When you think about it, what difference is there between Romney, Gingrich and Santorum? All millionaires, althought the other two are not quite as millionairey as Romney. All bending to the will of extreme minority of Americans who want war with Iran and further tax breaks for people other than themselves in the same of American exceptionalism. All take the same hard-line conservative view of social issues (again, at the behest of the 30% or so of people who still identify as conservatives and believe capitalism is the best system of government available).
News flash: 30% might win a primary, but it's not winning any elections. If the turnout in the primary states so far is an indication, I would be worried.
But there is another on which I wish to harp. A few weeks ago, Santorum appeared on Piers Morgan and the two discussed abortion. Well, it was less of a discussion and more a stunned British interviewer watching the embattled candidate double and triple down on his position with an internal fire that would make 17th century Spanish inquisitors jealous.
At some point, Morgan says (paraphrase), "If your daughter was raped, and became pregnant as a result, you would have her carry her rapist's baby to term?" Predictably Santorum says yes, but it's not for the reason you may think.
Sure, the guy is a religious fanatic, but the fervor by which he comes to this conclusion about his daughter's theoretical violent childbearing is fueled as much by economics as it is sheer mental retardation. Let's say that this exact thing does happen - his daughter is raped, becomes pregnant and carries the baby to term.
Does she have to worry about medical expenses? No.
How about the cost of raising a child? Daddy makes my yearly salary in one speaking event, so no problem there.
What about schools? Well they can send this kid to whatever school it wants.
Emotional issues? Already got the best psychotherapy and home care money can buy.
Is this going to be another child of violence, beginning life with a severe disadvantage and being thrown into an overcrowded inner city school with no psychological, emotional or financial outreach? Of course not.
My point in saying all this is that an unwanted or unexpected child of any kind is the ultimate nightmare for most of us, but not for Rick Santorum and family. Everything is paid for already. The family won't have to weigh the decision of selling their house to buy daipers or pay medical expenses, nor will the parents have to take extra jobs to pay for the daycare they need because they work an extra job, just to save a few pennies on the side. They aren't going to have to sell their furniture to make a car payment because all of their money goes toward the new, adorable, smooshy-faced financial black hole in the back room.
The situation I've described is one that is all too real, and one I've seen happen many times to people who, frankly, don't deserve it. Kids are great an all but they fuck you up and they fuck up your check book even worse. Especially if you were raped and now have a pudgy little reminder of basically the most intense mental trauma one can endure crawling around your ankles and demanding food. But as I said, if it ever becomes an issue, Daddy Santorum can pay for that too.
Always remember that one's economic situation often trumps any beliefs they may have. Not always - but mostly. And saving people from personal financial ruin is specifically why we have contraception, morning-after pills and yes, abortions. While the Santorums can give any kid of any origin every advantage in the world, too many kids sit down to a dollar menu dinner with a heaping side of post-partum depression as it is. Adding more people with super shitty lives to the pool of people who already have super shitty lives is not the goddamn answer, and it isn't just Jesus saying so.
The hypocrisy comes full-circle when you find out Santorum's stance on social outreach, which is basically standing on top of its bloody corpse with a great spear lodged in its still-twitching spinal column. The life of the unborn is sacred, but once they're born, fuck 'em. It's a subtle way of saying, "It's your fault for not being rich or at least well-off enough to take care of an unexpected child." Or in a more direct way, we'll call it the "Fuck the Poor" policy.
Of course, very little of this is actually surprising, but the lesson is that I don't think it matters who gets the 2012 nomination because they're three versions of the same asshole. Ron Paul ever remains the exception but, yeah.
Come on.
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