Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

drm604

(16,230 posts)
Sun Mar 11, 2012, 09:52 AM Mar 2012

Voters Slowly Realizing Santorum Believes Every Deranged Word That Comes Out Of His Mouth

This is an Onion article, but sometimes satire speaks truth.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/voters-slowly-realizing-santorum-believes-every-de,27518

..."I honestly thought he was just playing up to the far-right voters, because that's what Republicans are supposed to do in the primaries," said Grand Rapids, MI resident Dan Banks, who explained he had dismissed as manipulative campaign rhetoric Santorum's assertion that President Obama would send Christians to the guillotine. "But now it's dawning on me that this guy means it, all of it. Every single thing he says is an accurate depiction of how he sees the world."

...

Gallup polls taken during the campaign show an evolving awareness among voters that Santorum is not lying about any of the horrifying things he says. For example, in August of last year, 96 percent of voters said they thought Santorum could not possibly be serious when he said gay marriage was "an issue just like 9/11," compared with only 9 percent today. And in that same time span, the number of voters who believe Santorum was not at all kidding when he said the president had a "deep-seated antipathy toward American values and traditions" has increased more than tenfold.

...

"I get that Romney's just mouthing words he doesn't mean and Gingrich is a really astounding hypocrite," said Seattle voter Kara Gallardo, a lifelong Republican who nevertheless admitted she felt a creeping sense of dread as she began to grasp that the words uttered by Santorum could not be more heartfelt. "But when Santorum says that contraception is dangerous because sex is supposed to be procreative, he is not messing around. If he becomes president, you know he sincerely plans to do something about it."

"I mean, with the other guys, you can dig into their past and find at least some shred of rational thinking, even if they're cynically downplaying it now," Gallardo continued. "But I get the sense Santorum is speaking nothing but his completely unfiltered thoughts. I know it's weird to say this about a politician, but I sort of wish he were lying to my face at least a little."
2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Voters Slowly Realizing Santorum Believes Every Deranged Word That Comes Out Of His Mouth (Original Post) drm604 Mar 2012 OP
I normally can spot Onion articles quickly. This one, I'm still wondering how much is reality.... hlthe2b Mar 2012 #1
I, as a Democrat, actually went through some of the same thought processes drm604 Mar 2012 #2

hlthe2b

(101,708 posts)
1. I normally can spot Onion articles quickly. This one, I'm still wondering how much is reality....
Sun Mar 11, 2012, 10:44 AM
Mar 2012

I honestly think one could find evidence to write such a story--sadly, it is unlikely any percentage so high--in terms of REPUGS coming to terms with Santorum's REAL intent--is so unlikely. Any who can think for themselves, still live in a state of denial

drm604

(16,230 posts)
2. I, as a Democrat, actually went through some of the same thought processes
Sun Mar 11, 2012, 10:50 AM
Mar 2012

Last edited Sun Mar 11, 2012, 11:22 AM - Edit history (1)

as the, admittedly fictitious, people in that article.

While I knew that Santorum was very right-wing culturally (I'm a Pennsylvanian, after all), I thought that maybe some of it was political pandering.

But now that I see him taking more and more extreme positions that can only hurt him politically, I've realized that he's the real thing. Fortunately, it's unlikely that "the real thing" could actually get elected in this country (at least I have to believe that to keep my sanity).

On Edit, I should add that I think there likely are many Republicans who've been turned off, and maybe even frightened, by his rants against contraception.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Editorials & Other Articles»Voters Slowly Realizing S...