Rick Santorum: “Smart People Will Never Be on Our Side”

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Probably the clearest, most direct expression of reactionary right wing anti-intellectualism we’ve seen yet: Rick Santorum Says ‘Smart People Will Never Be on Our Side’.

“We will never have the media on our side, ever, in this country,” Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator, told the audience at the Omni Shoreham hotel. “We will never have the elite, smart people on our side.” …

“When it comes to conservatism libertarian types can say, oh, well you know, we don’t want to talk about social issues,” Santorum said. “Without the church and the family, there is no conservative movement, there is no basic values of America.”

To Rick Santorum and his caveman buddies at the Values Voter Summit, this is a good thing.

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65 comments
1 thecommodore  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:44:18am

Unintentional truth from Senator Frothy.

2 Daniel Ballard  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:45:07am

Vote for the dumbest party in the room is what this means. Throwback theocracy. Now that's a sales pitch people can go for.
\\

3 Charles Johnson  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:46:04am

Rick Santorum: "I'm a really dumb guy! The hell with all those uppity Brainiacs! Stupid and proud!"

4 Shiplord Kirel  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:46:59am

“Without the church and the family, there is no conservative movement, there is no basic values of America.”

No, Rick, them smart folk what know grammar and such-like ain't going to be on your side.

5 wrenchwench  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:47:15am

"What have smart people ever done for us, anyway? Besides making this microphone, and the jet that got me here, and my suit, and cut my hair, and make sure my breakfast was salmonella-free, and the air was breathable, and stuff like that..."

6 Shiplord Kirel  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:50:33am

re: #5 wrenchwench

"What have smart people ever done for us, anyway? Besides making this microphone, and the jet that got me here, and my suit, and cut my hair, and make sure my breakfast was salmonella-free, and the air was breathable, and stuff like that..."

NO, Gawd guided the hands of them inventors and they's a-blasfumin' when they say they done it they-own-selves......it's one thing what's wrong with this here country, puffed up inventors. No Gawd in the schools, neither, that's why I didn't like to go, ya' know.

7 wrenchwench  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:51:57am

re: #2 Daniel Ballard

Vote for the dumbest party in the room is what this means. Throwback theocracy. Now that's a sales pitch people can go for.
\

Image: tumblr_m9wb4e1X1L1rfj80eo1_1280.jpg

8 blueraven  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:52:54am

I know he has offered a half assed mea culpa on the "what a snob" comment he made about Obama's statement that all those who wish to go into higher education should be able to, but this just goes to show how much he really meant it.

Smart=elite=liberal=no "American" values

9 PhillyPretzel  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:54:24am

Instead of taking English 101 I will take more Bible study. That is what we need in our classrooms.

10 abolitionist  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:54:37am

If Santorum were on the remote end of a Turing test, I suspect most of us would fail.

Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. -- Voltaire

11 Obdicut  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:54:42am

It's weird how the GOP tries to put itself up there as the party for the non-elite, when they expressly campaign on the idea there is an elite group, the 'job creators', to whom we all owe everything and we should do everything we can to appease and mollify.

12 Shiplord Kirel  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 11:59:59am

McCain carried Lubbock County 68% to 32% in 2008, rounding off a couple of hundred crank votes. Romney will probably do better. Draw the obvious conclusion.

13 SpaceJesus  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:01:33pm

Santorum mad! Santorum no like book! RAAAA Santorum smash!

14 bratwurst  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:03:44pm

This is the man who finished second in the primaries, and is now therefore the GOP's next in line. Had the Iowa results been calculated correctly back in January, he may very well be the nominee right now.

15 jaunte  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:04:13pm

No critical thinking, guaranteed.

Stephen Colbert:
“The minds of young people are being poisoned by knowledge, but thankfully Texas is the Large Hadron Collider of denying science.”
[Link: www.washingtonpost.com...]

16 A Mom Anon  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:04:26pm

Hahahahahaha! At least he's being honest,for once.

17 Lidane  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:05:09pm

re: #15 jaunte

No critical thinking, guaranteed.

Speaking of which:

The Establishment Clause, how does it work?

18 Lidane  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:06:11pm

re: #13 SpaceJesus

Santorum mad! Santorum no like book! RAAAA Santorum smash!

Hulk insulted that you compare him to puny man!

19 jaunte  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:10:38pm
"If just a few people make decisions about what this world looks like, what this country looks like, then you have people sitting in offices at major media outlets and Hollywood who think they can deal with a small group of people, to get them to jump through the hoops they want you to," Santorum said.

Oh yeah, it's major media and Hollywood that made us ignorant, overspending, incurious, and sedentary.

