Posted on 03/16/2012 10:56:03 PM PDT by Steelfish
Santorum Says He Would Enforce US Obscenity Laws That Obama Ignores By NBC's Andrew Rafferty
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL -- Rick Santorum accused President Barack Obama of not enforcing the country's obscenity laws and said Friday that as chief executive he would crack down on illegal pornography.
Santorum found himself answering pornography questions during a stop at an Italian restaurant here after the discovery of a statement posted in his campaign website in which he asserts that "America is suffering a pandemic of harm from pornography." Recent reporting has shed light on the letter in which the former Pennsylvania senator vowed to "vigorously enforce" all the country's obscenity laws, though he said the statement was posted three weeks ago.
"We actually respond to questions that we get into our campaign when they say 'What are you going to do about these issues?' And when we respond we post them up on our website. And the response is, ‘we'll enforce the law,’" said Santorum.
"I don’t know what the hubbub about that is," he said. "We have a president who is not enforcing the law, and we will."
The candidate best known for espousing family values argues on his website that pornography causes changes in the brain to both children and adults, and contributes to violence against women, prostitution and sex trafficking. "The Obama administration has turned a blind eye to those who wish to preserve our culture from the scourge of pornography," he wrote.
(Excerpt) Read more at firstread.msnbc.msn.com ...
>> I have noted there has been no such “concern” voiced as Rick and Karen have campaigned.
Neither do I recall any health emergencies when Sarah was campaigning.
He was probably asked the question because “War on Pornography” is the first issue he lists on his website page. That just seems odd, not the first issue that comes to mind for a President to concern himself with.
No ‘convenient’ health emergencies!
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Always amazing how many Freepers have no problem making things up about other Freepers.
Hank
Great..., nice focus Rick. The country has been taken over by Marxists, individual freedom hangs in the balance, and the best we can do is Romney and Santorum...?
Great..., nice focus Rick. The country has been taken over by Marxists, individual freedom hangs in the balance, and the best we can do is Romney and Santorum...?
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Absolutely right! This was, in fact, the little remembered Pillar 4.5 of Communism outlined in the Communist Manifesto, nestled right between the confiscation of the property of emigrants and rebels, and the centralization of credit in a national bank.
Hank
You missed my main point...he HAD the perfect opportunity FREE OF CHARGE...when the press was trying (and succeeded) to get him to talk about this moral position (not necessarily a wrong one but we all know the press will spin it in the worst possible way), he could have said, “Morality is very important and enforcing our obscenity laws is vital, but right now the majority of Americans are most concerned about the economy so here’s my plan...” See, THAT’S what makes him an amateur in my eyes. He lets them set the narrative. That shows a lack of communication skills. As I said before, the ability to communicate, especially when he has a chance to speak to a national audience about the key issue of this election, he blew it. Now, the press still would have hit the morality stuff but he also would have a chance to introduce himself and his economic plans to the country. IMO, this is pretty minor politics 101 stuff also part of the vetting process. He’s going to have tougher communication issues with world leaders. How will he handle that if he can’t handle the press?
I understand how easy it is to think your candidate is doing great because you’re focused on them and enthusiastically read everything you can. I was the same way with Palin & Cain. But if you view things objectively (from the point of view of someone who is relatively informed, as I said I read Santorum threads here, listen to the debates and occasionally listen to FOX or CNN) then you’ll understand what I’m trying to convey.
Cindie
And nobody is “setting up false arguments saying Santorum doesn't care about other issues.....he simply cannot ‘speak to them with any degree of conviction’ because he's all about morality issues.....that's his bag...that's his so called specialty....that's his history and known throughout Pa and the Senate as being so....and he's weak on everything else.
Very good post gardencatz.....states clearly some of the reasons Santorum is not polished enough for the Presidency....and moreso he hasn’t a clue about International Dealings or how to handle them. Amature...I would say even less then that...the learning curve he would have is frightening to imagine IMO.
What other kind of pornography is illegal?
There is no way, a decade ago, that those of us who believe that morality is essential to the survival of the country would have been mocked as we are now. It's a remarkable thing to observe, and something I consider to be the degradation of conservatism.
