Hello. Welcome to O-Pinion, the editorial board's online space for commentary and discussion. I'm associate editor Fannie Flono, your host today.
Another week, another GOP debate and another looming Republican primary. Michigan's primary Tuesday focuses the race on Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. They're locked in a duel for the top spot but it would be Romney who could come out crippled if he loses. So in tonight's debate, Romney and Santorum will be under the microscope. Whoever stumbles could find their fortunes tumbling. The National Journal gives their take on the campaign. But there are still two others - Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul - in the race who could steal the show at the debates. Gingrich has had resurrections before. This one is a long shot but in a campaign this volatile, who knows.
But what's really getting the blogosphere going are old comments that have resurfaced that Santorum made in 2008 about Satan, yes Satan, when John McCain was battling Barack Obama for the presidency. The Huffington Post says Santorum is defending the comments that were reported on the Drudge Report.
What'd he say? Among other things that "Satan has his sights on the United States of America." "Satan is attacking the great institutions of America," he said, "using those great vices of pride, vanity, and sensuality as the root to attack all of the strong plants that has so deeply rooted in the American tradition."
If you've been to any Baptist church or evangelical church, you've heard those lines before. Of course, Santorum went further, calling the contest between McCain and Obama, a "spiritual war" and intimating that an Obama election would play into Satan's hands: "And the Father of Lies has his sights on what you would think the Father of Lies would have his sights on: a good, decent, powerful, influential country, the United States of America," Santorum said.
It was interesting how Santorum turned questions about what he said in 2008 into a referendum on whether a person of faith should be considered for president. "You know, if a person I‘m a person of faith. I believe in good and evil. I think if somehow or another because you’re a person of faith you believe in good and evil is a disqualifier for president, we’re going to have a very small pool of candidates who can run for president."
He also used a Gingrich technique and turned the question on the media: "You guys are asking questions that are not relevant to what's being discussed in America today. What we're talking about in America is trying to get America working, that's what my speeches are about, that's what we're going to talk about in this campaign." Smooth, Rick.
What was really interesting about this dustup is how Romney and Santorum surrogates reacted. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie criticized Santorum's defense of the Satan comments on "Good Morning America": "Listen, I think anything you say as a presidential candidate is relevant," Christie said. "It is by definition relevant. You’re asking to be president of the United States. I don’t think [Santorum's] right about that. I think it is relevant what he says. I think people want to make an evaluation, a complete evaluation of anyone who asks to sit in the Oval Office."
Sarah Palin defended Santorum's comments on FOX News, blaming the "lame-stream media" for getting "all wee-weed up."
Play nice, children.
Another week, another GOP debate and another looming Republican primary. Michigan's primary Tuesday focuses the race on Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. They're locked in a duel for the top spot but it would be Romney who could come out crippled if he loses. So in tonight's debate, Romney and Santorum will be under the microscope. Whoever stumbles could find their fortunes tumbling. The National Journal gives their take on the campaign. But there are still two others - Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul - in the race who could steal the show at the debates. Gingrich has had resurrections before. This one is a long shot but in a campaign this volatile, who knows.
But what's really getting the blogosphere going are old comments that have resurfaced that Santorum made in 2008 about Satan, yes Satan, when John McCain was battling Barack Obama for the presidency. The Huffington Post says Santorum is defending the comments that were reported on the Drudge Report.
What'd he say? Among other things that "Satan has his sights on the United States of America." "Satan is attacking the great institutions of America," he said, "using those great vices of pride, vanity, and sensuality as the root to attack all of the strong plants that has so deeply rooted in the American tradition."
If you've been to any Baptist church or evangelical church, you've heard those lines before. Of course, Santorum went further, calling the contest between McCain and Obama, a "spiritual war" and intimating that an Obama election would play into Satan's hands: "And the Father of Lies has his sights on what you would think the Father of Lies would have his sights on: a good, decent, powerful, influential country, the United States of America," Santorum said.
It was interesting how Santorum turned questions about what he said in 2008 into a referendum on whether a person of faith should be considered for president. "You know, if a person I‘m a person of faith. I believe in good and evil. I think if somehow or another because you’re a person of faith you believe in good and evil is a disqualifier for president, we’re going to have a very small pool of candidates who can run for president."
He also used a Gingrich technique and turned the question on the media: "You guys are asking questions that are not relevant to what's being discussed in America today. What we're talking about in America is trying to get America working, that's what my speeches are about, that's what we're going to talk about in this campaign." Smooth, Rick.
What was really interesting about this dustup is how Romney and Santorum surrogates reacted. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie criticized Santorum's defense of the Satan comments on "Good Morning America": "Listen, I think anything you say as a presidential candidate is relevant," Christie said. "It is by definition relevant. You’re asking to be president of the United States. I don’t think [Santorum's] right about that. I think it is relevant what he says. I think people want to make an evaluation, a complete evaluation of anyone who asks to sit in the Oval Office."
Sarah Palin defended Santorum's comments on FOX News, blaming the "lame-stream media" for getting "all wee-weed up."
Play nice, children.
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15 comments:
Obama. Satan.
Works for me.
Same thing Fannie's progressive friends called Bush. No different.
Obama's followers are worshippers of Ba'al.
Republicans are proof God has a sense of humor.
I have to agree with Santorum on this: Pride, vanity, and sensuality are destroying the roots of what made this country great. I believe we are in a social decline and unless we get back to fundamentals, we will likely be taling about the USA in a past tense...
Pelosi said she was doing "Lord's work" and Obama has no problem to use the Bible to justify tax increases.
Maxine Waters called Boehner and Cantor "demons". Was the media "concerned" or to quote Obama "wee-weed up" then?
Good and evil is all around, both reside in the heart of mankind. Our words are cheap, its our actions that define us. When specific words are selected for a specific reason and spoken in such a manner as to mislead, misrepresent or bear false witness against someone or a situation then it is evil and that is not a matter of perspective. The intent is clear and cannot be used as an excuse because as the saying goes “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Those proclaiming to be leaders in search of the highest office in the land show their true colors when they do nothing to correct individuals who false claim things about another and the reason they do not correct them is because they need them to be pumped up and emotional, nothing thinking and writing checks so they can do good. But how you live this life will echo in eternity so why not do your best to live a life based upon Honesty, Integrity and Courage. Loyalty to a set of false principles is not integrity it’s a lack of understanding.
Does "wee-weed up" come after being "ginned up"?
Now, if we could just get the CO to discuss all of those statements made by their candidate, Barrack Obama and the people that he associated and associates with. It is all relevant per their own editoral above.
Very rude O-pinion! I don't like the fact the observer printed this trash.
Charlotte is a harlot.
-Rev. Flip Benham
May God have mercy on some of the trashy commenters on here. You can slander our President all you want, but he will be re-elected, by God. Take that back down to Ballantyne and sit on it.
Very good article by Mrs. Flono. Ricky Santorum is very close to the devil with his homophobic and distorted attacks on the middle and lower class.
Is it better to say Satan is going to attack America or that God damns America? It is all very confusing with this crowd.
Is it just me or does religon cause more problems than it solves???
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