Another Santorum Scandal?

I think a shared nightmare among GOP political consultants starts with, “Rick Santorum walked up to the microphone and…”

Say what you want about his electoral chances, you can’t watch or read anything about politics without discovering a new Santorum scandal every other week. I love all of Santorum’s “newest scandals” reported breathlessly in the news. I always tune in expecting something horrible like he pick-pocketed Lindsey Lohan, but I’m often disappointed because I kinda’ agree with whatever he’s saying. (Am I scandalous?!)

Recently, there was the “scandal” about his comparing abortion and slavery. I do that all the time. In both cases, the government is deciding who is worthy of being called “human” or worthy of rights. You can agree or disagree, but how is the comparison a scandal?

Another time, Santorum really twisted the media and the elites by saying that if the courts determine all consensual sex is protected under “privacy”, that could leave the door open for bigamy and incest. And guess what, it does. But those in charge of deciding if something is a scandal or not decided that Santorum equated being gay with incest.

I love watching the media absolutely freak out every time Santorum opens his mouth. This guy opens his mouth to introduce himself and you’ve got people storming out of the room in a huff. (It’s actually true. I’ve seen it.)

But this latest “scandal” from Santorum will likely be the talk among all the news shows this week. Rick Santorum had the gall to call jihadism “evil” and said “Sharia law” has no place in America. I’ll admit I’m no Sharia expert, but it seems to me from what I picked up there’s a lot of lopping off of people’s hands and “honor killings” and such. I don’t think such behavior has a place in America, do you? And it seems to me that Christians aren’t faring too well in countries where Islam predominates.

Anyway, according to The Politico, Santorum said:

“Jihadism is evil and we need to say what it is,” he said at the Strafford County Lincoln-Reagan dinner, remarks that show how the former Pennsylvania senator continues to establish himself as the candidate most-aligned with the Republican Party’s conservative base.

“We need to define it and say what it is. And it is evil. Sharia law is incompatible with American jurisprudence and our Constitution.”...

Santorum added, “Sharia law is not just a religious code. It is also a governmental code. It happens to be both religious in nature and origin, but it is a civil code. And it is incompatible with the civil code of the United States.”

Have we gotten to the point where saying jihad is evil and that America’s system of governance and Sharia law are incompatible is controversial? Is it somehow out of bounds to say that the hideous oppression of women in many Muslim countries is evil? In fact shouldn’t the feminists be cheering Santorum for saying this? But they won’t because…well…he’s Rick Santorum. And I’m pretty sure that when you’re sworn in to feminist organizations they make you promise to hate Rick Santorum. I’m not sure what they swear on, but it’s probably something like “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”

Although the story just ran today it’s received almost 900 comments at The Politico and most of them are pretty nasty, even commenting on his seven homeschooled children. Yeah, that kind of nasty. As far as I can see, nobody’s criticizing him factually, they’re all just outraged that he said it.

And that seems to be the basis for most of Santorum’s “scandals.” Though not factually wrong, they just can’t believe he said it.

Nobody’s defending stoning adulterers, killing apostates, or amputating hands but they just don’t want it discussed. I have no idea what this’ll do for Santorum’s electoral chances if he chooses to run for President, but I’m glad he said it. Somebody should. I don’t care how many Washington consultants have nightmares.