Rick Santorum has recently surged in popularity in the polls and, as of now, seems like he might be the new front-runner for the Republican nomination for president. However, like many of the previous front-runners before him, his rise might last only for a short while before it quickly fizzles.
Even if his rise in the polls proves to be brief, it is nerve-racking that a candidate who makes false statements about foreign practices and is so staunchly religious in his rhetoric is taken seriously. Last week in an interview with ABC, Santorum claimed that John F. Kennedy’s statement about the separation of church and made him want to “throw up.” Two months before the 1960 presidential election Kennedy said “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute.” Santorum later elaborated on his disgust for Kennedy’s comment, claiming, “the First Amendment says the free exercise of religion; that means bringing everybody, people of faith and no faith, into the public square. Kennedy for the first time articulated the vision saying, ‘No, faith is not allowed in the public square. I will keep it separate.’”
Santorum drastically misquoted and misinterpreted the ideas Kennedy articulated. Kennedy did not want to keep religious citizens out of government roles; he merely suggested that the ideology of faith should not influence educational programs or a candidate’s chances at becoming president. Santorum used Kennedy’s proclamation to advance his own political identity as a religious conservative. Santorum attempts to take the words of Kennedy so literally and bluntly that he spreads his flawed and tainted interpretation of Kennedy’s message to his audience. Santorum’s nausea might be successfully cured with a dose of knowledge. Furthermore, it appears that Mr. Santorum failed to understand the most basic concepts regarding the First Amendment and the goal of the founding fathers to keep the church as a separate entity from the government. What does it mean when a candidate for President of the United States fails to understand both the importance of Kennedy’s notion and the revolutionary ideas put forth by our founding fathers?
Earlier this month, Santorum attempted to use examples of involuntary euthanasia in the Netherlands to predict the future of Obama’s health care program. First he claimed that “half the people who are euthanized every year… are euthanized involuntarily.” While voluntary euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands, any violation of the strict controls and regulations result in the doctor being charged with murder. In order for euthanasia to be carried out, the patient must sign a consent form and get a second opinion that proves that the patient is suffering unbearably. Santorum continued, “[euthanasia is] ten percent of all deaths for the Netherlands.” The actual percentage of people euthanized in the Netherlands accounted for two percent of all deaths in 2010.
Not only did Santorum lie, he also used this propaganda to predict that “Obamacare would lead us down that road.” The fact Santorum uses such misinformation and purposefully distorted facts to advance his own political agenda demonstrates how he remains a truly deplorable candidate. In the same interview, Santorum claimed that the slow acceptance of abortion is causing a slow ethical rot in our society. What about the slow acceptance of Super PAC advertisements or candidates that manipulate their audience through fear? The real problem comes from people like Santorum who claim that their word is fact without any consequence.
Santorum’s blatant ignorance and overemphasis on religion makes him seem like a fool. The real surprise is that Santorum has continued to remain popular enough to win both Colorado and Minnesota. It seems that voters simply do not care about integrity or truthful information. For Santorum, both his overly religious and social conservative image appeal to far right wing voters more than integrity or honesty. Santorum masterfully creates and fuels this image through his horrid comments about Kennedy and his propaganda about Obama’s health care program. There are many intellectual and honest ways to criticize Obama. Santorum should not need to rely on blatant and extravagant lies to appeal to his socially conservative base. •
