# Santorum doesn't think people should use birth control, even married couples! **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 5, 2012, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491 "2012-01-05T10:07:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/1 "2012-01-05T10:07:23Z")
[Link](http://www.salon.com/2012/01/04/rick_santorum_is_coming_for_your_birth_control/). Dude, do you want to occupy the White House, or what? Here’s a tip, taking positions that easily 90% of the public and even most of your base opposes ain’t gonna get you there. Wotta nut. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/2 "2012-01-05T10:29:20Z")
From the link: _It’s pretty basic: Rick Santorum is coming for your contraception_ So he has a condom fetish? Kinky. Fortunately, Santorum is not going to be the nominee, and will be having a big steamy mug of STFU by Super Tuesday at the latest. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/3 "2012-01-05T11:20:40Z")
The more times the GOP Base hears the GOP Establishment repeating “Dude, you’re getting a Romney… so STFU!”, the more entertained I am at the spectacle. The former gave the latter a nice tiger ride for a while, and now the tiger is hungry. ---
**Author:** ![dorsk188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f05b48/32.png) [@dorsk188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorsk188)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/4 "2012-01-05T12:19:59Z")
[Be fair.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MBO9tNNejo) He seems positively phobic of sex and has such a backward view of morality where the “consequences of sex” means a baby and maybe STDs. And sex without those consequences means EVERYONE WILL HAVE SEX, OMG (even though they pretty much already do). Profoundly out of touch with the modern world (of which legit criticisms can be made, but not by just reflexively going backward). Forget Al Qeada, Rick Santorum hates us for our freedom. ---
**Author:** ![dorsk188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f05b48/32.png) [@dorsk188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorsk188)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/5 "2012-01-05T12:35:32Z")
[Big long interview](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN7WfIZh690) that really get’s to the core of the man, I think. The USA doesn’t really have these kind of conservatives, but he seems very in line with European conservative parties. When most Republicans say “family”, they mean corporation. When Rick Santorum says “family”, he means a Christian man and woman who are having reluctant sex after church, resulting in seven kids minimum. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/6 "2012-01-05T12:39:22Z")
Reluctant sex after church. Now there’s a mental image that will be hard to expunge. ---
**Author:** ![dorsk188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f05b48/32.png) [@dorsk188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorsk188)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/7 "2012-01-05T12:42:09Z")
FYI, Santorum talks about contraceptives about 17 minutes into that longer interview. > [@Gagundathar](#): > > Reluctant sex after church. > > Now there’s a mental image that will be hard to expunge. Yeah, it sort of left a bad taste in my mouth (fingers?) as I typed it. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/8 "2012-01-05T14:01:46Z")
Well, he is Catholic, and official Catholic teaching is opposed to contraceptives, so I’m hardly surprised. If he was fine with contraceptives I can imagine the wails: “he claims to be Catholic but advocates condoms! He’s a _hypocrite_!” The link is blocked for me; did he really say he wanted to make contraceptives illegal or did he just say he was opposed to them? Obviously there’s a difference between believing contraceptives are wrong, and wanting to outlaw them. I believe abortion is abhorrent, but I also believe people have a right to disagree with me and get one. And damn you for making post even a weak defense for Rick Santorum. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/9 "2012-01-05T15:12:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Many of the Christian faith have said, well, that’s okay, contraception is okay. It’s not okay. It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.” I am vaguely curious about what kinds of sexual things Santorum is thinking of that aren’t “supposed to be” that would be impossible without contraception. Doggie style? Possible without contraception. Anal sex? Possible without contraception. Butt plugs? Fisting? Whips and chains? Dressing up like My Little Pony characters? Possible without contraception. What’s the next step, sending the Fuck Police to your bedroom to make sure you and your partner are doin’ it right? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/10 "2012-01-05T15:13:10Z")
> [@dorsk188](#): > > FYI, Santorum talks about contraceptives about 17 minutes into that longer interview. > > Yeah, it sort of left a bad taste in my mouth (fingers?) as I typed it. When discussing either Santorum or santorum, you need to be very careful in the metaphors you choose. You realize, of course, that the bad taste in your mouth is somewhat meta. Can anyone pull quotes from the video? Is he actually _advocating_ policy? Or is it a case where someone finds he holds this wacky (to them) worldview and it’s getting traction? That is, if someone were to find out my disdain and general loathing of reality television, they’d ask me about it in interviews. I can be honest about what I think of it and that I honestly believe people shouldn’t watch it, but would have nothing to do with my policy views or candidacy in general. Or is this a legal question of states rights? That he thinks the courts overreached in Griswold v. WallyWorld (I think that’s the case) and that the expansion of a _national_ right to privacy, the expansion that makes both contraception and abortion off the table for state legislatures, is wrong and should be reversed. Is it really just a “this is a matter for state control” with prurient examples? ETA: > [@Jenaroph](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Many of the Christian faith have said, well, that’s okay, contraception is okay. It’s not okay. It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be. > > I am vaguely curious about what kinds of sexual things Santorum is thinking of that aren’t “supposed to be” that would be impossible without contraception. > What’s the next step, sending the Fuck Police to your bedroom to make sure you and your partner are doin’ it right? Doesn’t he mean something simple like sex out of wedlock? ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/11 "2012-01-05T15:25:44Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > ETA: > Doesn’t he mean something simple like sex out of wedlock? I suspect he means sex with a reduced chance of pregnancy. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/12 "2012-01-05T15:36:58Z")
I find this thread sort of confounding. I think the belief is dumb, but it’s not _that_ unusual. It’s the standard conservative Catholic position as far as I can tell. > [@Stan\_Shmenge](#): > > Dude, do you want to occupy the White House, or what? He’s not going to occupy the White House. > [@](#): > > Here’s a tip, taking positions that easily 90% of the public and even most of your base opposes ain’t gonna get you there. Wotta nut. He’s not getting there regardless. Do you really not understand that Santorum is extremely socially conservative? He wants to be the extremely socially conservative president and thinks he can convince most people to vote for him. Or he thinks most people already agree with him. Even if he wanted to lie about it for the primaries, his record speaks for itself. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/13 "2012-01-05T15:41:18Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > [snip]… my disdain and general loathing of reality television…[snip] You got my vote! _ **Rhythmdvl 2012** _ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/14 "2012-01-05T15:41:32Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Fortunately, Santorum is not going to be the nominee, and will be having a big steamy mug of STFU by Super Tuesday at the latest. OTOH, Romney **will** be needing a running mate . . . One who can appeal to hard-right voters . . . You know it won’t be Paul, and who could stand to share the podium with Gingrich?! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/15 "2012-01-05T15:42:54Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > OTOH, Romney **will** be needing a running mate . . . Yeah, and Santorum might make sense for him. He does remind me of Dan Quayle somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/16 "2012-01-05T15:48:22Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I find this thread sort of confounding. I think the belief is dumb, but it’s not _that_ unusual. It’s the standard conservative Catholic position as far as I can tell. Well, sort of. The standard Catholic position, from the conservative Catholics I know, is that it is a sin to use contraception to prevent pregnancy but that the state doesn’t have a right to ban them. So basically current law. As I recall, Santorum believes that SCOTUS was wrong in _Griswold_ when they decided that states can’t ban contraception - he hasn’t advocated for a national ban, AFAIK, but does think that states should be able to (and should in fact) limit and/or ban them. He has extended this to laws against sodomy as well, and also believes states should not allow for no-fault divorce. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/17 "2012-01-05T15:49:36Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Yeah, and Santorum might make sense for him. He does remind me of Dan Quayle somehow. I was thinking this exact thing last night. The youthful dopiness. The vacant eyes. The utter lack of command in his voice. A certain quality that would keep people from killing you if he were your replacement. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/18 "2012-01-05T15:57:04Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I was thinking this exact thing last night. The youthful dopiness. The vacant eyes. The utter lack of command in his voice. A certain quality that would keep people from killing you if he were your replacement. The fact that his dopiness partially covers up his nastiness. That’s the analogy I’m going with, anyway. Dan Quayle as played by Steve Carrell’s brother or something. ---
**Author:** ![Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Swords\_to\_Plowshares](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swords_to_Plowshares)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/19 "2012-01-05T16:15:21Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I find this thread sort of confounding. I think the belief is dumb, but it’s not _that_ unusual. It’s the standard conservative Catholic position as far as I can tell. I know a lot of conservatives, a lot of Catholics, and a lot of conservative Catholics, and I have never heard any non-clergy member advocate that position. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491/20 "2012-01-05T16:21:50Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > The fact that his dopiness partially covers up his nastiness. That’s the analogy I’m going with, anyway. Dan Quayle as played by Steve Carrell’s brother or something. Plus there’s the whole double meaning of the last name thing. Santorum: The frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the by-product of anal sex. Quayle: The genitalia of an unmarried mother. Ok, I just made that second one up, but I wish I’d thought of it 20 years ago. I could have made a fortune off the website [SpreadingQuayle.com](http://SpreadingQuayle.com). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-doesnt-think-people-should-use-birth-control-even-married-couples/608491.md?page=2)