# Stupid Santorumisms **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 20, 2012, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417 "2012-02-20T14:10:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/161 "2012-02-26T00:24:38Z")
Ahem. The \*original \*[George Tirebiter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Tirebiter). ---
**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 26, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/162 "2012-02-26T01:48:49Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > could Obama avoid using phrases like “genuinely insane” and “dangerously delusional” in his campaign rhetoric? > [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Sure, and he ought to. His “brand” is that of a smart, calm, serious adult, and he shouldn’t do anything to bring that into doubt. All he’d have to do is continue to let Santorum get himself into trouble, and make sure the contrast with himself is clear. > > The same is essentially true if Romney is the nominee, too. It’s only a matter of degree between Romney and Santorum. > [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > It would work better for Obama to simply point out what is wrong with Santorum’s statements, and leave the invective up to the press. A nut looks even nuttier when he’s arguing with someone who’s calm and rational. I understand that the phrase _“There you go again”_ has been used with reasonable success in past contests. Frankly, I’m a little ambivalent, considering its provenance. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/163 "2012-02-26T02:12:44Z")
Reagan used the phrase to denigrate something \*honest and serious \*being said by a _more-engaged_ opponent, to try to restore viewer focus back to his charming grin. It was _not_ to point to the _inanity_ of Mondale and what he said. ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/164 "2012-02-26T02:20:41Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Reagan used the phrase to denigrate something \*honest and serious \*being said by a _more-engaged_ opponent, to try to restore viewer focus back to his charming grin. If President Obama used it, he could end up owning it. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/165 "2012-02-26T13:00:11Z")
After reading this thread, I’d like to invite Rick Santorum to a dinner party. My seating plan would go: bear, Santorum, cub. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/166 "2012-02-26T16:26:39Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Reagan used the phrase to denigrate something \*honest and serious \*being said by a _more-engaged_ opponent, to try to restore viewer focus back to his charming grin. It was _not_ to point to the _inanity_ of Mondale and what he said. Reagan was sane next to Santorum. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/167 "2012-02-26T17:35:50Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > After reading this thread, I’d like to invite Rick Santorum to a dinner party. My seating plan would go: bear, Santorum, cub. Are you talking about the hairy, rotund, man-eating bear that is very protective of its cub? Or the one that lives in the forest and eats honey and berries? ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/168 "2012-02-26T18:05:43Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Are you talking about the hairy, rotund, man-eating bear that is very protective of its cub? Or the one that lives in the forest and eats honey and berries? I think both would make the dinner party way more interesting. ETA: Any way to get it televised on FOX? _When politicians [del]get[/del] attack[del]ed[/del]_ ---
**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:** [February 26, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/169 "2012-02-26T18:39:57Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Reagan used the phrase to denigrate something \*honest and serious \*being said by a _more-engaged_ opponent, to try to restore viewer focus back to his charming grin. It was _not_ to point to the _inanity_ of Mondale and what he said. Carter, not Mondale. (He used the line in the debate with Mondale too, but the original was in the debate against Carter.) And I don’t think it was to “restore viewer focus back to his charming grin.” It was part of an exchange where, first, Carter accused Reagan of wanting to make Social Security voluntary as part of a plan to destroy it, Reagan denying that he wanted to make Social Security voluntary and saying that Carter was taking his remarks out of context, Carter bringing up Reagan’s early opposition to Medicare, and then Reagan saying “There you go again”, in implying that was yet another thing that Carter was taking out of context. Here’s the text of the debate and exchange: [http://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/80debates/cart4.html](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/80debates/cart4.html) ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/170 "2012-02-27T00:21:43Z")
> [@Captain\_Amazing](#): > > Carter, not Mondale. (He used the line in the debate with Mondale too, but the original was in the debate against Carter.) And I don’t think it was to “restore viewer focus back to his charming grin.” It was part of an exchange where, first, Carter accused Reagan of wanting to make Social Security voluntary as part of a plan to destroy it, Reagan denying that he wanted to make Social Security voluntary and saying that Carter was taking his remarks out of context, Carter bringing up Reagan’s early opposition to Medicare, and then Reagan saying “There you go again”, in implying that was yet another thing that Carter was taking out of context. Here’s the text of the debate and exchange: > > [http://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/80debates/cart4.html](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/debatingourdestiny/80debates/cart4.html) Shame on you for attacking his post with . . . with . . . facts! ---
