The American Spectator : Satan and Santorum

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Satan and Santorum

By Paul Kengor on 2.22.12 @ 6:08AM

Perspective from Reagan's Evil Empire speech.

Like vampires fleeing a cross, the secular world shudders and trembles at the sight of Rick Santorum delivering a speech about good and evil at Ave Maria University in Florida in 2008. Santorum's statement came 25 years after another much-maligned social conservative, Ronald Reagan, delivered a similarly fiery but much-needed statement in Florida in 1983. In both cases, our liberal friends recoiled in horror, mortified that any American other than Barack Obama or Jimmy Carter might dare remark on matters of faith and state, of the temporal and eternal.

I caught excerpts of the Santorum speech for the first time yesterday, when America's omnipresent force -- Matt Drudge -- posted the link under the grim, black-and-white headline, "SANTORUM'S SATAN WARNING." Immediately, the remainder of the natural universe leapt in knee-jerk hysteria, and soon Santorum's warnings of the Evil One were the talk of a stunned nation.

As I digested the speech, I was struck at how so many of Santorum's themes and words -- which were right on the money -- echoed those expressed in Ronald Reagan's historic Evil Empire speech. Santorum ruminated on the "father of lies," spiritual warfare, truth, vanity, sensuality, temptation, pride, education, abortion. Like Reagan, he fears that the "great political conflict" at work in America "is not a political war at all, or a cultural war -- it is a spiritual war." In that war, "the father of lies has set his sights on none other than good, decent, powerful, influential United States of America."

And then, like Reagan, he finished with a message of faith-based optimism for the faithful gathered in the room: "My message to you today is that you will lose, you will lose battle after battle; you will become frustrated, but do not lose hope. God will be faithful, if you are."

As for Ronald Reagan's Evil Empire speech, it was many things. It is remembered principally, and correctly, as a bold, long overdue utterance of unadulterated truth about the USSR, which Reagan aptly described as "the focus of evil in the modern world." But the speech was much more. It looked inward at the sins and evils at work in America -- as did Santorum's speech. It was first and foremost a speech about evil generally, theological as much as political -- like Santorum's speech. As Reagan himself put it, "We know that living in this world means dealing with what philosophers would call the phenomenology of evil or, as theologians would put it, the doctrine of sin." Reagan dared to use the "J" word, inserting a distinctly Christian claim: "There is sin and evil in the world, and we're enjoined by Scripture and the Lord Jesus to oppose it with all our might."

Reagan's speech came at 3:04 p.m. on March 8, 1983 in the Citrus Crown Ballroom at the Orlando Sheraton Twin Towers Hotel. The audience was the National Association of Evangelicals. He began by thanking all those present for their prayers, saying that their intercession had "made all the difference" in his life. He cited his favorite quote from Lincoln, about being driven to his knees by the conviction he had nowhere else to go. He then commended the role of religious faith in American democracy. "[F]reedom prospers only where the blessings of God are avidly sought and humbly accepted," Reagan maintained. "The American experiment in democracy rests on this insight." He said the discovery of that insight was the "great triumph" of the Founders. Indeed it was.

Characteristically, Reagan cited Thomas Jefferson on God and liberty and George Washington on the indispensability of religion and morality to "political prosperity." Reagan bemoaned the "modern-day secularism" that had discarded the "tried and time-tested values" upon which American civilization was based. He expressed deep concern over rising illegitimate births and abortions. He pushed for prayer in public schools.

Reagan then spoke without fear about evils pervading American life. "Our nation, too, has a legacy of evil with which it must deal," said Reagan. "[T]he long struggle of minority citizens for equal rights, once a source of disunity and civil war, is now a point of pride for all Americans…. There is no room for racism, anti-Semitism, or other forms of ethnic and racial hatred in this country."

Like Santorum, Reagan essentially agreed that America too had been victimized by Satan. Racism and slavery and ethnic hatred were among the Devil's vicious victories in the United States.

Only then did Reagan turn his attention offshore -- toward the Soviet Union. "[L]et us pray for the salvation of all of those who live in that totalitarian darkness," asked Reagan, "pray they will discover the joy of knowing God. But until they do, let us be aware that while they preach the supremacy of the state, declare its omnipotence over individual man, and predict its eventual domination of all peoples on the Earth, they are the focus of evil in the modern world."

And yet, like Santorum, Reagan was wary of the temptation to pride, to vanity, including mistaken and misplaced pride and vanity. It was there that he offered the most famous passage in his speech:

I urge you to speak out against those who would place the United States in a position of military and moral inferiority…. I urge you to beware the temptation of pride -- the temptation of blithely declaring yourselves above it all and label both sides equally at fault, to ignore the facts of history and the aggressive impulses of an evil empire, to simply call the arms race a giant misunderstanding and thereby remove yourself from the struggle between right and wrong and good and evil.

Reagan quoted Whittaker Chambers. In so doing, he cast the struggle facing America as a spiritual one. Reagan stated:

The real crisis we face today is a spiritual one; at root, it is a test of moral will and faith. Whittaker Chambers, the man whose own religious conversion made him a witness to one of the terrible traumas of our time, the Hiss-Chambers case, wrote that the crisis of the Western World exists to the degree in which the West is indifferent to God, the degree to which it collaborates in communism's attempt to make man stand alone without God. And then he said, for Marxism-Leninism is actually the second oldest faith, first proclaimed in the Garden of Eden with the words of temptation, "Ye shall be as gods.''

Reagan then finished with a burst of faith-based optimism, quoting one of his favorite Scripture verses, from Isaiah: "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increased strength.… But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary."

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About the Author

Paul Kengor is professor of political science at Grove City College. His books include The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism and the newly released Dupes: How America's Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century. His next book will examine Barack Obama's mentor, Frank Marshall Davis.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (158) | Leave a comment

Brian Mc| 2.22.12 @ 6:59AM

I've now, found my New Year's Resolution...better late than never. My knees will find the carpet. A personal battle with evil can find no better place to start and it's high time I started.

Jack in Wi.| 2.22.12 @ 7:23AM

Of course Obama is evil. So is Santorum with his constant warmongering. You can't be called pro-life and want to bomb innocents. I saw Santorum give a speech at a local pro-life dinner. While it was all right, he hasn't got the rhetorical or intellectual skills to carry the debate. They had a poll last week on likeabilty. Ron Paul led among Republicans. with 42%, Romney was at 34%, Santorum and Gingrich were in the 20's. Obama was at 50%. Santorum is the kind of guy like Goldwater was, nasty and off putting. He also uses the words I too much. His voting record is generally atrocious. He has been a moderate Bush Republican when the chips are down. He was Bush's favorite sellout when he needed a Judas for some issue.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 11:16AM

Jack so are you and all those that bear false witness. All those like you that hate jews and spread false teachings will be held accountable according to christian scripture.

Yeah, Santorum spends just about 8 hours a day spouting war and mongering. Yeah, he like all conservatives just can not wait for another killing field. We live for it, love the stench of napalm, just can not wait to sacrifice our children, and burn up our treasury. Of couse, we are so stupid. We seem to have this crazy idea that the US has actual enemies that seek our destruction.

Oh, you mean libertarian Goldwater? Man, that was precious. You will even throw your own under the bus for Ron Paul. Absolutely amazing. You will lie about Goldwater?

