Rick Santorum then:
“Every society in the history of man has upheld the institution of marriage as a bond between a man and a woman. Why? Because society is based on one thing: that society is based on the future of the society. And that’s what? Children. Monogamous relationships. In every society, the definition of marriage has not ever to my knowledge included homosexuality. That’s not to pick on homosexuality. It’s not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be. It is one thing. And when you destroy that you have a dramatic impact on the quality.”
Rick Santorum now:
“I have no problem from a public policy point of view with homosexuality.”
Whoa! Stop the presses! Did Rick Santorum just come out in support of homosexuality and gay marriage?
Well, to quote fellow wildcat conservative John Boehner, “Hell no!”
Santorum, who lost his 2006 U.S. Senate election by 59% to 41%, “the largest margin of defeat for an incumbent Senator since 1980,” has made a name for himself as an extremely right-wing politician. He has made friends — and enemies — from his very public statements and voting record on gays, gay marriage, and gay rights, “intelligent design,” Hurricane Katrina, immigration, the Catholic Church’s pedophile priest problem, Iraq’s WMDs, and many other social and political issues.
Rick Santorum is profiled in a CBS News story today:
Santorum, a Fox News contributor, raised more than $700,000 through his Political Action Committee in the second half of 2009, with most of that money going to direct mail solicitations designed to build a conservative base of support and national profile. He has already traveled to key early primary states, and in a January letter to supporters stated flatly that he is “actively considering the 2012 race.”
The author of “It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good,” Santorum might seem an odd candidate for the current moment. He’s remembered far more for his commitment to social issues than the concerns about the country’s fiscal problems animating the Tea Party movement.
But somewhat under-the-radar, Santorum has kept his profile up among conservatives via op-eds and a Friday guest-hosting gig on Bill Bennett’s radio show. He now “sees an opening for someone who can unite the various primary factions — economic libertarians, party establishment types and cultural conservatives,” according to CBS News Chief Political Consultant Marc Ambinder.
Santorum will likely seek to position himself as “a true-blue, reliable social conservative who proved his conservatism in the Senate,” said Stuart Rothenberg, editor and publisher of The Rothenberg Political Report. “He can argue he won in Pennsylvania, which is not normally predisposed to support conservatives, so that proves his abilities.”
And,
“In the Senate, Rick Santorum called banning gay marriage ‘the ultimate homeland security issue,’ essentially arguing that the existence of gay couples and gay families represented a threat to the safety and security of the nation,” said [Dan] Savage.
So, the question is, has former Senator Rick Santorum warmed to gay marriage and civil rights for the LGBTQ community, or, is he just saying what he thinks he needs to to move his campaign forward?
Don’t forget, just last year, Santorum shilled for Maggie Gallagher’s National Organization for Marriage. In an email to supporters, Santorum wrote,
“Dear Friend of Marriage,
My friend, I’ve never come to you with a more urgent message: we must
act TODAY to protect marriage.
An out-of-control supreme court has forced same-sex marriage on Iowa
and an out-of-touch legislature has done the same in Vermont. States like
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Maine are in the fight of their
lives to uphold marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Understand this: these fights are about much more than these states
alone. There is a concerted effort to use passage of same-sex marriage in
these states to force it on every other state in the union. How? Through the
repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act!
With one stroke of the pen, President Obama could sign into law a bill
that allows judges in one state to impose gay marriage on 47 other states.
Yes, powerful leaders in the White House and Congress are taking aim at the one federal law that protects
marriage and other values we hold sacred.
But fortunately, the National Organization for Marriage has already prepared a DOMA Defense Fund to
mobilize the American people and tell Congress: “Enough, Don’t Mess with Marriage!â€
Will you join me, Dr. James Dobson, and thousands of other people of faith who support the National
Organization for Marriage? Together, we can stop those who would repeal the Defense of Marriage
Act. Your gift of $35, $100, or even $500 today would help organize grassroots support for DOMA in
all 50 states! Use this hyperlink to make a secure online donation today!“
Here’s my simple response.
The chances of someone making that dramatic a switch, and in such a short amount of time, without some “divine intervention,” are slim to none. If he’s “seen the light,” he gave no indication of that. No, “I’m gay.” No, “I found out my brother is gay.” No, “I have a gay son.”
So, either back then he was saying hateful, despicable things about gays, just for political kicks and giggles, or, he is now.
Either way, does anyone like that deserve your vote?