Santorum Defends Not Correcting Questioner Who Called Obama ‘An Avowed Muslim’
- Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:00pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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On Monday GOP presidential contender Rick Santorum said he doesn’t believe it is his place to correct audience members with whom he engages when they make misstatements. His comment came after a woman told Santorum at a forum that President Obama is “an avowed Muslim.”
“He is an avowed Muslim and my question is, why isn’t something being done to get him out of our government?” the woman said. Santorum responded, “Believe me … I’m doing everything I can to get him out of the government.”
After the exchange, the Pennsylvania senator defended his approach to reporters:
“It’s not my responsibility as a candidate to correct everybody who makes a statement that I disagree with,” Santorum said. “There are lots of people who get up and say stuff in a town hall meeting and say things that I don’t agree with, but I don’t think it’s my obligation, nor should it be your feeling that it’s my obligation to correct somebody who says something that I don’t agree with.”
National Journal adds:
The issue has surfaced with GOP audiences in the past. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Republican John McCain answered an audience member who pejoratively described Obama as an “Arab” by saying: “No, ma’am. He’s a decent family man … [a] citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues.”
Also at Monday’s event, two Occupy Tampa protestors were dragged out for interrupting the event after they shouted “stop the hate!” and tossed glitter toward Santorum. The protestors were cited for trespassing and detained until the event was over.
Later in the day, Santorum was interviewed by CNN’s John King on this very topic. Video courtesy of Mediaite:
Typically, political candidates will attempt to diplomatically correct or amend statements made by supporters that are incorrect or inflammatory. Santorum is clearly not on board with this approach. Is his method correct? Weigh in below.
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Comments (116)
barber2
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:06pmDon’t forget folks that Jessica at the San Francisco Occupy announced that they are protesting against ” capitalism !” The cat is out of the bag . That old vague protesting “ greed” has now been defined : the Occupiers are protesting against ” capitalism .” Fits right in with Obama’s ” anti-rich/ anti-bank/ anti-Wall Street ” rhetoric. This is what the Republicans must focus the 2012 campaign about. Time to turn the light on the “ redistribution” Marxist policies of the current Democrats who want to play Class Warfare against a group of Americans – those vague rich people – who already pay the majority of the taxes while the Democrats inflame their angry base who pays no taxes ! And that is “fair ?” Time to take the Guy Fawkes masks off of the Obama Democrats and their militias – the Occupiers !
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:20pmI am John Galt.
Report Post »dealer@678
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 10:06pmSOMEONE in the White House has seen him on his muslim prayer cloth. Come forward
Report Post »jzs
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 10:20pmIt is his job as an honorable and honest man. When someone addresses him with a question loaded with a ridiculous falsehood about one of his opponents, he should correct it.
He doesn’t have to though. He can not correct it and look like he agrees even though he knows the premise is false. To some, he’s supporting the lie that the President is a Muslim, to others he looks flat out dishonest.
Report Post »SpeckChaser
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 10:37pm@JZS
False premises, dishonesty, and loaded questions are your strong suit. I will defer to you on those topics.
I know you already said your political stances are in direct opposition to our founders wishes but are your opinions on government funded health care at the expense of tax payers also in contradiction to their wishes, or do you have evidence that they would have supported it.
In case I was mistaken and there were issues you and the founders would have agreed upon, please list them. If not please explain why we should support you ideas which contradict our founders, and disregard theirs.
Report Post »VicksVaporub
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 10:52pmVote Santorum and turn the Middle east into a parking lot!
Go Rick! Crusader for the Faith!
Santorum 2012
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 1:18am@ JZS
Report Post »This story exemplefies the bias in reporting “false” statements. Do you remember when Juan Williams said that he would be uncomfortable with certain young Muslim men coming on a plane? He got fired for that statement of personal feeling. In the same interview, Juan also said that Timothy McVeigh and Eric Rudolph were CHRISTIANS. That is plainly FALSE — they were ATHEISTS (like Hitler, Mao and Stalin). Now, dis ANYONE in the media (after all of these months have gone by) call out Juan Williams for his false statement? If so, please tell me something about it — because I am not aware of it.