I personally believe that morality IS essential to the survival of society, but then I believe I have more conservative views on that than the newer, more liberal freepers.
Always remember, Papa, that more than 51% of Americans thought Barack Obama would be a good President.
Are you sure you want to go there??
No. I think my candidate is doing great because I watch the election returns.
A little humor....After seeing Rick spread out on poolside in Puerto Rico I understand now why the ol’Sweater vest is important to him....tsk tsk.....
Looks like Newt’s not the only one with a tire or two! At least he can claim it’s the age factor....
I listened to Santorum’s first remarks about the photo....the first thing out of his mouth was he needed to loose about 20 to 30 lbs. Ha! Really?
Huh? Varies from state to state. Some places almost anything goes, I imagine. Others not so much.
Hank
A Canadian liberal mocking an American conservative for having moral standards for the country, is quite telling.
As for socialized medicine, I've been opposed to it, and everything about it for more than 50 years. You don't have much to teach me about the horrors of what it is, canuck.
That's why I'm working in MY country to get rid of what you let happen in YOUR country.
Hope you enjoyed that beer....
Does Santorum allow himself to be trapped into these side issues or does he bring them up?
Either way, it’s not smart.
It jut reinforces fears among some people that he would be a theocratic president.
He’s a Canadian liberal, psycho, and that post was filled with hot air, as is your post screaming kudos for it.
I hear a lot about the Communists’ attack on the family via pornography. How about the Communists’ attack on the family via the attack on private property, the progressive income tax, or public education?
Oh I forgot. Those are settled law. Move along nothing to see here.
And what does that have to do with your ridiculous first post, having nothing to do with this post whatsoever?
I wish he were doing better, but my preferring Santorum to Gingrich doesn't make me crusade against Gingrich.
I don't believe in your circular firing squad, and I'm sorry that you are such an avid participant in the whole thing.
If Gingrich were doing better than Santorum, I would be saying GO NEWT!
We want a conservative as our candidate, and as long as we shoot each other, we're not only doing the process wrong, but we're doing the country wrong.
You’re pathetic. Can’t make any point without name calling, or casting aspersions.
Consider yourself ignored.
I have never seen such emotionally charged sarcastic drivel from him as was in that post, and it made me wonder if he is well.
I will wait for him to respond and try to make some sense out of the nonsense in his previous post, if at all possible.
Have another beer. Enjoy the fresh Canadian air, and do whatever you want to do just 'cause you want to do it.
That's what freedom is all about to you, isn't it? No nasty 'moralists' making life less fun for you. Good thing I'm down here and you're up there, so I can't hurt you with my call for the morals MY country was founded on.....
The sad thing is that some people are going to believe you
Yes I lost the argument. ROFL.
Perhaps I don’t enjoy speaking to incredibly nasty small minded people.
Get back to building your big government nanny stater. Be careful! You might not always be in charge of it!
Your Canadian imagination must have been spurred on by too much green beer.
Thanks for the laugh. Thanks for the hyperbole, and thanks for the insults.
From an amoralist, insults are a compliment. :)
This is EXACTLY my point. When 51% of the population thought that President Obama was a good idea, you are NOT going to get acceptance for something so far out of the mainstream. You can work to change mainstream opinion, but mainstream opinion is what we have to work with.
Right now, in 2012, you can get a majority of the voters enthused about improving the economy. You can get a majority enthused about being more secure against terrorist attack. You can get a majority getting behind the idea that we should not be spending American lives and treasure on military objectives unless we are serious about winning.
Reducing violent street crime? That's a winner. Cutting gas prices by increasing domestic supplies? Easy sell.
Getting a majority enthused about the importance of banning porn? Not so much. They might accept a candidate who advocates this if they are extremely enthused about his other positions, and if Rick was running 60-70% approval in the polls, I'd say go for it. But Rick is NOT running 70% in the polls.
"Current federal 'obscenity' laws prohibit distribution of hardcore (obscene) pornography on the Internet, on cable/satellite TV, on hotel/motel TV, in retail shops and through the mail or by common carrier," it reads. "Rick Santorum believes that federal obscenity laws should be vigorously enforced."
He's not talking about kiddie porn. He's talking about "hardcore (obscene) pornography."
