Lest you think that Rick Santorum is a mere garden-variety homophobe who offers no threat to the sexual freedom of hetero couples, consider this quote: "Many of the Christian faith have said, well, that's okay, contraception is okay. It's not okay. It's a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be." Oh, and this gem: "They have this idea that people should be left alone, be able to do whatever they want to do, government should keep our taxes down and regulations low, that we shouldn't get involved in the bedroom or in cultural issues. That is not how traditional conservatives view the world." (via Beth Pratt)

  • m1kesa1m0ns

    Handmaid’s Tale, here we come.

  • shannigans

    Maybe he is espousing the “You Can’t Make Babies in the Butt” teen pregnancy campaign.  He is santorum after all.  

  • callen3434

    Well, of course contraception is NOT okay. If a family wants to use it, it should be approved by the government in advance, by application and close review, duh! Santorum,  yes! Liberals, NO! We need FAR greater control of what goes on the bedroom.

    • http://mordicai.livejournal.com Mordicai

      I think everyone can agree that we need less santorum in the bedroom.  Both kinds.

    • Julie Silva

      I can only hope you’re joking. What happened to Republicans against “big government”? Does that only apply to food stamps and welfare? In other words, whatever coddles the rich and helps them get richer? How can the same party be anti-big government and pro-tyrannical regulation of private lives? For the record, I am NOT a Republican and quotes like this from Santorum make me proud of that.

  • Chuck

    I’m sure conservative will be fine with the tax hike to pay for auditors in every bedroom.  Plus there’s all the clipboards and checklists they’ll need to do the job.  You have to budget for office supplies.

  • Ianto_Jones

    Despite the ecstatic booty calls that the evangelical elements of the Republican party are engaging in recently with Ricky Baby, the fact remains that John McCain currently has an exponentially greater chance of being elected president in the general election than Santorum does.

  • Tim Trentham

    Yeah, those two things have been irking me all day. I intended to make essentially the same post. It’s mind boggling how hypocritical someone can be in public. I cannot fathom how someone can hold those two viewpoints at the same time and not have their heads explode.

  • xzzy

    I already can’t wait for November 7th to arrive.

  • http://www.witchgrotto.com Ben Gruagach

    And let’s not forget that Santorum is against abortion under all circumstances… except of course when it’s his own wife. But for everone else it’s absolutely wrong and not to be allowed.

    http://jezebel.com/5873158/rick-santorums-anti+abortion-stance-would-have-killed-his-own-wife/

  • Gemma

    I’m still upset with him for his pop at the NHS yesterday.

  • http://evilbobdayjob.blogspot.com/ Deidzoeb

    This is more or less to be expected of a conservative Catholic, isn’t it? At least re: contraception.

    • Guest

       No, this is what is to be expected of a pandering culture warrior.

      • Quiche de Resistance

        He really isn’t pandering with the contraception comments, it’s just hard core catholicism.  He’s not going to get any votes he doesn’t already have with this kind of talk.  In fact these sorts of comments he’s made in the past are why he’d basically be unelectable in a general election. A lot of republicans know this and that’s why they are preparing to eat the Mitt Sandwich.

        • Guest

          Even with a side of santorum, that’s too big a $%#& sandwich for America.

  • paul_leader

    This is why a two party system simply doesn’t work. How can you really call yourself a Republican when what that means can vary so significantly.

    That fact that this guy occupies the same party as Ron Paul is dumb. The same goes for the members of the Democratic party from what I’ve seen.

    Here in the UK the situation isn’t quite so bad, we have a few more parties that can actually win seats, but the difference between politician’s views in each party can be really quite radical and you wonder how they could possibly get on.

    • firefly the great

      I used to think that, but then I learned a little bit more about parliamentary systems, and I realized that the parties in a British-style parliamentary system have a lot more power than parties in the United States do. 

      So while it seems like we have fewer choices, we actually have more choice, because things rarely come down to a straight party line.

      • Guest

        “things rarely come down to a straight party line”

        Uhhhh. You need to pay closer attention if you’re in the USA. So many things here never even get voted on or spoken openly about, because of the absolute adherence to party lines. The threat of filibuster, the votes for cloture, all the parliamentary foibles that actually prevent legislation that won’t pass from even coming up for a vote.

        I can agree that: of the things that get to be voted on, few come down to a straight party line vote. But even then, that’s basically Olympia Snowe (D-Maine).

      • paul_leader

        I know what you mean about the party line being stronger, but I was referring more to how the system works at election time.