Jack in Wi.| 2.22.12 @ 12:57PM

I backed Goldwater in 1964 and saw him speak, and his vice presidential nominee as well. In retrospect, he was a warmongering crackpot who we were lucky wasn' t elected. He also was the first guy to push the agenda of Planned Parenthood of which he was a fervent supporter and to openly support legalized abortion.

I voted for McCain as well, only in the hopes that he would drop dead on innaugeration day. Of course I knew he would never be elected, especially in this state. As terrible as Obama is I think McCain would have been worse. We would be in a world war with China, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, syria,Iran and Egypt. McCain was Goldwateresque in his warmongering.

Islam was a backwater until we stuck Israel in the middle of it and started to constantly interfere in the countries they controlled. We did nothing but stir up a hornets nest. We have wasted trillions of dollars and a mountain of blood pushing the agenda of the oil lobbies and the Israeli lobbies. It is time to end it not mend it. Bring the troops home and send nasty, chicken hawk, warmongers, like Santorum, back to where they came from.

Nemo| 2.23.12 @ 9:04AM

Why don't you just go away? This letter would show you are a nut-job even if no other of your all-too-voluminous writings did.

JesusFC| 2.26.12 @ 11:54AM

Jack,
Your opinion is very valuable .
So valuable that I strongly recommend you save it for yourself and do not share
it with anyone.

George Appley| 2.23.12 @ 2:52AM

Obama is the anti-Christ....As Rev.Wright says:
"It's in the Bible."

Ward Bond| 2.22.12 @ 12:58PM

Brian, I think Rick Santorum is hitting a nerve in America. I feel like you do because what's going on in this county is becoming very clear. True leaders lead by steadfast courage, not appeasement.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 1:43PM

De Debil made my buy dat dress.

Nock| 2.22.12 @ 3:58PM

How do we know that Satan isn't speaking through Santorum? He seems possessed to me. He's got reptilian eyes. Has anybody checked his feet to see whether they are cloven hooves? I suspect Santorum is Satan himself which is why he wants all that power!

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 4:32PM

De Debil made his wife buy dat dress, an' now she am de...
DEBIL WID DE BLUE DRESS ON

Appleby| 2.22.12 @ 7:41AM

Today is Ash Wednesday. I will return to praying the Rosary on the subway going home at night, even if I am standing in a crowd and especially when I am facing five seated young men pretending to be asleep. Prayer should be our first defence against the gathering darkness; and not being afraid to pray is one of those most effective ways to wield that defence. Life is short. Often it is shorter than we think.

Al Adab| 2.22.12 @ 10:56AM

May He bless you Appleby:
Nothing Santorum said is any threat to the Liberty of the citizens. Contrast that to the actions this administration takes every day. See the WSJ in re capital gains taxes.

That said, Santorum needs to get back on message, back burner the social issues as we know where he stands there and get on with promoting an economic platform which empowers rather than enslaves Americans. We can grow this economy. There is no reason to accept the current condition as a new norm. Any nominee needs to get on point and hammer it home.

Layne S| 2.22.12 @ 7:57AM

Thank you, Prof. Kengor for reminding us of history.

Marco2| 2.22.12 @ 8:47AM

Indeed, Santorum is the second coming of Ronald Reagan. No doubt about it. I can't wait for the 44 state landslide.

canuckistani| 2.22.12 @ 10:47AM

....for BHO.

RR was a one-off. Ricky does not have the temperment or charisma to pull off what RR did.

JJ| 2.22.12 @ 11:53AM

And Obama does? Dream on.

Al Adab| 2.22.12 @ 1:39PM

JJ:
The Lefties worship (literally) him. To them he is the annointed one.

JJ| 2.22.12 @ 3:35PM

Maybe in San Francisco, but the people I know have seen the light. They see the man behind the curtain.

Al Adab| 2.22.12 @ 4:10PM

JJ:
Please expand. I would be interested if you are familiar with any Leftists who would vote for someone other than Obama.

TrueBlue| 2.22.12 @ 7:12PM

Most of the liberals I know, all of whom voted for Obama like it was the best thing they'd ever done in their lives, are refusing to even go to the voting booths this November because they either a) think he has lied to them and they can't stand the idea of voting R, or b) because they think he is too conservative and that the Dems should put someone else up.

Then of course there are all the people I know that voted for the Hope and Change and have realized it was all a great big farce and are going to vote R just to get rid of the PoS.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 1:48PM

Canuckistani,
Dees Chrishuns kno dat de Debil is doin' all de evul in de whirld, weez gots to git wid de pogram an' send de money to de Repuglican parti so dat Satan won' sen' us to Hell, wear dere is no air cundishuning.

POST American| 2.22.12 @ 8:47AM

-----REALITY CHECK.

One and all MUST check out that latest
video of Santorum being publicly confronted
for BOTH his support of the ANTI-Constitutional
NDAA 1021 (secret arrests/ 'disappearance' of
US citizens)

------AND

-his links to the Globalist plundering
finance mafia ----Goldman Sacks.

For a few moments --the surface really
was the soul.

------------------------------PRICELESS!

canuckistani| 2.22.12 @ 10:53AM

There's a whole lot more where that came from.

The deafening silence by the BHO campaign is revealing, folks. The GOP bloodletting has just begun and the dems have learned that one does not get involved when your opponents are killing eachother.
Trotting out Graham's idiot son yesterday was special. He chose a philandering blowhard as more "christian" than BHO. Voters know that simply does not square with the truth.
The Graham mystique is gone and junior ruined it by failing to use the brain God provided him.

Ricky's satan tour is also DOA for people with some sense of reality.

JJ| 2.22.12 @ 11:56AM

To Obama's minister satan is the White Man. I say bring on this battle and let it expose just what type of religion Obama belongs to. Let us learn that it is the white man who must suffer and repay the black man for the years of slavery that ended 150 years ago. Let us expose the racism that is part and parcel of Obama's belief system.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 1:51PM

Blacks do have more soul than whites.

JJ| 2.22.12 @ 3:36PM

There is a little black in all of us ;-)

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 4:33PM

And we use black on our shoes- unless they are brown shoes.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 1:56PM

One and all MUST check out that latest
video of Santorum being publicly confronted
for BOTH his support of the DE DEBIL, DAT GRATE SERPINT
NDAA 1021 (secret arrests/ 'disappearance' of
US citizens)

------AND

-his links to the Globalist plundering
finance mafia ----DE DEBIL, DAT GRATE SERPINT
For a few moments --the surface really
was DE DEBIL, DAT GRATE SERPINT

Old Soldier| 2.22.12 @ 8:57AM

Bah! I go to church on Sunday, I don't need preaching from a failed Senator.

"The real crisis we face today..." is not a spiritual one, it is a financial one. Democrats and Liberal Republicans like Santorum have spent to the point that we owe more than our annual GDP, and they have promised much much more.

Santorum needs to tell me how he's going to fix it - with more details than socon Hope and Change.

Bruce| 2.22.12 @ 9:21AM

Soldier;
I would submit that if we had more leaders with spiritual conviction, we wouldn't be in the mess we are today. Santorum, as well as others, leave their spiritual (and all other) conviction behind when it is expedient. Do you not think Satan uses indebtedness to drag people down to a level where they lose hope? The adversary will find whatever cracks he can to get to us. C.S. Lewis explains the workings of Satan and his minions very well in "The Screwtape Letters".

The Big E| 2.22.12 @ 9:40AM

The financial crisis is merely a symptom. The spiritual crisis is the disease.

