Santorum's spokeswoman retracts comment about Obama's "radical Islamist policies"

By: Rebecca Kaplan
Topics: In The News ,; Campaign 2012

Rick Santorum addresses the Ohio Christian Alliance conference, Feb. 18, 2012, in Columbus, Ohio.

(Credit: AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Rick Santorum's new presidential campaign spokeswoman, Alice Stewart, retracted her comment Monday that compared President Obama's policies to "radical Islamic policies."

Stewart said shortly after her MSNBC appearance that said she had misspoken, according to a tweeted message by interviewer Andrea Mitchell. The verbal gaffe followed several comments from Santorum himself that have dogged the campaign in recent days.

The comment by Stewart, who was hired onto Santorum's campaign last week after working on Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann's presidential bid, came during an exchange with Mitchell as the journalist sought to clarify a remark by Santorum over the weekend that the president's "theology" was not based on the Bible.

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"He was not questioning the president's character, he wasn't questioning the president's religion," Stewart said. "As he's said, he has clarified the statement. He was talking about radical environmentalists. There is a type of theological secularism when it comes to the global warmists in this country. He was referring to the president's policies, in terms of the radical Islamic policies the president has, particular in terms of the energy exploration."

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Santorum was discussing Obama's energy policy on Saturday, when he said, "It's not about you. It's not about your quality of life. It's not about your job. It's about some phony ideal, some phony theology. Oh, not a theology based on the Bible, a different theology, but no less a theology."

Santorum insisted again Monday that the president's "ideology" about the environment incorrectly makes man subservient to the environment.

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Rebecca Kaplan
Rebecca Kaplan covers the 2012 presidential campaign for CBS News and National Journal.
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by HAIRYONETOOOO February 22, 2012 10:07 AM EST: Santorum has forgotten all of the intents of the Constitution. If it was up to him we would still be having the Spanish Inquistion here in the USA. The Pope would approve heartily of the tests for innocence like the red-hot poker up the anus. He would approve of the witch burnings and drowning as proof of innocence and Rick would like to be the chief inquisitor.

We need much less religion in government, not more.; Reply to this comment


by HAIRYONETOOOO February 22, 2012 10:06 AM EST: The Christian religious right operates on the same basis and intent
as the "radical Islamists", brainwash and control the masses through superstition and bigotry against all other religions, heavily relying on racial and religious hatred.; Reply to this comment


by HAIRYONETOOOO February 22, 2012 10:01 AM EST: Santorum has forgotten all of the intents of the Constitution. If it was up to him we would still be having the Spanish Inquistion here in the USA. The Pope would approve heartily of the tests for innocence like the red-hot poker up the anus. He would approve of the witch burnings and drowning as proof of innocence and Rick would like to be the chief inquisitor.

We need much less religion in government, not more.; Reply to this comment


by longtree-2009 February 22, 2012 2:12 AM EST: she's not up to the job and should resign. she didn't do bachmann any good and is already hurting santorum. all of them, including the candidates and sitting potus, need to engage brain before opening their mouth.; Reply to this comment


by Moose- February 21, 2012 3:26 PM EST: There is a cool song about Slick Rick Santorum on the web.
Frothy The No Man
...google it. It's a riot; Reply to this comment


by vanlear February 21, 2012 1:02 PM EST: What does Santorum have against the Constitution? I heard this question this weekend. The argument goes that it seems that Santorum is pushing hard to have religion dictate how our government thinks, operates and deals with its constituents. The problem with this is that our Founding Fathers clearly wanted a seperation between church and state. Does Santorum think the First Amendment is wrong? Is Santorum anti-American?; Reply to this comment


by ProgressNow February 21, 2012 12:10 PM EST: So let's not talk about jobs...the stock market...national security...modernizing our national infrastructure...

Let's talk about getting "IN GOD WE TRUST" in a larger font on our currency. And do any of us really know which god we're talking about here?????? Thoughts????; Reply to this comment


by hockeymom441 February 21, 2012 12:04 PM EST: wow - republicans really just think it's "ok" to say things like this?!?
It's really scary.

They will never win the election. Who do they think they're appealing to: White racist, men? Newsflaish - thankfully this ignorant demographic is now the minority!; Reply to this comment


by stupa5 February 21, 2012 11:40 AM EST: Mental midgets at work in the Santorum camp!
Keep it up folks!; Reply to this comment


by DebbieCorona February 21, 2012 11:22 AM EST: Retracting the statement is the game played in courts. Statement is made, judge says no and then tells the jury to act like they never heard the statement. Everyone knows what really happens. The statement was to plant the doubt in the jury's minds and the attorney knew full well the judge would throw this out. For someone like Santorum that is running as the pure Catholic Christian he should know that deceit comes from Lucifer and not Christ. Shame on Santorum and those under him for serving the Deciever.; Reply to this comment