Former senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) has been criticized in the past for his statement that he “almost threw up” when he read John F. Kennedy’s famous 1960 comments about the role of religion in public life and the separation of church and state. This weekend he took time out to say that he would still like to throw up.
Santorum is notorious among civil libertarians for his deep-seated opposition to separation principles. It is a view that is becoming all the more common — as this column discusses.
If you recall, Kennedy used the speech to address anti-Catholic prejudice and doubts raised over his ability to be independent of Rome. Kennedy famously said “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote; where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference; and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the president who might appoint him or the people who might elect him.” For most Americans, it was a statement that made them feel proud. For Santorum, it may him feel woozy.
Last year at the College of Saint Mary Magdalen in Warner, N.H., Santorum told the crowd of JFK’s 1960 Greater Houston Ministerial Association speech, “Earlier in my political career, I had the opportunity to read the speech, and I almost threw up. You should read the speech.”
Santorum this weekend left no doubt about his rejection of separation principles: “I don’t believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute. The idea that the church can have no influence or no involvement in the operation of the state is absolutely antithetical to the objectives and vision of our country.”
He later answered that his statement was quite literal in wanting to throw up: “To say that people of faith have no role in the public square? You bet that makes you throw up. What kind of country do we live that says only people of non-faith can come into the public square and make their case? That makes me throw up.”
It is the ultimate expression of faith-based politics. Ironically, it is the type of intermingling of faith and government that many of our most implacable enemies might find appealing. Around the world, nations are reeling from the influence of religion on politics. Yet, in this island of stability of separation of church and state, Santorum appears to want to tear down the wall that has long defined our political system.
With the latest comments, we all may feel a bit woozy.
Source: Washington Post
AY,
Good morning.
I see from your posts, quoted below that you disclaim responsibitly for the posts quoted from earlier here on this thread. That is the first one with secret ID/ group member sig.===================
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secret ID7 Group Member1, February 27, 2012 at 11:25 am
Send next group meeting time to my Helsinki email address.
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Anonymously Yours1, February 27, 2012 at 11:36 am
Well AN….OS informed us Saturday that the great state of wyoming was going to buy an assault aircraft of some sort…
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The second is included to help you find it.
Maybe it is only on my laptop?! Whatever. You are indeed correct in that models find willing copycats. And our school murders are a good example.
I wonder tho’ if it is not the copying of bullying that starts the whold phenomena rolling. To suppress by bullying is naked aggression.
The dog eat little dog, and so on.
Let’s give it another try. Maybe someone pulled my chain to see me react.
Fine, a learning experience.
But when our government pulls it it’s far more dangerous.
So which thread were we on. Will check. Smile. Good luck to you if you feel attacked.
There are no troll filters which work as yet, that’s why all forums, ancient or modern, have them. Agreed?.
Re: Santorum’s medical insurance premiums. I googled Santorum tax returns. Four years from 2007 to 2010 are available. In 2010 he took no deductions for medical insurance or expenses. $0. I did not do the other years.
I Googled the Congressional health insurance scam. The government pays 72% of the premiums.
Here:
According to the Congressional Research Service, the FEHBP offers about 300 different private health care plans, including five government-wide, fee-for-service plans and many regional health maintenance organization (HMO) plans, plus high-deductible, tax-advantaged plans. All plans cover hospital, surgical and physician services, and mental health services, prescription drugs and “catastrophic” coverage against very large medical expenses. There are no waiting periods for coverage when new employees are hired, and there are no exclusions for preexisting conditions. The FEHBP negotiates contracts annually with all insurance companies who wish to participate. There is plenty of competition for the business; FEHBP is the largest employer-sponsored health plan in the U.S.
Those who don’t like their coverage may switch to another plan during a yearly “open season” period. To help with the choices, FEHBP conducts an annual “satisfaction survey” of each plan with more than 500 members and publishes the results.
Like other large employers, the government pays a large share of the cost of coverage. On average, the government pays 72 percent of the premiums for its workers, up to a maximum of 75 percent depending on the policy chosen. For example, the popular Blue Cross and Blue Shield standard fee-for-service family plan carries a total premium of $1,120.47 per month, of which the beneficiary pays $356.59. Washington, D.C.-based employees who prefer an HMO option might choose the Kaiser standard family plan. It carries a total premium of $629.46 per month, of which the employee pays only $157.36.