        If I look at the Republicans and Democrats the range of opinion in both parties malees it difficult to feel confident about what it is you are actually voting for.

        But yes, the strength of the parties in the UK is too strong in my mind, but on the other hand I have a better idea of what the parties stand for. Although having said that, they are all pretty crap at the moment so it’s still hard to know who to vote for. I tend to vote against rather than for someone, which is a crap situation.

        • Guest

          it really is crap, ain’t it.  A proper ring around the tub.

    • modusoperandi00

      Why wouldn’t they get along? They’re both for the same thing. Santorum is for the federal government doing it and Paul is only against the federal government interfering with the states doing it.

      • paul_leader

        Ah, ok, I think I get what you mean.  I must admit, keeping up with US politics can be hard, it gets so simplified by the time it gets reported here.

        But the big-state/small-state split in the republican party still confuses me, it seems like such a fundamental issue that I’m surprised these guys can share a party.

    • Quiche de Resistance

      “…Ron Paul is dumb. ”

      Yes, I agree completely.

  • funkyderek

    So basically, in the world of Rick Santorum, it’s not the government’s business if children are dying because their parents can’t afford medical treatment but it IS the government’s business if I want to jizz on my girlfriend’s tits?!

    • chgoliz

      Yes, exactly.

    • Antinous / Moderator

      When you describe it that way, you can kind of see how one of them might interest him more than the other.

  • chgoliz

    Traditional conservatives would think “it’s none of my business”….what he meant to say was traditional busybodies.

  • Mujokan

    This sort of thing is why I was like “yesss…” when he tied the first caucus.

    “But you shouldn’t be glad the Christian right is so powerful!”

    I’m not glad they’re powerful, but I know they’re out there, and I’d rather they stood up and said what they think rather than try to get it through the back door once someone electable is elected. People need to wake up to what millions of Americans actually believe. The culture war is the number one issue in American politics. You wouldn’t get ridiculous debacles like the debt-ceiling fight without the culture war. Better it come to a head and into the full light of day.

    • MrsBug

      My thoughts exactly. Let the crazy foam up and overflow the cup. I believe the typical Republicans, although holding views I don’t agree with, will look at this guy and say, “OMG, seriously?” We can only hope that he turns out to the be Republican candidate.

  • iCowboy

    As far as Santorum and co. are concerned, consensual sex is the only thing that needs regulation, and government is too big when it can no longer fit into your bedroom.

  • Green Ghost

    Please, God, protect us from your followers!

  • http://bhtooefr.org/ Eric Rucker
  • voiceinthedistance

    I blame Dan Savage.  Had he done a more thorough job on this guy, we wouldn’t still be talking about him.    He had him on the mat, stopped to wipe a little Santorum off, and let the guy off without a pin.

    • Guest

      Romney will whip Santorum, in the end.

      • http://mordicai.livejournal.com Mordicai

        Sounds frothy.

  • abstract_reg

    I’m conflicted. I don’t want a Republican President, but I also don’t want America to believe that someone should be able to say the things that Rick Santorum says without getting their ass handed to them by everyone with a brain. If Santorum is nominated he will lose, but the damage that he could do in a country that doesn’t think very often could be very bad indeed.

  • jmzero

    The swings in this race have been ridiculous; do people have no memory?

    It’s like Republicans are locked in a room with Romney and they can’t find an exit door that works.  And when they get tired banging against one door (or there’s a fire on the other side) they just run to the next door, even if it’s one they know won’t open.

    Did people really forget how they didn’t like Gingrich? (To be fair, at least they seemed to remember quickly).  Do people just not remember Santorum and all the reasons they were desperately looking for someone else before?

    Santorum has about 5 more days, I think.  Then people will support Bachmann for about 3 days before they remember why they hate her.   By March, the candidate surges will be some illegible superposition of instantly changing states.

    • Antinous / Moderator

      Then people will support Bachmann for about 3 days before they remember why they hate her.

      Bachmann quit the race yesterday.

      • Guest

        Ah, then Sarah Palin. She’s still running, right?

        • Antinous / Moderator

          Nope. It’s a sausage party now.

  • jimh

    Oh, this will make him very popular.
    /srcsm

  • AirPillo

    I suppose from Santorum’s viewpoint, “traditional conservatives” are also supposed to falsify the history of their own political group’s beliefs far more than communists or fascists do.

    While Reagan (not a fan, by the way) was telling the Soviet Union to “tear down that wall”, Santorum was apparently looking at them and singing “anything you can do, I can do better”.

