Rick Santorum, Wife Karen Questioned By Supporter With Gay Son (VIDEO)

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum and his wife, Karen, faced a direct question from a supporter this week who appeared to be struggling with the former Pennsylvania senator's outspoken positions on gay rights.

"My youngest son is gay," the Greenville mother told the Santorums at a campaign stop in Myrtle Beach on Monday. "I debated for the longest time how to handle my support of you, because what he's been hearing is, 'oh, Rick Santorum hates gays.'"

She went on to say that her son didn't believe in gay marriage rights, and therefore didn't disagree with Santorum on that specific pillar of his social conservative platform, but that strong opposition to his candidacy in the gay community left her with a "sense of guilt" for remaining his supporter.

Karen Santorum fielded the question, claiming that it was "very sad what the gay activists have done out there."

"They've vilified him," she said. "Rick does not hate anyone. He loves them. What he has simply said is marriage shouldn't happen. But as far as hating, it's very unfortunate that that has happened. And a lot of it is backyard bullying."

Rick Santorum then picked up the ball, attempting to clarify that his views on gay rights simply constituted a "public policy difference," not a "personal attack."

He went on to stress his belief that children needed a mother and a father, and that the nation's laws shouldn't be changed to foster a different sort of family dynamic.

(Video above via the Washington Examiner)

Santorum's vocal views on gay rights have made him a popular target among activists who see his beliefs as a serious impediment toward full equality. He's faced heckling and aggressive questioning on the issue, both on the trail and at debates.

At a GOP debate in New Hampshire earlier this month, he was asked what he would do if he found out that one of his sons were gay.

"I would love him as much as I did the second before he said it," Santorum responded. "And I would try to do everything I can to be as good a father to him as possible."

He's also faced more nuanced questions on the LGBT front as of late.

At a recent campaign stop in South Carolina, Santorum was asked for his opinion on a recent viral video that encouraged a nationwide boycott of Girl Scout cookies over the organization's inclusion of transgender people who identify as females.

"I don't know anything about that," he responded. "I don't think that's a federal issue."

Comments

[Toddie Pilates]

06:37 PM on 02/19/2012

Santorum = Mendacity

[BenOK350]

02:44 PM on 01/28/2012

"Rick Santorum then picked up the ball, attempting to clarify that his views on gay rights simply constituted a "public policy difference," not a "personal attack."

Well then let me come and forcefully divorce you, deprive your children of protections, and tell you it's not a "personal attack".

This is the reality that Rick Santorum proposes to dole out to LGBT headed families if elected.

I am a gay parent, and am sure that as a husband and parent, Rick Santorum wholly knows that when somebody hurts his family, it is NOTHING BUT personal.

The hypocrisy and thoughtless disregard for fellow man in his narrative is filthy and revolting. Sorry, Karen, considering what's at stake, I don't see how pointing this out
can be considered unjust vilification.

[Karen E Nikula]

10:32 AM on 02/11/2012

In total agreement w/ everything you said! The GOPer position is not villifying if they are dishing it out, but most definitely is if directed toward them! Classic schoolyard Neanderthal bullies!

[jmoser1973]

03:19 AM on 01/19/2012

Some people may not want to hear this but I do believe that a child should have male and female influence in his life. That doesn't mean mother and father per say. As a lesbian who has raised a son, I am blessed that he had some adult male influence in his life. I could teach him how to be a good man to a woman, but I couldn't teach him how to be a man. He had a cousin who he talked to a lot during his puberty age.
I do hate hearing that it has to be a mom and dad. Children can get influence from any family member, close friends of the family, teachers they feel comfortable talking to, etc.

[charlesdickens]

11:52 PM on 01/18/2012

According to Karen, it's not Rick's homophobia, it's all the fault of the "gay activists."

[Karen E Nikula]

10:33 AM on 02/11/2012

They seriously need to stop & smell what they are shovelling!

[RESXD]

09:44 PM on 01/18/2012

So single parents shouldn't adopt????

[itsjimmy]

09:31 PM on 01/18/2012

Her son is a liar.

[Andrea Papke]

02:36 PM on 01/18/2012

It's ideal to have a Mother & Father. My husband was lucky enough as his Dad is very supportive of my endeavors. Even though my Mom raised myself an sis alone we turned out just fine. I did stay w/my sis in a foster family's home briefly since a caseworker didn't like our new (Aunt's home). Reason we stayed w/ our Aunt is because it's hard at times for a single parent & my Dad never paid child support. Just because my Aunt was married and the Foster lady was married to a man I wanted to live w/ my Mom. There are a lot of un-wanted kids. If I had to choose being in Foster care or living permanently with (2) men or (2) woman I'd pick the latter.

[TBJ]

11:38 AM on 01/19/2012

It's ideal to have two parents, no matter the genders. That's what the facts show.

Still, we don't make laws based on ideals.

[Andrea Papke]

07:22 PM on 01/19/2012

Yes i agree.

[mheinznyc]

12:16 PM on 01/18/2012

I would point out that MY adopted son languished in a foster home for year until I: a GAY PARENT took him into my home and gave him the love and support that no Heterosexual was interested in providing him. Under this presumption that we are "lesser than" and incapable of human kindness and caring for children, you overlook a vast resource to pick up the pieces of the sad refuse of these "proper" heterosexual couples who toss their children to the curb when they can't cope.

