Does Obama elevate Earth above man?

By: Dan Farber
Topics: Campaign 2012

Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, takes questions from reporters after speaking at a rally, Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

(Credit: Ted S. Warren/AP)

(Commentary) Rick Santorum spent Sunday morning on "Face the Nation" explaining his statement uttered during a campaign stop in Ohio Saturday that President Obama espouses a phony ideal and a theology that is not based on the Bible.

Santorum said that his remarks about Obama's phony theology not based on the Bible referred to the president's environmental policies, not his religious faith. He argued that the Obama administration's environmental policies promote the ideas of "radical environmentalists," who he said elevate the Earth above man.

"This idea that man is here to serve the Earth as opposed to husband its resources and be good stewards of the Earth--I think that is a phony ideal. I don't believe that that's what we're here to do. That man is here to use the resources and use them wisely, to care for the Earth, to be a steward of the Earth. But we're not here to serve the Earth. The Earth is not the objective. Man is the objective. And, I think a lot of radical environmentalists have it upside down," Santorum told "Face the Nation" host Bob Schieffer.

From its first day in office, the Obama administration has had a kind of energy ideal, focusing on clean energy and energy independence, as well as the health of the planet. To say that Mr. Obama's environmental policies elevate the Earth above the needs of mankind and the health of the U.S. economy is, of course, more politically-induced rhetoric than reality.

In his 2012 State of the Union address, Mr. Obama said:

"... nowhere is the promise of innovation greater than in American-made energy. Over the last three years, we've opened millions of new acres for oil and gas exploration, and tonight, I'm directing my administration to open more than 75 percent of our potential offshore oil and gas resources. Right now -- right now -- American oil production is the highest that it's been in eight years. That's right -- eight years. Not only that -- last year, we relied less on foreign oil than in any of the past 16 years.

"But with only 2 percent of the world's oil reserves, oil isn't enough. This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy. A strategy that's cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs.

"We have a supply of natural gas that can last America nearly 100 years. (Applause.) And my administration will take every possible action to safely develop this energy. Experts believe this will support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade. And I'm requiring all companies that drill for gas on public lands to disclose the chemicals they use. Because America will develop this resource without putting the health and safety of our citizens at risk."

The Obama administration also wants to get rid of tax breaks for oil companies, which is radical to the oil companies. In the fiscal 2013 budget proposal, Mr. Obama asked to roll back oil and gas tax preferences, which are worth about $40 billion over a decade.

Santorum clarifies prenatal testing, theology statements

Painting Mr. Obama as in league with "upside down," radical environmentalists has been part of Santorum's campaign narrative. The former Pennsylvania senator advocates eliminating many of the energy regulations set by the Obama administration, and more husbanding of U.S. environmental resources, such as more extensive hydraulic fracking, green-lighting the Keystone XL pipeline and oil exploration in Alaska's wilderness and other areas.

"We have to have all sorts of government regulations, because of the threats of hydrofracking," Santorum said during a campaign stop in Oklahoma City earlier this month. "It's the new boogey man. It's the new way to try to scare you and those folks particularly not from Oklahoma and Texas -- we're sort of new to this stuff, hydrofracking, in Pennsylvania."

"And they're preying on the Northeast, saying, 'Look what's going to happen. Ooh, all this bad stuff's going to happen, we don't know all these chemicals and all this stuff,'" he continued. "Let me tell you what's going to happen: Nothing's going to happen, except they will use this to raise money for the radical environmental groups so they can go out and continue to try to purvey their reign of environmental terror on the United States of America. We will stand up for the truth."

Environmentalists have raised concerns that the fracking process -- which involves extracting natural gas extracted from dense shale rock formations by injecting water under pressure to crack rocks and release the trapped gas -- could contaminate groundwater, release methane gas (a greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere and cause earthquakes.

In response to the Obama administration putting a decision on the Keystone pipeline, a 1,700-mile transcontinental pipeline from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast, on hold until 2013, Santorum said, "Today's decision by the Obama Administration is but another capitulation to the radical environmental fringe - and in turn putting our national security and economy at risk. Our nation needs energy and this pipeline will provide this much needed resource. In rejecting this responsible project that will create thousands of American jobs, we are simply diverting this energy to our international competitors like China. This announcement is utterly irresponsible and one more reason why Barack Obama is not the right man to lead this country. As President, I would approve the Pipeline on day-one."

