We've seen it so many times. A public figure lazily reaches back into history, grabs a tragic event (or a series of tragic events) and uses it to demagogue an unrelated, current controversy.
As we've said before on this blog, it's a cheap strategy to ignite the passions and prejudices of the base, deflect criticism, change the subject and make cheap political points. But worst of all it utterly trivializes and demeans the victims of the historical event that is referenced.
Just recently, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus compared President Barack Obama with the Italian cruise ship captain who allegedly abandoned his sinking ship. And 2008 Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin sharply criticized the Republican Party "establishment" for using what she called a "Stalin-esque rewriting of history."
The latest example of this buffoonery comes from GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum.
Just last night during a town hall in Plano, Texas, the former Pennsylvania senator attacked the government's requirement that faith-based employers to provide contraceptive services for women, saying it would infringe on religious freedom. That, Santorum said, could lead people of faith to the guillotine:
"When you marginalize faith in America, when you remove the pillar of God-given rights, then what’s left is the French Revolution," said Santorum. "What’s left is a government that will tell you who you are, what you’ll do and when you’ll do it. What’s left in France became the guillotine. Ladies and gentlemen, we’re a long way from that, but if we do and follow the path of President Obama and his overt hostility to faith in America, then we are headed down that road."
Earlier in the day at a town hall in McKinney, Texas, Santorum lashed out at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for finding Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California, unconstitutional.
"The intolerance of the left, the intolerance of the secular ideology, it is a religion unto itself, just like we saw from the days of -- of the atheists in the Soviet Union," Santorum said. "It is completely intolerant of dissent."
C'mon Rick, this is the best you can do? Are your stands on these issues so weak that you have to make these desperate grabs into history, drag the victims of these horrible events out again so you can whip up fear, get your base excited and get some attention?
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The GOP is all about fear mongering but this is insane! LOL... I mean, who is going to believe a word that clown says? Only the mentally ailed, paranoid, delusional would even entertain that statement, oops, I guess he's speaking to his tea party base!
So tell me Rick, you're such perfect God loving man.. will you follow the 10 commandments and stop exclusions? Would you follow the Bible and will never seek revenge upon those who want to do you harm, like Iran? So that means no more wars, ever, just turn the other cheek, right?
Rick, you're a paranoid opportunistic, you need to check yourself into a mental hospital. You and Romney, nothing good to say, just trying to scare people away.... Liars and frauds, that's all you guys are!
Just Where Do These GOMERS Continue Coming Up With This CRAP ????? Do THEY Somehow Twist and Flip-Flop This Garbage Out Of Their Amazing little Book ?????? OR Are They Just Plucking Fairy Dust Out Of The Air !!!????????? My God ; and SOME FOOLS Actually Back Them And Believe Them !! ???? WOW - JUST- WOW ???????
This guy really bothers me. He's all about some strange view of Christianity but he doesn't even care about reality.
- The Bible says turn the other cheek, he's saying he wants to strike Iran.
- The Bible says love everybody, he doesn't like dark people or gay people or poor people.
- The Bible says "DO NOT KILL", is he going to put an end to the death penalty?
- The Bible says Greed is a sin, but he's all for making it easier for rich folks to get even richer at the expense of the middle class.
This is ridiculous, Santorum and Romney are both LIARS, FIRST CLASS THUGS! And the Tea Party can't see that? Aren't they Bible experts? See what I mean? They're all "pseudo christians" they don't care about the Bible, for them it's just the PERFECT EXCUSE to do what they want to do, nothing to do with Religion, it's just a cover story.
OR = The NEW 4th Reich Guishtapo !!!!!!! Dictators To The CORE !!!!! That Lay-back On The Book In Order To Defend Their Crazed/Twisted Views and Beliefs !!!!!
Here Is A Book For Them - Green Eggs And Ham !!!!!!!! I'M Certain That They Could Twist The Hell Out Of That Book Too !!! Hey !!!!! Ha Haa - GOOFBALLS !!!!
Rick Insanetorum . . . the Republicon Pander Bears on parade . . . isn't it over YET ?