Old Soldier| 2.22.12 @ 10:01AM

It would be a vast improvement if a President, a Judge, or more than 1 in a 100 members of Congress took their oath to the Constitution seriously.

Whether personal honor or obedience to the Ten Commandments was the reason makes no difference to me.

The Big E| 2.22.12 @ 10:47AM

Completely agree.

canuckistani| 2.22.12 @ 11:11AM

Not really.
What would Jesus have done on the eve of the civil war? He said zero about the emancipation of all slaves.
What would Jesus have done after the crash of '29? Luke 14:33 neuters ALL debate on this point.
What would Jesus have done when Hitler's brownshirts burned the Reichstag and stole the country? Organized a rebellion? Nope.

What would Jesus have done when HST ordered atomic bombs be dropped on cities? Nothing. His kingdom is not of this earth.

People's spirituality is just fine, it is religion and a sad array of hypocrites that suppress the rights of all Americans.
I've met people not on Ricky's Christmas card list that demonstrate the path of Jesus far more than any of the Pharisees prancing around the country as Matthew 6:16 warned.
When you have charlatans like Graham's idiot son, or frauds like McDonnell applying their angry narrow views of women to public policy, Jesus has nothing to do with it, just lost men grasping for something outside of spirituality.

Writers on here should take a long look in the mirror on Ash Wednesday to account for their acts in God's name.

The Big E| 2.22.12 @ 12:09PM

Canuckistani,

What you are complaining about is an excess of religion, what I am complaining about is a shortage of faith. It is sad that you do not recognize the difference between the two.

Your questions concerning Christ's theoretical behavior in various ugly political situations demonstrate that you misunderstand Christ's purpose on earth as surely as those who, in His own time, thought He had come to kick the Romans out of Israel.

"People's spirituality is just fine, it is religion and a sad array of hypocrites that suppress the rights of all Americans."

Indeed, it is - the religion of humanism, which elevates man to the status of gods, and thus can justify the most egregious of atrocities - and hypocrites like Barack Obama - and yourself, by the way - who rail about religious people "imposing" their views on others, while all the time cramming their hateful ideology down the throats of millions.

Ward Bond| 2.22.12 @ 11:21AM

Big E, You nailed it.

LibertarianU| 2.22.12 @ 11:04PM

Really? Somehow a spiritual disease is causing both Republicans and Democrats to spend my kids money? Financial shortcomings are pandering to voters. voters are idiots for blindly re-electing the same problems. Often, using the excuse that they are good people, with strong faith, as a cover to re-electing an idiot who they never bother to learn about.

David| 2.23.12 @ 12:30AM

I think there's a misunderstanding. All of the things you just described are part of the spiritual disease.

Spiritual disease is healed when people pray. That is strange thinking to a lot of people, but not to those who experience the results of prayer.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 1:57PM

DE DEBIL, DAT GRATE SERPINT

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 8:03PM

Debil wid de blue dress blue dress
blue dress blue dress
Debil wid de blue dress on
Debil wid de blue dress blue dress blue dress
Debil wid de blue dress on
Good Golly Miss Molly...

Von Mises Jr.| 2.22.12 @ 9:01AM

Great article Professor Kengor. But for those who do not understand our Founding Fathers, Constitution and history of Western civilization; there is another more practical point to ponder. Q: Where have we seen misery in history?
A: Serfdom, Slavery and Socialism.

So the issue that is a common thread in these doctrines is man enslaving man. Serfs were broken on the wheel, slaves whipped, Eunuchs (you get the picture) and comrades subjected to the totalitarian state. I rest my case as to where evil lies.

canuckistani| 2.22.12 @ 11:16AM

This was never discussed by Jesus. The invention called democracy predates Christianity, was implemented in a polytheistic society where a fairly open social system existed.

It may be more apt to separate religion from democracy, as the founders intended it, and to stop inferring things from scripture that do not exist.

Von Mises Jr.| 2.22.12 @ 11:55AM

So Moses did not warn the Pharoh of ten plagues on Egypt if he refused to "let My people go?"
http://www.allaboutthebible.ne.....n-plagues/

Are liberals now rewriting the Bible? Jesus was all in for slavery???

canuckistani| 2.22.12 @ 3:01PM

New Testament, please and thank you.
The OT is littered with justifications for genocide, slavery and stone age philosophy which the debating of underwrote the entire Jewish religious structure we have today. No settled doctrines, just eternal circular agruments.

Circular Argument| 2.22.12 @ 4:01PM

* * * * * * * * * *

New Testament = followers of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ = "Do not think I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them"

Law and the Prophets = Old Testament

Old Testament = Law and Prophets with prophecies of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ = New Testament

* * * * * * * * * *

canuckistani = liberal

liberal = follower of liberalism

liberalism = social and political and economic ideology of tyranny

tyranny = unintelligent dishonest emotional prattle devoid of reason and experience

unintelligent and dishonest emotional prattle devoid of reason and experience = canuckistani

* * * * * * * * * *

Von Mises Jr.| 2.22.12 @ 7:45PM

In canuckistani's world, voluntary tithing equals thivery and confiscation.
If you go to Mass, you must give Obama your money.

Al Adab| 2.22.12 @ 11:21AM

Nothing Santorum said in this regard should cause concern. Evil, by whatever name, does exist. All the Lennonesque "imagining" will not change that fact.

That being said, this is the year in which we must refocus on the economic issue. The GOP can present a vision of an empowered citizenry, one with opportunity (instead of plots and conspiracies) for all to strive and perhaps succeed. It is a vision of freedom not dependancy. We should encourage, not discourage, investment and entreprenuership.

Yes, Jr. there is evil in the world and a good portion of it lies in those who seek control over their fellow men.

Von Mises Jr.| 2.22.12 @ 11:59AM

Unfortunately Al, so far the message from the GOP is that we are better masters than Democrats.
After reading "Ameritopia," me thinks the Democrats are Platonian or More's "Utopians" that seek a messiah figure, while the GOP seems to be happy with Hobbes "Leviathan" where they work the levers of statism behind the scenes.

Al Adab| 2.22.12 @ 12:05PM

Good quote comes to mind. "Do not speak to me of making government more efficient, for I intend to reduce its size."

Barry Goldwater, Conscience of a Conservative

Where are such leaders today? America deserves "A new birth of Freedom".

JJ| 2.22.12 @ 3:39PM

I had a 90 minute conversation with Barry Goldwater in the early 90's at his home in Phoenix. He was my childhood hero. That conversation was very refreshing. He was truly open minded and a patriot. He would love the Tea Party today and had little use for the GOP establishment. He was an independent thinker. We need more Barry Goldwaters.

Von Mises Jr.| 2.23.12 @ 7:41AM

I envy your meeting the great Goldwater.
But we do have some shining lights of conservatism today such as Rush, Levin, Allan West, Bachmann, Palin and others. Just look for the people the MSM hates and you are probably on target.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 1:57PM

DE DEBIL, DAT GRATE SERPINT

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 8:06PM

he can slap you aroun' wid his fork tail
and stab you wid his pitchfork,
he ams de lion
de tiger
an'
de bear
Lions and Tigers and Bears! Toto, this is definitely not Kansas!!