**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:** [February 27, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/171 "2012-02-27T00:37:31Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Just in the last couple days: > > 1. Eliminate all federal _and_ state funding of education. > 2. And by the way, America, stop donate money to colleges and universities. > 3. The Netherlands kills most of their old people to save money. I haven’t been able to find links for numbers 1 (the state funding part) and 2. Do you have them? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/172 "2012-02-27T01:36:58Z")
Santorum: Separation Of Church And State [‘Makes Me Want To Throw Up’](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/26/santorum-church-and-state_n_1302246.html) > [@](#): > > The GOP candidate was responding to comments he made[last October](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203960804577238990570535210.html?mod=googlenews_wsj). He had said that he “almost threw up” after reading JFK’s 1960 speech in which he declared his commitment to the separation of church and state. > > Santorum also on Sunday told Meet The Press host David Gregory that separation of church and state was “not the founders’ vision.” ---
**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 27, 2012, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/173 "2012-02-27T02:42:43Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Santorum: Separation Of Church And State [‘Makes Me Want To Throw Up’](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/26/santorum-church-and-state_n_1302246.html) He’s quite a delicate flower. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/174 "2012-02-27T05:13:55Z")
Santorum makes me want to throw up. The politician, that is. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/175 "2012-02-27T05:32:31Z")
> [@](#): > > … Kennedy, he {Santorum} announced, “threw his faith under the bus in that speech.” … After reading JFK’s So(tC)CaS [speech](http://www.beliefnet.com/News/Politics/2000/09/I-Believe-In-An-America-Where-The-Separation-Of-Church-And-State-Is-Absolute.aspx?p=1), I’m finding it hard not to think that Santorum would be quite comfortable saying, > [@](#): > > … I am the Catholic candidate for President. I am not the Republican Party’s candidate for President who happens also to be a Catholic. I speak for my church on public matters–and the church speaks for me. … instead of Kennedy’s, > [@](#): > > … I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Party’s candidate for President who happens also to be a Catholic. I do not speak for my church on public matters–and the church does not speak for me. … Somewhere, [Charles O’Conor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_O%27Conor), [Al Smith](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Smith), and JFK are weeping. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![FixMyIgnorance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FixMyIgnorance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FixMyIgnorance)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/176 "2012-02-27T05:34:13Z")
Apparently Obama is a “snob” for trying to get more people to go to college. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/177 "2012-02-27T14:37:10Z")
Personally I hope that Santorum does get the nomination. So that way, when he inevitably gets his ass handed to him by Obama, the Republicans can’t drag out the same bullshit argument that they did in 2008 after McCain lost about how if they only had a sufficiently conservative candidate, they would have won. Of course, they could always wind up going full batshit next time around, but the upside of that is it would put them on even speedier route to irrelevancy. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/178 "2012-02-27T14:38:57Z")
> [@FixMyIgnorance](#): > > Apparently Obama is a “snob” for trying to get more people to go to college. To be exact ‘‘President Obama once said he wants everybody in America to go to college. What a snob," "There are good, decent men and women who go out and work hard every day and put their skills to test that aren’t taught by some liberal college professor to try to indoctrinate them. Oh, I understand why he wants you to go to college. He wants to remake you in his image.’’ Jeez, the man is positively medieval…This is a throwback to the time in history where your “place” in the world was determined by God and “ambition” was considered a negative and sinful thing. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/179 "2012-02-27T14:49:52Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > Well, there’s this, from a 2008 speech in Florida: > > “Satan has his sights on the United States of America… Satan is attacking the great institutions of America, using those great vices of pride, vanity, and sensuality as the root to attack all of the strong plants that have so deeply rooted in the American tradition.” He’s okay with wrath and greed though. Seems to have some problems with envy. People having sex for fun would be in big trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417/180 "2012-02-27T16:03:40Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > To be exact > ‘‘President Obama once said he wants everybody in America to go to college. What a snob," "There are good, decent men and women who go out and work hard every day and put their skills to test that aren’t taught by some liberal college professor to try to indoctrinate them. Oh, I understand why he wants you to go to college. He wants to remake you in his image.’’ > Jeez, the man is positively medieval…This is a throwback to the time in history where your “place” in the world was determined by God and “ambition” was considered a negative and sinful thing. Almost sounds like the practical application of a belief that eating apples from the tree of knowledge was where we went wrong as a species. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-santorumisms/613417.md?page=10)