Upon rejection of the pipeline proposal, House Speaker John Boehner said, "The president wants to put this off until it's convenient for him to make a decision. That means after the next election. The fact is the American people are asking the question right now: Where are the jobs? The president's got an opportunity to create 100,000 new jobs almost immediately. The president should say yes." A State Department study projected about 5,000 construction jobs if the pipeline were approved. The Obama administration cited concerns over the routing through Nebraska and the need for more environmental impact studies.

Does Mr. Obama place Earth above man in his policies? It's rather difficult to separate the health of the planet from the the health of the nearly 7 billion people who inhabit it. What's clear is that President Obama and former Pennsylvania Sen. Santorum have different ideals -- or even theologies -- on what good stewardship of the Earth and wise environmental policy means.

Dan has more than 20 years of journalism experience. He has served as editor in chief of CBSNews.com, CNET News, ZDNet, PC Week, and MacWeek.
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by Edward_Norton February 21, 2012 9:07 PM EST: Wow, CBS! You've deleted my post TWICE without explanation! It sits here until either someone flags it or someone on your "crack" staff spots it and realizes the CIA will shut you down if you don't wipe out it's existence: Another INCREDIBLE and IMPORTANT article . . . Thank you, CBS and all MSM, for continuing to blow up inane stories that have no relevance to not only what's happening in the World today, but even more so the human condition over time. The headline story that should be everywhere, everyday, and pummeled by you morons that the economy continues to be horrible, Big Business that stole MORE money from tax payers 4 years ago STILL have not paid back the full amount they stole in the "bailout", and there remains no clear leader anywhere- even in a customized sweater vest- who has laid out a clear plan and taken action to get us back on track. Including Obama, there is no current candidate running for President who has a backbone and a clue on how to eviscerate 60 years of greed and crime perpetrated by the US Federal Government. The President no longer runs the show- which is painfully obvious, given that "Liberal Obama" did nothing to alter the policies of GW Bush- and it's frightening and likely can't be corrected. It's the faceless, nameless people who are NOT elected who run the show in the Federal Government and anyone who tries to change it is assassinated. People wake up. CBS wake up, get OUT of the pocket of the CIA and start investigating and reporting on these stories. You're such a disappointing waste of space until you do so.; Reply to this comment

by mad1942 February 21, 2012 8:02 PM EST

What planet did Santorum hop off of? I live in Michigan, and we have not had a proper winter this year. Southern Michigan, to be sure, but I am afraid for the states fruit crops. It is the middle of February and we have tulips and daffodils and coming up. If you are not aware of climate change, you are not paying attention.

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by Edward_Norton February 21, 2012 9:07 PM EST: Another INCREDIBLE and IMPORTANT article . . . Thank you, CBS and all MSM, for continuing to blow up inane stories that have no relevance to not only what's happening in the World today, but even more so the human condition over time. The headline story that should be everywhere, everyday, and pummeled by you 'tards is that the economy continues to be horrible, Big Business that stole MORE money from tax payers 4 years ago STILL have not paid back the full amount they stole in the "bailout", and there remains no clear leader anywhere- even in a customized sweater vest- who has laid out a clear plan and taken action to get us back on track. Including Obama, there is no current candidate running for President who has a backbone and a clue on how to eviscerate 60 years of greed and crime perpetrated by the US Federal Government. The President no longer runs the show- which is painfully obvious, given that "Liberal Obama" did nothing to alter the policies of GW Bush- and it's frightening and likely can't be corrected. It's the faceless, nameless people who are NOT elected who run the show in the Federal Government and anyone who tries to change it is assassinated. People wake up. CBS wake up, get OUT of the pocket of the CIA and start investigating and reporting on these stories. You're such a disappointing waste of space until you do so.


by 2ndiceberg February 21, 2012 12:32 PM EST: Santorum had better read Genesis again. The earth and we were created together. The earth is Eden still there somewhere behind the destruction. We cannot see it because of the fires we have lighted. We were to tend, to husband as he says, to conserve. The tree of life is rooted here.; Reply to this comment


by ozilot February 21, 2012 11:47 AM EST: A scary thought "Santorum connects better than Romney" but then when I consider who Santorum connects better with - I breath a sigh of relief because that is only within the GOP.