Average American| 2.22.12 @ 9:09AM

Professor Kengor,

Excellent article and response to the constant mudslinging that many so called "conservative journalists" (Drudge) have been making about Santorum and the GOP field in general.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 1:57PM

DE DEBIL, DAT GRATE SERPINT

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 8:12PM

... de Debil's tail has such a fork in it dat he can eat his spaghetti wid it. De Debil is Mr. BadAss, an' you has best better keep outta his way ifs you knows what is good for ya, Bub. You don' mess wid Mister Satan E. (as in Evil) Beelzebub because he is de meanest bro in de 'Hood an' he will whip yo ass, boy quicker'n you can say 666.

The Big E| 2.22.12 @ 9:43AM

When Santorum spoke to that crowd in 2008, he committed the most grievous of all political sins one can commit in the the modern United States - he told the truth.

Telling the truth will not be tolerated, and will be stamped out at every opportunity.

canuckistani| 2.22.12 @ 11:22AM

Yes, but a true leader would back his rhetoric up with solutions. Where do the bounds of traditional protestantism exists? First Baptists? Lutherans? Or is just the murky Methodists and Anglicans that are lost?

If Ricky wants to pick up the piety mantel, then he better start applying Jesus' teachings to his public policy pronouncements on Iran, Israel, care for the poor and square his tax policy with Luke 14:33.

Until then, just another charlatan using Jesus' good name in vain.

Seeing stooges like Dewine on the air makes me laugh, and watching Christie's obvious discomfort being surrounded by these hypocrites is also amusing.

The Big E| 2.22.12 @ 12:25PM

If you actually understood my post, Canuck, which you clearly did not, you would note that I never once called Santorum a "true leader." In fact, I never commented on his leadership potential at all. All I said was that he had told the truth, and that telling the truth is an unforgivable political sin in modern America.

And it is. Lying in politics, whether from the left or the right, is glorified as a skill which should be cultivated, not a stain to be expunged. Politicians - again of all stripes - routinely stand before crowds and say only what they think that particular crowd wants to hear, not what they themselves actually think or believe or would try to do if elected. They are, by definition, LYING.

From time to time, one of them - again on either the left or the right - slips up and tells the truth.

When a conservative slips up and tells the truth, he or she is ripped to shreds by a press (which, like you, is so filled with hatred for anyone who is different that they cannot tolerate anyone actually voicing a dissenting point of view) in an effort to deter others from voicing those same opinions.

When a liberal slips up and tells the truth - such as Obama telling Joe the Plumber he's going to "spread the wealth around," or vocalizing his disdain for those who, "cling to their guns, or Bibles, etc." - his or her statements are quickly swept under the carpet as fast as possible in order to keep as many people as possible in the dark about the person in question actually thinks.

Either way, telling the truth becomes a political sin, is not to be tolerated, and whether from the left or the right, is to be stamped out at all costs.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 1:58PM

DE DEBIL, DE EVUL ONE.. DAT GRATE SERPINT

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 8:13PM

....Sho Nuff! De Badass o Badasses

Bill| 2.22.12 @ 9:53AM

Santorum's problems:
1. no tax plan, no regulation reform plan, no "bold" monetary policy, no plan to reform the entitlement programs
2. lack of executive experience
3. losing his senate re-election bid by 18 points in 2006.
Gingrich is a much better candidate.

canuckistani| 2.22.12 @ 11:23AM

Where's Perry?

Bill| 2.22.12 @ 2:29PM

He's gone because of "you people."

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 1:59PM

DE DEBIL, DE EVUL ONE.. DAT GRATE SERPINT.
HE AMS BEELZEBUB.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 8:17PM

Here com' de Debil
Sock it to me
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DE DEBIL| 2.25.12 @ 8:47PM

Oh I will. To de heinzmost. You be de one in dat blue dress.

Laurey Boyd| 2.22.12 @ 10:26AM

What a beautiful article. And what an inspiring way to begin Lent. Thank you.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 2:01PM

DEBIL TAKE DE HEINZMOST.

tsd| 2.22.12 @ 10:27AM

Everyone has creepy thoughts, just some of us are able to keep them to ourselves.... well most of the time.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 2:02PM

DAT OL' DEBIL MOON.

Vaughn Bartley| 2.22.12 @ 10:48AM

What is really scary about Santorum's airness, is his FINAL realization that we as a country have been in the grips and battling Satan's forces since our inception. Prayerfully we will get to a place where we can truly claim that we are a Christian nation. Which we have surely lacked in our history.

canuckistani| 2.22.12 @ 12:10PM

So when an agnostic Lincoln went to war for freedom, the rebs thought he was on Satan's side, and Booth thought he was on God's side when he shot him in the head.
Somebody has to be right, don't they?

When the Church did nothing when Mussolini, Franco and Hitler rose up. When the Church split over Hank's latest divorce. When the Dutch Reformed were using Jesus' name to "civilize" the Indonesians and Zulus. When Basil Manley wanted tribute paid to slave owners in Jesus' name. When Brigham Young took his 55th wife and his elaborated on his views of "the children of Ham". When Bob Jones and Billy Sunday got into bed with the KKK. When RR courted Birchers and other segregationists for Goldwater.

This list can go on and on and on and on.
The constitution was fought for and written by people, people who refused to wrap themselves in false piety like so many of our "heroes" did and still do.

When you step back and actually see what events have helped create the country we have today, it's amazing it actually happened at all if the 'pious' among us had their way.
Perhaps Jesus was more of a radical than we thought?

foreigneristani| 2.22.12 @ 12:36PM

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

Radical.

"Democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with persoal security or the rights of property; and have in general have been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their death"

Amazing.

Americans have the Bible and the Constitution, and can do without the words of utter fools who aren't even American.

Perhaps you can piss off?

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 2:03PM

DE DEBIL IS IN DE DE-TALES.

Vern Crisler| 2.22.12 @ 11:15AM

I don't think the author proved his case that Santorum was really echoing Ronald Reagan. Reagan talked about evil, but he did not mention Satan, nor is it likely he would have appealed to Satanic causality in the way Santorum did.

According to the Book of Revelation, Satan has been bound so that he can no longer deceive the nations. I think blaming Satan for America's problems is a form of blame-shifting. No, it's not the devil who made us do it. If America has gone down the drain morally, spiritually, politically, and financially, it's because we have met the enemy, and it is us.

As VonMisesJr put, the founding fathers were right to choose their words wisely when speaking about religious topics. As leaders, they knew that careless words could stir up sectarian passions, so they spoke temperately and with good measure, as did Reagan. Santorum has yet to learn to speak in this way.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 2:05PM

DONTCHA EVER EAT DEBILED HAM NOR DEBILED EGGS- DEY CAN SENDYA TO HELL!

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 2:35PM

Alan, you are a religion bigot.
Is this like all liberals, Alan? Do you all hate people who have religious beliefs? Are you associated with atheism and other socialist philosophies that seek to destroy our first ammendment rights?

Are you afraid of christianity and christian values?
Do you have some phobia, Alan?

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 4:38PM

Yes, atheism and socialistic bolshevism are out to get us, and are sending messages from outer space via the fillings in our teeth.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 4:55PM

Alan, they are just questions about your post that are obviously sarcastic, hateful, and bigotted, I do not care where they come from, Alan, whether they are from outerspace, the mentally deranged liberal inner space of your scary mind, or the devil.
Alan, you are a religiophobe!

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 7:59PM

That's right, it is all them LIB'RALS fault; if they were gone everything would be simply wonderful.

David| 2.22.12 @ 11:25AM

Hey Old Soldier, you used to be much more reasonable. Who the flip cares if you go to church? That does NOT make you a Christian, a born-again, converted believer in the Lord Jesus Christ!!!

