Santorum Talks Satan
Rick Santorum is a good man, but that doesn't mean he'd be a good candidate, much less a good president -- or even a member in good standing here at Ricochet.
Consider the following quotes from Drudge and the Spectator, pasted after relevant clauses from the Code of Conduct:
1. Anything that makes the Ricochet Community look like a bunch of radical fruitcakes: "Satan has his sights on the United States of America!"
2. Personal attacks on an individual, group, or class: "We look at the shape of mainline Protestantism in this country and it is in shambles, it is gone from the world of Christianity as I see it."
3. Imagine you're a guest at a dinner party with a group of seemingly nice people you don't know... how would you handle yourself?: "If you were Satan, who would you attack in this day and age. There is no one else to go after other than the United States..."
The nominee of the Republican Party?
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Comments:
May '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
The mainline Protestant quote is not an attack on a whole group of people when its the honest-to-God's truth.
I know. I grew up in the United Church of Christ, or as I refer to it, the First Church of the DNC. My wife grew up in the Disciples of Christ (Reagan's home church) and it, too, uses a highly redacted Bible and worships the god of diversity instead of the God of Abraham.
May '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
As I said in my post below, the view he expresses is
1) Normal among Christians (nothing fruitcakey about it--unless St. Paul qualifies for the term)
2) From an address to an ardently religious Catholic audience at a private institution.
3) Admirable in its honesty.
Its rhetoric is not what's usual among politicians, but at the time he was neither in office nor running for office.
If you think he's a good man, why not defend him, instead of piling on?
Edited on February 21, 2012 at 9:44pmJan '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Well, first of all, lots of personal attacks are true. Second, do you honestly want your president to be making theological judgments such as this?
Sep '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
You would have to ask the author of The Devil's Delusion if Mr. Santorum's remarks on Lucifer are beyond the pale, I suppose. The verdict on mainline Protestant denominations has been written before in First Things magazine. And, of course, there's a large chunk of the non Western world who refers to us as The Great Satan.
Jan '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Lots of good men out there. Not all of them should be president. In fact, most should not be.
Jan '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Very little is beyond the pale to me, but in the real world there are apparently many people who get offended far more easily than me -- hence the Code of Conduct. I'd wager First Things, a fine magazine, is read by fewer than 20,000 people in the USA. And if we're going to judge our political rhetoric based on what the ayatollahs say, more power to you!
Mar '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
I certainly hope he doesn't have his Ricochet membership revoked over something unpleasant he says about Obama and the Democrats.
May '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Tristan Abbey
Lots of good men out there. Not all of them should be president. In fact, most should not be. · 2 minutes ago
But he's running. He's currently leading in the polls. You are suggesting that his views, which are shared by virtually all religious men and women in this country are bizarre enough to disqualify him.
Jan '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Fact of the matter is that his views will be perceived and portrayed as supremely bizarre to most national voters and, I would wager, most Republican primary voters.
I would also wager that most religious mainline Protestants do not believe that they are not Christians.
Jan '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Justice is blind, Basil.
May '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Yes. I believe exactly what he does: that we are contending with powers and principalities; that the devil hates America because is America is a force for good in the world; that, just as during the Cold War, America has enemies both within and without.
You know what else? I am confident that Reagan, too, believed this. I know JP II did. So did practically all great heroes of good throughout human history.
I'd rather have a hero for good in office at this juncture than a merely competent manager.
May '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Tristan Abbey
Fact of the matter is that his views will be perceived and portrayed as supremely bizarre to most national voters and, I would wager, most Republican primary voters.
When conservatives are more concerned with perceptions and portrayals than with truth and right, we're playing into the left's hands.
Don't give in to their tactics. Judge the man on his character, his governing philosophy and his policy proposals, not his religious beliefs (which are, again, totally normal Christianity.)
Nov '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Awesome.
Gas is almost 4 bucks a gallon. Can we hurry up and nominate this guy so we can spend the next 8 months talking about Satan?
Mar '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
I want my President to tell the truth, and call a spade a spade, instead of dancing around the issue with politically correct language. That's one of the reasons why this country is sliding to hell. Good on Santorum for saying this stuff. I like him more every day.
Jan '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
katievs
Yes. I believe exactly what he does: that we are contending with powers and principalities; that the devil hates America because is America is a force for good in the world; that, just as during the Cold War, America has enemies both within and without.
You know what else? I am confident that Reagan, too, believed this. I know JP II did. So did practically all great heroes of good throughout human history.
I'd rather have a hero for good in office at this juncture than a merely competent manager. · 3 minutes ago
A hero for good -- who voted against the confirmation of Robert Gates as secretary of defense, the same secretary of defense who described the United States as "the greatest force for good in the history of the world."
May '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Fred Cole: Awesome.
Gas is almost 4 bucks a gallon. Can we hurry up and nominate this guy so we can spend the next 8 months talking about Satan? · 2 minutes ago
Maybe if we can stop panicking over the fact that an honest politician is also an honest Christian, we can move on to other issues.
Jan '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Douglas
I want my President to tell the truth, and call a spade a spade, instead of dancing around the issue with politically correct language. That's one of the reasons why this country is sliding to hell. Good on Santorum for saying this stuff. I like him more every day. · 5 minutes ago
Santorum says a lot of things that sound good -- but has he done anything besides read and write?
I've met Santorum. I think he's a good guy. But that's not the only qualification for a presidential nominee.
May '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Tristan Abbey
A hero for good -- who voted against the confirmation of Robert Gates as secretary of defense, the same secretary of defense who described the United States as "the greatest force for good in the history of the world." ·
Most heroes aren't saints. They're not perfect. Reagan signed a law allowing abortion. Chambers was a communist. Santorum has some bad votes in his record. They're not as bad as Romneycare.
Jan '11
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
katievs
When conservatives are more concerned with perceptions and portrayals than with truth and right, we're playing into the left's hands.
Don't give in to their tactics. Judge the man on his character, his governing philosophy and his policy proposals, not his religious beliefs (which are, again, totally normal Christianity.) · 11 minutes ago
I think we need a balance, Katievs! I'm a weekly churchgoer, too, but if Santorum's primary goal is to reverse cultural problems then shouldn't he be making movies instead of running for president?
May '10
Re: Santorum Talks Satan
Tristan Abbey
Douglas
I want my President to tell the truth, and call a spade a spade, instead of dancing around the issue with politically correct language. That's one of the reasons why this country is sliding to hell. Good on Santorum for saying this stuff. I like him more every day. · 5 minutes ago
Santorum says a lot of things that sound good -- but has he done anything besides read and write?
I've met Santorum. I think he's a good guy. But that's not the only qualification for a presidential nominee. · 2 minutes ago
O for heaven sakes. He was two term senator, rated among the most conservative, even though he was from a bluish state. He authored welfare reform, and he took unpopular stands because he believed in them, even though it cost him politically. He wouldn't be where he is today if he weren't tough and smart, capable and talented.