Why Rick Santorum Should Stop Talking About Porn

Forbes ^ | 03/18/12 | Christopher Helman

[Fred]

Last week Rick Santorum vowed to end America’s “pandemic of pornography,” insisting that if he were president he would limit the rights of adults to show and view images of consenting adults having sex. No doubt there is too much pornography in this country, and anyone thinking of watching it should go read their Bible instead. But what I want in a president is a pragmatist, not a panderer.

It would have been one thing for Santorum to say that his real crusade is against pedophilia or against child trafficking. Those are real evils that must be stopped. But that’s not what he said.

Here’s why Santorum should stop talking about porn.

[WellyP]

Really well said. The candidate who stays on message about energy, jobs, foreign affairs and national security and stays out of my bedroom and keep the government out of my pocket is the person for me.

[GeronL]

They need to talk about every issue where Obama is lacking, they need daily issues! Of course they need to hit the big issues every single day.

[jjotto]

Malcolm Forbes, Sr. was widely (USA Today, People, even the NY Times, details from OutWeek) rumored/reported to be homosexual, and certainly lavishly financed gay rights causes.

[christx30]

The point is that when Santorum goes on about porn, he allows the left to paint us as Bible thumping American Taliban types that want to get into ever fascet of our lives. Today it’s porn. Tomorrow, what will it be? What evil of the modern world will he want to crusade against? He scares people and they would rather vote for Obama than put him into any posistion of power. If he’s the nominee, I’d stay home rather than vote for him.
I want small government. I don’t want big government wanting to tackle problems like gay marriage, porn, ect.

[tacticalogic]

What was the enumerated power for that?

[Sola Veritas]

“Porn’s gotten out of hand. Used to be you had to go out of your way to find it, now you have to go out of your way to avoid it.”

Amen again!

[tacticalogic]

Pfft, how dare you suggest such a thing ;)

I realize it's a radical idea, but hey, it just might work!

[prairiebreeze]

What on earth did we do to deserve this pile of crap.

We quit paying close attention and didn't notice the small but relentless advances the left was making.

The GOP specifically, dropped the ball on development of good candidates and stopped being the party of conservatism, turning into the "Reach Across the Aisle Party So We Can Get Invited To All Those Great Cocktail Parties" Party.

[Keyes2000mt]

And RIck Santorum would have never left Iowa if he'd been the type of close-lipped politician who refused to answer voter questions and said, "You know what's really important. What I SAY is important."
Phil Grama in 1996 was met by a group of religious conservatives who asked for his assurance of their support. Gramm responded he wasn't a preacher. He focused on the economy and finished 5th Place in Iowa and never made it to New Hampshire.
Your advice worked well for him.

[jimnm]

I know of a few lawyers who are, in fact, stupid. It’s amazing they have not yet been disbarred. Then there are the hordes of lawyers of mediocre intelligence.

I don’t think it’s all that surprising that he continues to make remarks that let the media turn him into some sort of christian ayatollah caricature. He did lose his reelection campaign which he should have been able to win.

As one of the posters above mentioned, the crop of candidates is depressing. Beating Obama isn’t going to be a cakewalk either. He is going to have fundraising advantage and by the time the candidate is selected there’s not going to be much time left. He has the votes of the deadbeats, brainless, and dogooders. He can count on at least 95% of the black vote.

[LetMarch]

I agree! Trying to ignore it will not make it go away; and it every area of our lives!

Ungodly people make an ungodly nation!
“To be carnally minded is death, to be spiritually minded is life and peace,” (Romans 8:6)

“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged; and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6)

[sickoflibs]

RE :”I’ll tell you how I think he should answer, “Do you want your 7 year old to see soft porn on daytime tv? Do you want to worry about your children hitting the wrong site with images that will rob them of their innocence?”

Ever hear of family filters on the PC? My cable box has a password protected block channel feature. The same parent you are talking to should try those.

Giving the federal government the power to do what is your own (parents) responsibility is a gift to Dems like Obama.

You give a great argument for teaching kids to use condoms in the public schools mandated by the Federal government. It's FOR THE CHILDREN.

[Sola Veritas]

“Rick should Never had been elevated to take on Romney.”

I have prefered and voted for Newt. However, the reality is that Santorum is resonating with voters. Would you prefer that Romney be the candidate? Better Santorum running than Romeny anyday.

One can whine how Newt didn’t get the tracktion he needed. But, it is just a whine. The voters have spoken. Even in the South it appears they prefer Santorum as the anti-Romney. Eventually, all of us will have to deal with this. He was already my guy right behind Newt, so it is easy for me.

[Scutter]

Yep, it’s another Turd Sandwich vs. Giant Douch battle setting up for November.

The media wants us to nominate Santorum; their propaganda machine will work perfectly on him, and Obama will clean his clock. I’ve got huge misgivings about Newt, but at least the guy has enough brains to defuse the media. Not so with Santorum.

Santorum is off talking about porn and Puerto Rico’s official language, which plays right into their goal of distracting from what should be the core issue: Obama’s dismal economic record.

I’m sure people here will flame me for saying it, but I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that Santorum is a complete idiot.

God help us.

[kalee]

They democrats are pounding the streets in my town registering voters. Their county chairman turns everything into a voter registration drive.
I do not see the same energy on our side.

[crusty old prospector]

Just sayin’. He could use the FCC and obscenity laws. Whatever means to an end so my kids don’t have to look at smut every time they get on the internet or myself for that matter. My junk mail box at work contains the most vile material and I would like for someone to do something about it. We are far beyond anything in this country being enumerated.

[right way right]

“Santorum is turning into a goof being mislead around by the nose in his incessant bait taking babbeling.”

Nail on the head.

So damn gullible............

[Christie at the beach]

Not interested in your one sided sermon.

Dems were crossing over in TN AL MS and even FL to cause havoc. It was NOT due to Newt being not accepted. Some people prefer Romney over Rick, what does that say..(no answer required)

[sthguard]

But don’t you know that having a “real Christian” in the White House will magically make all our problems go away? All he has to do is preach a few sermons from a mount, and poof no more national debt!

[Paradox]

The author is right, you can agree with Santorums sentiments on the matter, but the fact is, its a big time loser and a turn off to a large number of voters. There are much, much bigger issues he needs to focus on, and he needs to stop taking the bait.