Nothing like using God as a weapon and Jesus as a mascot . . . while they play rump rangers in the closet and tell open and honest gays they can't get married . . . Right-wingers make me barf . . .
Hey MsT = ALL OF THEM !!!!!!
: + )
This comparison is actually a little ironic, since the French Revolution was about extreme social inequality. The head-chopping was saved for the aristocrats, and those that worked for them.
Now, if we want to talk about religious intolerance, let's talk about the Inquisition. That would be a much more meaningful comparison, but, oops, it was the Catholic Church (Santorum's guys) that brought forth that horror on the world and spread blood like a scene out of Saw III onto the pages of history.
This guy stands there and openly says he wouldn't separate his religion from his duty to the country. That in itself makes him Constitutionally unelectable. I can't imagine a greater violation of the separation of Church and State then a president running on the principal of inflicting Catholicism on the whole country.
Millions of innocent, free thinking women burned at the stake as witches and drowned in those days over Religious Intolerance . . .
But misogynists like Santorum don't cry about this . . . because the only Religion that counts is their own Religion . . . the only Religious Persecution that matters to them is when it is being ginned up about their Religion.
When they say Freedom of Religion they only mean Freedom To Worship As We Do or else.
Santorum warns Obama's all wet,
And intends to make all the Right sweat!
He claims he's foreseen
The returned guillotine...
I would say, "Outre d'avec sa tête!"
Translated from the French = "OFF WITH HIS HEAD!"
Perfect David !
Bravo David, Lets let Sanatorium eat cake then off with his head. What a dufas he is. He needs to deal in reality and not his make believe land !!!!
MST, Where we lived in Germany there was a witches tower. In a little town not far from us they were burned at the stake. I feel like the lunacy has been resurrected and women are under attack as then. Remember the saying " WE HAVE CAME ALONG WAY BABY !" I have news for them they want to see another bra burning keep there attacks upon women and they "WILL HERE US ROAR! "
This claim coming from the party that showed the Republicans pushing granny in a wheelchair over a cliff...WHAT HYPOCRISY AGAIN! Surprise surprise
CHIRP CHIRP...the silence is deafening..
How about this Rick? All those gay folks can join a new church, and they can say it's their "religion", so much for your secular BS argument. Want to show the path and be tolerant to them? Hey, it's religion...
Get a grip will ya? The terrorists also said 911 was because their God told them to do that crap, and to me they're criminals, religion or not. Want to show the path and be tolerant to them? Hey, it's religion...
Stop your trash and try for once to talk about reality! Jesus, you and Romney, you guys couldn't see reality if your life depended on it! What a bunch of frauds!
Makes me wonder what he is on.
He is on a power trip.
True MsT, but that does not usually include disassociation from reality.
LOL . . .true . . . unless we are talking about Rush Limbaugh, Napoleon, Nero, the Kochroach brothers, the Bush family, Eric Cantor, Paul Ryan, and Rick Santorum etc etc etc
MsT~ You're right, they're on a power trip. It's amazing how they can interpret a few wins in 2010 to "they want us to take over the world!" They are fools, but scary fools, if they can get people to believe that BS they're putting out there. Check out this guy Peter Brimelow. He's a racist that is a featured speaker at CPAC. He's REALLY scary! Reminds me of the way Hitler started.
Yep . . . and they use the Bible to justify their hateful words and actions . . . it is so pathetic !
Why does the religious right never fully understand that the war on faith begins with those whom have faith that their way of worship is the only and best way; and that other forms are blasphemy? Few religious doctrines leave room for other rite or rituals. As well, the dogma puts the various sects at odds with each other for the luxury seats to paradise. Children; all whom point the finger at another and cry foul for the very thing they have done to others.
Stuff like that just makes me think the Anti Christ is from this country, Or will be!