JRook
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:30amWeak attempt at deflection. Santorum showed lack of character and honor. He should at the very least redirect the individual to show respect for the office he is seeking. His responses to these types of telling instances are getting lamer and lamer. No worries though, he will never get the independent vote.
Report Post »jzs
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 10:41amSpec, you’ve been reading too many Glenn Beck books.
Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.
John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776
Report Post »lillymckim
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 6:41pmIt’s not Santorums job to defend “Obama” against every persons personal opinion
Report Post »SpeckChaser
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 7:00pm@JZS
Was your account hacked? What else explains your Adam’s quote that further opposes your arguments? Here are two points you missed…in your own post!
“And not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, OR CLASS OF MEN”
You don’t know what that means do you?
Right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.”
We have the right to amend the constitution. We don’t have the right to subvert the constitution to implement the political policies of those holding power at the time.
Your misinterpretation of the general welfare was discussed by our founders.
“With respect to the two words ‘general welfare,’ I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a LITERAL AND UNLIMITED SENSE would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators.” — James Madison
You can’t use the founders to support your ideas because they contradict each other. We all know you oppose our founders, so just make the case on why we should disregard their ideals and adopt the polices of JZS.
I’ll give you another A for effort, this time because you disproved yourself.
Report Post »MSGT
Posted on January 24, 2012 at 9:01pmHAHAHA Santorum is so boring he can‘t even get any comments from his ’supporters’. Don‘t feel bad bots even Beck knows he can’t win anything. He just wants to stop Newt so Mittens can get in……..
The BLAZE front page right now…….
Newt hit pieces = 12
Romney puff pieces = 8
Santorum yawns = 2
Report Post »Kathleen3
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:03pm99.9% of the media defends Obama 100% of the time. Why, then, should Santorum or any other GOP candidate enjoin with them?
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 10:32pmCan anyone prove he isn’t a muslim or bisexual while were at it?
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 11:13pm@NOBAMA I understand that Obama’s biological dad was a radical muslim..his stepfather and his mother raised him from about the age of 3 -13 in Indonesia and he attended the strict Madrassa of his choice and also St Francis of Sisissi..a Catholic School. I believe his mother met his dad in a Russian language class in Hawaii.. Seems he was raised to be who he is..Jews heard on Egyptian radio tha the Muslimst would have their man in the WH in 2008 and the Russians were said to have acknowledged that they would have their man in there also.. Ladies and gentlemen…without firing a shot. Many people do not realize that the Communists and Islam got together at least as far back as 1941. They both have common goals..and Islam is a pretty good army to have..willing to die for their cause and all.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on January 25, 2012 at 3:37amYou don’t know what “enjoin” means.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:02pmNot only is he a muslim he is a member of the muslim brotherhood
Report Post »barber2
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:07pmWish you could prove it….
Report Post »barber2
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:32pmWe can’t even get access to his school records .
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:50pmBARBER2- Wish we could prove it? Google the early Obama interviews from 2008. He said in an interview a comment about “my Muslim Faith” and the obviously protective interveiwer said, “You mean your Christian Faith?” and Obama responded, “My Christian Faith.”
See for yourself, if you want PROOF: http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslimfaith.asp
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:55pmNote in the Snopes interview, they say it is FALSE. Othere sources do not agree. Why the difference? SNOPES is owned and controlled by GEORGE SOROS. I put that up for you all to investigate on your own. NONE of what the Obama Regime or what is put out by the mainstream Propoganda Ministry is true.
Check out the speeches Obama made in the Middle East. Check out his photos of him in Indonesia in Muslim garb, and check out the “Birth Certificate”. Last time I tried, ALL ACCESS WAS BLOCKED.
Report Post »Ron_WA
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:02pmSantorum has no obligation to correct an audience member who misspeaks but a principled man would point out that even if Obama was an avowed muslim our Constitution prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or creed – he should have stood up for his belief in the Constitution …
or would it be okay to say he (Santorum) is not eligible to be President because he is Roman Catholic?
No matter how badly we need to vote Obama out, it’s really a matter of principles & one should stand up & be counted when one witness open bigotry.
Report Post »circleDwagons
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:13pmlittle ricky has a problem with the Constitution.
Report Post »ronljl
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 10:22pmSantorum or representatives of the Republican party are as much obligated to correct an audience member making misstatements about B.H. Obama as Obama is to making corrections about Republicans and their candidates. What’s to old adage, “..when hell freezes over?”