"You don't need preaching from a failed senator???!!!

The fact is Santorum was not preaching (actually giving a speech) to me, you, or anyone other than the students who were in attendance at that CATHOLIC COLLEGE.

Get a life old soldier. Ask God for discernment, judgment and wisdom, and you will come to realize that your criticisms of Santorum are way off base.

canuckistani| 2.22.12 @ 12:16PM

No, they are spot on, it is you that is being pandered to.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 2:06PM

DEBILED FOOD CAKE IS DE WORK OF DE MASTER BAKER,
SATAN HISSELF.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 2:29PM

Gee, Alan why all the hate for religious people, why the sarcastic anger, why are you so afraid of religion and chistians. Have you no repect for the constitution and the first ammendment? Where is the sensitivity? Where is your tolerance?

Why are you a religious bigot?

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 4:40PM

I'm a communist who will put everyobe, including myself, into the Gulag and eat nothing but bread made from sawdust.

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 4:42PM

and OBAMA IS A COMMUNIST
AND A TRANSVESTITE
AND A NEGRO

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 4:59PM

Alan, that is really not nice to say those things about Obama, communism, and transvestites! Hey, Alan, they are your sarcastic, hateful remarks, not mine. You still have not answered why you think it perfectly allright to ridicule and hate religious people and their faith.

Are you a religiophobe, Alan?

Alan Brooks| 2.22.12 @ 8:00PM

I'm a Khmer Rouge soldier marching on Phnom Penh.

Old Soldier| 2.22.12 @ 10:26PM

I work for a big corporation. If I walked into a strategic planning or budget meeting and gave a Hope and Change let's have Faith and battle Satan speech, they would toss me out of the building.

Until Rick Santorum tells me the specifics of how he will bring the budget into balance, I'm not voting for him. (Same goes for the rest of them).

David| 2.22.12 @ 11:34AM

Vern Crisler, I would bust a gut laughing if what you said was not so sad. It is obvious from your ridiculous comments that YOU DO NOT READ THE BIBLE. Satan has NOT been bound so he can't deceive the nations!!! Otherwise, all nations would be full of Christians, including this one. If what you say it true, everyone on earth would be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit. There would be no stealing, adultery, murder, wars, etc.

Does that get through to you? Understand now?

Vern Crisler| 2.22.12 @ 1:40PM

I'm not premill, David.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 11:45AM

This is really laughable. If I did not laugh about it I would most likely cry.

Santorum was giving a speech to AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY! He like many politicians wrote a speech and ADRESSED THAT speech to his audience who ACTUALLY believes there is evil, a Satan, and have a spiritual view of the world. Wow! The sky is falling!

Obama can mention the name of Marx, socialism, seek out marxist professors, slam christians for clinging to guns and bibles and not a peep out of the mouth of the MSM beast.

Once again you bow down to their narrative, their definitions, and their political correctness.

Get off your knees, stand up like men and stop accepting the Liberal narratives. Stop giving them the divine right to determine what you can say, to whom, and where. Stop letting them determine what you can think and not think.

Look I will make this simple to understand. You, yeah, you conservative, need to stop hiding your values in a closet and allowing liberals to parade theirs out in the open and in your face.

Vern, the founders did not say stop talking about spiritual matters and never mention religion, they cautioned to not get involved in opinions about specific spiritual issues and arguments like is there a trinity and many of the current religious differences of their time. There is a first ammendment and it applies to candidates as well.

If we start limiting and become self concious about every word we say, we no longer have those rights. If we can not speak to a specific audience and talk their language and address them in their world view, we have no free speech. If evil, Satan, and many words and concepts are now off limits because liberals say so, what next?

JJ| 2.22.12 @ 12:02PM

And re-direct any criticism back onto Obama. Want to talk about Satan, how about Jeremiah Wright. Want to talk about abortion then how about Obama and infanticide. Use these as opportunities to expose just who is in the White House.

Vern Crisler| 2.22.12 @ 12:02PM

No one is saying that Santorum cannot engage in discourses on theology. This is not a first amendment issue. The issue is one of wisdom. Is it wise for politicians to discuss theological issues? Personally, I don't think so, as it tends to alienate voters, who want their politicians to be concerned more about bread and butter issues. It's better that politicians leave religious discourse to theologians and ministers, who have more expertise in those subjects.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 12:59PM

Vern, you have accepted the narrative that Santorum is only interested and talking about social issues. He just said he WILL not be manipulated and thrown off track by the MSM in discussing economic issues. You have also accepted the narrative that most Americans will be turned off. This is flatly false. Most Americans are very religious and identify with these spiritual concepts; his views are not unique.

You still seem to not want to recognize what is really going on here. It is all about the first ammendment just like the contraception issue that has popped up recently. Reagan spoke at length about religion, secularism, and the Lefts manipulation in this area many times during his political career. It is better for us and our candidates to not be afraid to discuss anything or be intimidated and accepting the dicatorship in this area by the Liberals.

The irony here is you can not see that Obama HAS been quoting from the bible recently and has been bringing religion into everything he is doing not only with the economy and class warfare but social issues as well. Gee, it is ok for the Liberals to act like social conservatives and talk religion when it politically suits them but conservatives should shut up for fear of alienating someone.

Step back and see the big picture here. You are a smart guy.

Vern Crisler| 2.22.12 @ 1:08PM

I said theological issues, not social issues.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 1:51PM

Theological issues are social issues. Catholics are not against abortion because they do not like paying taxes for it. Christians do not want homosexual marriage or dispoove of homosexual acts because they do not like effeminate men. Morality, religion, and ethics all fall under the category of social issues by anyone's definition.

Thanks for wasting my time. Apparently, nothing got through.

Vern Crisler| 2.22.12 @ 2:44PM

We have a fundamental disagreement. The founding fathers were able to distinguish theological issues (doctrine of the Trinity, nature of Satan, etc.) from moral issues (homosexual behavior, slavery, etc.). Why can't you?

Recall that Jefferson spoke of a wall between church and state, but he also wanted homosexuals castrated. You are apparently so besotted with Santorum that you can't make these common sense distinctions that our founding fathers had no trouble in making.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 3:22PM

Vern,

I am not besotted with anyone. I am am more interested in truth not your agenda, your misinterpretations of the founding fathers motivations, nor your strange and false dichotomy between morality and religion. Now your trying to evade the issue and the counterargument by splitting the "atom" again. First you split theology from the social, now you are trying to split religion from morality.

Yes, I recall it well. He was adressing the concerns of some citizens at the time that the goverment might infringe on the rights of their faiths. He clarified by reitertaing the idea that goverment would stay away form the church and not interfere with them as congress shall pass no law resticting religion or the expression of it. His statement is not in our constitution and not law, it is his opinion, an opinion twisted around by those seeking to limit the influence of religion in our nation and those intended on removing it for every conceivable sphere of public life. All morality derives its basis in religion.
Mentioning the name of Satan and referencing evil in a speech to a Catholic audience is not the same as arguing about how many angels dance on the head of a pin with an audience that is hostile to angels and pins. He was not running for audience at that time when was speaking to this audience about his own personal religious views of the world and his own spiritual understanding that seems to be in complete agreement with this Catholic audience.

