Santorum, Republican Taliban? REVISED!

Are the Republicans the western version of the Taliban? Listening to Santorum, one gets the impression that given the opportunity religious law as he interprets it should be the law of the land. He has spoken against homosexuals, gay marriage, sex for anything other than procreation, contraceptives, is obviously opposed to abortions, believes women should not work and if they do, do not deserve to earn the same as men. He is continually proclaiming his religious faith as an asset voters should consider when choosing a Republican candidate. His diatribes against modern living could have come from a Taliban training manual. His claim to be “blue collar” would be laughable if it was not for being believed by some on the right. Where is there a blue collar job that pays over $900,000.00 a year? There are a large number of blue collar, laid-off workers who would jump at a job that paid a fiftieth of Santorum’s 2010 income. While his grandfather was a coal miner, unless Santorum was mining coal in Washington it is doubtful that has influenced his thinking to a great extent. In the meantime, Santorum is seeking the nomination of a political party that has, on the state level, enacted legislation to require people to carry papers proving their citizenship; provide photo IDs to vote; undergo physically invasive medical procedures if they seek abortions; are attempting to outlaw contraceptives; and make other intrusions into lives of citizens. Santorum has spoken against public schooling and has, in fact, home-schooled his own children (while receiving taxpayer funds to do so). Santorum recently referred to the influence of Satan on America, much in the way the Taliban refer to “the great Satan” as the enemy of their religious beliefs. There has been enough trouble dealing with the Taliban in Afghanistan. America does not need a home grown version in the role of President. Today, since this was originally posted, according to USA Today, Former senator Rick Santorum defended his comment that President John F. Kennedy’s 1960 speech about the importance of the separation of religion from government “makes him throw up.” He was further quoted as saying: “To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes you throw up. What kind of country do we live that says only people of non-faith can come into the public square and make their case?” On a television show he went on to say, “To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes you throw up. What kind of country do we live that says only people of non-faith can come into the public square and make their case?” It appears the Santorum, inner Taliban is coming to the surface when he tries to justify his religious beliefs have a role in the determination of public policy. That a man holding these views would be considered for nomination as President of the United States is an insult to the American people and a stain on the political party that would consider placing his name as nominee representing that party's views.