# Santorum or Gingrich-Who Is Worse? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 8, 2012, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164 "2012-02-08T05:00:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [February 9, 2012, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/41 "2012-02-09T07:18:45Z")
I’d say Santorum. The thing about Gingrich being more competent is that there are a lot of things he’d do right, simply because doing them the right way benefits him as much as it does the rest of the country. Santorum would fuck those things up because he’s an incompetent boob. In the long run, I suspect the necessary things Santorum would do wrong would be more damaging to the country than the bad things Newt would do right. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/42 "2012-02-09T18:23:37Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Santorum. That man scares the crap out of me. (Pun not intended). He’s a spiteful, hateful bastard, and if he were elected president, I’d be over the Canadian border before you could say “We Stand On Guard For Thee”. Does anyone who says (or reads) this actually believe it? ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/43 "2012-02-09T23:03:51Z")
Santorum. He’s a zealot as many have pointed out. I don’t like Gringrich at all–I never did. He’s an asshole. But he is pragmatic. He’ll do a halfway job for four years and he’s smart enough (though to steal a line from Douglas Adams ‘he’s so full of himself, he’s shitting elbows’ ) to keep the country in the middle. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/44 "2012-02-09T23:26:21Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Does anyone who says (or reads) this actually believe it? _shrug_ I have a hard time believing either of the guys in the OP could actually win the presidency, but contemplating either in power makes me wish I hadn’t let my passport expire, at least. And, to address the OP: Santorum: likely to decimate the rights of women, particularly in health care but other aspects as well Gingrich: likely to drag us into yet another expensive and unwinnable war One’s bad for me in the immediate sense, the other’s bad for everyone in the long-term sense. Sucky either way. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/45 "2012-02-09T23:35:38Z")
And considering we already have a moderate as POTUS, choosing either one of these loons seems a bit silly. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/46 "2012-02-10T21:10:07Z")
The Santorums brought their prematurely-born dead baby son home from the hospital, introduced him to his siblings and slept with him overnight. So yeah, Santorum. Mentally unfit to be president. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/47 "2012-02-10T21:29:07Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > The Santorums brought their prematurely-born dead baby son home from the hospital, introduced him to his siblings and slept with him overnight. > > So yeah, Santorum. Mentally unfit to be president. Eh. I wouldn’t do it, but I don’t think it makes someone “mentally unfit.” Grief is something everyone handles differently, and I have no doubt at all that they were grieving and trying to cope as best they could. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/48 "2012-02-10T21:44:09Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I can’t stand politicians who let religion guide their political ideologies Was this a poor choice of phrasing? Being _guided_ by religion (or set of ethics if you’re an atheist) is just fine in my book; being _ruled_ by them is not. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/49 "2012-02-11T01:05:51Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > Santorum is very much in the mold of the christian reconstructionist/dominionist movement which I personally consider the most evil perversion of faith and the most serious threat to democracy that presently exists. Any connection with that faction renders a candidate absolutely unsuitable for office. > > Gingrich is a slimey ethically-challenged egomaniacal buffoon, but he is also an experienced and canny political player and a pragmatist. I would very much not like to see a Gingrich presidency, don’t think it’s likely to happen, but if it did it would probably not be a complete disaster. The country has, after all, survived Franklin Pierce, Chester Arthur and Warren Harding. And other character-challenged politicians (e.g. Nixon, Clinton, even Richard J. Daley) have been fairly effective leaders. > > I’d prefer a canny crook over a right-wing zealot any day. > SS > [@Gagundathar](#): > > Santorum is the greater danger. The executive can do an amazing amount of damage if the folks that hold to the doctrine of Christian Reconstructionism. This guy BELIEVES in that doctrine. > He thinks that the Bible can be used as a moral and ethical guide for governance. That, my fellow board participants, is just crazy. I bet you all that he really wants “Jesus to come back in my lifetime.” When the big red button is available and your dreams tell you to do it, well then maybe it would be a good idea. Especially if those nuclear tipped missiles are heading to some heathen country. > > So maybe not Santorum. > > Gingrich, on the other hand, is your usual genius-level monomaniacal narcissistical power politician whose is venal enough to not want to wage war just to summon his chosen deity. As far as we can tell if he did so then he would merely create an exact image of himself. (That would, incidentally, make for a classic 1990 sitcom concept.) The result of this would difficult to determine. Perhaps they could decide to divide up the fundraising efforts or grassroots support. It might be difficult if he showed up in Missouri and Virginia at the same time. But… does anybody really care? At this point, a candidate could start wearing fluorescent green ties (regardless of other attire) and completely obscure the fact that he called for the jailing of all people whose names rhyme with ‘yo mama’ and for all unwed mothers to be placed into creches until their children were born. At that point, Fox news might comment something like ‘Oh, that scamp’ and chuckle. > > Interesting times. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Eh? I thought he was Catholic. Which [Reconstructionism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Reconstructionism) most emphatically ain’t. > [@SeldomSeen](#): > > You’re technically correct. Reconstructionism is an uber-strict variant of Calvinism and has generally had some anti-catholic bias. Reconstructionism is kind of a sub-set of Dominion theology however, which has a much broader appeal. > > From Bruce Barron’s _Heaven on earth?: the social & political agendas of dominion theology_: > So I suppose it could be argued, whether Santorum is a Reconstructionist or merely a Dominionist. Either way I think sensible people would agree that the prospect of a Santorum presidency is…distressing. > SS Saying Santorum is a Reconstructionist is sort of like calling the Ayatollah of Iran a Wahabbist. And Christian Reconstructionism actually in practice is closer to Ron Paul than to quasi-statist neocons like Santorum or Gingrich-they support an isolationist foreign policy, are not supporters of Israel (as they are theological post-millenials or amillenials in the tradition of Calvin rather than premillenials), and are economically laissez-faire of the Austrian school. Nowadays however dominionism is basically a label for the Christian Right but as Joe Carter said: > [@](#): > > [T]here is no “school of thought” known as “dominionism.” The term was coined in the 1980s by Diamond and is never used outside liberal blogs and websites. No reputable scholars use the term for it is a meaningless neologism that Diamond concocted for her dissertation.