Two
Republicans Criticize Santorum for Remarks about Gays
Conservative group faults GOP for ‘timid’ support
of senator
CNN,
April 24, 2003
By Sean Loughlin, CNN Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON—Critical comments
about homosexuality by a leading Senate Republican were labeled as
“unfortunate” by two GOP colleagues, who said they don’t represent the
ideals held by many in their party.
“Discrimination and bigotry have no place in our
society, and I believe Senator (Rick) Santorum’s unfortunate remarks
undermine Republican principles of inclusion and opportunity,” said Sen.
Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, according to a statement from her office.
Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-Rhode Island, released a similar
statement on Thursday, disagreeing with Santorum’s remarks, published Monday
by The Associated Press. In an interview with the wire service, Santorum
criticized homosexual activity, citing it with incest and polygamy, among
other things, and describing it as a threat to society and the family.
“I thought his choice of comparisons was unfortunate
and the premise that the right of privacy does not exist—just plain
wrong,” Chafee said. “Senator Santorum’s views are not held by this
Republican and many others in our party.”
Snowe and Chafee are moderates within their party, and
their comments are noteworthy because it appears to be the first time
Republican senators have rebuked Santorum for his comments.
But a spokesman for Santorum predicted the controversy
over the remarks would soon fade away, and conservative groups stepped up
their praise for the Pennsylvania Republican. One group, the Family Research
Council, faulted Republicans for displaying “timid” support for one of
their own.
Most Republicans—including the White House—have
avoided saying anything at all on the subject, which has touched a nerve with
gay rights advocates and many Democrats.
“It is clear that many top GOP leaders cannot bring
themselves to offer a spirited defense of marriage for fear of being accused
of bigotry by Democrats and their allies among homosexual activists,” said a
statement from Ken Connor, president of the Family Research Council.
A couple of GOP lawmakers have come to his defense,
including Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and his Pennsylvania colleague,
Sen. Arlen Specter. “Rick is a consistent voice for inclusion and compassion
in the Republican Party and in the Senate, and to suggest otherwise is just
politics,” Frist, R-Tennessee, said in a statement released earlier this
week.
Several conservative groups have rallied behind Santorum,
who holds the No. 3 slot in the GOP Senate leadership.
‘Man of honor’
The Christian Coalition released a statement Thursday,
blasting the “liberal organizations and the liberal media” for trying to
“foster a jaundiced agenda,” and hailing Santorum as a “man of honor.”
“Homosexuality clearly is an alternative lifestyle,”
said Roberta Combs, president of the group. “We stand with and support
Senator Santorum.”
In the AP interview, Santorum talked about things that
are “antithetical to strong, healthy families” and he brought up a case
pending before the Supreme Court dealing with a Texas law on sodomy.
“If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to
consensual (gay) sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you
have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right
to adultery,” Santorum said in the interview. “You have the right to
anything. Does that undermine the fabric of our society? I would argue yes, it
does.”
At another point in the interview, Santorum said marriage
is a bond between a man and a woman. “That’s not to pick on
homosexuality,” he added. “It’s not, you know, man on child, man on dog,
or whatever the case may be.”
Many Democrats, notably those seeking the 2004
presidential nomination, have taken issue with Santorum’s comments.
White House mum
The White House has declined to weigh in on Santorum’s
remarks, in contrast with the administration’s denunciation of comments last
December by Sen. Trent Lott, R-Mississippi, that many criticized as racially
insensitive. And in March, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer had harsh
words for Rep. James Moran, D-Virginia, who said Jews were a driving force
behind the war with Iraq.
In both cases, the men were forced to resign their
leadership posts within their respective parties. Lott stepped down as Senate
majority leader and Moran resigned as a Democratic regional whip.
Santorum has stood by his comments. He has both defended
them as an accurate reflection on the law as it relates to homosexual activity
and also complained that they had been taken out of context in the AP story.
Challenged about his comments Wednesday at a town hall
meeting in Pennsylvania by a man who identified himself as gay, Santorum said
he respected the man’s opinion, but he stood his ground.
“Obviously, I can’t represent everybody’s
viewpoint,” Santorum said.
A spokesman for Santorum expressed optimism Thursday that
the controversy would soon go away.
“This story is kind of dying down,” said Robert
Traynham. “There is really nothing new to report.”
[Home] [News] [Lawrence
v. Texas] [Santorum] [Spreading
Santorum]
