Santorum Visits Delaware to Tout New Family Values Book

AP (Observer-Reporter) ^ | 8/10/2005 | Randall Chase

[Pyro7480]

Santorum visits Delaware to tout new family values book

By RANDALL CHASE
Associated Press Writer

WILMINGTON, Del. -- A Wilmington-based conservative think tank welcomed home its first best-selling author Wednesday as Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Rick Santorum touted his new book on family values.

Santorum's book, "It Takes A Family: Conservatism and the Common Good," is seen by some as the GOP's response to the views expressed by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., in her 1996 book, "It Takes a Village."

Like Clinton, Santorum, chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, is viewed by some political observers as a possible 2008 presidential candidate.

Santorum made no reference to presidential politics Wednesday, instead focusing on the traditional values message of his book, published by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, a nonprofit educational organization that works to promote conservative values among college youth.

Santorum credited ISI Executive Vice President Jeffrey Nelson for pushing him to write the book, which debuted at No. 13 this week on the New York Times best sellers list.

Santorum told a crowd of about 200 people gathered on the ISI campus just north of Wilmington that he had no regrets about choosing the relatively obscure institute over better known publishing houses.

"They brought an intellectual force and a world view that I have in common with them that would help me plumb the depths of why I do what I do," he said. "This was a tremendous collaborative effort."

In the book, Santorum touches on issues ranging from abortion, which he compares to slavery, to welfare reform, abstinence, home schooling and stay-at-home moms, who he says are not being "affirmed" by society.

"It's a book that I think is very much about common sense," said Santorum, adding that he was amazed that his leftist critics have been able to find only a handful of quotes in the 460-page book as "fodder" against him.

Santorum, who is expected to face a tough re-election battle next year against Pennsylvania state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., was unapologetic for suggesting that the tax code should be restructured to allow more women to stay at home and take care of their children, who he said are being poisoned by "hostile" messages in modern music and television.

"There's no more 'Father Knows Best' on television," he said. "It is a hostile world for the traditional values of America. That means we need parents to be home more, when in fact what's happening is that parents are home less and the multimedia world that we live in is raising our children.

"I make the argument, I got hammered for this, that parents should actually consider spending less time at work and more time with their families," Santorum said. "... I'll take the hit for saying parents need to parent."

Santorum said that while many Americans might agree with his "commonsense" views, too few are willing to stand up and say so.

"We accept them as true, but we personalize them and privatize them and we don't do anything to have those reflected in the public square... We've become too insular in our beliefs," he said. "Hopefully this book, if it will do anything, will encourage many not to be afraid to be controversial."

[Pyro7480]

A "handful" of pathetic left-wingers, organized by NOW, protested his appearance. For those who aren't familiar where ISI is headquartered, it is along a semi-rural road in northern Delaware, which winds through hilly terrain. Only those who live nearby and those attending the booksigning would have seen them.

From Pa. senator speaks in Greenville

But for Jennifer DeLuca of Claymont, a family can be a lot of things, including her, her female partner of eight years, and their daughter Zoe, 11.

"I would like to meet him and ask him, 'Why is my private life threatening your marriage?' " she said.

DeLuca was one of a handful of people Wednesday protesting Santorum's appearance in Delaware to promote his new book, "It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good...."

An hour before Santorum's appearance, DeLuca and other protesters organized by the Delaware chapter of the National Organization of Women, stood on Centerville Road near the institute entrance.

"He has no respect for my family," DeLuca said, pointing to daughter Zoe, who held a sign that read, "Both of my working moms take me bowling."

"I'm disappointed that a man in his position would take such an intolerant stance," she said. "In his version of a family, mine is a nonentity."

Neither DeLuca nor Marie Laberge, president of Delaware NOW, have read Santorum's book. But they have read selected quotes.

"I don't want to spend my money on it," said Laberge, holding up a sign that read, "Families come in all shapes and sizes."

[Pyro7480]

Ping!

[TBarnett34]

"He has no respect for my family," DeLuca said, pointing to daughter Zoe, who held a sign that read, "Both of my working moms take me bowling."

Aaaaahahahahahahahahahahaha!

[Gabz]

The NOW nag nonsense is par for the course.........what irked me was the gal from PA wanting to know why Santorum didn't talk more about the GOVERNMENT doing something to help people who can't get flex time at work. she claims to be a Republican, but wants government intervention?????

RME

[Pyro7480]

I think this is what they meant by "government intervention" (I could be wrong).

Santorum, who is expected to face a tough re-election battle next year against Pennsylvania state Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., was unapologetic for suggesting that the tax code should be restructured to allow more women to stay at home and take care of their children, who he said are being poisoned by "hostile" messages in modern music and television.

[madprof98]

The book is not a polemic and not an especially easy read, but I am enjoying it immensely. It is amazing that Santorum's common-sense message is meeting with opposition.

[Pyro7480]

Who said anyone on the Left had common sense? ;-)

[Gabz]

I was referring to this comment, from the end of the NJ article:

Ledyard said she was disappointed that Santorum did not suggest what government might do to help those mothers who work and cannot get flexible time.

[TAdams8591]

"It is a hostile world for the traditional values of America. That means we need parents to be home more, when in fact what's happening is that parents are home less and the multimedia world that we live in is raising our children."

I couldn't agree more with the above statement. And I do know a number of parents who have chosen staying home with their children over earning extra money. I commend them!

[FlipWilson]

OK, Casey is a pro-lifer. Some have pointed out that this robs Rick of his one issue that differentiated him from the dem candidates. I wonder if this book is not a way for Rick to delicately bring up another issue that would differentiate him from a dem candidtate, namely, gay marriage. If so, it would be a smart move given that gay marriage cost the dems heavily in the last election.

[all4one]

"I make the argument, I got hammered for this, that parents should actually consider spending less time at work and more time with their families," Santorum said. "... I'll take the hit for saying parents need to parent."

Thanks for the ping Pyro. So let me get this straight (pun intended) the leftist MSM slobbers all over themselves to promote and commend the "It takes a Village" nonsense from sHillery. But when someone like Santorum has real "family values" that promote parents actually parenting their children, it's considered blasphemy from the leftists.

I am still waiting for the NOW crowd to commend President Bush for giving the women of Iraq the right to vote...I am still waiting for them to comment on Monica Lewinsky's sexual harrassment while interning at the White House...hmmmm....so just what do these NOW people really stand for??? What a topsy turvey immoral world we are living in!