Santorum’s remarks are within character
U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum has never been wishy-washy on where he stands. His remarks in an Associated Press story published in Monday’s edition were right in line with what his constituents expect to hear from the pro-family man and conservative senator. His views on homosexuality are well known. Had Santorum called upon red-blooded Americans to rise in protest and stone gays, then calls for his ouster from Senate leadership would be justified. Certainly what he said does not rise to the same level of offense as those made by former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott who implied the country was better off in the days of segregation when blacks lived in justified fear of lynch mobs.
In case you missed the story profiling Santorum’s rise in the Republican party, this is what he said in commenting on a Texas sodomy case. “If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual (gay) sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything.”
We part ways with Santorum on this case. It never should have been tried. Police, acting on a complaint by a neighbor, barged into a private home and found two men in the throes of passion. They arrested them, and the men are appealing the case. Whether you believe as Santorum does that homosexuality is unnatural, consensual sex between adults should not be a criminal matter. Santorum likens it to adultery, but when was the last time a man and woman – even in Texas – were hauled into criminal court for having consensual sex out of wedlock?
But that is neither here nor there. What is pertinent is whether claims by the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay advocacy organization, merit consideration. They believe that Santorum’s view on the Texas case renders him incompetent to serve as chairman of the Senate GOP conference. It does not.
Of course, now the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is jumping on the oust-Santorum bandwagon while they have a chance, by saying his remarks were “divisive, hurtful and reckless.” No less than Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry issued a statement criticizing Santorum’s comments and assailing the White House for remaining silent “while their chief lieutenants make divisive and hurtful comments that have no place in our politics.” This is coming from the same esteemed senator, who while the nation was at war said it was the United States that needed “a regime change.”
Santorum’s remarks should be judged, but only by those who should determine if he is fit to serve: The electorate of Pennsylvania, not those whose political agendas differ from Santorum’s.