Rick Santorum went ballistic at New York Times reporter Jeff Zeleny on Sunday and accused him of publishing "bulls---" about Santorum's campaign.
At a campaign event in Wisconsin, Santorum called Mitt Romney "the worst Republican in the country to put up against Barack Obama."
When Zeleny repeated Santorum's quote and asked for clarification, Santorum lost it.
"What speech did you listen to? ... Stop lying!" Santorum said, jabbing his finger at Zeleny. "I said he was the worst Republican to run on the issue of Obamacare and that's what I was talking about. ... For every speech I give, I have said he is uniquely disqualified to run against Barack Obama on the issue of health care. Will you guys quit distorting what I'm saying?"
"Quit distorting our words," Santorum continued. "If I see it (in print), it's bulls---. C'mon man, what are you doing?"
Zeleny responded that Santorum seemed upset about something.
"I'm upset when the media distorts what I say, yeah I am. I do get upset. Because you knew exactly what I was saying and you're misrepresenting.
"What are you guys in the business of doing, reporting the truth? Or are you here to try to spin and make news? Stop it. You don't care about the truth at all, do you?"
Santorum defended his profanity today, telling Fox News it proves he's "a real Republican."
Zeleny talked about the exchange on "CBS This Morning" today and said he thinks Santorum was playing to the cameras. Romney spokesman Ryan Williams quickly pounced, saying Santorum was getting more desperate and "unhinged" in the final days of his campaign.
Either explanation makes sense. While it's probably true that Santorum meant to say Romney was the worst Republican against Obama on health care, that's not what he said at the Wisconsin event. Zeleny at least asked for clarification, rather than just running with Santorum's actual quote. That gave Santorum the opportunity to explain that he was talking about Romney on health care. Instead, he gave viewers another reason to feel a little skittish about having Santorum lead the free world.
Santorum's exchange with Zeleny is below.
-- Taylor Batten
Santorum is right.
ReplyDeleteThey are distorting what he said.
He did not say Romney was the worst republican.
And Santorum was correct in labelling it bull-s***.
It is.
And that is not "cussing" someone out, either.
So the media is also distorting his "BS" comment as well.
Sad, but it's what we've come to expect.
Poor Rickster. Did that big bad NYT reporter have the nerve to ask you a reasonable question based on your direct quote?
ReplyDelete"Hey, in case you haven't noticed, I am the one wearing the vest of knowledge. I will tell you all what to report!"
ReplyDeleteThere is your typical "christian" in full effect. Cussing, ranting, and all the while claiming superiority.
Right wing=ignorant hicks
Phony tough. It's OK to curse as long as you aren't having sex for pleasure while doing it. Another reason that the GOP is fielding a collection of zeros and nuts. This guy wants to be in my pants but select when to follow his own preachings. Feet of clay.
ReplyDeletePerfect example of why politicians and media people have the same approval rating. Everyone knows the NYT is hostile to republicans, so it's easy to understand Santorum's attitude with them. Te same way Clinton and Obama get mad at Fox.
ReplyDeleteAlso today: Ron Paul said a lot of things that make sense, did it without swearing, and the media ignored him.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I dislike Santorum, when he talks about the media trying to spin and make news, he's dead on the money.
ReplyDeleteMatter of fact, when he says, "Or are you here to try to spin and make news? Stop it. You don't care about the truth at all, do you?", he could be talking directly to and about the Observer.
As far as the "bullsh-t" quote, so what? It probably isn't the worst thing he's ever said, and that applies to any politician anywhere. What do you think, they're all choirboys? Wake up.
Mountains out of molehills, anyone?
@ anon 1:10
ReplyDelete"Poor Rickster. Did that big bad NYT reporter have the nerve to ask you a reasonable question based on your direct quote?"
- Did you even read the article. the whole point was it wasn't a direct quote it was an intentional misquote
-Did you even read the article. the whole point was it wasn't a direct quote it was an intentional misquote
ReplyDeleteDid you read the article? It said that the reporter "repeated" the quotation from the speech. If that was the case, then Santorum could have objected that the remark was taken out of context. Instead, Santorum said that he was intentionally misquoted. The point of the article seems to be that he was quoted verbatim, but denied that he said it. I don't know the truth of either statement, just what I read.
In any event, he gets points with the base for talking tough to a reporter, and doesn't look any more foolish than usual to the rest of us.
@P. PilotI thougth the right wing was the evil 1%... now they are "ignorant hicks"?
ReplyDeleteThe NY Times is about as relevant as the buggy whip. This nest of liberals has been exposed for what it is. Newspapers in general are a thing of the past. Just going through their final throes. I for one am glad to see this worthless group of loafing communists finally have to get real employment for a change.
ReplyDeleteA Republican accusing someone of distorting facts and lying.
ReplyDeleteNow THAT is funny.
Liberal Democrat=Irrational name-caller.
ReplyDeleteAnon 4:54.
ReplyDeleteThe CO report is a lie.
------
Watch the video.
Santorum said:
"He is the worst Republican, in the country, to put up against Barack Obama"
The alleged "quote" was:
"He is the worst Republican in the country".
So, you decide if he was "quoted" out of context.
The reporter DID NOT "repeat" what Santorum said.
He extracted a partial statement out of context.
It's pretty clear to me who the liars are.
The media.
Including CO for saying the reporter "repeated" Santorum's comment.
The reporter did not "repeat".
He "edited" Santorum's comments by omitting an important part of the sentence.
good to see he has a sense of humnor.
ReplyDeleteHey, now is a good time for would-be campaign aides to try out for a job as one of Rick Santorum's press secretaries. Let's see, here goes:
ReplyDeleteWhat Rick--I mean, former Sen. Santorum--meant to say was: it is always a pleasure meeting with members of the press, especially real working reporters, so we thank you for your professionalism and appreciate your steadfast efforts to report accurately on what our guy has to say out here on the campaign trail.
You see, Rick Santorum is sort of the Jerry Seinfeld of the conservative wing of the GOP, so please give him some elbow room when he's doing a monologue--I mean, making offhand remarks to the press!
He is so full of hate. Fake Christian, cursing right in front of his daughter. The reporter quoted him verbatim.
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