Protesters Walk Out on Santorum Speech

Associated Press (via The New York Times) ^ | May 18, 2003 | BILL BERGSTROM

[CedarDave]

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May 18, 2003

Protesters Walk Out on Santorum Speech

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 6:10 p.m. ET

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- About one in every eight graduates walked out of Sunday's commencement at Saint Joseph's University before the keynote address by Sen. Rick Santorum, who recently infuriated gay groups and others with derogatory remarks about homosexual behavior.

Santorum, the Senate's third-ranking Republican, didn't mention the walkout or the controversy directly.

``We are all called to love one another, even people we disagree with, even people who hate us for what we believe,'' he said.

Students were offered an opportunity to leave before Santorum was introduced to receive an honorary degree and make his speech, and about 100 graduates walked out amid competing boos and applause.

Some students had urged the Jesuit university to rescind Santorum's invitation after he likened gay behavior to bigamy, polygamy, incest and adultery in an April 7 interview with The Associated Press. He later said he intended the remarks as a legal analysis and didn't intend to comment on individual lifestyles.

``Senator Santorum and I are at completely opposite ends of the spectrum,'' said graduate Sara Foglesong, among those who walked out. ``I am not incestuous. I am not a bigamist. I just happen to be bisexual. It offended me.''

Across the street, Dennis Heffernan led a group of three counter-demonstrators. ``I belong to a pro-life group, and Rick is a pro-life person,'' said Heffernan, of Philadelphia.

In another commencement speech Sunday, Vice President Dick Cheney told University of Missouri graduates to look for ``the unexpected opportunities'' in life.

Before graduates of the Columbia school's College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, Cheney said he had retired from public service when he agreed to head George W. Bush's search for a running mate.

``If you're ever asked to head up an important search committee -- say yes,'' Cheney said, drawing laughter. ``That decision three years ago set me on a path ... this seems to be a pattern in my life: the unexpected opportunities.''

Former President Clinton, in a speech at Mississippi's Tougaloo College, blasted President Bush for his opposition to affirmative action in college admissions and accused him of neglecting domestic issues.

``I supported the president when he asked for authority to stand up against weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but we can't be forever strong abroad if we don't keep getting better at home,'' Clinton told the crowd at the historically black school near Jackson.

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Copyright 2003 The Associated Press

[CedarDave]

Clinton's speech is barely mentioned at the bottom of the article; guess he's old news (BTW, his mention and probably Cheney's too, will be likely axed by editors to save room in local papers.)

[RLK]

I just happen to be bisexual. It offended me.''

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Bisexual and a good practicing Catholic going to a Catholic university.

[ikka]

At a Catholic university no less. The rot continues.

[The Other Harry]

... after he likened gay behavior to bigamy, polygamy, incest and adultery.

He did NOT!

[SkyPilot]

So...look for... the Union lable....

[Jeff Chandler]

>>Jesuit university <<

That's all you need to know.

I have a friend who, upon encountering a Jesuit, inquires
"Are you a good Jesuit, or a bad Jesuit?"

[Claire Voyant]

Jesuits are practically not even Catholic anymore. These PUNK students make me ill.

[Maelstrom]

The could have saved themselves from exposure as idiots by simply and silently skulking out in protest *before* he arrived.

[doosee]

Bisexual and a good practicing Catholic going to a Catholic university.


I dont think the university can screen out those types. Illegal action comes to mind. My guess is though she really is a lezzie but doesnt want to come out and admit that. This bisexual talk is pure rubbish.... She is definitely a Hillary zombie for the future.

[KC_Conspirator]

So...look for... the Union lable....

My mother used to sing that too me as she rocked me to sleep...

[Ed_in_NJ]

You are, of course, correct that he did not.

This shows the quality of the education these graduates have received. Their potential for making/rendering decisions based on actual events has been overcome by either their liberal bias or their unwarranted trust in the liberal media.

[LuisBasco]

...the Jesuit university...

Today's catholic universities are hardly Catholic; in fact they're a disgrace!

By 2005, although classes are beginning in makeshift buildings this fall, Ave Maria College will be completed outside of Immokolee, Florida.

This will be a true Catholic college that will be in strict communion with Rome and won't have pro-abortion or homosexual agenda proponents speaking on campus ever!

The idea of a tradition Catholic school is the dream of Tom Monaghan, CEO of Dominos who believes saving a soul is more important than even pizzas and is indeed "putting his money where his heart is...."

Notre Dame, Georgetown, St. Joseph University, et al have become dens of leftist and immoral activism and it's good to know that parents will have a choice.

[SkyPilot]

HA!

[mabelkitty]

Of course they did.

Not all students are from Phildelphia, not all students are Catholic, and a good protion of students are there because of their athletic ability only.

I'm not suprised the little gay/lesbian folks or A.N.S.W.E.R. children left.

[mabelkitty]

Oh. I did not know. I thought it was Catholic.

Well..... big difference.

[tuckrdout]

"Bisexual Talk" is not rubbish. Kids today have been taught that everything is "okay" so if one finds pleasure with a man or a woman, it doesn't matter....so much for the "born that way" remark!

Tell me how her sexual practices are more moral than a bigamist?! She certainly didn't learn much tolerance at that school!!

[tuckrdout]

100 students walked out! You know, you have to hand it to them...when the killer talked at Evergreen College in Olympia WA, only about 6 students walked out!

I have noticed that the left is more willing to take it on the chin to get their point across than the right is.

Take for instance, the woman fired from being a school teacher for wearing a cross to work.

Now, if all the Christian teachers and kids had shown up the next day with a cross on, in protest, the administration would back off! They can not fire all of them or kick all the kids out of school!

This is what the left would have done. They would have been at the door handing out Pentagrams for everyone to wear; if it had been a witch who was fired!

[Vision Thing]

It's such a pleasure to see a Republican ruin the most important ceremony in the lives of these losers. May it be the beginning of further suffering for these infantile dems.

[The Other Harry]

This shows the quality of the education these graduates have received. Their potential for making/rendering decisions based on actual events has been overcome by either their liberal bias or their unwarranted trust in the liberal media.

Things like this annoy the heck out of me. I think it's either sheer stupidity or laziness more than anything.

For those who may not understand what Ed and I are saying here, what Santorum was attempting to do -- admittedly not with the best choice of words -- was to discuss the general principle of whether government has any legitimate right to regulate "private" sexual behaviors. His concern is that if the Court rules that it does not, then that will open all kinds of other doors besides homosexual behaviors.

Perhaps the distinction is too subtle for today's press corps to understand, but that is far from "equating" the the various behaviors in question. It simply raises a valid point about how far the government's nose should be permitted into the bedroom -- and saying that maybe in certain cases, it should be allowed in.

I'm really not sure how or where I think these lines should be drawn. It won't be easy.

In any event, it is totally incorrect to say that Santorum "equated" the various behaviors. He never did that. He was talking about the principle of government regulation.