Santorum renews attack on JFK's speech on church and state (asks prayers for clear articulation)

Los Angeles Times ^ | March 8, 2012 | Michael Finnegan

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Reporting from Mobile, Ala.— Rick Santorum renewed his criticism of John F. Kennedy on Thursday night for saying during his 1960 campaign for the presidency that he believed “in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute.”

“That’s not America,” the Republican presidential hopeful told a crowd at an Alabama dinner banquet. “That’s France. That’s a naked public square where people of faith are out of bounds.”

[SNIP]

......Santorum said he would continue to speak out on the importance of religion in public life.

“Please pray for me that I do so more articulately in the future,” he said.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Address of Senator John F. Kennedy to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, September 12, 1960

Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy’s major address to a group of Protestant ministers on the religious issue. Many Protestants questioned the ability of a Roman Catholic President to make important national decisions independently of the influence of his church. Senator Kennedy answers those questions before an audience of Protestant clergy, many of whom may believe that he can not.

Location: Rice Hotel, Houston, Texas

Date: September 12, 1960

Running time: 11:14 minutes. [also link to transcript]

[sillsfan]

Unbelievable.
(IF this story is accurate considering the source.)
So with everything going on in this country, Santorum continues to pound this issue to death.
This guy's strategy is stupid.

I don't know what else you'd call it except pandering.
Full disclosure: I am Catholic.

At this point, we need a candidate who is clearly focused on stating the the most important problems facing our country, and explaining how he would go about solving them, not just whining about the other guys, or going off on sidebar topics.

Newt is the only guy constantly clearly stating the problems and how he would go about solving them.

I hope my fellow Alabamians do the right thing next Tuesday and vote for Newt.

[Psalm 144]

I can’t decide if he is a ringer, that clueless, or wants to fall gloriously upon a political sword and feel very noble in the aftermath. Meh. I’ll vote for him if he is the nominee, but I am not going to help put him in that position.

[Amntn]

Rick scares me. Does he not understand that the door swings both ways when inviting religion into government?

I don't want religion in government any more than I want government in religion. Doesn’t he see that our argument over the government forcing the Catholic church to provide birth control is the argument FOR religious freedom?

[csmusaret]

http://www.newt.org/news/video-senator-santorum-in-his-own-words/

[no dems]

Oh s**t Rick; give it a friggin’ rest. What is that gonna do to get gas prices down, Employment up and keep the U.S. and Israel from being attacked by Iran? Damn dude; we’re electing a President, not a Priest. Two Conservatives left: Rick and Newt. One with no moral failures but no common sense and one with past indiscretions but a helluva lot of common sense.

HANG IN THERE NEWT!!!

[allmendream]

He has few realistic options at this point OTHER THAN going out in a blaze of mediocrity - griping like an old crank about the evils of contraception and how JFK makes him want to puke.

[no dems]

Rick Santorum: The Pat Robertson of the 21st Century.

(And we all know that Pat got real to occupying the White House. /sarc.)

[livius]

Does he not understand that the door swings both ways when inviting religion into government?

Obviously not. Church and State need to stay separate, as much for the protection of religion as the protection of the state.

[Longbow1969]

Santorum would be an absolute disaster of a nominee. His droning on about the importance of talking about the evil's of contraception as President should have been more than enough for GOP primary voters to avoid him like the plague:

One of the things I will talk about that no president has talked about before is I think the dangers of contraception in this country, the whole sexual libertine idea. Many in the Christian faith have said, 'Well, that’s okay. Contraception’s okay'. It’s not okay..."

It is difficult to understand how anyone could take Santorum seriously as a general election candidate.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I wish Ricky would hurry up and fall on the sword so Newt can win the South and move on agains’t Mitt and Obama.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Jim Young / Reuters Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum speaks at a campaign rally at Dayton Christian School in Miamisburg, Ohio, March 5, 2012.

Jim Young / Reuters - Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum addresses supporters at his "Super Tuesday" primary election night rally in Steubenville, Ohio, March 6, 2012.

RE: Time Cover story: The Under-Told Story of How Santorum Became a Crusader for the Religious Right

[takenoprisoner]

It seems to me Saint Santorum is seeking the wrong position. He should move to Rome, and go for Pope.

I don’t recall a more sanctimonious pile ever running for POTUS. Next thing ya know, he’ll be speaking in tongues.

[sand lake bar]

I agree...Santorum is not going to win with this kind of strategy. I mean, he knows or ought to know exactly what Kennedy meant. Moreover, his remark about France is odd since given the many connections between church and state over there (e.g., government authority over religious schools).

[Pinkbell]

What he is essentially calling out is the “wall of separation” which does not exist in the Constitution. The only “wall” there is one that keeps government out of religion. He’s saying a person should be able to bring their values into office. Rick isn’t talking about making this a Catholic theocracy, but about the traditional, Judeo-Christian values that built this country. Secular values are essentially a religion unto itself. It’s sad that conservatives are attacking a man for standing up for traditional morality, a morality that helped makes this country great and is the antithesis to the socialism we are heading towards. If it’s not our morality, it’s theirs, and lately, conservatives seem to have bought the separation of church and state meme designed to eradicate traditional morality, replacing it with secular humanism, hook, line, and sinker. Maybe it’s in order to prop up their candidate of choice, which is very sad. We do need to fix the economy and be strong on national defense, things Rick talks about and stands for, not that you would know if only following media soundbites and hit pieces posted on FR.

[sillsfan]

I hope that Newt's serious message is resonating here in the south, but I honestly can't tell you.

I like Newt's delegate strategy- it's working well, but we need voters to wake up and get behind Newt.

All I know is I hear more homilies from Father Santorum on the stump than I do from my priests at Mass!

[napscoordinator]

He is so incredible. I certainly hope he is our next President. He is right about church and state being separated is not ABSOLUTE. We were founded on judeo christian ideals. So many people have forgotten that. Even FREEPERS are confused and they are smarter than the average voter. If you care about the killing of innocent babies and want that gone from American life, you better vote for Santorum. If you want morals and principles back in America, you better vote for Santorum. It's about the destruction of American morals that have resulted in the economic and decay of America. Some only care about the economics of America but they are naive to think that morals don't matter. Sad how people are so uneducated.

[Hawthorn]

>> I don’t know what else you’d call it except pandering.
Full disclosure: I am Catholic. <<

I find it more than a bit interesting — even amazing — that some recent exit polls show Rick has usually been losing the Catholic vote. The only folks he seems consistently to win are the “formerly anti-Popish” Evangelicals. Go figure!

[texican01]

I remember Kennedy's speech. I was a sophomore in high school. The speech was to defuse apprehensions by Southern Baptist about “papist’ politicians. In his successful attempt JFK did mis state American understanding of the “Public Square" as Rick Santorum articulates.

Most of the above commenters apparently do not understand the American concept of Christian Faith. A true Christian CANNOT separate his/her faith/belief structure from everyday activities even as a politician!

Either we have some dismal ignorance here about Christianity or some hyper partisans against Santorum

BTW most voters are not that ignorant about American religious belief —except the MSM and libtards!

[napscoordinator]

This guy’s strategy is stupid.

I think he is doing perfectly. 7 states find him the perfect candidate. 13 states find him the runner up as the perfect candidate. Not bad out of 23 states. He has the most gold and silvers. Most states agree with him.