This is called “fig-leaf” reasoning to bolster support for Romney’s candidacy. You take a comment with a ring of careless ambiguity made during a hectic campaign schedule that the mainstream media pounces on as providing support for Obama (a construction that Santorum and all know is “absurd”) and then use it as cover to provide a rationale for why Santorum should quit. This too is absurd.
You might be able to spin a lot of Ricky’s earlier gaffes and mis-statements, but this one is going to be difficult to scrape off of your collective shoes.
"Goody two shoes"...is an accurate description of RC...I have said "holier than thou." I like "goody two shoes" better but haven't heard it years. It fits.