Posted on 02/09/2011 3:28:01 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Matt Lauer's got company today on the political-mother shaming front: Rick Santorum.
Santorum is one of the possible GOP hopefuls for the '12 presidential nomination, along with Sarah Palin, of course. She decided at the last minute not to attend the conservative conference CPAC (she hasn't actually showed up the last few years, in fact—it's become a bit of a tradition for her to cancel). Santorum seized upon the no-show as an opportunity to criticize Palin, who's a hit among the same far-right base he'd be trying to appeal to in a run.
First, in an interview with conservative S.E. Cupp, he hinted at her celebrity profiteering: "I have a feeling that she has some demands on her time, and a lot of them have financial benefit attached to them." This is not an unfair criticism—but his next one was. He pretended to offer a more understanding take on why Palin might be unable to come. "I don’t live in Alaska and I’m not the mother to all these kids and I don’t have other responsibilities that she has." (Itals mine.)
Santorum happens to be the father to seven children—one might assume no matter the parenting balance in the Santorum household, he does, in fact, have some responsibilities in addition to attending CPAC. But more interesting here is the criticism he's subtly rescuscitating. In '08, one of the few things many women on both sides of the aisle could agree on re: Palin was that she had steamrolled over the expectation that women could only go into politics in a big way once their kids were raised, and this was a good thing. Republican women and consultants told me this fall over and over again that seeing her up on the stage at the 2008 GOP convention with her young kids was a moment that everything suddenly looked different, more possible for them. It's how the whole Mama Grizzly movement began, this version of conservative feminism that we found vexing and powerful all at once. Maybe Santorum's comments were a one-off from a sui generis conservative, or maybe it's a sign that the good 'ol boys on the right (and perhaps the left, too) are no longer quite as entranced and stymied by the possibility of grizzly power.
Leaving some room for the fact that the press is always looking to find division whether there is or isn’t, and they are always looking for a Palin headline just to get someone to read their silly stuff, and will gladly twist anything into a Palin bash...
Its pretty tone-deaf on Santorum’s part.
One thing I like about Palin and the others on my short list is that they never bash each other, but focus their fire on Obama. Its the Romniac-Huck wing of the GOP that sees Palin as more a threat than Obama. If Santorum wants to be seen as a conservative warrior he should take lessons from Palin. If he wants to be Huck’s vice presidential running mate, then he’s fine the way he is.
I used to think that Santorum had strong conservative and prolife beliefs. Apparently, he does not and is willing to change his positions for votes.
No thanks Rick! Go find something else to do for a living.
Fair assessment after seeing the video. In print in this context, it looks bad for Santorum, but vid not so much. Still, comparing Sarah to Rick, points go to Sarah for being able to balance all that she does. If she wanted to be at CPAC she would be. Santorum is a strong supporter of conservative values. We need all the help we can get.
Hey Rick, what’s that sound? Oh yeah, sounds like your political career being flushed down the crapper. The crap these yahoos throw at Sarah always boomerangs on them.
Santorum is a tool. Nothing else needs to be said.
Oh, boo hoo. Santorum was asked a question and he answered it honestly and accurately. You’d have to be pretty obsessed with political correctness find Santorum’s answer “sexist”.
Santorum is my former senator, and now he’s a ‘has-been.’
I hve no idea why he’s considering a run for the nomination....lol.
This is a contrived hit piece. I have not figured out whether it is against men in general or just Santorum. Regardless, it is meaningless media puff -a story about a story that was an interview -an interview analysis with a presumed and assumed conclusion...
You guys are so funny. You let the media set up this story and you fall for it. Sarah is on Hannity right now calling all you guys idiots for believing the story because Santorum didn’t say what this story says.
Is it really that surprising coming from this crowd?
Just saw him on Greta. He had no clue as to why this story exploded, nor did the Politico Author ever call and ask him to confirm/clarify or comment.
It’s all balderdash.
This is what the left wants us to do and apparently we are all too willing to leap into the fire before we know who/ or what started it.
Get a grip Guys.
Don’t buy into the program, please.
I didn’t know Santorum was a major jerk. And to think that I once believed that he was a great guy.
My husband watched his appearance on Greta and told me Santorum only made it worse. I hadn’t paid this idiocy much mind, but my husband said “I’ve never liked that guy, but now I think he’s a jerk.” ...lol.
I agree. The guy is pathetic.
CWCT is correct. Santorum was empathizing with Palin, not attempting to demean her. Yet another example of overeager Palin supporters doing exactly what they (rightfully) accuse others in doing to Palin, i.e., distorting, misrepresenting, or outright lying about her/her statements.
Santorum's a twit, but not because of this episode.
In the Kitchen???
me thinks he keeps her under the blankets...
I live in Pennsylvania, I like Rick as my Senator, I voted for him, then he puts all his kids in a school out of his district and the rest is history...
bad boy Rick...but he sure is not Presidential material in my book...
at my house we will be supporting SARAH PALIN now and in the future...
Agreed. It was a drive-by media attack by politico that distorted the facts in an effort to pit Santorum against Palin.
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