20 Charles Johnson  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:11:24pm

re: #19 jaunte

Oh yeah, it's major media and Hollywood that made us ignorant, overspending, incurious, and sedentary.

Those smart people are tricky. Gotta watch out for 'em.

21 Daniel Ballard  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:11:43pm

re: #11 Obdicut

Instead of the opposing party, it's the opposite party. Kinda like opposite day.

22 Killgore Trout  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:14:13pm

Reddit having some photoshop fun with this awful picture

Image: A2z6J64CAAEWvxM.jpg

My favorite: Image: dTsUk.jpg

More here
[Link: www.reddit.com...]

23 jaunte  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:16:03pm
24 Charles Johnson  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:16:13pm
25 allegro  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:19:02pm

re: #24 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Say goodbye to tax exemption. (please)

26 Ben G. Hazi  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:22:38pm

re: #3 Charles Johnson

Rick Santorum: "I'm a really dumb guy! The hell with all those uppity Brainiacs! Stupid and proud!"

(Acting like a) fat (head), drunk (on power), and stupid is no way to go through life, son...

/apologies to Dean Wormer

27 Ben G. Hazi  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:30:05pm

re: #17 Lidane

Speaking of which:

[Embedded content]

The Establishment Clause, how does it work?

Starnes, as are many RWNJs, is either a willfully ignorant moron or is pandering to those who are, either to be elected to something or to make a metric shit-ton of cash.

28 Ben G. Hazi  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:32:22pm

re: #18 Lidane

Hulk insulted that you compare him to puny man!

29 Nervous Norvous  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:35:40pm

re: #27 Gert Fröbe

Starnes, as are many RWNJs, is either a willfully ignorant moron or is pandering to those who are.

This. I suspect that most of these people have managed to somehow convince themselves of their own bullshit. I've always thought that it takes a certain kind of sociopath to be able to spout rampant nonsense without cracking a smile.

30 Lidane  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:36:42pm

re: #28 Gert Fröbe

Puny God scene, version 1.0 --

Hulk getting a Droopy Dog SMASH on Loki will never not be funny. XD

31 Ben G. Hazi  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:37:05pm

re: #29 PT Barnum

This. I suspect that most of these people have managed to somehow convince themselves of their own bullshit. I've always thought that it takes a certain kind of sociopath to be able to spout rampant nonsense without cracking a smile.

Refresh that post...I added a little something extra ;-P

32 Nervous Norvous  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:37:41pm

re: #30 Lidane

Puny God scene, version 1.0 --

[Embedded content]

Hulk getting a Droopy Dog SMASH on Loki will never not be funny. XD

I managed to have to take a bladder break during that scene and missed it in the theatre. :( Think it would have even been funnier on the big screen.

33 Kragarghazi  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:38:17pm

Santorum, you dumb bastard.

34 Nervous Norvous  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:38:57pm

re: #33 Kragar

Santorum, you dumb bastard.

Do you think he's really that stupid or just deluded, or is he a grifter?

35 Kragarghazi  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:39:24pm

re: #34 PT Barnum

Do you think he's really that stupid or just deluded, or is he a grifter?

Yes.

36 Lidane  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:39:40pm

re: #34 PT Barnum

Do you think he's really that stupid or just deluded, or is he a grifter?

All of the above. He's genuinely that stupid and deluded and he makes money off others just as stupid and deluded as he is.

37 Kragarghazi  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:42:33pm

Off to some shopping, and free AC. Its already broken 100 here.

38 Nervous Norvous  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:43:22pm

re: #36 Lidane

All of the above. He's genuinely that stupid and deluded and he makes money off others just as stupid and deluded as he is.

Being unemployed right now (great job I got back at the end of June turned out to be a gigantic cloister flock) I'm trying to figure out how to turn conspiracy theories into some kind of business model. I'm thinking some kind of website and a random phrase generator. Figure I can churn out at least three or four articles a day, get myself linked on Hot Air and the rest and then start making big bucks of the rubes as I explain that the real source of power in the country is the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce, who secretly controls the government through a series of shell corporations.

39 Nervous Norvous  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:44:20pm

re: #38 PT Barnum

Being unemployed right now (great job I got back at the end of June turned out to be a gigantic cloister flock) I'm trying to figure out how to turn conspiracy theories into some kind of business model. I'm thinking some kind of website and a random phrase generator. Figure I can churn out at least three or four articles a day, get myself linked on Hot Air and the rest and then start making big bucks of the rubes as I explain that the real source of power in the country is the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce, who secretly controls the government through a series of shell corporations.

The thing that's going to keep me from making a go of that is that I couldn't write it without cracking a smile. Anybody know any actors who can spout abject nonsense without grinning?