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 11:17pm@Circled Wagons…yeah..they all have a problem with the Constitution but one..Only one has a plan to get us out of debt and out of unnecessary wars.. We have to get out of debt before we can win any war.. They are holding off on SOPA and PIPA until after the elections…then we get to turn into China.. I can hardly wait..all of our freedom..completely gone.. won’t that be fun?
Report Post »Publius Novus
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:49pmWhy should he correct her? I never see him @ church. I think he’s the 1st President that does not go to church every Sunday. Maybe the woman is correct.
Report Post »Robert999
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 10:40pmLincoln didn’t go to church, but he wasn’t a Christian either. That’s why he started the War Between the States.
Report Post »alfredfife
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:49pmThe Lady was right, Obama IS an Islamic terrorist and the number one national security that America faces. At times off the record has admitted this himself. Nothing for Santorum to correct.
Report Post »jsDway
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:44pmIn my heard I do believe Obama is a Muslim, he has made statements many times in the years he has been on the seen for me to justify by belief! I also believe he is working with those on the communist left to over throw our constitution! Santorum doesn’t owe the reporter a response on the ladies comment.
Report Post »qpwillie
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:37pmOh no!!!!! Rick said 0bama is a big boy!!! Since about 1965, “boy” has been a derogatory term for black.
Report Post »RACIST! RACIST! RACIST!
Ookspay
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:06pmWhat was the name of that boy who corrected Obama when he said “My Muslim Faith”? Wasn’t it Bryant Gumbel?
Report Post »NOTvotingforRomney
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:35pmWasn’t Obama just on a stage RIGHT BEFORE someone on the left said something bad and Obama said nothing? What was it?
I
Report Post »GramSam
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:49pmWouldn’t it be nice if the media was unbias? Just report all facts and keep their opinion to themselves. They edit what you get in the way of news known as propaganda.
Report Post »NOT A CRAZY
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:31pmZero is a Marxist liar. Beyond that nothing else matters.
Report Post »toto
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:31pmWhat Christian would say, as Obama did in his book, if push comes to shove (my paraphrase) he will side with the Muslims????
Report Post »SacredHonor1776
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:36pmActually the real quote was;
“”Of course, not all my conversations in immigrant communities follow this easy pattern. In the wake of 9/11, my meetings with Arab and Pakistani Americans, for example, have a more urgent quality, for the stories of detentions and FBI questioning and hard stares from neighbors have shaken their sense of security and belonging. They have been reminded that the history of immigration in this country has a dark underbelly; they need specific assurances that their citizenship really means something, that America has learned the right lessons from the Japanese internments during World War II, and that I will stand with them should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.”
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:36pmAn ex-Christian.
Report Post »toto
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:29pmI don’t know that Santorum should be held accountable for not speaking to the issue. I believe the woman was dead on and everything Obama has said and done convinces me again and again.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:29pmDid you notice the Occupier yelling the “ stop the hate” bit ? President Obama has been rousing his Lefty base with the anti-rich/ anti-Wall Street / redistribution talk. He has been the hate speech person. Now with Gingrich speaking up, the Democrats are going to Target Gingrich / Republicans with this charge ! PURE ALINISKI ! Problem: the Lap Dog Media will parrot the Democrats Big Lie as usual. ( SOMEONE : please tell the Republicans to start yelling to the Occupiers/ Democrats : Stop the Anti-Capitalism ! )
Report Post »PeppermintCrush
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:28pmGo Rick Go! What a contrast to the Arrogance of Newt Gingrich who thinks HE is the “only one” who can beat Obama.
Rick Santorum 2012!
Report Post »Publius Novus
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:48pmAmen!!!
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:25pmJournalists today are so lame…Santorum should have ignored the stupid question. Who cares if he doesn’t correct his questioners on every aspect of their questions? And anyone who thinks he should come to the defense of the worst president ever needs to get some more oxygen to their brain.
Report Post »Amma K
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:25pmLast time I heard we had freedom of speech. This woman can believe anything she wants and state it. It is NOT Santorum’s place to correct her. For all we know he is a muslim. Which, might I add, is Obama’s right in this country – freedom of religion.