#2 - No one is saying that moral subjects should supplant discussions of the economy (why is that non-truth still floating on this thread?)
#3 - No one has suggested that we try to get 'a majority enthused about the importance of banning porn.' That doesn't mean that those of us who understand the harm that it does to individuals, and to American society should just shut up.
#4 - considering the whole sale attacks by the left (and some who claim to be on the right, like libertarians and the Republican establishment), Rick is doing very well in the polls, and in some is beating Obama.
What I'm saying is, don't deny the right to discuss important issues just because you don't personally find them important.
Most of us do. Most of us want to live in a (morally) cleaner country.
Don't make fun of those of us who are moral conservatives, because we are fiscal, small government conservatives as well. You don't have to remove one because of the others. Across the board conservatism is what the whole thing is about, and watching social conservativism being mocked by partial conservatives doesn't sit too well with those of us who see the big picture better than the part-timers do.
You’re right. Rick is running on pure economic platform free from any moral indignation whatsoever.
If only everyone focused on losing the weight of GOVERNMENT, we’d be in much better shape.
Fiscal fitness NEWTstyle is a pretty good plan.
Lets start DRILLING.
And you still haven't answered my questions about your bizarre posts, but never mind. I'm going to have a pleasant evening with my (moral) family and do some (moral) fun things.
Sorry to offend. Let the sarcasm flow, GE! :)
Thanks for this. I have a copy of the Communist Manifesto, haven’t read the whole thing. I will check this promptly.
It’s frightening how much progress they made, and how much of it people have made peace with.
Well Marcellous GAS here in PA has been kicking butt on jobs... and the small town I grew up in is back to life! It’s beautiful there now and everybody’s making money! So yes indeed Drill Baby Drill!
THIS is what matters.
Remove government obstacles, inspire growth, restore productivity.
SHRINKING GOVERNMENT is the moral thing to do!!!
DRILL HERE, DRILL NOW, PAY LESS
"These all need to be addressed "immediately" by a conservative president"....:
- The "wardrobe malfunctions" during nationally-viewed football games.
- The finger and corresponding obscenity.
- The absolutely gutter and offensive "art".
- All manner of lewd and universally illegal acts of public obscenity.
Not to mention of course Pornography.
WELL Sir....if this is your idea of pressing needs to be addressed "immediately" by the President of the USA...then it's not just this President and his administration that's the problem and we are in a world of serious hurt.
And while we do that knock off the regulations keeping our companies overseas......and we’d be back on our feet in no time at all!
I sure want to believe you're wrong about that. ;-)
Hank
Are you SERIOUSLY contending that after inauguration the new president shouldn’t immediately focus on ensuring that the nation is never again traumautized by the exposure of a pop singer’s nipple during a Super Bowl halftime show?
What could possibly be a higher priority?
Hank
What could be more moral than bringing jobs back home to America?
I just saw a picture of Santorum without a shirt on. I want the Ministry of Tanning or the Department of Sunbathing to address this immediately!
Not in order of, but how about these:
Jobs for Americans, Immigration, the Debt, Oil issues, Czars, Infiltration of the enemy in our Capital and on our shores, War on our Mexican Border, the Islamic push for Sharia Law on our soil, War with Iran, Syria and the ME threat on our nation. Obamacare, Environmentalist and Lobbying groups, Tax issues, Cap n' Trade, Earmarks, Corrupt Judges, Bringing our troops home, Firing those who have committed treason against our great country,the media bias, and crooked politicians, bankers and the WallStreet gang that need to go to Prison.. .....just off the top of my head....
As to the other spoken previously ...nah....does not make the list.
This kind of nonsense is why Santorum will get shellacked by Obama.
Uh,,,,,No we don’t.
Time for another tax hike on Tanning booths. Not to mention doesn't Rick know it's dangerous to bake in the sun? CAuses cancer don't you know.
Did you also hear the media's trying to keep it quiet who took the picture....it was a busload of gay tourists who took the shot I understand and it's funny hearing the media skip that part.
“.it was a busload of gay tourists who took the shot I understand and it’s funny hearing the media skip that part.”
No I didn’t know that. I just saw the pic.
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