Santorum rips gay sex ruling

The Tribune-Democrat ^ | 6/28/03 | Kirk Swauger

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Santorum rips gay sex ruling

By KIRK SWAUGER, THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT

June 28, 2003

U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum is sharply criticizing a Supreme Court decision outlawing a Texas anti-sodomy law, saying in a local visit it will open the door to same-sex marriages. Measuring his words carefully after coming under fire for attacking homosexuals two months ago, Santorum, R-Pittsburgh, said the court redefined sexual mores. “We have now laid the framework for rewriting marriage statutes across the country,” Santorum said during a stop in Westmont for the 10th anniversary of a job training and placement program for veterans. He called the ruling unfortunate.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Thursday that gays and lesbians have a right to privacy and dignity in their personal lives, striking down laws that declare sex between gay adults criminal. In concluding that the Constitution prohibits singling out gays on moral grounds, the court voided laws in Texas and 12 other states.

The majority of the court determined the issue was not whether states could ban particular sex acts, but whether laws may treat gays with contempt. The laws “demean the lives of homosexual persons” and are a form of “state-sponsored condemnation,” Justice Anthony M. Kennedy said. But, Santorum said, instead of basing its decision solely on constitutional grounds, the court went a step further by overturning the Texas statute.

“The right to privacy, up until yesterday, was within marriage,” said Santorum, sporting a blue tie with yellow elephants. “They have now changed it to consenting adults. “I think most Americans would find that to be a very broad reading of the Constitution.” Now, Santorum said, “nobody can regulate anything” when it comes to consensual sex. In April, Santorum was lambasted for equating gay relationships with bestiality and with priests molesting teenagers.

In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this month, Santorum said he feared moral repercussions if the Supreme Court struck down Texas’ anti-sodomy law. Making homosexual sex legal, Santorum said, would mean “you have the right to consensual 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. You have the right to do anything. Does that undermine the fabric of our society? I would argue yes, it does.

“Whether it’s polygamy, whether it’s adultery, whether it’s sodomy, all of those things are antithetical to a healthy, stable, traditional family,” he added. Santorum said the sexual abuse scandal rocking the Roman Catholic Church was spurred by tolerance of homosexuality among adults. “In areas where you have that as an accepted lifestyle, don’t be surprised that you get more of it.”

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision. In a news release on the alliance’s Web site, Executive Director Joan M. Garry said the Supreme Court’s decision marks a turning point in its civil rights movement and a victory for all Americans. “In stating that gay and lesbian people ‘are entitled to respect for their private lives,’ Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion today affirms our dignity and humanity in a way we hope others will follow,” Garry said. “Make no mistake, there is much work ahead of us. And our community must continue to change hearts, minds, and laws as we continue down the road to equality.” The alliance does not have a representative in the Johnstown region.

In April, some Democrats and advocacy groups for gays and lesbians demanded Santorum’s resignation or ouster from his third-ranking post among GOP leadership in the Senate. Santorum was honored yesterday in Westmont for his efforts on behalf of Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program/Veteran Community Initiatives.

n the decade since he sponsored the program, $3.4 million in federal subsidies have helped 2,500 veterans and their families in the Southern Alleghenies region. “They have a population that has some unique needs,” said Santorum, whose parents both worked for more than 40 years for the Veterans Administration. “These are veterans working with veterans.”

[lilylangtree]

Rick, you've got my support! Go gettim, boy!

[Polycarp]

“The right to privacy, up until yesterday, was within marriage,” said Santorum, sporting a blue tie with yellow elephants. “They have now changed it to consenting adults. “I think most Americans would find that to be a very broad reading of the Constitution.” Now, Santorum said, “nobody can regulate anything” when it comes to consensual sex. In April, Santorum was lambasted for equating gay relationships with bestiality and with priests molesting teenagers.

In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this month, Santorum said he feared moral repercussions if the Supreme Court struck down Texas’ anti-sodomy law. Making homosexual sex legal, Santorum said, would mean “you have the right to consensual 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. You have the right to do anything. Does that undermine the fabric of our society? I would argue yes, it does.

“Whether it’s polygamy, whether it’s adultery, whether it’s sodomy, all of those things are antithetical to a healthy, stable, traditional family,” he added. Santorum said the sexual abuse scandal rocking the Roman Catholic Church was spurred by tolerance of homosexuality among adults. “In areas where you have that as an accepted lifestyle, don’t be surprised that you get more of it.”

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is pleased with the Supreme Court’s decision.

Of course they are, but golly gee, what's everyone getting so hysterical about?

"This is ONLY about what people do in the privacy of their own bedrooms!"

"Do YOU really think the gov't has a right to be in our bedrooms/lock people up for what they do in their own private home?"

"Its a SILLY law anyways, what difference could it possible make?!?"