The anti-christ is that who called himself a christian while seeking world domination. It's not a person IMHO, it's a group.... False prophets and greedy bastards, I'm tired of them using God's name for political gain!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1735679/posts
Nostradamus anti christ
he's way too desperate, I hope he never becomes president he scares the crap out of me
All of the Republicon Candidates are just being used as puppets by the Kochroach / GOP Fascists . . . and none of them will become President . . . not even with all the billions that are being spent.
This election is going to be a lesson to all of us that money can't buy you enough votes or love if everyone can smell you and your rotten agenda coming through town . . . wake up and smell the voting Republicons.
Rick Romney, Newt Santorum, Mitt Gingrich . . . they are interchangeable robots.
( : > )
Desperate and more laughable every time he opens his mouth. Santorum is starting to sound flip flop mitt romeny
http://dccc.org/STOCKAct
Stop Cantor from watering down the bill to stop insider trading! Sign it!
XXX OOO, I went there and signed! This puts capitol C in A CROOKED POLITICIAN!!!!! Great job post it this evening on the poll question!
Santorum claims fracking is a left-wing boogeyman designed to control us.
Santorum claims President Obama is going to execute people of faith.
Santorum claims President Obama wants to force the catholic church to ordain women.
Santorum claims high gas prices caused the recession.
Does he have any idea what is coming out of his mouth?
He knows exactly whats coming out of his mouth and the pathetic part is he actually believes it.
Feraltwinkie In the olden days he would of been thrown in dungeon as a lunatic ! The fact that people are buying this is disturbing ! Has the world gone MAD!!!!!
Gosh you guys are wound up tonight! Rick Santorum has sure got you guys riled up! Just remember, most or you defended the NDAA, giving the next president the right to make citizens disappear if declared terrorist.
Will a President Santorum declare abortion doctors terrorists (remember millions die each year by their hands)? Just wondering. Think about it. What do you think?
santorum is going to be president so this is a waste time, we won't have to worry about him shredding the constitution with theocratic agenda
The even small chance that a nutcase like Santorum were to be president should get everyone wound up, unless you're a nutcase like him.
I think that Little Ricky is about as christian as he needs to be to win over voters. He is so christian that he laughs at dying children while toting big Pharm companies need more free enterprise and it doesn't matter how much they charge. I think he is so christian that he wants to impose his version of GOD's law on everyone and make them into the laws of the land. NEWS BRIEF Little Ricky, How I worship is between me and my god and not anyone else. I may not believe in abortion but it is not my right to force others to follow my belief. It is a personnal thing and has no place in the political ring. But keep up the good work you are making OBAMA's job at getting RE-ELECTED that much easier and I for one thank you for it.
OBAMA 2012
Father of 4 , Welcome to the blog. Bravo ! Great post. I have never felt Government or church have any right in this the greatest of personal choice.
I tried to post a link about Santorum's dead baby that he took home to let his children "play with it" for a couple of hours to show them that the child was real. This happened in 1996 AND was a direct quote from the book his WIFE wrote!
The article was in the Daily Beast, dated Jan. 3, 2012 titled: Rick Santorum's Dead Baby Ritual.
Is the the type of values he and the GOP want to impose on the American people?
Orchid, don't you have a shred of compassion? Guess you have lived a charmed life, with no heartache.
What kind of person can see that story and not have sympathy for that family! Your type of heartless venom is repugnant!
Santorum is definitely one to watch. Remember, with all the anti-Obama feeling in this country, a Santorum might end up being President, if nominated by the GOP. I worry about his views on Roe mostly, but will vote for him if he is the alternative to Obama.
Just my view, based on what I perceive Obama has done to our economy. Am I missing something?
You are missing EVERYTHING, but mostly brains.
Capt. I think you are blinded by all you have made your self believe about Obama. Please lighten up and don"t vote for someone just because there your alternative to Obama. Take a deep breath, step back and reassess the situation. Your a military man and you know nothing is as it seems. Look around the corner!
@Capt...I hope you're not serious....but then again it would not surprise me at all....
Capt. America USMC...Of course I have compassion, I think that what he did was mentally sick...I understand about losing a baby, but taking it home to the other children to "PLAY" with it for a couple of hours to let his other children know it was REAL???
