Rick Santorum Blames Same-Sex Marriage For Plummeting Rates Of Marriage Across The Nation

Rick Santorum indirectly sounded off on same-sex marriage yet again today, blaming the "changing definition" of the institution for plummeting rates of marriage across the nation.

On his Twitter account, the GOP candidate wrote:

@RickSantorum
Rick Santorum

Here is 1 effect of changing definition of marriage "@HuffingtonPost: Marriage rate in America drops to new low http://t.co/TjCnWqAK" #fb

December 14, 2011 12:44 pm via Twitter for Android Reply Retweet Favorite

Included in Santorum's Tweet is a link to a HuffPost Weddings interview with D'Vera Cohn, a Pew researcher and senior writer who spoke at length about a new survey which found that the number of Americans who are getting married has hit a record low.

Interestingly, as ThinkProgress points out, the actual survey which Santorum references in the Tweet does not attribute the national decline to same-sex marriage, which would actually increase rates, but rather a number of other social factors.

"One is that there are other kinds of living arrangements that are socially acceptable now that may not have been in the past, such as living with someone without being married, living on your own, or even living as a single parent," Cohn said in the interview. "So people may feel they have options that they didn't used to have. Another factor in some cases is that among Americans who complete college, or education beyond that, they may want to get their education done and get launched in a career before they settle down and get married."

Santorum has previously said that allowing gay marriage will cause our country to "fall."

Take a look at the Republican party's presidential hopefuls and their stances on LGBT rights and marriage equality below:

Comments

[WCWinner]

06:11 PM on 01/07/2012

Why not blame MARRIAGE for the plummeting rate of marriage?

Santorum's remedy for fixing the plummeting rate of marriage is to further LIMIT who can get married.....

Who's crazy? Him or me?

[as400az]

04:11 PM on 01/07/2012

And the moon is made of green cheese

[thom548]

02:30 PM on 01/07/2012

If he becomes president, our country might fail! If these idiots would come up with solutions for actually improving our country, rather than worrying about the private and personal lives of others, they might actually be able to gain some votes and accomplish something constructive. How sad they think the job of president is to monitor the private lives of citizens and promote bigotry and intolerance. Keep your religious and personal beliefs and views out of the Whitehouse and worry about getting this country and economy back to work.

[rickhfx]

06:43 PM on 01/06/2012

How can so much stupid come out of one little man ?

[Pam Herman]

03:44 PM on 01/07/2012

It's got to be a record. One that'll be broken, unfortunately.

[KAYLEE BURRIS]

03:49 PM on 01/06/2012

OMG,
THE CLOSET,
BIGOT STRIKES AGAIN
seems to me he has way to much time on his hands finding ways to attack the lgbt community.
and still gets the facts wrong.

[2059nk]

12:39 PM on 01/02/2012

This guy is nuttier than a fruit cake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[WCWinner]

06:12 PM on 01/07/2012

I think he's fruitier than a nut cake!

[heynowhey]

05:19 PM on 01/01/2012

Rick Santorum is a schmuck. He's actually saying that even in states where gay marriage isn't recognized, marriage is "declining." Who can take such a statement seriously? Where does my party -- yes, I'm a Republican though I'm not always proud of that -- dig up these ultra-religious freaks?

[ptj18]

02:17 PM on 12/24/2011

Um excuse me? Is it the gay community's fault that you have an inclining number of marriages failing? Stop trying to blame other people to lift yourself up, it is low, child-like, and immature. You falsely use statistics to your own bias, when pretty much anyone with a brain can figure out that there are plenty of other factors and gay marriage is actually not included.

[manmi1]

08:51 AM on 12/24/2011

And, as for the gay "lifestyle" .... I'd like to smack everyone who uses that term. I've known many, many gay people and there is NO ONE "LIFESTYLE." They have LIVES.

[gattic619]

03:32 PM on 12/25/2011

LIFESTYLE........My life style.. went to college, got a few degrees, taught school until I had enough money to start a business, which is now quite large. I live with one person for 36 years. Have traaveled around the world 40 times on business. I do chairty work of all kinds. I have no Gay employees at this time. I do not go to bars, or wild paries..most of my friends are straight....business people, Drs,Lawyers, Judges, am close with my family, and respected by my emplyees, and business associates and customers. I do not do drugs and dont often drink, except for a glass of wine with dinner. That is my GAY lifestyle....how different is that from any straight person? Often, young gay people, party a lot, do frugs and drink....but so do their straight counter parts.

