Read a little. Learn a lot. • Tightly-written news, views and stuff • Follow us on TwitterBe a Facebook FanTumble us!

10 Feb 2012 16:58

tags

Politics: Rick Santorum says women in combat distracting to male soldiers

  • When you have men and women together in combat, I think men have emotions when you see a woman in harm’s way. I think it’s something that’s natural that’s very much in our culture to be protective. That was my concern, and I think that’s a concern with all the military.
  • GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum • Suggesting, to TODAY’s Ann Curry, that women should not serve on the front lines of military combat. He was careful to qualify his statement, saying that he didn’t believe women themselves were incapable of such combat, but that men in the unit would feel protective and be distracted from their mission by female comrades being “injured” or “vulnerable.” Of course, even if his opinion were true, it begs the question; how is that a problem that women should pay for? What he’s claiming sounds less like women being unfit to serve in combat than male soldiers eschewing their duty for some vision of a “damsel-in-distress” story playing out during a firefight. This is classic, culture-war Santorum. source

08 Feb 2012 10:28

tags

Politics: Rick Santorum wants to be “the conservative alternative to Barack Obama”

  • I don’t stand here and claim to be the conservative alternative to Mitt Romney. I stand here to be the conservative alternative to Barack Obama.
  • Rick Santorum • Offering up a bold line while speaking to supporters in St. Louis, who picked him for the non-binding primary in Missouri last night. He also won caucuses in Minnesota, and somewhat surprisingly, Colorado. Two weeks ago, it looked like Gingrich was the guy going toe-to-toe with Romney. Now, with last night’s wins, that storyline looks old hat. Does Santorum have a shot at going all the way? source

09 Jan 2012 12:36

tags

Politics: Rick Santorum and the culture wars: How he’s standing out

  • So why has he struck such a chord among GOP voters and progressives alike? Why have videos exposing his racial biases and anti-gay attitudes gone viral and inspired hashtags? It’s simple: Even in a recession, social issues like sex and race are extremely resonant. And Santorum is the only candidate talking about them.
  • Good Magazine Associate Editor Nona Willis Aronowitz • Opining on exactly why Rick Santorum made a comeback in an era where his brand of social conservatism was starting to look old-hat. Essentially, because he’s the only person seriously discussing these issues, he stands out. But it goes further, Aronowitz notes: “The Santorum hubbub is a reminder that the issues we hold dear — issues of sex and race and civil rights — are absolutely recession-proof.” (Related: This Patch video, in which a heckler asks Santorum if he would abort a gay baby. Ah, campaign trail politics. Thanks John Ness for that tip.) source

13 Apr 2011 23:12

tags

Politics: Rick Santorum launches presidential bid; political world remains indifferent

  • yesIt’s official: Former Senator Rick Santorum has announced the launch an exploratory committee to run for President!
  • no He still isn’t being taken seriously by anyone; Intraders currently give him a .7% chance of winning the nomination. source
  • » Flashback: When asked about his feelings on homosexuality in 2003, Santorum replied, “I have no problem with homosexuality. I have a problem with homosexual acts.” He then insisted that the Constitution doesn’t grant people the right to privacy. We’re just sayin’ .

28 Sep 2009 02:55

tags

Politics: Dan Savage is ready to spread some more santorum in 2012

Rick Santorum
  • The all-time greatest “Google bomb” ever may have a sequel. In last week’s “Savage Love” column, Dan Savage – the man responsible for making former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum’s last name into a filthy word – put the call out to get the Web site he created ready for the 2012 election. The Republican plans to run for president, but not without a filthy Google result that shows up when you search for his last (or even his first) name. Savage credits his readers for the success of the endeavor. source