That's bazzaar! That is the reason I commented on it...what type of person would take home a dead baby to "show" their other kids?? Scary!
No, I have not led a charmed life, and I understand the right to have a funeral for a stillborn, but are the GOP hopefuls going to make this policy since "FAMILY VALUES" is their platform?
We all deal with personal pain differently, I would not presume a mental condition about someone when dealing with this kind of pain. Anyway our differences with his politics are quite stark.
I believe a woman should have a right to choose. We need a coherent healthcare plan. But my problem with Obama has been his spending. That is where you and I probably part ways.
Obama criticized Bush's spending, and then had a deficit 8X Bush in his 1st year (200 Billion to 1.6 Trillion). I just have a problem with such hypocrisy, and fiscal mismanagement.
Capt. Hope your doing well. Hows your step father doing? You know we disagree on politics but we so agree on a woman's right to choose and to the best medical care she can have. I always here you say you have a problem with spending. But don"t you have a problem with them not raising taxes to create revenue. If we had a scale of justice I really feel its pretty lop sided don"t you? Have great evening, snowing here and bitter cold Single digits and even zero. Brrrr ! Grand kids are coming to sled and have fun ! Big pot of Chili tomorrow for sure !!!!
Orchid, Welcome to the blog. Many of us have voiced this here as well. My niece had still born. It was so sad and we went to the funeral. There is nothingso heart breaking as a funeral for a child. But my big question is they took pictures for her and helped with the grieving and emptiness. My big question is how was he allowed to do this? When we loose a loved one we are not permitted to bring them home. I feel rules were broken here when it comes to a corpse. I see big red flags !!! When those kids grow up I think they will have problem processing this. Regardless how we grieve there are rules that states must follow !!!!
Pam, he has really improved, thanks for asking. I wonder if the will take him off hospice at the next evaluation. He has regained 12 lbs of the 26 he had lost.
I want government limited to police, army, standardizing measurements, and protecting us from big business mistreatment. Get out of our bedrooms and clinics. Women should have the right to choose. Government should provide catastrophic healthcare. And very little else. Oh, I do believe the tax system should be fair, a progressive tax system with those who benefit most paying a higher percentage.
Needless I get grief on left and right leaning blogs. I do appreciate the debate, and honestly do not mean to offend anyone on either end of the political spectrum. I see government power as a threat to personal liberty, and think we should respect and check its power.
Ladies and gents I have big News for Sanatorium he will not dictate my health coverage or my daughters. He dose not have the right in any ones bedroom in America ! THE BEDROOM CANDIDATE !!!!! I don"t want him in mine ,do you want him in yours ? Do I hear a hell no to that !!!!!! Bravo Obama for standing with women when the others attack us !!!!!
"Obama criticized Bush's spending, and then had a deficit 8X Bush in his 1st year (200 Billion to 1.6 Trillion). I just have a problem with such hypocrisy, and fiscal mismanagement."
well i will not come out and say LIAR!! but that is one ton of Bravo Sierra!
I wonder where we would be right now if Bush tax cuts had never been enacted and aloud to stay? When he took office he did not know how deep the crater was left by the Bush Administration. There are no magic bullets. If Bush had payed as he went, so many Ifs.
Pilot: are you saying we are not $5 trillion more in debt since Obama took office? Really? Just asking.
LOL
nope i was commending on your commend, so i will stand with my last transmission at #16
I say again all after IS "one ton of Bravo Sierra!"
LOL but its all in fun.
As I like to say whoever ends up in the white house in 2012 WILL deficit any candidate who tells you otherwise is lying or perhaps subconsciously admitting that they won't win
and the opposing side from that president will blame the debt and deficit spending which has to occur for the government to exist
and more to the issue Bush wasn't as far into the red because Clinton wasn't a fool like he was so....there's that.......more importantly not a single republic has a plan to tackle the debt or the spending except for Ron Paul but no one will want to live under his plan....so the GOP chants cut spending and has no actual plan to really cut spending
stupidity & ignorance run deep MARK 9:41-42