February 18, 2012

Santorum Lies To Public

CNN reports that Santorum is trying to clarify his position on contraception in the wake of an interview where he stated that not only does he not believe that all health plans should include access to it, no one should use it; not even married people:
One of the things I will talk about that no President has talked about before is I think the dangers of contraception in this country, the whole sexual libertine idea. Many in the Christian faith have said, “Well, that’s okay. Contraception’s okay.”

It’s not okay because it’s a license to do things in the sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be. They’re supposed to be within marriage, they are supposed to be for purposes that are, yes, conjugal, but also [inaudible], but also procreative...  if you can take one part out that’s not for purposes of procreation... you diminish this very special bond between men and women... 

...I think it’s important that you are who you are. I’m not running for preacher. I’m not running for pastor, but these are important public policy issues. These how profound impact on the health of our society.
- TIME, February 14, 2012
That's his opinion, and he's welcome to it.  Of course, it's not the opinion of a vast majority of Americans, 80% of whom approve of contraception, in and out of marriage.

So it shouldn't come as a surprise that he seeks to backtrack, and re-state his position that it won't alienate 80% of the voting public come election day.
Rick Santorum sought to bring some clarity to his birth control position on Friday, which he said has been misconstrued by opponents which have put him on both sides of the issue.

"My position is birth control can and should be available," the former senator from Pennsylvania said at a campaign event in Columbus, Ohio.
- CNN, February 17, 2012
That's pretty clear and to the point, isn't it?

But it's also a complete and total lie.  

We know it's a lie because on his website, he clearly outlines his agenda if elected president, and it includes:
  • Repeal Clinton-era Title X family planning regulations...
  • Repeal Obamacare mandate for contraceptive services in healthcare plans
  • Advocate for a Personhood Amendment to the Constitution
Title X ensures that low-income families have access to family planning services and related preventive health services (protection against STDs, for example).

I think we're all familiar with the recent mandate that ALL health plans include access to contraceptives, but if you're not, that's all it does.

The nefarious Personhood Amendment calls for the definition of human life to begin not with the onset of pregnancy, but at the fertilization of the egg.  Since the most popular contraceptives are designed to prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the womb, this amendment would effectively ban most common contraceptives, including the pill, Norplant, and IUDs.

The bottom line; you can't claim to support someone's right to have access to birth control when several of the planks of the platform you are running on specifically eliminates birth control or access to birth control.

Rick Santorum is many things; but "liar" should probably be listed first, to put the rest into proper perspective.

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