After Wednesday night's showdown during the Republican primary debate in Mesa, Arizona, GOP Candidate Rick Santorum and debate moderator John King clashed during CNN's post-debate coverage.
CNN's Gloria Borger interviewed Santorum and asked the candidate for his response to critics who say he spends "way too much time talking about divisive cultural issues."
Santorum inserted a critique of the media when he answered Borger's question. "People care about families. People care about what's happening to our society," he said. "But I do get these questions as John King tried to do on contraception and other things, that are sort of outrageous types of questions, and then the next question from the reporter is, 'why are you talking so much about social issues?'"
While moderating the debate, King asked all of the candidates about abortion, a question that was booed by the debate audience. "So they ask," Santorum continued. "And then they say 'oh, but you're talking about social issues all the time.' But I understand the game and I intend to stay on message.'"
Following Santorum's interview, CNN's Anderson Cooper, who was hosting the network's post-debate coverage, tossed to King who was about to interview GOP candidate Ron Paul. King immediately responded to Santorum's criticism. "And Anderson a response to Sen. Santorum quickly there," King said. "I understand the game as well and I don't think it's out of bounds to ask a presidential candidate about something they said during a presidential campaign, but that's how the process works."
View King's response below and Santorum's claims above.
Also on HuffPost:
In South Carolina, Juan Williams suggested that Gingrich's comments about blacks and food stamps were insulting to all Americans, especially black Americans. Gingrich fiercely denied those charges, and doubled down on his comments -- and got a standing ovation from the audience.
John King began CNN's South Carolina debate by asking Gingrich about his ex-wife's explosive interview. Gingrich responded with a searing condemnation of the question, and the "elite media."
One of the most discussed moments of the GOP debates came when Wolf Blitzer questioned Ron Paul about his views on health care. Members of the audience cheered when Blitzer asked if society should let an uninsured man die.
George Stephanopoulos asked Mitt Romney whether states could legally ban contraception. Romney was offended by the question, and said there was no point to it because no state was considering doing so.
John King asked Mitt Romney if he planned to follow in the footsteps of his father -- who once ran for president -- and release his tax returns. Romney said, "Maybe," prompting boos from the audience.
Byron York asked Michele Bachmann if she would be submissive to her husband as president.
Members of the audience booed when Megyn Kelly replayed a clip of a gay soldier asking the candidates whether they would reinstate DADT.
Brian Williams asked Rick Perry if he ever had trouble sleeping over the possibility that one of the 234 prisoners who were executed during his term could have been innocent. The audience cheered at the mention of 234 executions, and Williams also asked Perry what he made of that reaction.
Chris Wallace asked Rick Perry to defend his decision to allow undocumented college students to pay in-state tuition. Perry was booed when he said that people who do not believe in educating undocumented students do not have a heart.
Chris Wallace and Newt Gingrich got into a hostile exchange at a debate in Iowa after Wallace asked him to explain reports that his campaign staff had quit en masse. Gingrich accused the Fox News panelists of playing "Mickey Mouse games."
Bill Maher: Republican Debate Review
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Posted: 02/23/12 07:49 AM ET | Updated: 02/23/12 09:56 AM ET