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:38pmEveryone, including Obummer has a right to worship how they may, but we as American citizens have a right to know who we are electing. in Obummer’s case we did not learn any of the horrible things about him until after the election.
Report Post »Owenay
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:20pmWhen are these ignorant glitter-bombers going to realize that Santorum‘s position on gay marriage isn’t that different than the other candidates or President Obama’s? Could it be that they really have nothing to bash him over other than this?
Report Post »boundforglory
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:18pmobama is a muslim, why else would he hold muslim prayers in the white house. We used to have a national day of prayer at the white house until obama said no more. I dont think it will be much longer before he destroys the US constitution and enforces sharia law.
Report Post »lodgerat
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:18pmWhat’s to correct? It’s for sure he loves and bends over backwards for Mooooslims.
Report Post »islamhater
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:27pm110% Correct.
Report Post »jagr1850
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:16pmcan the obumma prove that he is or is not an avowed muslim, i think i could find atleast two speech the obumma gave and he claim to be a mussy….the lady was no doubt right on the money.
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:35pmI believe that there is a good chance that Obummer is a muslim, if indeed he does not think of himself as god. But I have never heard him confirm it. If you have links where Obummer admitted to being a muslim, please share. Personally, I don’t think they exist.
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:14pmObama must go, regardless of what religion he supposedly belongs to.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:12pmPeople can call for physical violence at One-bama rallies right from the stage and not a peep. Santorum gets grief over THIS??
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:18pmYes .. the old double standard … Santorum has no duty to correct or defend Obama .. we had ENOUGH of that with McLAME!
Report Post »RockInHat
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:11pmWe can talk about romney being a mormon and believing in a living prophet at the head of his church, but we can‘t talk about Obama’s connection to Islam? What’s the difference?
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:16pmmagic undies…
Report Post »dread_pirate_roberts
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:22pmHey T.T.
Leave my undies out of it. It’s an election, not a fruit of the loom commercial, ya jack butt!
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:34pmARRGH, I will not mention ye skidmark then ya bloomin cockroach…
Report Post »lel2007
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:37pmMormons aren’t trying to KILL non-Mormons.
Report Post »KAdams
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:09pmSo what? This is not news.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:20pmOut of Obama ‘s own mouth ….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMUgNg7aD8M
Report Post »Shasta
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 9:15pm@CatB, so funny. And there was the mainstream media whore to correct Obummer‘s ’mistake’. I will be watching the MSM interviews of the future republican nominee for such a nice gesture towards a republican, should it be necessary.
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:09pmHey man, the voter is always right!
Report Post »KAdams
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:19pmAnd that’s the problem with this entitlement society. “The customer is always right” is probably the worst axiom to have ever been invented. Company policy, policy put in place to protect the company and its’ workers (not talking about union, or federal regulation, just simple company policy) down the tubes…. ‘We reserve the right to refuse service’ no longer applies.
“The lights are on, you HAVE to sell to me” (at closing time).
“You won’t sell to me with an expired ID?” (invalid ID, could result in revocation of license)
“Come on, just one deuce?” (Intoxicated man attempting to purchase 22oz beer; dram shop liability)
Ridiculous, the state of our society.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:23pmObama could not find a church in Washington for months if not years .. I heard from a caller on radio today that the Santorum family attended church on Saturday while on the campaign trail in her town where they happened to be … that is the difference between Obama and Santorum .. Santorum practices his faith and feels no need to hide it .. like Obama does his “Muslim Faith”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMUgNg7aD8M
Report Post »trolltrainer
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:36pmKAdams
Posted on January 23, 2012 at 8:19pm
And that’s the problem with this entitlement society. “The customer is always right” is probably the worst axiom to have ever been invented. Company policy, policy put in place to protect the company and its’ workers (not talking about union, or federal regulation, just simple company policy) down the tubes…. ‘We reserve the right to refuse service’ no longer applies.
“The lights are on, you HAVE to sell to me” (at closing time).
“You won’t sell to me with an expired ID?” (invalid ID, could result in revocation of license)
“Come on, just one deuce?” (Intoxicated man attempting to purchase 22oz beer; dram shop liability)
Ridiculous, the state of our society.
Report Post »———————————————————
Bet you were glad to get all that off your chest, huh?