The real reason the Santorums left Italy
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The real reason the Santorums left Italy
When Rick Santorum virtually tied for first in the Iowa caucus, I watched his "victory" speech and -- don't fall out of your chair -- I thought it was the most positive moment of the GOP race so far. Although I don't agree with Santorum's policy solutions, his meditation on his father fleeing Mussolini's Italy in the 1920s and pursuing his dreams in America was moving and uplifting.
It's interesting that there's more to the story:
On the campaign trail, Santorum often touts his grandfather’s flight from Italy “to escape fascism,” but he has neglected to publicly mention their close ties with the Italian Communist Party. “Rick’s grandfather Pietro was a liberal man and he understood right away what was happening in Italy,” Mrs. Santorum told Oggi. “He was anti-fascist to the extreme, and the political climate in 1925 was stifling so he left for America. After a few years he returned to Italy with his wife and children, including Aldo, Rick’s father, who passed away late last year. It’s a shame he won’t have the joy to see his son’s success in his bid for the White House.” She goes on to explain how the family then became pillars of the Communist Party in Italy.
The matriarch lauds her distant relative as a “masterpiece” of the family, whom she calls a man of high intelligence and integrity. “He would be a great president,” she told Oggi. “But if he wants to make it, he will have to soften some of his positions. To take a stand against homosexuality or to oppose divorce is harmful. Principles count, but in politics one must have the capacity to be open-minded.”
The Oggi piece also quotes an angry cousin who preferred to voice his dissent anonymously, remembering the time when high-ranking Communist Party members frequented the Santorum household in Riva del Garda. “There are Santorums who would roll over in their graves to hear [Rick’s] rhetoric,” he said.
Some people are spinning this as a Santorum "gotcha" story but I don't see it that way. One element of the American Dream is personal freedom to pursue your own ideas about politics, even if they differ 180 degrees from your ancestors. I do wonder this, though. Last week, Santorum's most moving riff was about his grandfather's funeral after a long and successful life in the coalfields of western Pennsylvania. Given his grandfather's political bent, I wonder if he was active in the trade unionism that made it possible for coal miners to thrive in what was once a booming American middle class. That's part of the story you won't hear Santorum tell in the Tea Party-powered Waffle Houses of the Palmetto State this weeek -- but he should. It's hard to imagine this immigrant's grandson rising in life to run for president as an ultra-conservative -- without the progressive policies that spawned him.
So, today is Bash the Family day...ok:
Barack Obama's uncle has been arrested and held as illegal immigrant. President Barack Obama's aunt, Zeituni Onyango, at a closed immigration hearing last year. Onyango, half-sister of Obama's late father, moved to the United States in 2000 and she was ordered deported in 2004. Source: AP
Barack Obama's father (1936–1982). Government economist in Kenya. In addition to President Obama, Barack Obama Sr. fathered one daughter and at least four sons
Luos are given names related to the circumstances of their birth and Akumu means mysterious birth, a conception after a birth, but before resumption of menses. She took the name Habiba upon her conversion to Islam. A photograph of her holding her son, Barack Sr, on her lap is on the cover of her grandson's memoir.
Abo is a mobile phone shop manager in Kenya. He was barred from entering the United Kingdom after receiving a police caution for a public order offence; he was also accused of but not prosecuted for sexual assault. At the time he had been living illegally in the UK.
Bernard converted to Islam as an adult and has said: "I’m a Muslim, I don’t deny it. My father was raised a Muslim. But it’s not an issue. I don’t know what all the hullabaloo is about." He currently resides in Bracknell, England, with his mother Kezia.
Sarah Obama herself is "a strong believer of the Islamic faith,” in her words.
You Libs set the BASH topic and your folks will always come up BIG and UGLY!!!! LOL!!!
— sarah89- I'm just amazed how Santorum trashes his grandfather everytime he claims socialism is the root of all evil. What's amazing is that anyone is even covering this nobody. Anyone who thinks creationism should be taught in science class is too stupid to be president.— MikeP
- ///I wonder if he was active in the trade unionism that made it possible for coal miners to thrive in what was once a booming American middle class. That's part of the story you won't hear Santorum tell in the Tea Party-powered Waffle Houses of the Palmetto State this weeek -- but he should///
So, Will, you wonder if a topic you are unsure exists will be discussed and then conclude that the topic won't be discussed even though it might not exist. And somehow you find fault with the Tea Party for probably not discussing a topic that may or may not exist, as though they are trying to hide it (even though it may not be hidden because it may not exist).
And you wonder why people call you a joke, Will?— General Turgidson
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