The truth about JFK and RJS(antorum)
The truth about JFK and RJS(antorum)
This morning, I had the pleasure of going on WHYY's Radio Times to talk about all things Santorum. It was an interesting show (which should be re-broadcast tonight at 10 p.m., if you're interested) which went by fairly quickly. At one point, I had a disagreement with one of the guests, Robert Costa of the conservative National Review, who's done God's work in following the ex-Pennsylvania senator on the campaign trail but who insisted I was wrong when I said Santorum had all but disavowed John F. Kennedy's famous 1960 campaign speech on separation of church and state.
This is from the Boston Globe, published just last year:
In remarks to about 50 members of the group Catholic Citizenship -- which encourages parishioners to speak out on issues of public policy --- Santorum decried what he called the growing secularization of American public life.
He traced the problem to Kennedy's 1960 speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, in which Kennedy – then a candidate for president - sought to allay concerns about his Catholicism by declaring, "I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute."
Santorum, who is Catholic, said he was "frankly appalled" by Kennedy's remark.
"That was a radical statement," Santorum said, and it did "great damage."
"We're seeing how Catholic politicians, following the first Catholic president, have followed his lead, and have divorced faith not just from the public square, but from their own decision-making process," Santorum said.
"Jefferson is spinning in his grave," he added.
When I was growing up, JFK's speech -- which helped him become the first and so far only member of Santorum's Catholic faith to get elected president -- was considered a turning point in American history, hailed by liberal and conservative alike as part of what made America, to use a hot-button word these days, exceptional. The fact that Santorum wants to go back and essentially re-litigate this issue in 2012 is somewhat incredible. It's just one of many examples why Santorum -- who still has a decent chance of grabbing the Republican nomination -- may find it impossible to win a general election.
Where was the left on church-state separation when the philosopher king was trying to push his beliefs concerning contraception on Catholics? Apparently, the separation of church and state is a one way street.— jmc- It must be painfully humiliating for the GOP that the leading candidates from the GOP have zero charisma and limited popular appeal, especially compared to Barack Obama. I mean, no one is going to compare Newt, Mitt, or Rick to a "rock star," "messiah," or "philosopher king," all of which, of course, only the right wingers flings at Obama, sarcastically, of course, but, then again, would anyone fling those sarcastically at Newt, Mitt, or Rick? You'd be laughed out of town.
— Mr_Cool - ===}}} Where was the left on church-state separation when the philosopher king was trying to push his beliefs concerning contraception on Catholics? {{{===
Mind explaining what you're talking about?— Talking point sleuth - Religious zealotry will not win votes for Santorum when it matters most.— Mr_Cool
- Attempting to insure reasonable and equal healthcare is provided by all employers, regardless of their personal beliefs, to their employees is not ". . . Trying to push his beliefs. . . " on Catholics. It is the exact opposite, in fact. It represents the correct and total separation of Church and State--as the founders intended. America is not and must never become a Christian theocracy. Christians must never be allowed to make their own rules in the name of "Religious Freedom".— rhysom
- Asking religious orgs to essentially buy contraception for their employees, is not insurign reasonable healthcare. It is government expnading its reach and interfering with religous beliefs. — RG
- Contraception is reasonable health care. Contraception is, after all, far, far cheaper than pregnancy and abortion. It's a win-win-win for the employer paying for the health insurance, for the insurance company, and of course for the patient. That's the very definition of reasonable. — Mr_Cool
- I just don't understand: Many of these Catholic institutions never offered contraception and no one cried about it. Now they don't want to be forced to offer it and they are vilified. The Media has portrayed them as banning contraceptives in a five mile radius of their institution. While in reality, they don't want to have to pay for something they don't believe in. If you want it, go pay for it or go on your husband's plan or find another job.— palmyra21
I mentioned this point two weeks ago. Not only has Santorum disavowed JFK's campaign speech, but Pope Rick - along with the rest of the GOP field - has declared that their faith will guide their every decision. No candidate could even dream of being the nominee without wearing their faith on their sleeve. 50 years ago, this would be unthinkable. Some people think the contraception issue is about freedom OF religion. The rest of us see it as freedom FROM religion.— wokmaster- Santorum is an insane man; the real scary thing is that people are sucking the rewrite of the constitution. This man spoke against individual freedom, said it was danger to our community. I think he wants a community where men a suit and tie and the woman stay home have eight or nine children, one has to have Down syndrome. Well, Happyville is in the movies, it is not real life. We have science to better our lives. Science allows many people who cannot have children have children (BTW the Catholic Church is against that too but the Madman does not talk about), so what is wrong with science allowing people to terminate a pregnancy. We have more children born each year where the pregnancy would of never happen or not have gone full term or preemies that would not of live than abortions, so chill out life happens, let those who children have them and those who do not, not have them.— DavidAG
- Catholics: the only minority you can mock/insult/marginalized. Mock gays? homophobe. Mock Blacks/Hispanics? Racist. Mock Catholics? They're the extreme so it's ok.
btw, i will never vote for ricky.— palmyra21 - That is crazy talk! people mock blacks/hispanics/gays all the time, just look at everyone of these social enginering republicans in office or running for office, they do it every day. — DavidAG
- I disagree. The Catholic Church has brought this on itself, with the sex abuse scandal and coverup. I've rarely heard anyone mock Catholics, what they WILL mock is the hypocracy of the Catholic Church's positions. Or religion in general. Very few Catholics (that I know) believe even half of what the Church preaches.
Btw, I am an ex-Catholic.— wokmaster - Born Again Atheist!
Was a Catholic. We are all born Atheist, it is not until our parents shove religion down our throats till we become something.— DavidAG
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