Former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wy.) weighed in on the Republican presidential primary on Wednesday, calling Rick Santorum "rigid and a homophobic."
In an interview with CBS News' Bob Schieffer, Simpson faulted the Republican field for making issues like same-sex marriage and reproductive rights central to their platforms, warning that they would lose favor with voters if the conversation does not change.
"I am convinced that if you get into these social issues and just stay in there about abortion and homosexuality and even mental health they bring up, somehow they're going to take us all to Alaska and float us out in the Bering Sea or something," said Simpson, long known for colorful commentary. "We won't have a prayer."
He continued, "I watch Republicans, they give each other the saliva test of purity, and then they lose and they bitch for four years."
Simpson, who said he is supporting Mitt Romney in the primary, saved his harshest criticism for Santorum.
"He is rigid and a homophobic," Simpson said. "He said, 'I want a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage,' and they said, 'Well, what about the people who are already married?' And he said, 'Well, they would be nullified.' I mean what is, what's human, what's kind about that? We're all human beings, we all know or love somebody who's gay or lesbian so what the hell is that about? To me it's startling and borders on disgust."
Now the co-chair of President Obama's debt commission, Simpson retired from the Senate in 1997 and has often been outspoken on issues concerning his party.
Last April, Simpson made similar comments about Republicans who prioritize issues like abortion and gay marriage. "I'm not sticking with people who are homophobic, anti-woman, you know, moral values while you're diddling your secretary while you're giving a speech on moral values," he said on MSNBC. "Come on. Get off of it."
When asked by Schieffer on Wednesday if he believes that Romney would be able to get through a rough primary and still stand a chance in the general election, Simpson said he believed the former Massachusetts governor could do so.
"The stuff that has come out on Romney has now been rolling for a long time," he said. "Now, Santorum is caught in the roll. He hasn't had the searchlight on him. Every time the searchlight falls -- on Cain, or Newt, or whoever, you know the emperor's riding nekkid [sic] down the street."
Watch the full interview:
Look through more of Simpson's history of colorful statements below:
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'Cow With 310 Million Tits'
"I've made some plenty smart cracks about people on Social Security who milk it to the last degree. You know 'em too ... We've reached a point now where it's like a milk cow with 310 million tits!"
-- Simpson on Social Security
<strong>Source: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/24/alan_simpson_social_security_n_693277.html" target="_hplink">The Huffington Post</a></strong>
'Blood Sweat And Eyeballs'
"A lot of blood, hair and eyeballs have to lay on the floor before we finish."
-- Simpson on fixing the budget deficit
<strong>Source: <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232/?video=1421510966&play=1" target="_hplink">CNBC</a></strong>
'Snoopy Snoopy Poop Dogg'
"This is a fakery. If they care at all about their children or grandchildren, and sometimes I doubt that -- I think, you know, grandchildren now don't write a thank-you for the Christmas presents, they're walking on their pants with the cap on backwards listening to the enema man and Snoopy Snoopy Poop Dogg, and they don't like them!"
-- Simpson on young people and their grandparents
<strong>Source: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/07/alan-simpson-snoopy-poop-dogg_n_832626.html" target="_hplink">The Huffington Post</a></strong>
'The Lesser People'
"We're trying to take care of the lesser people in society."
-- Simpson on Social Security
<strong>Source: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7698698" target="_hplink">Ustream</a></strong>
'Just Let Them Sink'
"We have the ability, and I hope the trust of each other, to adjust and put together a package. And if the American people and the Congress don't like it, then just let them sink."
-- Simpson on the budget deficit
<strong>Source: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,591463,00.html" target="_hplink">Fox News</a></strong>
'Picking With The Chickens'
"You'll be picking with the chickens yourself when you're 65."
-- Simpson on Social Security
<strong>Source: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7698698" target="_hplink">Ustream</a></strong>
"When I Make A Mistake 'It's A Doozy'"
"Over the last 40 years, I have had my size 15 feet in my mouth a time or two. To quote my old friend and colleague, Senator Lloyd Bentsen, when I make a mistake, 'It's a doozy!'"
-- Simpson on Social Security
<strong>Source: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/24/alan_simpson_social_security_n_693277.html" target="_hplink">The Huffington Post</a></strong>
'Sparrow Belch'
"We're going to get rid of all earmarks, all waste, fraud and abuse, all foreign aid, Air Force One, all congressional pensions. That's just sparrow belch in the midst of the typhoon. That's about 6, 8, 10 percent of where we are. So, I'm waiting for the politician to get up and say, there's only one way to do this: you dig into the big four, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and defense. And anybody giving you anything different than that, you want to walk out the door, stick your finger down your throat, and give them the green weenie."
-- Simpson on Social Security
<strong>Source: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/24/alan_simpson_social_security_n_693277.html" target="_hplink">The Huffington Post</a></strong>
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First Posted: 02/22/2012 12:05 pm Updated: 02/22/2012 2:10 pm