In addition, members of Congress also qualify for some medical benefits that ordinary federal workers do not. They (but not their families) are eligible to receive limited medical services from the Office of the Attending Physician of the U.S. Capitol, after payment of an annual fee ($491in 2007). But services don’t include surgery, dental care or eyeglasses, and any prescriptions must be filled at the member’s expense.
—–end of quote–
DogTalking again:
Yeah, not as good as Canadian Health Care but a whole lot better than I get from the Government. Maybe they pay nothing for Rickyboy now that he is out of Congress. Another Forbes article said that they still do pay his health coverage.
After what he said to that kid he should renounce any help from the taxpayer.
The tax return for the year 2010 is interesting. I am going to give it some more review.
Any of you can obtain his tax returns by entering Santorums Tax Returns on Google. He makes a lot of money since going off the government payroll. It is some other critters’s payroll. I would like that last little thing in the way of medical care that members of Congress get: for $491 a yar in the year 2007: Office of the Attending Physician of the U.S. Capitol. No surgery, dental or eyeglasses or prescriptions. That fee didnt show up on his tax return as a deduction either.
Hey, little Ricky, I have a better job for you than President of the UNITED STATES. Go to Rome, get on your knees, & suck on the Pope’s butt-hole till you die!
Firefly,
I am thinking he wants to be the first American pontiff.
If Rick The Santorum is elected as our president, will he also be our Ayatollah?
Ayatollah Rick.
Yes, it has a ring to it.
He obviously wants home-schooled colleges.
Raff….
That’s OK…. Not everyone thinks as twisted…..
Thanks..I am slow.
Raff…..
It was about Dennis Rodman and carmen Electra…. You never know which team they were playing for…..
AY,
What did you mean about Rodman?
Emotional vasoline is never in short supply on this blog. I wonder if crude will be as low as it has become today? I see the pump prices are still abounding, but your words will never astound me.
I choose to not ignore but to not respond to anything else… They know who they are….and I will take the upper less traveled road…. The passage way is much safer and less congested….. Now….if this is another attempt to run me off…. Not a chance…. I’ve got that part down….
raff,
I know Ohio democrats were ready for law suits from the republicans long before the election took place … we were anticipating law suits to delay certification but the turnout was so huge and the defeat so total … not to mention the crowds … that we figured the republicans would think twice before pulling such a move and obviously that’s what happened.
Make no mistake … we were prepared then and will be again this year.
No I have not jacked this thread….. I feel for those that cannot release malovent…. They live in their own misery…. They usually only invite people of like mindedness….. I usually don’t swing that way…..no one is trying to run anyone off…. Just stick to your script and you’ll do fine…. I enjoy free exchange of ideals….
What I have noticed is if someone responds to my postings… Either they are attacked or I am….so please find health….. Check your motives…. If I am the cause of your distress…. I must be amazing….. Check to see if your belief is really rational…. Just because…you’ve learned that something is fine….because that’s the way we’ve always done it….does not make your beliefs rational….. Take care…and may peace and happiness come to you in most unexpected ways……
No I707 I did not “false flag” you or anyone else…. Not today at least….. Not in that habit….
I do know what it feels like to be the victim of verbal assault on this site…. This very instant….. May healing come to you in your sorrows…..
Blouise,
No way there was voter fraud. McCain was smart enough to know he would have lost that one worse than he lost the election.
I feel a little sorry for McCain … it’s been 4 years and his campaign is still leaking.
id707,
Sleep well. Chardon is a quaint little town with a population just over 5,000 … center of our maple syrup industry which means almost every child from this area has been there on a field trip. It’s a pretty little place … also the seat for Geauga County. Very sad.
to all,
when will we be able to hug each other over the net? words can’t do enough.
Blouise,
Didn’t see your post, caught up in my struggles.
Deeply sorrowed, it is when fate strikes near that it becomes real.
Don’t we know some that……..
Do what you feel is appropriate and be satisfied with that, says father id707.
Am sorry for you and them.
Will check out the Straford tomorrow, It’s one thirty am here. bedtime.
console yourselve and each other, that’s why and how we are humans.
AY included.