They also said this,

"Religion, morality, and knowledge, being necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, school and the means of education shall forever be encouraged."

obadiah| 2.22.12 @ 12:12PM

The Republican Party has found the theme for the 2012 election. Evil Obama Marxist and his satanic theology must be defeated. Evil Obama Marxist was indoctrinated by the teachings of Lucifer-worshipping Saul Alinsky and developed his antichrist persona at the devil church of Jeremiah Wright. Islamo-terrorist Bill Ayres is his fellow conspirator. Save America from Satanism - Elect Santorum!

canuckistani| 2.22.12 @ 12:18PM

Look santorum up on google.

Nuff said.

Keep America free.

JJ| 2.22.12 @ 3:41PM

I looked up Obama and got Socialist, Marxists, see Mao, Chicago Corruption, Communists and Satan.

David| 2.22.12 @ 12:24PM

Vern, I will pray for you.

Bam Bam just invoked the name of Jesus at the National Prayer Breakfast. I am sure he did it because...........well...........there is an election coming up. I don't even know if he attended it the past few years.

Santorum gave his speech in 2008, WHEN HE WAS OUT OF OFFICE AND NOT CAMPAIGNING FOR ANYTHING.

Vern Crisler| 2.22.12 @ 1:41PM

Please pray for yourself.

DRed| 2.22.12 @ 1:28PM

Rick Santorum spent most of his adult life in Congress and spent his time since then cashing checks from special interest groups. He's part of the problem.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 1:54PM

Red, that is really funny.
Cashing checks form special interest groups, that is hilarious, then he and Obama have a lot in common.

Go away, troll.

DRed| 2.22.12 @ 2:35PM

Well yes, Simon, they're American politicians. Almost all of our politicians are corrupted by our system. Look at what Rick has done for a living after Congress. Here's how Rick made his money in 2010:
* Fox News paid him $239,153 to appear as an occasional contributor;

* Radio Salem paid him $83,999 to serve as a guest host on "Bill Bennett's Morning in America" radio show;

* The Philadelphia Inquirer paid him $23,000 as a freelance columnist.

* The Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative advocacy group, paid him $217,385 as a senior fellow.

Santorum also collected a total of $332,500 in consulting fees from three corporations:

* $65,000 from the American Continental Group lobbying firm

* $142,500 from Consol Energy

* $125,000 from the Clapham Group, a Virginia-based corporation started by longtime Santorum staffer Mark Rodgers. On its website, Clapham says its mission is to "influence culture upstream of the political arena.

Pretty good work if you can get it, no?

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 3:34PM

Yeah, and one billion from unions, socialist organizations, abortionist, homosexual advocacy groups, minority advocacy groups, NOW, crony capitalist, green groups, anti-corporate, anti-capitalist interest groups, foreign interest groups, and millions of useful idiots for his reelection.

You know you reds have a strange way of making an argument. You accuse others of exactly what you do as if you are not doing it even when you have done it more often and at a vastly greater level and intensity. This ranges from everything from those big spending debt Republicans to those intolerant conservatives. Amazing denial and projection.
Liberalism is truly a mental disorder.

DRed| 2.22.12 @ 4:14PM

Simon, you're projecting what you think my argument is. I'm not saying Santorum is worse than any particular Democrat. The whole system is rotten. He's part of the problem. Our government fails us and it's not because of some supernatural evil, but because of men like Rick Santorum and the system that corrupts them.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 5:13PM

Well, that is odd Red because I recall reading your post for nearly a year and remember you defending this administration, Obama, all liberal politicians, liberalism, and EVERYTHING Obama has done including the very idea and concept that big government is the solution to everything and big government can do no wrong.

Have we had an ephiphany? Are you now willing to submit yourself to reason other than knee jerk liberalism. I am not expecting you to become a conservative and be shouting for the end of all social net programs but are you going to recognize the fundamental truth that government creates more problems than it can solve and the free market not being perfect can do a better job most of the time? Yes, there is a role for government and people do need to be helped when they can not do it for themselves, and yes, sometimes we as a nation do make mistakes, and yes, we must be more cautious in our military and foreign involvements.The system that corrupts them? Gee, you are sounding like our founding fathers who clearly understood the nature of men and the need for limited government!

I think not.

DRed| 2.22.12 @ 5:28PM

I've never been a knee jerk liberal, Simon. But you don't listen, you just attack what you think I am.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 5:44PM

No, I correct myself you are a confirmed, committed, and manipulating liberal troll who will deny the truth about everything including himself, his post, his positions, and his own words when it suits him.

Oh, I listen very well and so do the hundreds of conservatives who have had to listen to your dribble, your attacks, your illogical arguments, your liberal unshaking dogma, your insults, and your snaky obfuscation.

You really are pathetic. I respect peeple who just own up to what they believe, do not pretend to be something else, and are willing to say, I made a mistake or I have now changed my view on this or that.

We all know exactly what you think, you have been telling us what you think for over a year.

DRed| 2.22.12 @ 6:02PM

Exactly. Always a pleasure having a substantive discussion with you Simon.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 7:30PM

Yes, the same old skirting, the same old obfuscation, and the same old evasion from you. Your reply was very predictable.

You evade because you do not have the ability to refute. I know you Red. Remember what I told you some months ago..I was one of you and I now exactly how you think.

I could have taken a running account and copied every single post you have made here and published them entirely to prove my point and like the evasive liberal troll you are, you would arrogantly deny it all.

Reprobate Charlatan DReadful| 2.22.12 @ 7:37PM

No derp?

Max Willsey| 2.23.12 @ 9:01AM

To overlook the evil that is destroying this great country is just what people like Obama and most liberals want. It is true the system has become corrupt. We need more leaders that will fallow Gods and have some morals and respect for what made us great in the first. We now have a leader that has no respect for the courts,our Constitution or the laws of God,Marriage between a man and woman and would allow the abortion of the unborn, this all needs to change and voting this ass out and his thugs is a good start. This man and the liberals he has around him want big government and complete control of the media,internet and all American citizens. If left to him we will have another Hitler and his total control.

Sentience| 2.22.12 @ 2:35PM

Here's the inaccurate part. DRed posted.

David| 2.22.12 @ 1:35PM

DRed, from which special interest groups has Santorum received checks? Just curious.

Nina| 2.22.12 @ 2:08PM

This just amazes me. Much ado about...his faith? Really? He believes in God and if you do, then there is Satan and yes, Satan makes his way thru the world by convincing humans he doesn't exist. What is the difference between this and Obama saying how wonderful the call to muslum prayer sounds to him!? To me, that's far worse and offensive than Santorum saying what he did....

GoldenEagles| 2.22.12 @ 2:26PM

Yes, I agree with the sentiment already expressed by many. This was an excellent piece of writing by Paul Kengor. Thanks for the opportunity to revisit those great Reagan quotes. I appreciate Santorum for making the effort to speak some of the same truths. These truths live in the heart of every true American Patriot. Santorum would make a good vice presidential pick for Newt Gingrich.

Bill| 2.22.12 @ 2:28PM

Santorum opposes the "Right-to-Work" law, establishing his pro-union stance, and guess what! Those labor unions will pour millions of dollars destroying Santorum if he gets the GOP nod.

Pluto Animus| 2.22.12 @ 2:42PM

And I say unto thee:

Magical, invisible friends are for idiots and small children.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 3:40PM

And I say onto you:

Intolerance, insult, and bigotry against those of faith is for true fascist, communist dictatorships, and their useful idiots.