[1] > [@Guinastasia](#): > > Santorum. That man scares the crap out of me. (Pun not intended). He’s a spiteful, hateful bastard, and if he were elected president, I’d be over the Canadian border before you could say “We Stand On Guard For Thee”. > Even most Catholics think he’s wacko. If everyone who said they’d move to Canada after [[Insert candidate name]] wins actually moved America would be depopulated by now. > [@BlankSlate](#): > > The Santorums brought their prematurely-born dead baby son home from the hospital, introduced him to his siblings and slept with him overnight. > > So yeah, Santorum. Mentally unfit to be president. So anybody who regards a fetus as a human being is mentally ill? As for me I originally would have said Santorum was the worse candidate but having seen the media scrutinize him he has avoided saying stupid or idiotic remarks like his previous remarks comparing homosexuality to pedophilia. Meanwhile Gingrich has increasingly become a demagouge that represents to me all that is wrong with American politics today. I don’t think Santorum in practice will be altogether different from George W Bush but Gingrich will combine the worst elements of our “Imperial Presidents” with mob-rule style policies such as refusing to enforce Supreme Court directives. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/50 "2012-02-11T01:24:02Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > … > So anybody who regards a fetus as a human being is mentally ill?.. No. But anyone who bring a corpse home and introduces it to his children has some serious problems. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/51 "2012-02-11T02:12:17Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > No. But anyone who bring a corpse home and introduces it to his children has some serious problems. Really? [Because that’s not really all that uncommon a practice.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wake_%28ceremony%29) ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/52 "2012-02-11T02:46:25Z")
I’m going to go against the tide and say it makes little difference. Whatever bad you think more likely of one you will still mostly get from the other. That said, Santorum will probably follow the Gingrichized Conservative-Movement GOP, and follow the cavalcade of stupidity that arises from the party; whereas Gingrich is Gingrich, and will perhaps be a wellspring of new and exciting very bad ideas instead of letting others lead us into ruin. Same wreck, _maybe_ different process. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/53 "2012-02-11T02:50:17Z")
```auto ``` After every wake I’ve attended, we’ve dragged the corpse out of the coffin and taken it to bed for the night. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/54 "2012-02-11T02:58:00Z")
Given a choice between venal cowardly publicity whore with delusions of grandeur and a genuine dyed-in-the-wool crazy Christian fundamentalist… whooo boy. That is not a pleasant choice is it? Well considering one of my enduring fears from the Cold War was the image of our President hovering over the Big Red Button, the idea that someone who could usher in his version of Apocalypse would have access to such a critical control is frightening. So, I go with the bigheaded weird guy with the ethical handicaps. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/55 "2012-02-11T03:05:59Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > ```auto > > ``` > > After every wake I’ve attended, we’ve dragged the corpse out of the coffin and taken it to bed for the night. Isn’t that a little inefficient? Why don’t you just take the corpse to bed for the night, then put it in the coffin in the morning? OP, what’s your opinion of which one is worse? ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/56 "2012-02-11T03:08:06Z")
It was at the tail end of a post so it may have not been noticed: > [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > As for me I originally would have said Santorum was the worse candidate but having seen the media scrutinize him he has avoided saying stupid or idiotic remarks like his previous remarks comparing homosexuality to pedophilia. Meanwhile Gingrich has increasingly become a demagouge that represents to me all that is wrong with American politics today. I don’t think Santorum in practice will be altogether different from George W Bush but Gingrich will combine the worst elements of our “Imperial Presidents” with mob-rule style policies such as refusing to enforce Supreme Court directives. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/57 "2012-02-11T03:09:50Z")
Thank you. And also, thank you VERY much for not making your response be: _I already posted my opinion._ That kind of crap annoys me. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/58 "2012-02-18T23:07:16Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Thank you. > > And also, thank you VERY much for not making your response be: _I already posted my opinion._ That kind of crap annoys me. Agreed. Also, I _did_ miss that part of your post the first time, **QSH** , but I have to admit, it’s the most cogent analysis yet. You’re right that Santorum does seem to at least somewhat capable or recognizing and moderating his most extreme opinions for the purposes of getting elected, and would probably be similar to GWB in what he could accomplish. (Bush was less extreme [in the sense that Kim Jong Il was less extreme than Pol Pot], but he did everything he could to move the country in the direction he and Santorum both want. I don’t think Santorum could do more just because he’s even more extreme.) Gingrich, OTOH, would not only be more effective, he would almost certainly cause serious Constitutional crises that would permanently could cripple the rule of law in this country. I suspect Santorum would cause more immediate damage (especially to women, minorities, and the environment), but all of his policies could be reversed when he left office. Gingrich, however, would pursue a calculated strategy of remaking the constitutional structure of government to make his ideas permanent. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164/59 "2012-02-18T23:20:40Z")
Which is worse, cholera or leprosy? A toothpick shoved through your testicles or into your eyeballs? Mitt Romney, or the other Mitt Romney…? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/santorum-or-gingrich-who-is-worse/612164.md?page=2)