Santorum says Obama not enforcing Internet porn laws

Updated 11:09 PM ET

(CBS News) ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - Campaigning in this Chicago suburb on Friday, Rick Santorum accused President Obama of failing to enforce an anti-Internet pornography law he worked to pass in the Senate and said that as president, he would do more to protect children from inappropriate online content.

The issue came up when Santorum was questioned by reporters about a Daily Caller article that quoted his website decrying the evils of pornography in American society and accusing the president of favoring pornographers over children.

"The Obama administration has turned a blind eye to those who wish to preserve our culture from the scourge of pornography and has refused to enforce obscenity laws. While the Obama Department of Justice seems to favor pornographers over children and families, that will change under a Santorum administration," the statement on Santorum's campaign website says.

Santorum said the criticism of Obama was posted on the site about three weeks ago. "We'll enforce the law. I don't know what the hubbub about that is. We have a president who is not enforcing the law, and we will."

His website also says, "A wealth of research is now available demonstrating that pornography causes profound brain changes in both children and adults, resulting in widespread negative consequences. Addiction to pornography is now common for adults and even for some children. The average age of first exposure to hard-core, Internet pornography is now 11. Pornography is toxic to marriages and relationships. It contributes to misogyny and violence against women. It is a contributing factor to prostitution and sex trafficking."

In recent days, Santorum has been trying to maintain his focus on core issues like expanding domestic energy production and repealing the Obama health care law. He's been frequently sidetracked by social issues, like the flap over insurance coverage for contraceptives, his remarks about fetal development testing and his assertion that English be a condition of statehood for Puerto Rico.

In an evening rally in the gym of the Christian Liberty Academy, Santorum got back on message by focusing on President Obama, taking some jabs at the incumbent in his home state. "You have a unique duty here in Illinois to correct a wrong," Santorum told the crowd to wild cheers.

The cost of Obama's signature health care law, he said, will ultimately be much higher than projections. "I know all of you are shocked at this revelation," he said, sarcastically. "I know you all thought that it would come in less, and that the president's persuasive speeches about how he was going to save money, and premiums would go down and costs would go down. The seas would recede. The sun would always shine. All of these great predictions of the president have remarkably not come to pass."

[idiotforreading]

Dosen't this bozo realize that Republicans are the prime consumer of hard core porn? He is alienating his base.

[itsizzi]

Since the constitution clearly prohibits co-mingling of church and state, perhaps Santorum should consider a career in theology instead of politics, since he obviously loves to preach.

[itsizzi]

Since the constitution clearly prohibits co-mingling of church and state, perhaps Santorum should consider a career in theology instead of politics, since he obviously loves to preach.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Leftwingnut-Lunatics,
You are always trying to tell everyone how educated you are when in reality you are a pseudo intellectual and intellectually dishonest. Who cares if you have a Masters in History from some progressive institution of lower learning. They hand them out like free coupons just to get rid of you.

The Hard core porn usually came from Sweden and the Netherlands or Asian countries.
Only the real sickos and sexual perverts had it.

Who cares what limited porn they had in Victorian England.
We are talking about America then and up to now.
------------------
Ha!
You're the one that said I was making it up as I go. Sorry but I wasn't gonna let that one side. Case in Ohio wasn't fricin free nor do they nilly willy give out Masters to anyone. You have to have a high GPA, a$$hole.

Second, point: Sweden has the strongest anti-rape laws in the world. Both countries rate in the top ten for Equality between the genders.

Third, I wrote that America was comparable to Victorian England. Also, it is sometimes best to compare and contrast different cultures in order to understand our own. History will always offer lessons to those living now.



by Shiny-Side-Up (and NoProgress_Democrats) March 17, 2012 7:38 PM EDT
That KPeters sure is ignorant for having gone to college and supposedly having a Masters in History.

I wonder if he uses a fake British accent like Johnny Depp and Madonna thinking it will make him seem more intelligent.
__________________________

What? Ignorant for going to College? Really? Oh wait...you must be a Santorum fanboy.

