# Why Is 'Santorum' Dirty? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 11, 2012, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453 "2012-04-11T10:17:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/41 "2012-04-12T02:11:14Z")
> [@Arkcon](#): > > Amusingly, Dan Savage himself has been glitter-bombed, according to Wikipedia, for making transgender unfriendly comments. At least, I find the situation amusing. I have seen transgender people criticized for making transgender unfriendly comments, not surprisingly at all some people are \ sensitive is all. ---
**Author:** ![santorum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/22d042/32.png) [@santorum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/santorum)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/42 "2012-04-12T02:38:02Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Didn’t Savage also come up with derogatory definitions for a bunch of other prominent politicians’ names at the same time? I wonder why Santorum is the only one that’s lasted. He also came up with the verb “pegging.” I think a lowercase romney as well. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/43 "2012-04-12T04:13:04Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > While this isn’t a warning, it’s a strong admonition to avoid posting crap. No pun intended. 😉 ---
**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:** [April 12, 2012, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/44 "2012-04-12T05:45:04Z")
“That’s not to pick on homosexuality. It’s not, you know, man on child, man on dog, or whatever the case may be.” - Rick Santorum If that isn’t hateful enough to equate his name with something disgusting, I don’t know what else is. In fact, I’d go so far to say his comments were even more disgusting than equating his name to a disgusting substance. The guy was comparing gays and lesbians to pedophiles and dogfuckers. And somehow Savage is the sick one? I don’t think so. > [@Jim\_B](#): > > Actually, Googling the name was the **first** thing I did, and absolutely nothing significant came up (I have to admit, though, I didn’t do an exhaustive search). As someone pointed out, Google must’ve fixed the problem:). > > Actually, in hindsight, I should have seen this: [Campaign for the neologism "santorum" - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campaign_for_%22santorum%22_neologism), _Campaign for Santorum Neologism_. But as I said, I didn’t look at what the search brought up too carefully, and I realize perhaps I should have:). I googled it and “spreading Santorum” was the fifth link. And “campaign for Santorum neologism” was third. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/45 "2012-04-12T06:20:57Z")
> [@santorum](#): > > He also came up with the verb “pegging.” I think a lowercase romney as well. As far as I know, the only other term he named after an existing entity is “saddlebacking”. This is named after Rick Warren’s mega-church and refers to christian teens having anal sex to remain ostensibly pure until marriage. That term hasn’t really caught on like santorum, possibly because only a small facet of the population can actually saddleback. With santorum, Savage was careful to pick a phenomenon that could theoretically be experianced by couples of all orientations, partly so it’d have a better chance of catching on but also to reflect Santorum as being against sexuality in general, not just homosexuality. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/46 "2012-04-12T07:08:31Z")
I don’t feel bad for Rick Santorum in the least, but I do feel kind of bad for all the other Santorums out there who are now stuck with an unfortunate last name. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/47 "2012-04-12T07:30:10Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Among the Republican primary and caucus electorate these days? Not so much, I think. Agreed. His positions on contraception and prenatal screening cost him far more votes in the primaries than anything he’s said about homosexuals. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/48 "2012-04-12T12:47:37Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Agreed. His positions on contraception and prenatal screening cost him far more votes in the primaries than anything he’s said about homosexuals. But again, any Republicans thinking outside the box (always euphisms!) had to think not just about their ideal candidate but also electability. They key to any election is the middle 15% to 20% who could vote either way. A candidate with extreme right views is no more likely to win than a candidate for the Democrats with an extreme pro-labour union, pro-taxes, extremely pro-abortion, anti-military agenda. It’s a race for the middle. Very often the failure in a party is that they pick the candidate that appeals strongly to the loudest faction within their own party, then forget that person also has to win in an overall vote of the entire electorate. This is IMHO why the majority picked Romney - not because he oozes charisma and inspires all he meets, but because they see a person who is credible as a chief executive and moderate enough to be a serious threat to the Democrats. Some of the Republican voters do think things through, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/49 "2012-04-12T20:38:57Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Considering that one of the “reprehensible things” he said was comparing homosexuality to bestiality, that’s quite the turn of phrase. :dubious: **looks innocent** –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/50 "2012-04-13T03:19:44Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > It’s not even especially novel. For instance, I always think of naughty bits when I hear the names Rehnquist and Whizzer White. For those who don’t remember 1974, this refers to Gore Vidal reacting to a Supreme Court decision on pornography: he replaced the ‘7 deadly words that can’t be published’ with the names of the Justices involved (and 2 prominent anti-porn activists\*) in a sequel to his best selling novel. Specifically, the replacements were:[ul] [li]burger = fuck[/li][li]blackmun = ass[/li][li]powell = balls[/li][li]rehnquist = cock[/li][li]whizzer white = cunt[/li][li]keating = shit[/li][li]father hill = tits[/ul][/li] He encouraged other writers to do the same in their books. and on broadcast media, but it didn’t really catch on. \*As I recall, both of these anti-porn activists ended up in prison. Keating for bank fraud triggering the downfall of many banks, and Father Hill for the usual priestly molesting of altar boys.) ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/51 "2012-04-13T10:21:33Z")
