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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRick Santorum Calls Joe Paterno Question 'Insulting'
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/19/rick-santorum-joe-paterno_n_1362352.htmlRick Santorum had a testy exchange Sunday when asked by a Chicago radio host whether his statements about the president and child pornography could be compared to Penn State's response to sexual abuse allegations against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
Santorum's campaign website states that President Barack Obama "seems to favor pornographers over children and families" by failing to prioritize prosecution of child pornographers.
"If we were to replace Barack Obama with the name 'Joe Paterno,' could we say that Joe Paterno seemed to be favoring a child rapist over the Penn State football program?" radio host Bruce DuMont asked Sunday, referring to the former Penn State football coach who resigned after allegations that he ignored reports that Sandusky had molested children.
Santorum attended Penn State and once sponsored Sandusky for a "Congressional Angels in Adoption" award. (The sexual abuse allegations had not yet surfaced at the time.)
"That's sort of an insulting question," Santorum replied, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "It's a ridiculous question, Sir, and Im not going to answer it. Youre welcome to ask a question. That doesnt mean Im going to answer absurd questions."
Santorum repeated his claim that the president does not care about protecting children, saying "he's not."
DuMont later questioned Santorum, a member of the Catholic Church, about the church's history of covering up sexual abuse by priests.
Happyhippychick
(8,379 posts)The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)Sauce for the goose, and all that....
TlalocW
(15,383 posts)Like all republicans, he would gladly blame Obama for the sun coming up in the East if they thought they could even a small amount of traction from it. Ricky went through a list of things that he hadn't attacked the president on yet and came up with child pornography. He thought it was great because who would be for lax policing and prosecuting of child pornographers, but he didn't bother to think ahead to different "negative" reactions to his attack and how to counter them. So after being asked about his alma mater and his church, he spends five uncomfortable seconds in silence, and the best thing he can come up with is that he's insulted by the question.
Honestly, I think politicians of all stripes use the fake outrage too often to get out of uncomfortable questions, and I would love for the media to start calling them on it by ending the interview early. "Don't feel like answering my questions, Senator? Well, we'll just end the interview early. Thanks for your time, and anytime you feel like actually answering questions, you're welcome back." Turn off mic. "Now that we have some time due to the Senator not having the guts to answer questions, let's explore the hypocrisy of calling on the president for not enforcing child porn laws versus not calling your church on the harboring of pedophile priests..."
TlalocW
Initech
(100,080 posts)Rick Santorum was Senator in 2000 - 2006 when he could've sponsored Sandusky for the award. In 2003 was when Sandusky was under investigation by Penn State authorities after he abused a kid in his office and they had taken away his keys at that point. I'm sure Rick had not been made aware of this. The scary thing is that the FBI used Sandusky's book (ironically called "Touched" ) to identify like five of the victims - which means who knows how long this has been going on and why hasn't anything been done sooner?
Know your facts.
liberal N proud
(60,335 posts)Ricky is good at throwing the first stone, but not so good when they are coming back at him.
amuse bouche
(3,657 posts)gets that question many times. it was an excellent one
Javaman
(62,530 posts)BroadcastSnooze
(2 posts)Dumont shouldn't be throwing stones in the first place. Especially about child pornography. Don't forget that this guy inducted anti-gay Focus on the Family into the Radio Hall of Fame while he was living with a guy - the same guy who was arrested for child porn a year later at their house in Oak Park, IL. (Dumont was making $100k/yr. back then running his museum. He didn't need a roommate to help cover the rent.)
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/anyone-but-him/Content?oid=1109127
http://www.oakpark.com/News/Articles/11-24-2009/Oak-Park-child-porn-suspect-on-electronic-monitor/
http://www.caringforourchildrenfoundation.org/ex-columbia-college-professor-sentenced-to-six-years-for-child-pornography-chicago-sun/