Robert Pinkerton| 2.22.12 @ 2:48PM

The Illuminatus Trilogy, by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson, contains a scene in which a Jesuit priest, talking to an NYPD detective, says that if the United States government is going to carry on as if it were God's representative on Earth, it can expect to be infiltrated by Satanists, just as the RC church.

SeymourGlass| 2.22.12 @ 6:59PM

Indeed. In addition, The Big Lebowski contains a scene where The Dude falls asleep listening to tapes of bowling matches.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 3:41PM

Would you like some tinfoil with that hat?

Nock| 2.22.12 @ 4:01PM

Uh, Satan is superstitious mumbo jumbo. So we have this nut who believes supernatural hocus pocus who wants to be our leader. That's a problem.

Know Won Their| 2.22.12 @ 4:12PM

Uh, unalienable right to brutally slaughter the innocent and defenseless, state sanction of deviant perverted degenerate behavior, confiscation of private property for arbitrary redistribution, tyrannical oppression of free market enterprise, to name but a few generally, to which satanic problematic superstitious mumbo jumbo hocus pocus are you referring specifically?

Nock| 2.22.12 @ 5:39PM

Satan is real...the end is near...roast ye on the lake of fire...Obamazebub...The Evil One...bwahahahaha!

Know Won Their| 2.22.12 @ 6:10PM

Obama is real and the way the truth the life...roast ye earth in a lake of fire as global warming is real...TeazeBubPartyzeBubRacistBigotDenierszeBubs...The Evil Ones are RichzeBubs not paying their fair share...Nwockockockock!

Vern Crisler| 2.22.12 @ 4:30PM

I think Santorum knew all along he would be running for president. He just can't keep a lid on the rhetoric.

Mike| 2.22.12 @ 5:05PM

Great work! Lord have mercy on the US!

Oldefarte| 2.22.12 @ 5:27PM

We pray and seek your devine guidance on almighty one from your oveal office perch. May you bless and keep us from harm oh mighty one, and provide us our daily bread of governmental welfare benefits so that we might better serve you by our votes. Oh hail yes:

http://youtu.be/fVa5B_TFRFM

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 5:34PM

Oh, and for all the liberal trolls......

It would be nice to see you get all worked up and out of control with such vigor and lack of self restrain the next time a radical muslim screams ali akbar and kills some more infidels in the name of Allah.

I would like to see those flares and fireworks go off other than with some guy from pennsylvania that mentions evil in his speech and makes a religious reference to satan to a catholic audience some years ago. Yeah, that guy is crazy, gee there is no room here in this nation for that.....

Oh, that is right...I forgot the first ammendment, says something about the free expression of religion and the free exercise of it. Hmmm...

Nock| 2.22.12 @ 5:42PM

Muslims don't like Christians on their lands. You go on their land, they kill Christians. That simple. Long as we keep futzing around in the Middle East they will kill Christians. Get used to it or pack up and go home.

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 5:53PM

Simple minded moron. That was not worth addressing; keep spouting that idiocy. You are helping us make our case that liberalism truly is a mental disorder.

Hey, Red, have anything to say to this idiot liberal pal of yours? This is what I guess I am not hearing, eh? That pile of illogical, worthless crap you want to be associated with, right?

Simon Templar| 2.22.12 @ 5:57PM

Nocklehead,

Well, I do not like liberals on my land and crazy muslims in my land either. Maybe you should get packing before I kill you. Just following your so-called logic.

Perphezer Onuckba| 2.22.12 @ 6:42PM

Nock,
As one of my prized pupils in Intermediate Transgender Rights To A Third Public Bathroom and Other Ethical Considerations, I'm a little disappointed you have exposed the imaginary weaknesses to our true liberal faith so easily here, in what was just supposed to be a little extra credit designed to boost your gpa from 5.87 closer to a perfect 6.00 on a 4.00 scale. Please refrain from exposing further our imaginary weaknesses of truth and reality we do not under any circumstance admit to ever. Besides, you have that project due Friday on why if conservatives don't like liberals in America, and mothers can kill their own flesh and blood, and women have equal rights, it is such satanical mumbo jumbo hocus pocus futz bwhaha for conservatives to conclude equality and unalienable rights allow them to simply kill liberals in America, and liberals need to get used to it or leave America.

- Perfezbo Oba

Perphezer Onuckba| 2.22.12 @ 7:33PM

I understand if you can't help but put these superstitious mumbo jumbo hocus pocus nuts in their place. Make sure you use the Hope And Change Cross made out of silver and garlic you received for the Twilight As A Reflection Of Real Life In Current Society component of your semester grade, that you got with your cirriculum, syllabus, and Rules For Radicals Textbook. I'll give you extra extra credit for originality.

- Perfezbo Oba

BackToBasics| 2.23.12 @ 1:14AM

How can liberals be considered weak with inromative policy speeches like, "Yes we can" and "We need hope and change" and "Americans need to eat your peas" and "Americans just want to grow the paaah and just have a little slice of the paaah?"

BackToBasics| 2.23.12 @ 1:15AM

sp- informative

littlebytes| 2.22.12 @ 6:14PM

Social Issues Are Constitutional Issues&Should; Not Be Ignored: http://bit.ly/xNs9CU I fully agree with you and wrote about this similarity as well.
For those who think Santorum is only focusing on social issues, please see:Santorum also talks to voters publicly about the other issues see: http://t.co/fvEWEV4T,but the liberal media only focuses on the social issues when they report about him.

GoldenEagles| 2.22.12 @ 7:17PM

REALITY CHECK

A large portion of the U.S. population (80%) identifies itself as Christian. Here is an important passage from the Christian Bible that speaks to the REALITY of the force of evil we call the Devil, to which the Master Jesus gave the name Satan:

Matthew 4

1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

We see that there are many who are shaking in their boots because Rick Santorum spoke to this truth. The question is why? Why are they shaking in their boots? Has the truth come too close to home for them? In as much as they know, that it is this tempter who rules their lives, and not the Spirit of Christ?

Caroline| 2.22.12 @ 8:00PM

Christians believe in Satan. As a lifelong Catholic I can tell you that.

Since they say that man in the White House is Christian, wouldn't he also believe in Satan?

Hitler would be beaming with pride at this media.

He's a Muslim.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_p.....SWSzY#t=28

BackToBasics| 2.22.12 @ 8:19PM

Santorum said this during a speech when he was a private citizen. He's entitled to his opinion. As a politicial office seeker he needs to be circumspect going forward. Truth is necessary in politics but it is not wise or necessary to speak all your mind.

Santorum should keep this Scripture in mind from Proverbs 29:11 = " A fool speals ALL his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards."

BackToBasics| 2.22.12 @ 8:35PM

Mispelling - Proverbs 29:11 - "A fool SPEAKS ALL his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards."

Richard Baker| 2.22.12 @ 10:19PM

On Santorum and Satan, last I checked that's exactly what Christianity was all about. God versus Satan. This is controversial?

POST American| 2.22.12 @ 11:15PM

--------------------FINAL WORD------------------------

---AS its now ON RECORD, not only is
the corporate Globalist media BURYING
Ron Paul ---but there's been MASSIVE
voter fraud in Iowa, South Carolina,
Nevada, Florida, Maine.

On other fronts,

the ANTI-Constitutional NDAA 1021
is passed on the very anniversary
of the passage of the original Bill of Rights.

from Globalist created (---and many
times betrayed and plundered)
US taxpayer underwritten RED China ,
Nancy PELOSI calls for unlimited,
full spectrum monitoring and surveillance
of ALLLLL human activity.

