Lincoln, TR. Eisenhower and Reagan is committing suicide. The party of “smaller government” is now requiring women in Virginia women to have evasive medical treatments. In Virginia, the government now dictates the doctor -patient relationship. Rick Santorum believes the states have the right to outlaw birth control. He wants to not only eliminate all federal aid to education, he wants to mandate no state funding for education. He has suggested that women should not be in the workforce. What’s next – overturning the 19th amendment?
The reelection of President Obama is no longer in question. He will win a second term. The only question for this election cycle is how long his coattails will be. Can the House flip? Can the Democrats pick up seats in the Senate? The question for the future is will the Republican oarty continue to exist or will it go the way of the Whig Party of the 19th century?
If that happens you can bet we will be n full socialism by the end. Take a look at socialist countries and reevaluate your idea. Go to Canada where they wait for days or weeks to have emergency procedures done. That is why they cross the border if they have money. When America has socialized everything where will you go for procedures????? Mexico!
You Canuck havin? You familiar with the necessities of EMERGENCY versus ELECTIVE medical care?
Obviously NOT - go educate yourself and then report back, EH! Emergency procedures are handled as any other emergency (that's IMMEDIATELY). There is a bit of a wait for elective procedures
Without specific knowledge, I would suggest that you STFU
Just a clarification. When Lincoln was president, the Republicans were not the party of 'smaller government'. Remember, one of the major points of the Civil War was the Federal Government dictating to the Southern States. Lincoln and the Republicans of his day had more in common with Modern Democrats.
Rick Santorum : Garbage In Garbage Out
Santorum sounds like he would like to be the Jefferson Davis of the 21st century. He is a very dangerous man.
Give me Democracy not theocracy......that is the essence of the First Amendment.
Noiwont - Oh no. Jefferson Davis was far smarter than Santorum. Davis only reluctantly put himself as the head of the Confederacy whereas Santorum is willing to name himself Final Arbitrator of people's faith. Indeed a dangerous man.
...................."Words of Wisdom"
Not many republicans can defend this man and his blatant innuendo. but go over to Obama to congress keep going article and the republican are in fine form with more lies and name calling, nothing too obvious about the current state of the republican party truly nothing constructive coming this party of hate!
We the people of Pennsylvania just don't get it, when we kicked Santorum out of our state because he was a loser, very poor job performance and we see him up in the polls is sad. Rick is a bum and he is not Presidential material.
Maybe the rest of the country doesn't accept the liberal policies of Pensylvania. What is your tax rate out there? I guess you guys like paying for welfare.
are you a RE-REG? It would be interesting to know what you previous "names" were.
His previous handles were Chlamydia, Blithering Idiot, and Jethro. There may be more.
Hitler was a proponent of an ultra-conservative totalitarian ideology, Nazism. Stalin was a proponent of a defunct communist state, headed by a totalitarian dictator.
Totalitarianism is an abomination.
If Santorum based his comments on the fact that "Black Liberation Theology" was taught by his Pastor Jeremiah Wright, then I understand what Santorum is talking about. "Black Liberation Theology" reinterprets scriptures to relate the gospel of Jesus to the pain of being black in a white racist society. It reduces black identity to victim-hood which distorts reality and progress. There a lot more philosophical mumbo-jumbo, but it basically boils down to a kind of Marxist Victimization core belief system. It isn't main stream Christianity and it doesn't have the same biblical viewpoint . So Santorum is correct ... if that's what Obama core belief's are .... and after 21 years of support for that religious view it wouldn't be very logical to think otherwise.
Wow, you Teabaggers should read your History! Hitler was the Right - Stalin the Left, we don't need either one!!
Funny that Santorum is against homosexuals. He is a Catholic.
Job description – you are not allowed to have sex with women and you get to wear a gown, cape and pointy hat. Who does Rich think that the Catholic church is recruiting????? Wouldn't the rules and outfits be different if they want straight people?
Did twenty years in the service. Just got my retirement cut! Medical went up for me as well!! Thanks Obama
mikefrmva , stop your lies, i did twenty two years and our pay is up every year and medical is great. Talk the truth and don't dishonor us with lies
Really really sick of hearing what Santorum thinks! Tired of hearing his fear mongering, and isn't ALWAYS the conservative that barks about gays the loudest, that always has a dark gay side to his own history to hide? We've been here before folks..Santorum has go to go.
Why is this Republican Preliminary Race standing out as race-baiting. Santorum says President Obama's policies/theology is not based on the Bible; try reading Joshua 18, Proverb 24 and Revelations 18, where We are all called to be good stewards of mother-earth in order to benefit from her resources in the future as well as in the present. For all you republicans who gross less than $60,000.00 annually, how will your candidates theology affect you. Ask them why is it that we, the general population continue to pay for the medical and retirement of our Congress and Senate members, past, present and future????? And non has even mentioned the care OUR returning VETS need now and not receiving.
And he claimed, “[A]s we all know, 90 percent of Down Syndrome children in this country are aborted once the mother and father find out that that child is going to be less than what they wanted it to be.”
Wouldn't the appropriate, loving, Christian descriptor here have been "different" from what they wanted it to be rather than "less than?" Does he think his daughter is less than? In one article he described how difficult it was to bond with his disabled daughter. Projection, perhaps?
This is Santorum demeaning the "disabled," not the president.
Perhaps Sen Santorum should have his own IQ tested before he criticizes themedia. The man is a mess. He did reference President Obama's religion and when the press reported it and people reacted to Santorum's stupidity,and I think,racism, he changed his tune. Then he went ever further off base by comparing the President to Hitler. Too bad Santorum has nothing but his own warped beliefs to offer. Everytime he has blown it, he has blamed the media. Romney and Gingrich do the same. Palin did it too. What is it with these Republicans that they cannot stand on their own merits and words. Santorum is definitely PRE Civil Rights era and he knows nothing of WW II History. He should never be allowed anywhere near the oval office. If he is elected, prepare to see this country marched into the Dark Ages and Catholic Church theology. God help us all then.
Karma's an absolute bit ch when one gets hoist by one's own petard. How's the VIEW up there Ricky?
I'm glad I'm not locked in voting democrat or republician as the die-hearts are. It's a no brainer on this election of 2012. I got alot of my info from the republican leaders that dis-like the one's running on the republician ticket. I've listened to the racial tea party gang, that's living in the 50's, against all minorities. It was clear this year, the republician males was against female rights. I've watched the republician House vote for the 1%, and bought out totally.
I see a clear victory in 2012.
President Obama---2012