Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum appears to have paused as boos echoed throughout Thursday night Republican debate following a question from a gay soldier serving in Iraq ...
But Santorum now says he did not hear the jeers.
The right-wing former Pennsylvania senator told FOX News anchor Megyn Kelly:"I condemn the people who booed that gay soldier. That soldier is serving our country. I thank him for his service to our country. I'm sure he is doing an excellent job. I hope he is safe. I hope he returns safely, and does his mission well. I have to admit I seriously did not hear those boos. Had I heard them, I certainly would have commented on them."
But other GOP candidates did hear the jeers and are attempting to distance themselves, reports The Hill.
[Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson], who supported the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, unlike many Republican candidates, said that while he was "chomping at the bit" to denounce the boos, he didn't speak out because he was afraid of stepping out of turn at his first debate. "I’m feeling a little bit like I’m walking on egg shells," he said.
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman called the booing "unfortunate and unnecessary. "We all wear the same uniform in America. We all salute the same flag. I have two boys starting their journey in the U.S military. We should take more time to thank them for their services as opposed to finding differences based on background or orientation," Huntsman said on ABC.
No word yet from the other Republican candidates.
Santorum may claim that he didn't hear the jeers, but he certainly knew that the question came from an active duty soldier in Iraq. Santorum did not thank the soldier for his service.
Watch the clip WHEN YOU JUMP ...
Let me speak for just about everybody ... we don't believe that for a moment. But to be fair I don't know if anyone would have been able to respond in real time. It was be all accounts a really embarrassing moment of clarity of message and receipt thereof by the Rethuglican power structure all in attendance that night. This wasn't random people, random people don't get into their events as we know from the past.
It's what they do, it's who they are. Your contribution is dismissed if you don't look and act and pray just like they do. They aren't Americans first, they are first part of a clique of rich white people who claim to believe in God but then establish religious hierarchies that pervert that belief by using it as a weapon against those who don't sync up with them.
Okay, I'm done.
Posted by: Joe B. | 24 September 2011 at 12:50
Politics as usual. Everything is CYA and signing checks...
Posted by: Sage | 24 September 2011 at 12:51
TOTAL GOP BS...THEY ARE BIGOTS POINT BLANK PERIOD. A COUPLE IS TOO MANY SO STOP SPINNING YOU BUNCH OF ..........
Posted by: BLACK | 25 September 2011 at 10:55
i want to like the first comment 100 times lol!
Posted by: Jordan | 27 September 2011 at 07:59