Santorum: Concerns about "emotions" if women on front lines

By: Lucy Madison
Topics: Campaign 2012

Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.

(Credit: AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

After the Pentagon announced Thursday its decision to allow women in the military to serve in critical roles closer to the front lines of combat, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum expressed "concerns" about this prospect of women serving in combat roles - due to the "other types of emotions that are involved."

"I want to create every opportunity for women to be able to serve this country" Santorum said in an interview with CNN.

But, he said, "I do have concerns about women in front line combat. I think that could be a very compromising situation where - where people naturally, you know, may do things that may not be in the interests of the mission because of other types of emotions that are involved."

Santorum went on to say that while "probably, you know, it already happens, of course," due to the "camaraderie of men in combat."

But he said that if women were also serving on the front lines, "it would be even more unique."

"And I think that's probably not in the best interests of men, women or the mission."

In an interview with NBC's "Today" show on Friday, Santorum clarified the remarks, noting that he's not concerned with women being emotional -- but rather that their presence on the field could impact men's decisions in battle.

"When you have men and women together in combat, I think there's, men have emotions when you see a woman in harm's way. I think it's something that's natural. That's very much in our culture, to be protective," he said. "That was my concern. I think that's a concern with all of the militaries."

According to the new Pentagon guidelines, women can be permanently assigned to battalions in roles such as medics, radio operators, intelligence officers, or communications officers. In practice, women have already been serving in these roles in temporary positions, but the new rule formalizes this practice, effectively opening up about 14,000 jobs.

Still, women may not yet serve in combat roles on the front lines. The new rules maintain a ban on women serving in infantry roles, as well as in combat tank units and in special operations commando units.

Lucy Madison
Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

152 Comments +

Add a Comment

See all 152 Comments

by Ericwvb February 13, 2012 6:03 PM EST

I'm glad that our soldiers aren't as weak the average Republican thinks they are.

Apparently, our soldiers are deathly afraid of another gay soldier seeing their private parts in the shower, and they'll totally fall apart if they see their fellow female soldiers in danger.

It sounds like they are way too fragile to protect our country.

Reply to this comment


by Ericwvb February 13, 2012 6:04 PM EST: Correction: I mean "aren't as weak as the average Republican POLITICIAN thinks they are."


by antitheist February 13, 2012 9:19 AM EST: It seems most people did not read the article. Santorum is not saying that women are too emotional to serve in combat roles; he is saying that if women do serve in combat roles, the men alongside them may experience instinctual protective tendencies, which could be a bad thing.

But think about this for a minute. The military has *always* trained men to see the enemy as the out-group, or even as non-human. Using this and other methods, they train men to kill other humans. I think it's safe to say that this method has proven to be highly effective.

Now, if the military can do that, don't you think they can handle training to the "protective urge" as well?

I think Santorum's attitude is offensive to men in the military, and to women in general. It says that women in combat roles will act like helpless, prissy, incapable losers, and that men are incapable of treating them as equals. In other words, just what you'd expect from a righty.; Reply to this comment


by shueevon February 11, 2012 1:58 PM EST: Has anyone read the article and not just the title?? He's talking about MEN'S emotions, not women's. He said men act differently, sometimes irrationally, when women are in danger... and he's right.; Reply to this comment


by technocoffee February 11, 2012 8:39 AM EST: Fool...mullahs in Saudi Arabia think women shouldn't DRIVE for the same reasons. Never mind that it has been proven statistically that women are better drivers, fools will cling to their idiotic opinions in the face of facts. Which is why they are fools.; Reply to this comment


by KPeters_from_UK February 11, 2012 5:06 AM EST: by omega6234 February 10, 2012 1:01 PM EST
thats because strong, logical and powerful women are rare and hard to find.
-------------------

From a Santorum supporter...enough said.; Reply to this comment


by KPeters_from_UK February 11, 2012 4:34 AM EST: Emotions? What time period does this guy live in? Are women suppose to be these Victorian weak fragile hysterical child-like beings?

Very patronizing. I have a strong feeling that Santorum is basing all he knows from the women in his family - obedient, submissive, devout, etc.

Besides, has Santorum even seen those horrible videos of teenage girls beating the crap of each other?; Reply to this comment


by stevenbeto February 11, 2012 1:52 AM EST: Mathematics and War

When you wish to protect population levels, send males off to war.
When you wish to reduce population levels, send your females.

We are now in a crisis of both population and moral authority in which the future of our species is wholly in doubt.; Reply to this comment


by a4phantom1 February 10, 2012 11:51 PM EST: Sen Santorum sure seems to lack respect for Israel.; Reply to this comment

by jm222ed February 10, 2012 7:28 PM EST

wow. These comments just go to show that people will read a headline, then comment on it without ever actually reading the story.
he has very valid points and people are just dismissing them without attempting to understand them.

Reply to this comment