# Fucking Santorum's latest bit of slime... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 1, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891 "2006-08-01T15:59:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/1 "2006-08-01T15:59:50Z")
Rick Santorum has been running a campaign ad in which he (unsurprisingly) insinuates that his Democratic opponent, Bob Casey, is on the side of the [terrorists](http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/states/pennsylvania/counties/chester_county/15160670.htm). > [@](#): > > Picture the TV commercial, a deep voice delivering this ominous message, in a slow, deliberate cadence: “Even al-Jazeera endorsed Democrat Bobby Casey Jr. Whose side is he on, anyway?” > > It’s hard not to think that was partly why Republican blogs and aides to U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.) sounded giddy last week as they passed around a commentary from a Web site, www.Al-Jazeerah.info. > > \ > > But there was one little wrinkle. > > The Web site was not related to the Arabic TV network based in the Middle East - spelled al-Jazeera, no h. > > The goal of al-Jazeerah, according to its Web site, is to “promote cross-cultural understanding between people all over the world.” It’s based in Dalton, Ga., not Qatar. Ok, so it was an easy mistake to make, right? You’d think Santorum’s posse would have done its research before hurling irresponsible allegations, but now that they know they fucked up and linked their opponent with the wrong organazation (not that _Al-Jazeera_ is a terrorist organazation anyway but, whatever), they’ll admit their mistake and apologize, right? Wrong. > [@](#): > > Santorum’s spokeswoman, Virginia Davis, said it doesn’t make a difference. “We thought we should share these kind of sentiments.” Share WHAT fucking sentiments? That your opponent thinks we should promote cross-cultural understanding? What the fuck? What’s really going on of course, is that Santorum’s camp is counting on the fact that all most of their audience will hear is that Casey has been endorsed by a group with an Arabic name that sounds kind of familiar. Very few will understand any distinction between _Jazeera_ and _Jazeerah_ and that’s just the way Santorum wants it, Hell, it would surprise me if more than 25% of Santorum’s voters knew (or cared about) the difference between _al-Jazeera_ and _al Qaeda_. If it starts with an _al_, it must be terrorists. An impression which I’m sure is fine with (if not shared by) Santorum as well. Pennsylvania Dopers, please get rid of this scumbag in November. We’ll let you win another Superbowl if you do. ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Igor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/2 "2006-08-01T16:32:13Z")
“I’ll have you know that my opponent has engaged in public MASTICATION!! In front of children, no less! Furthermore, he has involved in a nepotistic relationship with his own SISTER!! I ask you, do you want this kind of man representing you?” Al-Jazeerah, al-Jazeera, hopefully the rubes won’t know the difference and won’t care enough to go find out, and dear Mr. Santorum gets to be the guiding moral light of this country for another term. Vlad/Igor ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/3 "2006-08-01T16:34:27Z")
Actually, this is the website link: [http://www.aljazeerah.info/](http://www.aljazeerah.info/) And even though it says its goal is to “promote cross-cultural understanding between people all over the world”, it’s really an anti-US, anti-Israel, pro-Iraqi insurgent, pro-Hamas/PLO/Hezbollah site, with headlines like: “NATO Officially Takes Over in Southern Afghanistan, Claiming its New Role as the Western Imperialist Occupation Force” and “Israeli Leaders Continue their War, Not Yet Satisfied with the Number of Lebanese Children Murdered So Far” So, if they did actually endorse Casey, that’s kind of yucky for him. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/4 "2006-08-01T16:45:01Z")
What’s pro-Hezbollah or pro-Hamas about it? It’s critical of US and Israeli military policies, but so what? Why is it bad for Casey if they endorse him? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/5 "2006-08-01T16:50:19Z")
