Rick Santorum Accuses Obama Of 'Hubris' And 'Snobbery' For Wanting All U.S. Kids To Attend College

The most animated exchange of former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum's Saturday morning event in Manchester, N.H. came when he called out President Obama for his "hubris" and "snobbery" for proclaiming that all U.S. children should get a college education.

I was so outraged by the president of the United States for standing up and saying every child in America should go to college. Well who are you? Who are you to say that every child in America should [go to college]? I mean, the hubris of this president to think that he knows what's best.

I have seven kids. Maybe they will all go to college. But if one of my kids wants to go and be an auto-mechanic, good for him. That's a good paying job: using your hands, using your mind. This is the kind of snobbery that we see from those who think they know how to run our lives. Rise up America, defend your own freedoms. And overthrow these folks who think they know how to orchestrate every aspect of your lives.

It was a memorable moment during the 30-minute question and answer session with the Pennsylvania Republican, winning him a nice applause from the crowd. The argument feeds into several narratives, whether it is Obama's alleged elitism or the intrusion of government into different facets of personal life. But Santorum could have chosen a better setting to unveil the new line. The event took place at St. Anselm college.

Comments

[knight7se7en]

09:33 PM on 02/21/2012

Hubris and snobbery to encourage young people to attend college. I have officially heard it all. Can we make him the GOP candidate now?

[leadingladyliane]

06:20 PM on 01/10/2012

Interesting. I've heard it said that education is the great equalizer, so it only seems fitting that Rick Santorum doesn't want that. And for someone who went to Pennsylvania State University (BA),
University of Pittsburgh (MBA) and Dickinson School of Law (JD), I find it telling that he would consider creating the opportunity for all to get a formal education the epitome of "hubris" and "snobbery" since it's clear that he's a beneficiary of said education. Sounds like he's afraid of the consequences of all those educated people. Me thinks, lol!

[biskitdaddy]

09:11 AM on 02/22/2012

"Sounds like he's afraid of the consequences of all those educated people."

He's afraid that if they become educated they'll be able to think for themselves. Perish the thought!!!

[caffeinedrone]

06:07 PM on 01/10/2012

I never saw it coming: Rise up and defend your right to be dumb!

[22Keys]

04:04 PM on 01/10/2012

Santorum's position would make sense if: 1) Greedy corporations brought manufacturing back to this country. 2) The minimum wage was a liveable wage. He is right of course that we are sending more people to college than can benefit from it. High college dropout rates are the direct result of allowing in too many students with limited cognitive skills.

[lacaliffa1288]

01:59 PM on 01/11/2012

Education is never a waste. College student drop out for many reasons. Sometimes they simply didn't want to make the effort. But often it's because they learn from the experience and career counseling that there are other options that appeal to them; like vocational technical school and targeted training for things like tax preparers, flight attendants, etc. As far as "limited cognitive skills" are concerned, there are too many college graduates who still fall into that category - Rick Santorum for example!

[vogonpoet42]

03:56 PM on 01/10/2012

The GOP are quickly morphing into America's own version of the Taliban

[chiara0]

03:19 PM on 01/10/2012

It is 'hubris' and 'snobbery' to confidently assume people would not want to have an education, and that you can decide on their behalf that they don't need an education.

[lacaliffa1288]

02:07 PM on 01/11/2012

That absolutely is snobbery for Santorum to claim to be the judge of which children deserve educational opportunities and which do not. Every child deserves the opportunity and we have an obligation to future generations of Americans to ensure that they have that opportunity. Santorum seems to think that a person doesn't need a good education if they plan to work as "just" a skilled laborer. Education is important for everyone, no matter how rich or how poor. A go education will serve you everyday of your life at work, at home, in your community. Never stop learning. Santorum proves that education alone does not necessarily make a person intelligent.

[ninjacb]

02:17 PM on 01/10/2012

funny. those are the exact words i use to describe the entire repugnant republican party.

[mjc]

12:45 PM on 01/10/2012

There is a difference between saying (paraphrasing) every American child should have the OPPORTUNITY for some sort of post-high school education, not being required to or forced to but just have the opportunity Lots of us know computer keeks who took college courses but never got degrees because they were so damn good as computer techs and programming. Leave stereotypes for the Republicans. Real Americans should not worry about whether or not they fit into some sort of pigeonhole job which could come with a college degree.

[lacaliffa1288]

09:49 AM on 01/10/2012

The President did not advocate forcing every child to go to college or a vocational tech school that still qualifies as higher education. The President believes that every child should have the opportunity to go to college (or votech) if they want and not be prevented from going because they can't pay $20k, $30k, $40k or more per year. If it is snobbery to want equal opportunities for all of our children to be all that they can and want to be, then add me to the list of snobs! For Republicans who think an auto mechanic doesn't need higher education, I say that is snobbery! A person may not know if he wants to be an auto mechanic or not but he should have a good education and the opportunity to make an informed choice. A well-educated auto mechanic is still an educated citizen of our nation. A college education does not prevent anyone from working with their hands but it helps us to make better decisions every day! Every child is worthy of the best education available and it will serve them all of their lives, regardless of their vocation.