" Santorum obviously was wrong/made an ass of himself/mis spoke/shoulda kept his big mouth shut/was imprudent/embarrassed us etc. "

Right?

Right?

Star Tribune ^ | June 27, 2003 | Michelangelo Signorile
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Posted by RonF
On 06/27/2003 11:23 AM EDT with 28 comments

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On 06/27/2003 5:54 AM EDT with 14 comments

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On 06/27/2003 5:19 AM EDT with 216 comments

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On 06/26/2003 7:36 PM EDT with 44 comments

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On 06/26/2003 5:31 PM EDT with 7 comments

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On 06/26/2003 4:17 PM EDT with 110 comments

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Posted by JohnHuang2
On 06/25/2003 1:53 AM EDT with 6 comments

NEWSLINE FOLKS:

SANTORUM WAS RIGHT ALL ALONG!

And those who excoriated him are fools.

[speedy]

Well, they are definitely overplaying their hand (no perverted interpretation intended) and I think there is a backlash building. Jeez, it's Gay Pride weekend here in New York and you might think the US just won World War II.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Poly, fantastic post! Thank you!

[F16Fighter]

Santorum stands on principle and truth and true conservatism.

I'd like to see him hold a seminar for RINOs.

[gitmo]

It appears to be a regular newspaper. Apparently in a strong Catholic area.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Oh it's Gay Pride weekend here too. We live *close* to the parade route. Luckily it's boiling hot (again) outside so we won't venture out today.

Plus they stare like vultures at my hubby (ick! I hate that!). He is gorgeous (luckily for me he doesn't think so, he's very Catholic and religious), but it IS unnerving.

[PatrioticAmerican]

The court only ruled about private acts, not public, government sanctioned marriage.

[Mark17]

it's Gay Pride weekend here in New York and you might think the US just won World War II.

I am near San Francisco, and on TV yesterday, it showed a bunch of digusting people, and they came right out and said, their next objective, is to legalize same sex marriages. It sure did not take long did it?

[rodeo-mamma]

I say more then go, I would tell him that he should run against HIllary in 2008.

What he said is absolutely true. I was especially impressed with his ability to speak the truth about the problem with the priests. He is a clear thinker to be able to see that because there are many who try to surpress that kind of clear vision.

[Polycarp]

I'd like to see him hold a seminar for RINOs.

I'd like to see him hold a seminar for FREEPERS. They need to learn what conservatism is.

[Polycarp]

I'd like to see him hold a seminar for RINOs.

I'd like to see him hold a seminar for FREEPERS. They need to learn what conservatism is.

[The Duke]

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Thursday that gays and lesbians have a right to privacy and dignity...

I didn't realize one could simultaneously engage in sodomy AND have "dignity"(?) Seems a bit mutually exclusive to me!

Maybe next week the Supreme Court will preserve the dignity of ex-presidents who are best known for masturbating into the corner sink on company time?

[I_Love_My_Husband]

It took them like .1 seconds to think of that.

I feel like the homo lobby is unstoppable :(

[RJCogburn]

it will open the door to same-sex marriages.

I think he is correct. What he didn't say was that if the moralists had not tried to regulate private behavior, there would not be a SC decision that will affect the public institution of marriage.

[BlueNgold]

Conservatism is not necessarily the same as believing that morality should be legislated.

[RicocheT]

The US Supreme Court and the homosexual agenda ignore the social importance of marriage between a man and a woman. Only conventional families and the children they raise insure the long term survival of society.

Sex partners do not equate with heterosexual marriage. Real marriage is a long-term private and social compact of family raising, not just sex. Because of the social benefits, Society has recognized it and granted marriage special status.

Families with children pass on society's good values to their children, defer immediate gratification to store up wealth for their children and stay together for love of the spouse and the protection of their children.

Society benefits by stable families as they, not the state assume the burden of child raising. Society benefits by families' long-term wealth building as there is more wealth for investing in businesses and social infrastructure.

Homosexual and casual sex alliances do not generate wealth building as they live for today, not tomorrow. Children of casual sex do not have two parents to guide and protect them. Most single mothers try hard to raise their children, but only with sacrifice and extra efforts. Look at the wealth statistics for single moms, they don't have the second income source two parent families do.

[nightdriver]

Now, Santorum said, “nobody can regulate anything” when it comes to consensual sex.

Santorum is right. This is going to open the floodgates for all sorts of stuff we've been trying to keep under control, like prostitution and pedophelia.

I fear the judgement of God on our nation.

[bluebunny]

Yes they are unfortunately. Sad world.

[Kevin Curry]

Yeah, it's all the "moralists'" fault. The AIDS-spreading sodomites had nothing to do with it--innocent, noble, and pure victims that they are.

Weep a libertarian crocodile tear for them on my behalf, ok Cogburn?

It's a gay new world, brought to you by the liberal-libertarian alliance.