And then there's Ginzburg's betrayal
while in 'E-jipped', perhaps on the very
banks of 'de---Nile'.

----BUT HARK!

"We swear an oath when we come in to
the military to uphold and defend the
US Constitution against ALLLLL enemies
BOTH foreign and domestic."

----While reports have 74% of ALLLLL
donations form the serving military going to
-------------------RON PAUL---------------------.

Theo Prinse| 2.23.12 @ 5:27AM

It was the 1976 CIA's document Team B competitive analysis report that was central to Reagan's policies and the current (sep 2011) Team BII "Shariah; The threat to America" report and the evil Clinton policy of "Muslim Outreach" should be central to Santorums policy as THE evil that is infiltrating US government and Institutions today.

In December the European Central Bank was awaiting their new (Roman & friend of Sarkozy) president Mario Draghi financial policy.

... It turned out to be the same as what Ben Bernanki did/does: lending money to banks for almost zero percentage interest ... instead having western industrialized governments opt for nuclear energy and an electric automobile industry and become independent from islam oil.

This zero interest policy is extremely dangerous setting the stage for precisely what the German politicians wanted to avoid when they entered the Euro of a Weimar situation leading to the financial disorder prior to the Hitler era.

What one has to bear in mind is that the US arranged the western world after WOII to pay islam-oil in US Dollars. So, no matter in what bad shape the US economy is .. the US dollar always receives plenty appreciation and remains the # one currency in the world emphasizing the US as the # ONE super power in the world.
So Germany is a big player in Europe .. but not in the world.

2. The USA has a military expenditure three times bigger than Japan, the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia combined ... Russia has a BNP similar to that of the Dutch.
What many people don't understand is that military arms (and systems) .. is the number one investment in any (US) technological and industrial complex .. Germany has - since the defeat in 1945 - a constitutional embargo on their army.
So Germany is a big player in Europe .. but not in the world.

3. Germany is economically strong in that it was forced to exercise huge austerity (2 trillion) to absorb Eastern Germany. That's where Germany competitive workforce today originates from in comparison to that of South European countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece.

4. Germany is gas energy dependent from Russia and has a strong Coal and Steel industrial base .. France does not. But the French are rich and politically very influential and they have a nuclear device.

So, all in all .. It is difficult to judge the position of the Dutch. The Dutch are the import and export harbor of Germany and the Dutch will financially and monetarily follow Germany. If Germany sticks with the Euro .. so the Dutch will. Vice verse.

5. Greece is a pivot in the European perhaps in the whole International monetary mechanics. If Greece falls - and it is better that Greece falls - it will cascade other countries and ultimately the Euro to fall and this will geo-politically change many political and economical relations. For example. When Assads Syria falls there will be need for a Alevite province and that would apply for the Syrian Kurds as well.

6. So .. the geo-political discussion is not about Germany and how competitive Germany is ... but about America. China, on which the US is economically very depending for their cheap consumer products ... and Saudi Arabia oil which the US is militarily very depending on which two relations are (now) defining the course of the US and consequently that of the entire world ... Germany with it.

The US is cutting on their huge defense so drastically that it will have huge effects on the worlds economy as well. It is why the sunni fundamentalists from Saudi Arabia are allowed by the US to take over the entire north of Africa all the way up to Nigeria (Boko Haram and Kenya Al Sabaab) It is why the US is glad the(ir) Al Qaeda is now in Syria "preventing" the US from interfering in the secret Saudi war in Syria.

All the above is to be projected against the background of the US presidential election of course. The current puppet in the White House of the Muslim-Outreach Islam-oil clique of Exxon, GM, Clinton raised the US debt ceiling from 14 to 15 trillion. This trillion is to be perceived on top of the lousy 200 million USD the democrats have for their re-election ....

Resume: The power struggle today is between
the oil axis USA-Saudi Arabia and
the cheap consumer products axis USA - China.
Europe, Russia, etc are dwarfs

Tim| 2.23.12 @ 11:26AM

This is easy folks!

All Santorum has to do and do it in adds
and with passion at a podium over and over.

"We Christians and Jews believe in a God, our Founders believed in a God, The King James Bible both old and new testiments refers to evil(satin) as the counter flip side to God the maker.

I believe in this word of God as millions of Americans do"

End of story.....he wins by a landslide!

Nitpicking| 2.24.12 @ 9:15PM

There is no counter flip side to God the Creator.

satan can be considered the counter flip side to the archangel Michael but in no uncertain terms to God.

Noleen| 2.23.12 @ 12:42PM

The basics of good and evil are in our everyday lives. Whether or not Santorum's speech is much like Reagan's or not, it is imperative that the message is clear. Evil does exist in this world, and to not be aware of it is like walking out in traffic with blinders on, it will surely take your life. It may not be an instant one either. The biggest lie ever told is that he doesn't exist. I applaud Santorum for calling attention to this. If we look at our world today, we can see the decline of worship towards a Heavenly God, and the increase in putting value on "things" that do not last. The future of America needs to be covered in prayer, while every individual also needs to ask themselves what it is they can do to help keep this free country free.

Tim| 2.23.12 @ 2:19PM

winning Campaign add..........

Random politicians taking oath of office with hand on the Bible
With voice over.........Which candidate really believes
in the words contained in this book......

You can count on Santorum believes in the words written in this Book. What do you Believe??

Wow that would knoock them out of the park

Tim| 2.23.12 @ 2:21PM

You have to hit them with a right cross to the jaw and use the bible to do it

and thats what they fear most and Satin fears it the most as well.

manuel| 2.23.12 @ 6:15PM

If this what you really think is going on, then we are no better off then other nations that put religion in charge of the their governments and ruin real freedoms for the people...only a fool would talk nonsense like this because religion is subjected to many personal wayward and dangerous interpretations like it has been in America's past which help created all these problems we had then and now...and still have some from centuries ago........and so far not one fundamentalist good old boy in America has got it right.
I can only pray to God that Rick Santorum is never elected. If he is or some other GOP religious fool is...we will lose many of our rights and freedoms that we have fought for over a century to get .We will have the return of the Salem witch hunts in 21th century GOP style. We will only be subjected to conservative right-wing views of Christianity and be shot onsite if we do not conform to it...Hey it's possible being that a majority of christian conservatives believe in owning guns and just are waiting for a reason to put them to religious uses. How ironic is that? guns for God...isn't that part of many bad faiths already?....Basis on all this dangerous religious talk and hype coming from the right, I'd say that's their goal...that's the only way they will get their way...in the name of god, shoot those that don't believe. Sound familiar?... It should. because that's what was done in this country's past to the Indigenous peoples...Now do we really want that pass in America's future for those that want freedom from conservative religious views????

POST American| 2.25.12 @ 10:45PM

"Once again, NOTICE, as the REAL campaign
approaches, the REAL issues 'disappear'."

And AGAIN ----

the MOST REAL and pressing of those
issues would be the ANTI-Constitutional
FED, the Globalist RED China handover
and TREASON OP ---and the rabid, full
spectrum EUGENICS 'age-enda' of the
ultra rich, TAX FREE foundations and
NGOs.

Santorum and Romney are ---'on board'.

Gingrich is beneath mention.

'BAR--Rockefeller' Obama is poised to be
re-elected.

Ron Paul is the minister in the whorehouse.

ALLLLL we need to know.

---------ALLL else is chicken feed.