  • That_Anonymous_Coward

    In retrospect is it possible his belief in no contraception might have something to do with his mother making a rude remark about him along the lines of wishing he had never been born?  Cause many of us seem to be thinking that thought right now.

    And we should be less worried about this pimple on the ass of America and much more worried about the base of people this type of talk panders to.  He is still relevant to them, they are keeping him around with him saying these things.  That should be more frightening is there seems to be a large group of people who hear him speak and say that sounds interesting I would like to sign up for your newsletter.

  • coffee100

    Hey, I’ve got a great idea.  Let’s divert the sober national deliberative process to a good bitter argument about fucking.   Then maybe we can convene a national debate about what kind of utensils we should use to eat pasta salad.

    Because God knows we don’t have any other important subjects to discuss.

  • http://plankhead.com Zacqary Adam Green

    It’s funnier if you call him Dick Santorum.

    Because then he has santorum on his dick.

    • Guest

      I prefer rich. 

    • Ipo

      P. Rick Santorum

  • Guest

    Romney really pushed Santorum around with this tight poll.

  • http://www.tumblr.com/blog/his-divine-shadow His Shadow

    It’s amasing to me how US politicians pay little or no price for egregious stupidity as well as open hostility to minorities. All the while stating their clear intent to interfere with the private lives of US citizens. And recieve vocal support itizens who routinely mouth platitudes about their fierce independence and the need for less interference from the federal government in their lives.

    Your two party system has made your country sick.

  • justine

    Wow…really…a man who wants to become president of the US is saying that contraception is wrong and you think that is trivial? You do know that, like, half of the population of the US stands to lose their bodily autonomy if contraception ever got banned, right?

    @m1kesa1m0ns…mind lending your copy of the Handmaid’s Tale? I think we need a refresher about why fucking arguments get good and bitter.

    • Guest

      We wouldn’t lose our bodily autonomy, the women would just stop sleeping with us.

    • http://mordicai.livejournal.com Mordicai

      Half the population…only if you count women as people.  Which…he pretty clearly doesn’t!

  • tsa

    Why do people vote for lunatics?

    • Phil Fot

       Because if they are voting in the US, that’s damned near the only kind of people we have for politicians. Especially types bound for Washington. Asshats, idiots, and liars. That about covers it.

    • Daneel

      “So,” said Arthur, hoping he wasn’t sounding ridiculously obtuse, “why don’t the people get rid of the lizards?”

      “It honestly doesn’t occur to them,” said Ford. “They’ve all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they’ve voted in more or less approximates to the government they want.”

      “You mean they actually vote for the lizards?”

      “Oh yes,” said Ford with a shrug, “of course.”

      “But,” said Arthur, going for the big one again, “why?”

      “Because if they didn’t vote for a lizard,” said Ford, “the wrong lizard might get in. Got any gin?”

  • http://www.jimdraws.com Thorzdad

    There’s a line of reasoning among many evangelicals that contraception is a form of abortion, since the chemicals actually inhibit implantation of a fertilized egg. So, Santorum’s declaration doesn’t surprise me at all.

    • http://twitter.com/amanicdroid Mari Lwyd

      You mentioned a line of reasoning but I fail to see any evidence of its existence in the words that followed.

      • http://www.jimdraws.com Thorzdad

        I’m not defending it. Just reporting it.

        Reasoning to you and me is not the same reasoning as used by them. It makes perfect sense in their world. “Reason” is relative, apparently.

  • Dezzie

    What about the women who need it for medical reasons? Dumbass.

  • SamSam

    Forgetting all the sex-obsession for a moment, am I really ready this quote right?

    They have this idea that people should be left alone, be able to do whatever they want to do, government should keep our taxes down and regulations low… That is not how traditional conservatives view the world.”

    Is Santorum really saying that “traditional” conservatives (like himself, presumably) don’t want the government to keep taxes low and regulations low? That is, that they want real taxes and real regulations?

    While he might actually be right regarding “traditional conservatives,” at least before 1960 or so, isn’t this statement completely antithetical to what modern Republican voters and the tea party want to hear? Is he signing his own death warrant?

    • http://twitter.com/amanicdroid Mari Lwyd

      I hope so. 
      (figurative death not literal)

  • http://twitter.com/amanicdroid Mari Lwyd

    Band name idea:
    Christian Mullah Rick Santorum and the Bedroom-Freedom Jihadists

    • IronEdithKidd

      Change ‘-Freedom’ to ‘Surveillance’ and I think you’ll be on to something.