Yeah, [url=http://www.aljazeerah.info/1%20o/When%20Israel’s%20Absolute%20Power%20Empowers%20Hezbollah%20Absolutely%20By%20Ali%20Al-Hail.htm]here’s how this website “promotes peace in the world, between Palestinians and Israelis”: > [@](#): > > The past 15 days ground fighting have clearly manifested that, when it comes to face to face confrontation with Hezbollah’s fighters, the Israeli soldier is not competent. This interprets why the Israeli Army let off their aerial hooligans on the rampage, slaughtering children, women, civilians, peoples live stocks, civil installations, and civil infrastructures. Apparently, is an obvious sign of total frustration of not being capable to stop Hezbollah from firing its deterring missiles on Israel (Historical Palestine). > … > Evidently, Hezbollah’s missiles have begun to bite. After 20 days of Israeli relentless aerial bombing, Hezbollah is still capable of even causing more damage to Israel. According to Antowan shalhat, an Israeli journalist (Al Jazeera TV, July 17) Hezbollah’s missiles began to cost Israel’s economy $400 million daily, and this figure is predicted to increase as the missiles increase and continue. > … > The main reason that, made them immigrate to Israel, was to back the State of Israel, as a part of the Zionist support to the Hebrew state. If Hezbollah’s missiles keep pouring into, Northern cities, settlements, into Haifa, Al-Affoula, and beyond, as the outgoing week has shown most of these immigrants might reconsider going back to their countries of origins. On the one hand, it’s idiotic to claim that Casey ought to care about what such lunatics say about him: giving pro-terrorist forces a voice in US politics says a lot more about Santorum than it does about Casey. On the other hand, the _Philly_ article was at least as lax in their research as Santorum was, inasmuch as they uncritically called aljazeerah.info as website with the goal of “promot[ing] cross-cultural understanding between people all over the world.” Daniel ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/6 "2006-08-01T16:50:22Z")
Good catch, **Captain Amazing**! Cross-cultural understanding, in a pig’s eye. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/7 "2006-08-01T17:11:07Z")
Is there any evidence it’s a real organization at all? Or is it just a “group” formed to endorse Democratic candidates? I mean, the name couldn’t have been picked by accident. ---
**Author:** ![Blanche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Blanche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blanche)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/8 "2006-08-01T17:15:17Z")
An endorsement by al-Jazeera would have been better, as they are a pretty reputable media organization. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/9 "2006-08-01T17:16:56Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Is there any evidence it’s a real organization at all? Or is it just a “group” formed to endorse Democratic candidates? I mean, the name couldn’t have been picked by accident. I don’t know that they’re a real group, but whoever runs that website appears to spend a fair amount of time putting together news-stories (unless it’s based on an automated service). I couldn’t find a search function on it, so I couldn’t find the story that endorses casey; that’d be the interesting bit to see, inasmuch as the opinions of a pro-Hezbollah asshole can possibly be interesting. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/10 "2006-08-01T17:39:56Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > If it starts with an _al_, it must be terrorists. Al Gore never had a chance, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/11 "2006-08-01T17:47:33Z")
For some reason, Santorum persists in calling Bob Casey “Bobby Casey” in all of his ads. I’m just perplexed by this? Is this supposed to be damning somehow? Does Santorum have some sort of gravitas that allows him to suggest others are immature relative to him? Santorum is fucked, and it will be my wholehearted pleasure to pull the handle on that turd. In fact, I’ll probably yell “This one’s for **Diogenes the Cynic**!” as I do so. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/12 "2006-08-01T17:48:42Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Is there any evidence it’s a real organization at all? Or is it just a “group” formed to endorse Democratic candidates? I mean, the name couldn’t have been picked by accident. Exactly. It would be just like Karl Rove to form an organization like this one. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/13 "2006-08-01T18:08:48Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > What’s pro-Hezbollah or pro-Hamas about it? It’s critical of US and Israeli military policies, but so what? Why is it bad for Casey if they endorse him? Well, the guy does say, in this editorial: [http://www.aljazeerah.info/Editorials/2006%20Editorials/January/Hamas%20Victory%20and%20the%20Old%20Israeli%20Trick%20of%20Renouncing%20Terrorism%20By%20Hassan%20El-Najjar.htm](http://www.aljazeerah.info/Editorials/2006%20Editorials/January/Hamas%20Victory%20and%20the%20Old%20Israeli%20Trick%20of%20Renouncing%20Terrorism%20By%20Hassan%20El-Najjar.htm) > [@](#): > > Basically, the three of them expressed the opinion that they would not deal with Hamas before