“Santorum” was just the start of a trend. In memory of Seamus the Irish Setter, I offer you _[romney](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Romney)_(v.): to defecate in terror. ---
**Author:** ![Imago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@Imago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imago)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/52 "2012-04-13T14:21:13Z")
I’m surprised no one has yet said that long before the idea to name anything after him came along, the word “santorum” always just _sounded_ icky. It sounds like the medical term for a group of about a zillion small, metal objects that have somehow gotten into your blood/semen tubes/kideys/etc, or some bodily substance only a coroner ever comes in contact with (rotten spinal fluid?). Anyway Dan Savage has always struck me as- and this is pure opinion- a bit of a hipster (the insult) when it comes to linguistic stuff. It’s like he thinks he can be 30 years younger by using the word “monogamish”. I turned 20 less than three days ago and my overall reaction to him is something like “Get off my lawn!” Shouldn’t it be the other way around? ---
**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:** [April 13, 2012, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/53 "2012-04-13T17:17:13Z")
“Monogamish” isn’t an age thing at all. It’s a way of describing a particular phenomenon: straight people in a committed marriage that is open but only under very certain circumstances. In other words, someone who to outward appearances might look to be cheating, but isn’t. And I don’t think there’s anything hipster about playing with languages, coining new words, etc. For example, [this was written](http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15403)before you and I were born, and is a good example of intentionally playing with words and grammatical rules. ETA: I think Dan Savage 30 years younger would be underage, and the man does seem to like to drink. And has been open about having a pretty crappy childhood. So, nah, I don’t think he’s shooting for 30 years younger. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/54 "2012-04-13T18:27:36Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Oh please, this is hardly even worth responding to. This isn’t the first time that people in a serious, legitimate movement have used humor - even puerile and annoying humor - to augment their message. Do all tasteless political comedians “reflect badly” on the politics they champion? Puerile and tasteless political humor is as old as politics. It’s also usually better than actually bombing people. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/55 "2012-04-13T18:55:10Z")
> [@Imago](#): > > “monogamish”. Doo doo de doo doo… ---
**Author:** ![Imago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@Imago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imago)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2012, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/56 "2012-04-13T22:08:23Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > “Monogamish” isn’t an age thing at all. It’s a way of describing a particular phenomenon: straight people in a committed marriage that is open but only under very certain circumstances. In other words, someone who to outward appearances might look to be cheating, but isn’t. And I don’t think there’s anything hipster about playing with languages, coining new words, etc. _snip_ Wordplay in itself is not hipster, of course. It depends on the word, the time and the intent. “Monogamish” as a concept surely existed forever, but I don’t think anyone was suffering for the fact that it wasn’t named. In any case no one is likely to change my perception of him being a childish douche. I wouldn’t Pit him, but I’m not about to start reading his column again either. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/57 "2012-04-14T00:25:23Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > \*As I recall, both of these anti-porn activists ended up in prison. Keating for bank fraud triggering the downfall of many banks, and Father Hill for the usual priestly molesting of altar boys.) Untrue as to Fr. Hill. Inasmuch as this is GQ and all. Fr. Hill was never arrested, much less convicted, and so far as I know never even accused of such a thing. I welcome a cite to the contrary. Charles Keating was indeed convicted and spent three or four years in prison, only to have his convictions overturned. He then entered a plea of guilty to more minor charges with the agreement that his sentence would be to time already served. ---
**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:** [April 14, 2012, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/58 "2012-04-14T02:51:54Z")
> [@Imago](#): > > Wordplay in itself is not hipster, of course. It depends on the word, the time and the intent. > > “Monogamish” as a concept surely existed forever, but I don’t think anyone was suffering for the fact that it wasn’t named. > > In any case no one is likely to change my perception of him being a childish douche. I wouldn’t Pit him, but I’m not about to start reading his column again either. Savage can be a douche, but with regards to Santorum, he was spot on. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/59 "2012-04-14T15:33:07Z")
We won’t be hearing much more from Santorum now that he’s dripped out of the race. ---
**Author:** ![Imago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@Imago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imago)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2012, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453/60 "2012-04-14T16:11:54Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Savage can be a douche, but with regards to Santorum, he was spot on. True there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-santorum-dirty/618453.md?page=4)