Rick Santorum: “I Condemn The People Who Booed That Gay Soldier” (Video)

Editor’s Note: Santorum subsequently retracted his condemnation, in an interview posted hours later with ABC News.

Rick Santorum says now, “I condemn the people who booed that gay soldier,” and claims he didn’t hear the boos from the Republican audience last night at the GOP Fox News/Google presidential debate. A gay U.S. Army soldier serving in Iraq, Stephen Hill, donning a gray tee-​shirt emblazoned with the word “ARMY” on the front, asked Rick Santorum if he would try to “circumvent the progress” that has been made in allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly, effectively reinstating Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The audience actually booed him.

“I condemn the people who booed that gay soldier. That soldier is serving our country. I thank him for his service to our country. I’m sure he is doing an excellent job. I hope he is safe. I hope he returns safely, and does his mission well. I have to admit I seriously did not hear those boos. Had I heard them, I certainly would have commented on them.”

Santorum adds that had he heard the booing, he would have said, “Don’t do that, this man is serving his country, and we are to thank him for his service.”

Sadly, Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly opined, “to me, it wasn’t clear if they were booing the soldier or the policy that they did not support.”

Hill, the gay soldier, asked, “Do you plan to circumvent the progress that has been made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military?”

While Santorum deserves kudos for saying the right thing today, even if we accept his claim of not hearing the boos — certainly possible — Santorum’s response to the gay soldier remains. Sadly, it was:

“Any type of sexual activity has no place in the military,” and added “Keep it to yourself, whether you’re heterosexual or homosexual.” Santorum admitted he would force lesbian, gay, and bisexual soldiers servicing their country back in the closet. “What we’re doing is playing social experimentation with our country right now and that’s tragic.” Santorum also said repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was “giving [gays] a special privilege.”

Let’s not forget that Santorum has spent years maligning the LGBT community. So, thanks, Senator, for saying the right thing today. That deserves a pat on the back, but certainly does not erase years and years of ill treatment and harm you have done to us.

(Hat tip TPM via Towleroad.)