It's tough to keep up in the GOP presidential race. With the likes of Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee and Michelle Bachmann around as potential candidates trying to out crazy each other for the attention of the teabaggers and birthers and whatnot, it can be hard to garner attention. It can even be difficult for the former Senator Man Dog himself, Rick Santorum, who, as anyone knows, in no slouch at saying stupid and attention grabbing things.
But give Little Ricky credit, he does keep trying. Witness this opinion he recently stated concerning President John F. Kennedy:
Rick Santorum told about 50 members of the group Catholic Citzenship that he was "frankly appalled" that America's first Catholic president, John F. Kenndy, once said "I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute."
"That was a radical statement," Santorum said, and did "great damage."
Yep, he attacked JFK for the "radical statement" that there is a seperation of church and state in this country. You know, the one covered quite clearly in the First Amendment to the Constitution. Simply radical.
As the Boston Globe reports, Santorum made these comments at a gathering in Massachusetts where he also attacked Mitt Romney over signing the Massachusetts health care law (despite the fact that he campaigned for Romney in the South during the 2008 GOP nomination fight). The Globe couldn't help but note this:
It may seem an odd way to appeal to a crowd of Massachusetts voters: First, attack Mitt Romney, the last Republican to hold the governor's office. Then, go after President Kennedy, arguably the state's most revered Democrat.
Say what you will about Little Ricky, he is an equal opportunity offender.
But back to the JFK comments, which Santorum explained further:
"We're seeing how Catholic politicians, following the first Catholic president, have followed his lead, and have divorced faith not just from the public square, but from their own decision-making process."
Oh and here's the kicker:
"Jefferson is spinning in his grave," he added.
Yes, the Thomas Jefferson. You know, the noted Deist who was hostile to the orthodox Catholic Church of France, edited a compilation of Jesus's teachings leaving out the miracles and said things like, "In every country and every age, the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot..they have perverted the purest religion ever preached to man into mystery and jargon, unintelligible to all mankind, and therefore the safer for their purposes."
Yeah. That Thomas Jefferson would whole heartedly agree with JFK, Little Ricky. Maybe you were taking your cues from the Bizarro World version of Jefferson.
Oh and as if his insults to JFK, Jefferson and basic knowledge of American history weren't enough, Santorum also had these charming opinions:
Santorum also criticized Catholic parishes for their "lukewarm faith" and urged the crowd not to donate to Catholic schools that stray from church teachings.
"You're feeding the beast," he said, sparking applause. "The heresy that goes on in Catholic schools in America is amazing."
And, of course, on his favorite obsession:
Asked by one man about "gay and transsexual activists" raising money for Democrats, Santorum said they had money to give away because "most of them don't have kids."
That's our Little Ricky, always classy.
We pine for the likes of Palin, Bachmann and Gingrich as potential opponents for Obama to destroy in 2012, but don't count Little Ricky out. If nothing else, his comedy potential remains undiminished.