40 Stanghazi  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:44:33pm

Pretty fucking hilarious. 5 gay guys sing about Romney. With graphics.

41 allegro  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:45:14pm

re: #39 PT Barnum

The thing that's going to keep me from making a go of that is that I couldn't write it without cracking a smile. Anybody know any actors who can spout abject nonsense without grinning?

Kirk Cameron

42 Nervous Norvous  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:47:12pm

re: #41 allegro

Kirk Cameron

Yeah, but I need someone who won't out me as a money grubbing bastidge.

43 Targetpractice  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:47:40pm

"Yes, I'm rich, I'm college educated, and I'm what most would consider 'elite,' but I'm not a liberal and that's why we gotta stand up against the rich, college educated elite!"

The history books on this one are gonna be interesting.

44 SanFranciscoZionist  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:48:10pm

Interesting. Santorum is actually extremely intelligent, but clearly thinks that's less important than being a man of faith and fanaticism, so he doesn't dwell on it. As a result, I think he deeply distrusts anyone who embraces their own intellect.

45 Lidane  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:48:36pm

re: #43 Targetpractice

"Yes, I'm rich, I'm college educated, and I'm what most would consider 'elite,' but I'm not a liberal and that's why we gotta stand up against the rich, college educated elite!"

The history books on this one are gonna be interesting.

The modern GOP is in serious danger of becoming the Know-Nothings 2.0.

46 Lidane  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:49:58pm

re: #44 SanFranciscoZionist

Interesting. Santorum is actually extremely intelligent, but clearly thinks that's less important than being a man of faith and fanaticism, so he doesn't dwell on it. As a result, I think he deeply distrusts anyone who embraces their own intellect.

Because like all other fanatics, he clearly sees embracing your intellect is a threat to your faith. If you question things, use logic and reason, and accept explanations from science that contradict the Bible, your entire worldview falls apart.

47 Digital Display  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:51:05pm

re: #38 PT Barnum

Being unemployed right now (great job I got back at the end of June turned out to be a gigantic cloister flock) I'm trying to figure out how to turn conspiracy theories into some kind of business model. I'm thinking some kind of website and a random phrase generator. Figure I can churn out at least three or four articles a day, get myself linked on Hot Air and the rest and then start making big bucks of the rubes as I explain that the real source of power in the country is the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce, who secretly controls the government through a series of shell corporations.

I think an onion like parody of RW Web sites would be great. Web Sites like Hot Air are a gold mine of material..

48 Nervous Norvous  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:51:13pm

re: #44 SanFranciscoZionist

Interesting. Santorum is actually extremely intelligent, but clearly thinks that's less important than being a man of faith and fanaticism, so he doesn't dwell on it. As a result, I think he deeply distrusts anyone who embraces their own intellect.

I think it's probably a matter of exploiting the resentment and jealousy of all those who see the American Dream as being completely out of reach or rapidly slipping away and who are looking for someone or something to blame.

49 SanFranciscoZionist  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:51:20pm

re: #46 Lidane

Because like all other fanatics, he clearly sees embracing your intellect is a threat to your faith. If you question things, use logic and reason, and accept explanations from science that contradict the Bible, your entire worldview falls apart.

He slips occasionally. In the GOP nomination debate on foreign policy, he talked about China for about a couple of minutes and I realized just how informed and intelligent he actually is.

Then the shields went back up.

50 Targetpractice  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:51:43pm

re: #45 Lidane

The modern GOP is in serious danger of becoming the Know-Nothings 2.0.

Indeed, a party of nativist fanatics who think the best country is one that gets all its learning from the Bible and does not accept "foreign" ideas as they are anathema to the "goodnesss" of America.

51 Ben G. Hazi  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:52:03pm

re: #34 PT Barnum

Do you think he's really that stupid or just deluded, or is he a grifter?

To affirm what Kragar said, yes on both.

Santorum, Palin, Fischer...folks like them are the "true believers", who are all to happy to spread their respective twisted gospels far and wide.

People such as Limbaugh, Beck, and even Romney, while they may believe some or all of what RW crap they spew, are just as likely putting on airs to exploit their audiences for the money (a LOT of money) and/or power.

52 Nervous Norvous  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:57:21pm

How to catch a polar bear...dig a hole in the ice, put frozen peas around it and when the polar bear tries to take a pea, you kick him in the ice hole.

They're also transplanting polar bears from the arctic to the antarctic. Unfortunately it caused severe mood disorders and all they got were bipolar bears.

Thus ends your bad jokes for the day.

