Rick Santorum: Equality Comes From 'God Of Abraham, Isaac And Jacob,' Not Islam

Rick Santorum said during a campaign stop on Friday that the concept of equality comes from the "God of Abraham," not from other religions.

"I get a kick out of folks who call for equality now, the people on the left, 'Well, equality, we want equality.' Where do you think this concept of equality comes from?" said Santorum, according to ABC News. "It doesn't come from Islam. It doesn't come from the East and Eastern religions, where does it come from? It comes from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that's where it comes from."

Santorum went on to suggest that people who don't live according to what he termed "God's law" can't claim "equality."

"Don't claim his rights, don't claim equality as that gift from God and then go around and say, 'Well, we don't have to pay attention to what God wants us to do,'" Santorum continued to the enthusiastic crowd. "'We don't have to pay attention to God's moral laws.' If your rights come from God, then you have an obligation to live responsibly in conforming with God's laws, and our founders said so, right?"

The Huffington Post's Howard Fineman reported that South Carolinians generally despise "political correctness" and judge their politicians for their willingness to shun it. By that measure, Santorum succeeded.

However, the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned his remarks. "The Quran, Islam's revealed text, is the best refutation of Mr. Santorum's inaccurate and offensive remarks, which are unbecoming of anyone who hopes to hold our nation's highest office. Christians, Jews and Muslims all worship the same God and share religious traditions that promote justice and equality," said Director Ibrahim Hooper in a statement, reaffirming Islam's place as one of the Abrahamic religions.

Santorum faces an uphill battle in South Carolina, where Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are vying to win the state.

Comments

[America Paradise-Lost]

12:05 PM on 02/15/2012

Mr Obama is Muslim and not American born, chameleon in appearance, a tax artist; Oh, where did his tax base go? He aborted it. Applaud? I don't think so. When we are forced to be micro-chipped, forced to pay for our own health-care or be fined, forced to pay for Obama endless vacations, forced to bailout banks, welcome the to the neo-American-tyranny. I may not vote for Rick Santorum, but after reading your derogatory remarks from great minds I believe I will.

[Wizer]

04:02 AM on 01/31/2012

Can you imagine this guy as president? "I'm sorry, these rights only apply to straight christian americans.
Jews, muslims, gays, all other religious beliefs, you don't have full rights as americans. "

Want to know the funny part? Evangelicals don't consider HIS religion as valid, they think catholics are all condemned to burn forever in the afterlife.

[synergie]

11:14 PM on 01/26/2012

It actually doesn't come from the Abrahamic religions, but is found in the Eastern ones. I guess if Sanctorum bothered to educate himself about anything other than the folds of his small intestine, he might know that.

[Vlad Roudenko]

07:08 PM on 01/24/2012

"It doesn't come from Islam. It doesn't come from the East and Eastern religions, where does it come from? It comes from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that's where it comes from."

You sure got to love a clown like Rick. Where does he think Judaism and Christianity come from geographically speaking? Regarding his statement about Islam, it is quite plain that he knows absolutely nothing about it. Abraham is one of the prophets of Islam. So, logically, it does come from Islam as well.

[aeweidman]

10:10 AM on 01/24/2012

At this point even the "tea party" and the religious right have to see him as an embarassment , he's just way too far out there. As a resident of south/western Pa. I can assure you he was never this holy when he was here or when he was a Senator. If you look closely you will find he was a thief , a liar, and a fake. These are not the power points of a religious man!

[roscoewpa]

12:40 AM on 01/24/2012

If jesus were to come to Santorum in disguise as:
A staving beggar Santorum reply no food for you we dont do welfare here.

A man dying of thirst Santorum reply no we fracked all the land and have not a drop to spare for you

A woman who was raped Santorum reply just make the best of it btw we dont have a support group for you as that social program was eliminated as well.

Santorum to jesus never fear we have our people in our control they depend on us for the little food, air and water left in the world and we charge the top dollar for it, for now we have instilled the fear of God into the people of this land we destroyed

[Levar Patrick]

05:22 PM on 01/23/2012

Next stop in the south he should dance around in a robe and scream "Jesus" and put his healing hands on sick people.

[BobSF94117]

03:22 PM on 01/23/2012

I should have added, that if Rick is talking more recent roots, the French Revolution.

[BobSF94117]

03:21 PM on 01/23/2012

"Where do you think this concept of equality comes from?"

Well, gosh, that's a question with a complicated answer. Part of it arose out of pre-Christian common law in the British Isles. The ideas of spiritual equality came out of the Indian subcontinent and even further East. If we're talking equality among citizens, we can thank man-on-man-sex Greeks for that one.

Poor Rick. An obviously well educated man willing to debase himself with nonsense just to win. It's sort of sad.

[barbara0309]

01:34 PM on 01/23/2012

Perhaps I'm incorrect here, so correct me if I'm wrong....but from what I gleaned from his statement, no one can claim equality unless they are Christian. So if he were (ha ha) elected President, he would not provide equally for everyone, just the Christians?

He really doesn't know diddly boo about other religions. Islam follows the God of Abrahim, and every single Prophet he mentioned, is mentioned and probably WAY more revered by Muslims than they are by Christians.

[Vlad Roudenko]

07:12 PM on 01/24/2012

"b­ut from what I gleaned from his statement, no one can claim equality unless they are Christian."

By his logic only Christians who follow the laws of Moses can claim such rights as equality. By that standard I would imagine most Christians would be denied their rights.

[Ed Baker]

01:04 PM on 01/23/2012

Vox rex, vox dius - remember that one Ricky?

[WinterM]

12:00 PM on 01/23/2012

...Is it sad that Bachmann made a LOT more sense than this tool? First off, religious equality is a touted right in this country, which he is blatantly disregarding. Secondly, separation of church and state is a touted responsibility of politicians, which he is blatantly disregarding. I sound a whole hell of a lot like a broken record with these candidates... Why the hell are we STILL mixing religion and politics?

[Yeah-Me]

02:54 AM on 01/24/2012

Fondue...

Religion = Wine flavored cheese dipping goo
Politics = Those toasted bits of bread that you dip into said cheese goo...

[WinterM]

11:35 AM on 01/24/2012

And unfortunately, that's one of the truest metaphors for the state of politics in this country.

[DMSmith]

02:54 AM on 01/23/2012

No, Rickie, the founders did NOT say so.
This man is a blithering idiot. What IS he doing representing himself as a potential President?

[Mohd Inam ullah khan]

12:31 AM on 01/23/2012

I guess the US elections are now changing it to Indian style of working where parties talk about things which take them away from real issues... as far as his comment is concerned he does not see that Quran mentions all those prophets he has mentioned if he has not read Quran then no one can help him.

[mushimom]

09:11 PM on 01/22/2012

The dude is a whack job.....