[Andrea Papke]

02:56 PM on 01/18/2012

I agree with you. Thou I'm married I don't understand (even in Highschool) boys would ask me if I was gay. How can one explain the ability to easily draw a girl at the tender age I was. Even in my writing it carries a feminine tone. I drew many pictures in Waldport High- the girls wanted to take them home- but teacher had to grade first. I recall the one I drew of Dani Howard, I was happy to see how happy she was to have her very own portrait. Glad your son has a good home.

[MartiniVirtuoso]

05:28 PM on 01/18/2012

Good parenting isn't about sexual orientation. Congratulations on your choice to be a parent and to dedicate yourself to that purpose. Don't let the bible-beating of a few misguided politicians who believe that nailing themselves on a cross will get them to the White House get to you. They don't know anything about gay parents or kids raised in same sex parent households.

[WadeWIFI]

12:12 PM on 01/18/2012

So. When there is a constitutional ban on gay marriage, and gays become permanent 2nd class citizens, do we get to pay a 2nd class tax rate? It's only fair. Get 100% legal protections and rights, pay 100%, get less than 100%, PAY less than 100%.

[xenas mom]

03:24 PM on 01/18/2012

Oh, absolutely not! I just got off the phone with my tax accountant and because of the IRS letter regarding community property states and legally married same sex couples and DOMA, she had to spend twice as long on our return last year as the year before--or for any opposite sex married couple--and because of some business decisions we made this past year, we can expect it to take even longer this year! Not only do we not get to feed at the marriage benefits trough, we get to pay our accountants two or three times more for their time. (BTW: Last year I suggested NOT filing in protest; she suggested NOT a good idea.)

[Bmori]

10:19 AM on 01/18/2012

Perfect example of their on the fly flawed defense:
Gays+ rights = We love gays, just without rights - (Man on dog)
Dan Savage + Google + supporters x outrage = vilify

He gets what he deserves, every other sentence he is trying to bring the government into the bedroom. He is either pandering or needs to seek a psychotherapist ASAP. This man has a very unhealthy obsession with gays and sex in general.

[Hippocritamous]

02:36 PM on 01/20/2012

WHOOPS! Though "gay children" instead of "deceased children" is a really good Freudian slip.

[obtusegoose]

08:54 AM on 01/18/2012

"He went on to stress his belief that children needed a mother and a father, and that the nation's laws shouldn't be changed to foster a different sort of family dynamic."

So why doesn't Santorum support banning divorce and adoption? Those are the ONLY two ways to keep children with their mother and father. Gay couples are selflessly picking up the pieces when straight couples give their children away; and if you let straight couples divorce then obviously children won't have a mother and father in the same home. Which makes one question why Santorum is targeting gay people as the problem, when the reverse is true. Answer: Banning divorce and adoption would have a direct impact on straight people; and you don't win elections by taking away rights from your voting base do you? Add to that, Rick's blatant bigotry, homophobia, and warped ideology, and you've got hate mongering at its finest. The fact that his wife Karen is unwilling to see what's right in front of her face is even more galling. These two vile people truly deserve each other. I pity the children that are being raised in that household.

[wendoxia]

10:23 AM on 01/18/2012

excellent post. Nice to see someone intelligent around HP!

[rockysparks]

08:51 AM on 01/18/2012

Rick Santorum, like many so-called "Christians", chooses to misinterpret the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth which was to "Love One's Neighbor as One's Self", not "Love Your Neighbor Unless He's a Big Ol' Homo".

For Karen Santorum --- the woman who was the girlfriend of the doctor who DELIVERED her prior to her marriage --- to play the victim card for her husband, who regularly plays offense against gay people, is just the height of hateful hypocrisy. No respect for her. No respect for her husband.

[Robbert Bricker]

08:16 AM on 01/18/2012

"Karen Santorum fielded the question, claiming that it was "very sad what the gay activists have done out there. They've vilified him," she said."

'they' have vilified him? REALLY?!?!? he has not only vilified the glbt community, he has demonized them. what a complete joke. this man is trying to institute his religion's own version of sharia law. these christians have NO business in the politics of a secular country.

[mangomelon]

09:08 PM on 01/24/2012

But not any less business trying to push his religion than secular people have trying to push theirs..... it's a two-way street, buddy.

[Robbert Bricker]

06:57 AM on 01/25/2012

um... first, "secular" is not a religion, rather, it is pertaining to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred. furthermore, the usa is not a theocracy and therefore your religion or anyone's has no bearing on secular law. you may have a right to practice your religion in your hoe and at your church, but you do not have the right to legislate your religion on the rest of the country... again... like it or not... the usa is NOT a theocracy. its not a two way street, buddy.

[YoMama]

04:14 AM on 01/18/2012

Redux:

G.O.Tea-rannical
Theo-fanatical
Closet inad-equal
Opus Dei-monical

Geo-inanical
Bombing Iranical
Meg'lomaniacal
Proudly illogical

Ricky-sans-sensical
Leave us in peace-ical

[David Andrew Clark]

03:16 AM on 01/18/2012

He acts like, if we legalize marriage equality nationally, and adoption for same-sex couples, that children will never see their parents, or that children will be taken away from their parents. No, when we adopt, we're giving a child who doesn't already have a home or a loving family, just those things: a home and a loving family. He needs to quit. He's not being taken serious by serious people.

[rt1027]

03:55 AM on 01/18/2012

and yet still has supporters...........

[Ed whowannaknow]

04:39 AM on 01/18/2012

This is the USA after all. United States of As#holes