53 Digital Display  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 12:58:46pm

re: #49 SanFranciscoZionist

I'm glad you are here..I've been thinking about this for a couple of weeks.
Now. I love Israel. I really do.
I'm bothered by the fact discussion of the red line being injected during the Election season by Bibi. To me it was unseemly.
What are your thoughts about this?

54 Nervous Norvous  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 1:01:17pm

I know you didn't ask me but I think this should lead to a reassessment of our relationship, just so it doesn't become a constant case of the tail wagging the dog. We should be Isreal's ally not their servant. For them to try and influence our elections in this way is not only unseemly, but also offensive.

55 SanFranciscoZionist  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 1:15:09pm

re: #53 Digital Display

I'm glad you are here..I've been thinking about this for a couple of weeks.
Now. I love Israel. I really do.
I'm bothered by the fact discussion of the red line being injected during the Election season by Bibi. To me it was unseemly.
What are your thoughts about this?

I'm with Dan Meridor on this one, but then again, I've never been a big Bibi fan.

56 Stanghazi  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 1:16:57pm

re: #55 SanFranciscoZionist

I'm with Dan Meridor on this one, but then again, I've never been a big Bibi fan.

Dan Meridor's comments

Thanks teach, I looked it up!!! :)

57 Feline Emperor of the Conservative Tears  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 1:28:35pm

re: #45 Lidane

The modern GOP is in serious danger of becoming has already become the Know-Nothings 2.0.

FTFY

58 labman57  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 1:45:10pm

Amen, brother.

Santorum suffers from the same weakness as do Palin, Gingrich, Bachmann, Cain, and other tea party brown-nosing political wannabes:
He regards any reporter or interviewer who has the temerity to hold him accountable for his previously stated positions to be a bullying, biased member of a left-wing conspiracy, and he views any question for which is unwilling or unable to provide an honest, substantive question to be a “gotcha” question.

In short, these political lightweights feel that members of the news media should act as though they are working for their public relations departments, only asking them the questions that they want to be asked.

Furthermore, it's a curious position being taken by the tea party/conservative movement— the idea that a college education is a waste of time and that intellectuals are elitists and should be shunned.

Lord knows we don't want our children to go to college and have their heads filled with all kinds of IDEAS. Before you know it, they'll be thinking for themselves, challenging the status quo, and developing new points of view.

And we certainly don't want our national leaders to be eloquent, scientifically literate, and generally well-informed about the world in which we live. Much better to derive scientific theories based on the teachings of the Bible, and to form national public policy based on the rumors, gossip, and unverified anecdotal accounts described in supermarket rags and online blogs.

59 Dr Lizardo  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 2:13:19pm

re: #45 Lidane

The modern GOP is in serious danger of becoming the Know-Nothings 2.0.

Oh, it's far too late for that.

60 Cap'n Magic  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 3:00:22pm

re: #3 Charles Johnson

Which goes to show you that any upper-class twit can become an attorney. Think about THAT one.

61 celticdragon  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 5:16:53pm

re: #34 PT Barnum

Do you think he's really that stupid or just deluded, or is he a grifter?

He really believes what he says...and the stuff he believes in is right out of the 14th Century.

62 Patricia Kayden  Sat, Sep 15, 2012 7:21:00pm

Would like to hear why Santorum made such a stupid comment. So Republicans are all dumb?

63 Integral Doc  Sun, Sep 16, 2012 9:09:32am

The Republican Party has often been accused of being "Anti-Intellectual" and rightly so........but Santorum seems to be acknowledging that that he's proud to be "Pro-Stupid!"

64 SidewaysQuark  Sun, Sep 16, 2012 10:26:04am

Hell must be freezing over, because I'm in wholehearted agreement with Rick Santorum.

65 Tigger2005  Sun, Sep 16, 2012 10:39:35am

re: #43 Targetpractice

"Yes, I'm rich, I'm college educated, and I'm what most would consider 'elite,' but I'm not a liberal and that's why we gotta stand up against the rich, college educated elite!"

The history books on this one are gonna be interesting.

It's hardly a new phenomenon. Plenty of smart people understand how to manipulate the rubes by pretending to be "one of them." There has to be a certain degree of sincerity, though, or it's a hard sell. The human mind is an amazingly complex and malleable thing, though. Smart people can be wizards at compartmentalizing, rationalizing, carefully organizing their thoughts and beliefs so they are able to hold numerous contradictory views at the same time. They apply facts, reasoning and logic to certain things but not to others. A lawyer who follows the rules of evidence and logic to a T in a courtroom has no difficulty not applying the same standards of evidence and logic to his/her religious beliefs, and may even use reasoning he or she knows is fallacious to support those beliefs.


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