Perhaps Republican leaders fear an educated public; a public that might actually research the information they see and hear from pundits. They might make better decisions if they learned to question the outrageous things that are said just to make them angry, prejudiced, and fearful. Maybe an educated public wouldn't be as easily manipulated.

[sonjasmom]

11:47 PM on 01/09/2012

Of course, if people don't go to college, and they instead undertake careers which we need -- auto mechanic, waiter, hotel cleaner - at which they may not earn as much as college grads, Santorum and the rest of the Repubs will make sure that they have no social security, no Medicare, and that unless they saved substantial amounts from the lousy-paying jobs, they will either work until they drop, or spend their retirements in poverty.

[support and defend]

09:14 AM on 01/10/2012

Auto mechanic is hardly a lousy paying job. Contrary to the false rhetoric spewing Dems (and apparently, you), "Republicans" are not advocating that social security and Medicare be done away with as your "make sure they have no" assertion implies. At some point, however, we all have to realize that as a nation cannot afford to spend more than we have without dire consequences. Just once I'd like to hear an advocate of the limitless "social safety nets" tell us when they think that is. And I'm not sure I get your last point. Are you saying the government (i.e. the taxpayer) should be responsible for providing every citizen a comfortable retirement? Sounds great. As long as I'm first in line and I get to decide how much of other people's money I need to be comfortable.

[lacaliffa1288]

09:31 AM on 01/10/2012

Yes, it's true that Republicans have not said that they want to dismantle Social Security. What they say is they will gradually divert more and more funding from teh program until it "withers on the vine." They don't want to admit that they want to dismantle it so they'll simply bleed the funding away until it dies. Social Security is solvent. If no adjustments are made, it can fund 100% of its obligations until 2036. At that time, it can still pay off 77% of its obligations. But there are adjustments that can extend it even beyond 2036. Remove the CAP! Why do I pay the contribution on every dollar I earn while those earning more than $110,100 contribute nothing on earnings above that cap. Stop the use of Social Security funds for things it was not intended to pay. Republicans would like nothing better than to take the SocSec $2.6 Trillion surplus and use it for tax cuts for their wealthy contributors!

[progressive Dee]

11:25 PM on 01/15/2012

And I am tired of Repubs continuely touting the social safety nets as too much gov. spending especially SS which is payed for by the working tax payer.They always use this excuse as to why gov. is broke which of course has nothing to do with a huge revenue loss brought on by loop holes,subsidize,and big tax breaks for the rich.All the working man wants is a fair playing field-not someone elses $ the line you hard core tea baggers like to spew all the time.

[sheahananne2]

10:47 PM on 01/09/2012

Talk about hubris and snobbery. Mr. Sanctimonious; I don't believe the president was saying "every child in America should go to college" in the manner in which you took it. Every child in America should go to college because the playing field for jobs in this country has changed.
Since we no longer have the jobs in this country that could and would have provided a decent living for someone who didn't wish to go to college, and everything else is so technologically advanced; in order to compete, every child in America should go to college. I believe what the president means, and this is just my opinion, is that every child in America should be able to go to college; however, we all know how far from the realm of reality that is.

I admire your stand that if your child wanted to be an auto mechanic then he should be an auto mechanic. Now, if you child wanted to marry his/her gay lover; well, then...to paraphrase Ricky: "Well who are you? Who are you to say that every child in America should grow up to be heterosexual? I mean, the hubris of this candidate(s) to think that he knows what's best. This is the kind of snobbery that we see from those who think they know how to run our lives. Rise up America, defend your own freedoms. And overthrow these folks who think they know how to orchestrate every aspect of your lives."

[Ursomonie]

07:39 PM on 01/09/2012

Idiotic.

[SLCPunk]

06:31 PM on 01/09/2012

Snobbery? This coming from a guy who has his own sex residue named after him?

[Mac Road]

05:35 PM on 01/09/2012

"This is the kind of snobbery we see from those that think they know how to run our lives." Hard to believe he said that.

[Ursomonie]

07:40 PM on 01/09/2012

It's unbelievable. But I think all the crowd heard was "snob".

[mojolib]

05:24 PM on 01/09/2012

It is NOT hubris or snobbery to want every child to go to college! Everyone needs an education beyond high school to succeed in life. And "College" does not have to mean a 4 year liberal arts education. College can mean a trade school or technical college! Even auto mechanics need an education beyond what a high school can give them in their specialized field. I totally agree with nicwheeler1968. Our children need to be educated...and a high school education is not good enough! Pres.Obama is looking out for the welfare of our young. I get sick of people not giving him credit when credit is due.