Rick Santorum To John King On Birthers: ‘I Don’t Feel An Obligation’ To Refute Them
Rick Santorum To John King On Birthers: ‘I Don’t Feel An Obligation’ To Refute Them
Rick Santorum comes into tonight’s debate at a fluid third, the place he held in the South Carolina primary. And he comes into it with the image of being the most solidly conservative candidate in the race, which is both a blessing and a curse. During a rally today, Santorum was confronted with the ugliest part of that side of the aisle– supporters of his who think President Obama is Muslim– and on CNN tonight, John King asked him to explain his response to the lady, which completely dismissed her comments.
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King culminated the interview with a final question on an occurrence at a Santorum event today, however, in which a woman at the event refused to call President Obama the president because “he’s legally not the president,” and that “he is an avowed Muslim” (King was generous to label it a “pretty out there attack”). Santorum only responded to the lady that he was “doing my best to try to get him out of the government, and you’re right about how he uniformly ignores the Constitution.” King used it as a launchpad to ask whether Santorum believed he had a responsibility to call people out who say such things at his events.
“I’ve repeatedly done that, but I don’t think it’s my obligation every time someone says something I don’t believe to contradict them,” Santorum responded, adding that President Obama “is a big boy and he can defend himself and his record.” King once again asked whether that was still enough for him– “you don’t feel an obligation to say, ‘Ma’am, let’s fight him on taxes, let’s fight him on spending, let’s fight him on the size of government but let’s not do that’?” Santorum repeated that he did not think President Obama was a Muslim, “but I don’t think it’s my obligation to go out and repeat that every time someone who feels that way says something.”
more:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/rick-santorum-to-john-king-on-birthers-i-dont-feel-an-obligation-to-refute-them/
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