Santorum hammered for opposing birth control
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
Updated Thursday, 2:30 p.m. ET
Republican Presidential candidate Rick Santorum is facing increasing scrutiny on some of his positions, especially on social issues. Women's advocacy organizations are launching information campaigns about Santorum and statements he made in the past about birth control.
"Rick Santorum ought to be the worst choice for women," Jess McIntosh, a spokesperson for EMILY's List, told Hotsheet, but she also said Governor Mitt Romney's latest policy positions offer women "no discernible" difference between the two candidates.
But, with his new front-runner status, the former Pennsylvania senator is seeing increased scrutiny on statements made when he received a lot less attention.
In an interview in 2006, then-Sen. Santorum said he is "not a believer in birth control." The socially-conservative candidate said birth control harms women.
"I think it's harmful to women; I think it's harmful to society," Santorum said in this interview found by the Washington Post.
Santorum's statements in 2006 were not an anomaly. He has expressed a similar sentiment more recently. In October, while he was in the throngs of campaigning in socially conservative Iowa, Santorum gave an interview with an evangelical blog where discussed the "dangers" of contraception.
"It becomes deconstructed to the point where it's simply pleasure," he said of contraception. "And that's certainly a part of it--and it's an important part of it, don't get me wrong--but there's a lot of things we do for pleasure, and this is special, and it needs to be seen as special."
Santorum went on to say that it's not just a moral issue, but a public policy issue, too, indicating the government has a role in contraception policy.
"I'm not running for preacher. I'm not running for pastor, but these are important public policy issues," Santorum said. "These have profound impact on the health of our society."
Contraception come into the spotlight recently with President Obama's decision to require health insurance providers at religious institutions provide contraception for free. In response, two senators are pushing a vote on a measure that would enable any employer to opt out of providing contraception coverage if he or she morally objects.
"What year is this?" EMILY's List wrote on its Facebook page. It linked to a blog post on its website that reads, "We're having a presidential election in the year 2012 - not 1956... Right?!"
The organization - which works to elect pro-choice, Democratic women to office - has been communicating with its members in all 50 states through its massive email list and via social media.
NARAL, another pro-choice women's group, has bought $250,000 worth of radio ads in key general election states highlighting the national contraception debate.
McIntosh, with EMILY's List did not have anything better to say about Santorum's challenger, Mitt Romney. She said he has "turned right" during this presidential race.
"Neither one of them is trying to talk to women voters," McIntosh said.
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Rick, you've just described the sexual behavior of my Pit Bull.
1) GPS trackers on all women so we know what they are up to when not in the kitchen
2) Requiring all male pets, farm animals, etc. to wear specialized clothing to cover up their genitalia because it may lead to prurient thoughts
3) Creation of the Department of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, with a cabinet level secretary
4) Adding the Bible as the 28th amendment to the Constitution
5) Creating concentration camps for members of the LGBT community
And this is just the tip of the iceberg! Go Santorum, may your reign be a long and foamy one!
Santorum = Obama on major issues & Obama wins (Santy pushes too much of HIS religion)
Mitt = Obama on major issues & Mitt or Obama wins (same person one white and one black)
Gingrich = Obama on major issues & Obama wins (an obese fatcat vs a spry black man?... yes America is superficial)
Paul wins with or without voter fraud general election IMO!
These so-called women's groups do not speak for ALL the women out there, and they definitely do NOT speak for me.
If you read the harms it can cause women, Santorum is EXACTLY correct in that instance. He is NOT stupid, he is actually reading the danger label. If you do not believe me, then look up Martin Luther King Jr's niece, and listen to her. She lashes out at these women's groups and thinks that contraception is horrible as well.
Santorum DOES NOT have a mistress, has never had a mistress and will NEVER have a mistress. Why does CBS report on crap like this, and not report the horrible issues, like what Obama has done. He has threatened our freedom, and so much more, yet CBS, does not report this, instead backs him up and acts like he is god.
Birth control isn't "horrible; it gives women control over their reproduction. It give them the freedom to choose WHEN (or even IF) they decide to have children. That's why it's called FAMILY planning. Use it or not; that's YOUR choice.
Women are ADULTS who have enough intelligence to make informed decisions about our OWN health care.
His "opinion" MATTERS because he is running for President.
President Obama supports women's rights. Santorum does not. For me, and the majority of American women, THAT choice is clear.
Isn't it strange that most women disagree with them?
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Why are the GOPers such suckers for a lost cause? It's bad enough to be an anti-abortionist when the majority of the nation is pro-choice, but to be against contraception is out of the Stone Age. Does Righteous Rick Saint-boredom confuse the 21st century with the 19th? Doesn't this idiot realize that 52% of the voters are female and that practically NONE of them, except for some bible-thumpers, are against contraception?
Would anyone expect this group to support a conservative Republican? Give me a break.
christian parading around as a repuglican.