As an independent I am deeply concerned about the GOP's position on women's right to access contraception -- this not the same as being anti-abortion but a step further, farther, and frankly off the cliff. The GOP, christians in general don't have a problem with Viagra or other male sexual meds -- is it me or is this just hypocrisy...And what is with the House hearings on this "contraception issue" without having women testifying?

Santorum, and the ultra-conservatives are hell bent on reviving the culture wars -- which I and many other independents could care less about. And even if Romney gets the nomination he will be hellbound to campaign on the ultra-conservative platform -- forget about fixing the economy, truly reducing the deficit (spending cuts alone will not do it), or bringing our troops home from Afghanistan or resolving the "war on terror," or the enviroment or health care -- they - the GOP - simply want to force everyone to live according to their world view.

I for one am tired of these so-called culture warriors, like Santorum and long for leadership that values comprimise and service to the nation as a whole and not the party!; Reply to this comment

by pfister2 February 21, 2012 11:30 AM EST

One day I was perusing through my insurance package and found that birth control was not covered, but Viagra was. How ludicrous! How unfair. So, my boyfriend pops a pill, gets a 12 hour erection, insists upon using it to the max, and then I'm stuck with a pregnancy I do not want or can't afford. Earth has billions of people more than it needs to be healthy. Unwanted children grow up to be miserable adults. Think about this: Maybe God made all those men impotent as a form of controlling the population. Maybe birth control was allowed to be invented by the same God to serve the same function. I mean, God has been around longer than the Catholic Church. One last thing, I don't know anyone who gets their prescriptions FREE. So, how come you claimed that Obama wants to give birth control FREE? Another so-called fact (NOT) that was actually birthed from ignorance and hatred. Why don't you people who often claim to be Christian act a little more like you you know what the heck Christ was all about? You poor fool.

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by inketolstoy February 21, 2012 12:17 PM EST: "Earth has billions of people more than it needs to be healthy." And what information is this statement based on? The quality of life back in the medevil period?


by debbyt1-2009 February 21, 2012 10:28 AM EST: Maybe Santorum should go back and read his bible...'The Earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof"... it doesn't belong to man. We are here to take care of it... not for it to take care of us..; Reply to this comment


by AOCGUY February 21, 2012 9:58 AM EST: Sen Santorum is irrelevant quite frankly. It is a toss up as to whether his or Speaker Gingrich's nomination would best serve to assure President Obama a second term, although it is unlikely in the extreme that either will be the GOP nominee come 30 August. Nor is it likely that either will be the VP choice. Although it looks more and more that it will be a brokered convention it is my contention that unless someone like Jeb Bush stands up, Gov Romney will emerge victorious in August only to lose in November.

The fact is that this is the most flawed set of candidates in my memory to run for the GOP nod and I can't see how any one of them could beat a sitting President, especially since the nomination process has given the oppositions so much ammunition to use starting in September. How much easier can it get than to campaign against a candidate whose own party members and leaders have thrown so much dirt and critisim.; Reply to this comment


by skyk801 February 21, 2012 9:50 AM EST: This is no different than ALL the other reality changes we've gone through in our History. The Conservatives will deny and object as LONG as it's POSSIBLE to do so. Once that is over, they never denied anything and the reason we have such problems is because of "Liberals". They HAVE no solutions to our dependence on Oil. They HAVE no solutions to the Melting Ice Caps. They HAVE NO solutions so they Deny it's happening.. hoping they can sell you the same TIRED OLD Stupidity they've been selling for over 200 years now.; Reply to this comment


by jjoe57 February 21, 2012 9:28 AM EST: Santorum simply echoes the radical right-wing anti-environmentalism dogma of the neo Republicans. I say "neo" because this is not the party of Theodore Roosevelt, the great conservationist of the early 20th century.; Reply to this comment


by ricktrick February 21, 2012 9:17 AM EST: What an idiot with a bunch of morons following him. I guess you bible thumpers don't get it. God gave us CLEAN air and water, MAN polluted it.

I guess you don't believe that humans deserve to breathe God's clean air or drink His clean water?

I guess you think we should be thankful that you followers of false prophets allow us to drink water that causes cancer, polluted from your factories, so you can earn your 40 pieces of silver.

I guess you think it's your God given right to commit the sin of greed and gluttony and condemn the entire planet to degradation in the process.; Reply to this comment