Santorum Camp Backtracks after 'Radical Islamic' Remark

chicagotribune.com ^ | February 20, 2012 | Michael A. Memoli

[BarnacleCenturion]

In trying to clarify recent comments from Rick Santorum about President Obama's "phony theology," the candidate's new national press secretary made a gaffe of her own, saying Obama had pursued "radical Islamic policies" .

Alice Stewart, who had worked for Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign before signing on with Santorum earlier this month, made the slip during an appearance this afternoon on MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports."

The segment focused on the former Pennsylvania senator's line of attack on Obama for his environmental policies, which were guided, he said in Ohio this weekend, by "some phony ideal. Some phony theology."

"As he has clarified the statement, he was talking about radical environmentalists," Stewart told Mitchell. "There is a type of theological secularism when it comes to the global warmists in this country. That's what he was referring to. He was referring to the president's policies, in terms of the radical Islamic policies the president has."

[CainConservative]

RUSH: "And you know what's really scaring them? It's so predictable. What's scaring them is that Santorum is coming out and he is unabashed being honest and truthful about his beliefs when it comes to so-called social conservative issues. And they are in a panic."

[Right_in_Virginia]

I wonder if Santorum is playing the MSM along?

Sorry. Santorum's not that bright.

[SoFloFreeper]

He was referring to the president's policies, in terms of the radical Islamic policies the president has."

Oh for God's sake. She clearly meant radical environmental policies. The media really is stretching.

Hell, Obama told George Stephie he was a Muslim. Did we see headlines "Obama Backtracks on his Childhood Religion"?

[af_vet_rr]

I wonder if Santorum is playing the MSM along? He is getting a great deal of attention and even the “gaffs” are not doing too much damage.

Don't be surprised if Obama's campaign tries to make Rick's campaign formally apologize to them.

[Twinkie]

I think, too, that they’re also a bit scared because Rick Santorum bears a striking physical resemblance to the Kennedys, though not an idealogical one. He’s good looking, tanned, losing a bit of weight, looking fit, and, yep - the Democrats are afraid of him.

[Toespi]

“Even the gaffs are not doing too much damage”

The “gaffs” may not be doing much damage in the primaries. Come on! Every time he opens mouth someone has to come to his rescue to interpret what he meant to say. He is giving Obama political ad sound bytes every day. He can not perform this way in the general election, the media will destroy him. We can not make a mistake this time people.

[tomkat]

..or a politically incorrect truism?

Here's an unrepentantly non-pc truism:

   almost ^

[af_vet_rr]

The “gaffs” may not be doing much damage in the primaries. Come on! Every time he opens mouth someone has to come to his rescue to interpret what he meant to say. He is giving Obama political ad sound bytes every day. He can not perform this way in the general election, the media will destroy him. We can not make a mistake this time people.

What do you mean "will destroy him", the MSM is trying it now. Hell, Drudge has been trying to play up Santorum negatives as much as possible, and has been making sure that everybody knows about what Santorum's campaign folks said about Obama. Drudge on his own has been trying to hurt Santorum in favor of Willard.