it declares that it will stop armed struggle (which the statements call terrorism or violence). The statements also emphasized that Hamas should stop its rhetoric concerning the liberation of all of Palestine (which the statements call “destruction of Israel”). And it’s more than just critical of US and Israeli military policies. It says: [http://www.aljazeerah.info/Editorials/2006%20Editorials/March/State%20of%20the%20Zionist%20Empire%20Three%20Years%20After%20the%20Invasion%20and%20Occupation%20of%20Iraq%20By%20Hassan%20A%20El-Njajjar.htm](http://www.aljazeerah.info/Editorials/2006%20Editorials/March/State%20of%20the%20Zionist%20Empire%20Three%20Years%20After%20the%20Invasion%20and%20Occupation%20of%20Iraq%20By%20Hassan%20A%20El-Njajjar.htm) > [@](#): > > Actually, the US has no foreign policy of its own, as a nation-state. Everything it does abroad serves Israel, the military industrial complex, and multinational oil companies. . . > > [The two main US political parties are so much controlled by politicians who are loyal to Israel first that the contest between them has become a contest between Christian Zionists in the Republican Party and Jewish Zionists in the Democratic Party. In the 2004 presidential election, the Democratic contenders were all Jewish or Jewish related. Lieberman and Clark are Jewish openly, John Kerry is Jewish by descent as his parents and his brother are Jewish, and Howard Dean is married to a Jewish woman. And so on. The guy’s an anti-Semitic nutjob. It’s a bad thing for Casey because it tends to be a bad thing when you’re endorsed by anti-Semitic nutjobs. It gives your opponents the chance to say, “Look at who supports him”. That’s not Casey’s fault, obviously, but it’s still bad for him. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/14 "2006-08-01T18:11:42Z")
What is meant by the word “endorse”? Did they even promote him or what? Not that I think Santorum is being anything but sleazy with this tactic, but I’m just curious what al-Jazerrah actually did. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/15 "2006-08-01T18:27:03Z")
please don’t double-post, please don’t double-post… > [@John Mace](#): > > What is meant by the word “endorse”? Did they even promote him or what? Not that I think Santorum is being anything but sleazy with this tactic, but I’m just curious what al-Jazerrah actually did. [I may have found it](http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2006%20Opinion%20Editorials/July/25%20o/Senator%20Santorum%20Repugnant%20Remarks%20on%20Islam,%20Iran,%20and%20Syria%20By%20Mohammed%20Khaku.htm). It’s basically a long screed against Santorum: > [@](#): > > Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.) remarks at the National Press Club on Wednesday July 19th 2006 calling for regime change in Iran and described “Islamic fascism” as the “great test” of this generation, as threatening to the United States as last century’s German Nazism and Soviet communism was inappropriate. These prejudicial remarks were derogatory, and highly unbecoming for a member of US senate. > … > The Senator should know that extremists come in all faiths, and do not reflect the values and beliefs of the vast majority of the members of the religious groups to which they belong. The Senator’s inflammatory comments do nothing to advance America’s role in the world as the leading voice for tolerance and religious freedom and should be soundly condemned as election rhetoric and appeasing the neo-conservatives and American extremism (“millennial” or end-time Christians and Zionist zealots). > > True to form, Senator Santorum has crossed the line and shows his clear hatred of Muslims. It is irresponsible that such comments are coming from someone who self-righteously claims to be holier than thou. Elected officials should be a voice of moderation and peace, not a voice of hatred and violence. America’s image is damaged by such inciting and irresponsible rhetoric, at a time when we are trying to demand that other countries challenge their own religious extremists. > … > Don’t ask Santorum to “apologize,” folks. Vote Democratic. > … > Opinions expressed in various sections are the sole responsibility of their authors and they may not represent Al-Jazeerah’s. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/16 "2006-08-01T18:27:28Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > What is meant by the word “endorse”? Did they even promote him or what? Not that I think Santorum is being anything but sleazy with this tactic, but I’m just curious what al-Jazerrah actually did. This appears to be the article on the website: [http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2006%20Opinion%20Editorials/July/25%20o/Senator%20Santorum%20Repugnant%20Remarks%20on%20Islam,%20Iran,%20and%20Syria%20By%20Mohammed%20Khaku.htm](http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2006%20Opinion%20Editorials/July/25%20o/Senator%20Santorum%20Repugnant%20Remarks%20on%20Islam,%20Iran,%20and%20Syria%20By%20Mohammed%20Khaku.htm) > [@](#): > > Sen. Rick Santorum (R., Pa.) remarks at the National Press Club on Wednesday July 19th 2006 calling for regime change in Iran and described “Islamic fascism” as the “great test” of this generation, as threatening to the United States as last century’s German Nazism and Soviet communism was inappropriate. These prejudicial remarks were derogatory, and highly unbecoming for a member of US senate. The Senator rhetoric in a public forum demeans both himself and the party he represents, particularly at a time when entire Middle East is in turmoil. Muslim of Lehigh Valley strongly condemned Senator remarks outrageous, inflammatory and un-American. . . . > > By associating the words “Fascism” with the Islam is to instill fear and by not acknowledging that a political agenda is not the same thing as a belief system, Senator Santorum invoked the oldest and the strongest kind of human fear – fear of the unknown. Zionist and the pro-Israel lobby continue to instill fear in Americans by escalating unsubstantiated threats against them and fabricating a vast web of lies to justify their actions against Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. By instilling fear of orange and red alerts we Americans have witnessed increased government intrusion into our daily lives and the erosion of our basic rights and freedoms. > > Don’t ask Santorum to “apologize,” folks. Vote Democratic. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/17 "2006-08-01T18:43:34Z")
In other Santorum news, apparently 20 wealthy Republicans donated $66K to Green Party candidate Carl Romanelli to ensure that he got on the ballot. Nothing overtly sleazy, but a rather transparent (and now very public) attempt to siphon votes away from Casey. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/18 "2006-08-01T18:46:28Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#): > > On the one hand, it’s idiotic to claim that Casey ought to care about what such lunatics say about him: giving pro-terrorist forces a voice in US politics says a lot more about Santorum than it does about Casey. On the other hand, the _Philly_ article was at least as lax in their research as Santorum was, inasmuch as they uncritically called aljazeerah.info as website with the goal of “promot[ing] cross-cultural understanding between people all over the world.” And yet another tack would be; why the bloody hell would Al Jazeerah care enough about the Pennsylvania senatorial race to endorse either of the candidates? Is Pennsylvania some hotbed of militant Islamic movement I wasn’t previously aware of? The whole thing reminds me of those ads Ronnie Ray Guns ran when he was running against Dukakis, with the rotating prison doors. “THIS is what will happen if you elect Dukakis!” The only thing stupider than the ads were the people that fell for them. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/19 "2006-08-01T18:56:14Z")
> [@Maureen](#): > > The whole thing reminds me of those ads Ronnie Ray Guns ran when he was running against Dukakis, with the rotating prison doors. “THIS is what will happen if you elect Dukakis!” The only thing stupider than the ads were the people that fell for them. _wince_ I think you mean George Bush, not Reagan. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891/20 "2006-08-01T19:18:32Z")
Santorum needs all the help he can get. I don’t think he can come back even if videotape footage comes out showing Casey giving Fast Eddie a rimjob on top of the Speaker’s lectern. Santorum is through. As of June 21 Santorum is [url=“[http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x11379.xml?ReleaseID=927](http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x11379.xml?ReleaseID=927)”]down 18% [/quote] . Yes, the poll is a bit dated, but check this out: > [@](#): > > In this latest survey, Republicans back Sen. Santorum 68 - 20 percent, while Democrats back Casey 80 - 9 percent and independent voters back the Democrat 54 - 30 percent. Men back Casey 51 - 40 percent and women back him 54 - 28 percent. Their mind is made up, 67 percent of voters say. > > Republicans who say they are conservative back Santorum 76 - 14 percent while Republicans who say they are liberal or moderate back Santorum 54 - 30 percent. > > Among Casey supporters, 44 percent say their vote is mainly against Santorum. 67% of the vote is already decided? Santorum’s gone, even if Osama himself endorses Casey. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fucking-santorums-latest-bit-of-slime/366891.md?page=2)