Or maybe you just don't like the facts that I have presented. I can't do much about that. I offer you a couple of facts I guess it is up to you to google them. But it is rather silly for you to pout and insult me then you don't like reading my valid points. Silly.

One more fact: Google the famous painter Turner. The one who painted all those wonderful seascapes with storms and landscapes with brilliant sunsets. 1820'2 while living in Venice with Lord Byron, Turner drew hundreds of the most graphic porn; legs open, sexual positions and even Byron having sex with some women.

Yep, another ignorant tidbit.

And no I can't do an English accent no matter how hard I try. It just doesn't work. Sorry that Johnny Depp and Madonna freak you out so much. That is strange.

I find it very humorous that Tea Baggers get so worked up about higher education and afraid of American travelling and working aboard. It bothers you guys. You hate history, you hate dissension, you hate education, hate anything that doesn't fit your tiny provincial closed minds.

Read Plato and his allegory of the cave. ....Oh never mind.

[zombielogic]

Is there anybody who reads the list of organizations that are supporting this press release that believes they are going to stop at pornography? They have their sites set on a lot more than just pornography. Those groups all have private agendas that range from gay marriage to ending stem cell research. If Santorum wins in Illinois he's got a big chance to win the nomination. Time to speak up.http://zombielogicblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/rick-santorum-wants-to-ban-pornography.html

[bklynwoman]

I find it amazing that the most sex-obsessed U.S. Presidential aspirant in modern history is allowed to get away with marching into the bedrooms of the electorate without being accountable himself.

If he thinks he can preach to us about one of the most natural and pleasurable bodily functions (especially those of women), it is time for him to prove that he sets a sterling example himself.

In other words, Mr. Santorum: You Show Me Yours.... Tell Us Details About Your Own Sex Life. Let Us Learn From You! How did you have seven kids without "sensuality" (which you're trying to save America from) If you're not willing to go the distance, keep your big mouth shut.

Oh, and about pornography, which you seem to have intimate knowledge of: does this mean that soft-core porn is OK -- the kind made by women for women? And how do you intend to implement the ban -- have a committee determine which is hard-core and which is soft-core? And of course you'll have to WATCH everything to make the decisions.

What a phony you are -- you're just trying to grab the spotlight from Romney -- you say these things and then "But I'll never tell you what to do" -- that's because you don't have any real solutions to any of the real problems in this country.

[KPeters_from_UK]

by Leftwingnut-Lunatics March 17, 2012 12:28 PM EDT
KPeters makes it up as he goes along. You sure tell some whoppers
Maybe your Brit pals like Jack the Ripper downloaded it from the internet and they had porn stores all over London like we do here in the states.
Get real.
_______________________

Make it up as I go? Really on which points. Please elaborate. Try to refute my statements using evidence. Go on.

I so sorry that you were never truly educated and hate to read history books but there is a wealth of information out there in your local library if you care to learn about the past. By the way I have a Masters in History from a private excellent university in Ohio. I learned how to do proper research using mostly primary sources and credited secondary sources.

[KPeters_from_UK]

For fiction, read The French Lieutenant's Woman, by John Fowles. It just might give you a good introduction into the sexual history of Victorian England. And, hate to burst your bubble but America during that time was just as Puritanical as England.

[KPeters_from_UK]

Check out drawings from William Blake, too.

[bobnjersey]

["... The sun would always shine. All of these great predictions of the president have remarkably not come to pass."]
-----------------------------------
well ... they were predictions after all.

[jrtaylor001]

Another stupid remark from the high and mighty loser , mind your own business , you WILL stay out of our lives, we don't need your narrow minded opinion.

[AttyFAM]

FACT CHECK: Santorum WRONG - as usual.

For a lawyer, he knows nothing of the law. The Communications Decency Act of 1996 was struck down as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Reno vs. ACLU. The Child Online Protection Act of 1998 was also held unconstitutional. The Children's Internet Protection Act of 2000 has been upheld. That law requires public libraries to have porn filters on their internet connections. But Santorum was not talking about that. The laws he wants Obama to enforce have been struck down. There is nothing to enforce. Perhaps, Santorum, like Palin, does not read the newspaper.