[manmi1]

08:50 AM on 12/24/2011

When you think the cons can't get any more stupid, you are proven wrong.

[Ghandii]

11:12 PM on 12/21/2011

"If you're involved in the gay and lesbian lifestyle, it's bondage," she is quoted by the Human Rights Campaign as saying. "It is personal bondage, personal despair and personal enslavement."

How do people like this even get into a discussion like this when there are a MILLION Other issues a MILLION times more important..... this women is SICKENING........

[ps2os2]

12:18 AM on 12/25/2011

There is also a percentage of straight people that are into bondage. That is their choice. Also as they say straight/gay/bi what is done in the privacy of the bedroom is just that private. You cannot judge other people based on what they do in the bedroom. Any numbers that people come up with are estimates and should not be used for anything other than a general indication what is happening behind closed doors. Besides it is none of anyones business. Enough said.

[KAYLEE BURRIS]

03:53 PM on 01/06/2012

i used to be a dominatrix,and beat straight (boys)guys,does that mean my bedroom is bi? lol

[Ghandii]

11:09 PM on 12/21/2011

What age are these people LIVING IN??? People in America are DYING IN THE STREETS , forced from their homes, facing an Imperialist Fascist Corporate America where .01% own EVERYTHING.... the middle class was sacked so these Senators, Cngressmen, Governors, etc can just OIL the Big Money Machine...and get rich with laws that shield them from being prosecuted like the common criminals they are.... a Prez who campaigned on "CHANGE"....but ten minutes after he was in office the 'paybacks' came calling....none of these people CONTROL a thing..... they pass a law here....do something there....ITS A JOKE...Money RULES THIS COUNTRY LIKE NONE OTHER ON THIS GLOBE accept for complete dictator countries.... Facts are Facts...

[bcx123]

05:12 PM on 12/21/2011

Marriage is a record low because people don't have the MONEY to get married and start a family. Not to mention, many people are marrying later in life because they want to first get their career and finances in order. Lastly, one of the reasons why marriage is a record low is because there are men who simply don't want to get married (still in the "hit it" and "split it" phase). Dating these days is not so easy so before he blames gays and lesbians, he should do a damn survey and ask people WHY they are still single.

[KAYLEE BURRIS]

01:11 AM on 12/21/2011

um excuse me RICK Santorum is it?,just thought to clue you in,the lgbt community isn't coming to your family nor anyone elses to ruin your or any others marriages.the only ones ruining marriages are the ones asking for a divorce.

To the Bachmanns,pray yourselves to gain a soul that is more Christ like,and pray the ignorance away.

[freedom is right]

03:40 PM on 01/07/2012

As to your's and all the left's judgment of the Bachmanns I ask, does God have a right to want his creation to live and behave a certain way? And how is it wrong to believe that He DOES have a right and that He has revealed His will to us through the Bible? And further, how is it wrong to want to help those who ask for help to change and follow God's will? Just asking.

[WCWinner]

06:15 PM on 01/07/2012

Who says god's a "he."
The currently fashionable god would be a lot more empathetic is s/he were a woman.

[KAYLEE BURRIS]

11:01 PM on 01/07/2012

i am trying to help the bachmanns i told them they needed to pray.

[mjvoter]

02:00 PM on 12/18/2011

I'm still waiting for Rick Santorum to make a statement about how in the world he managed to mistake Jerry Sandusky for someone who is a role model of the perfect adoptive parent. It was Rick Santorum who sponsored Jerry Sandusky for a Congressional Angels in Adoption Award. That award has now been rescinded because as we all know Sandusky is a pedophile and apparently alot of people knew it. Rick Santorum is no judge as to who a moral person is, who is a good spouse, who is a good parent or what a healthy relationship is. He proved with Sandusky that he is not capable of making those kind of judgements without being wrong, wrong, wrong.