Rick Santorum Says Comments Were About Obama's 'World View,' Not Faith
Aspiring republican presidential nominee Rick Santorum clarified comments he made about President Barack Obama's "phony theology," saying that he was criticizing the president's "world view" rather than his faith.
On Sunday, Santorum condemned what he says is the president's perspective that "elevates the Earth above man." Santorum added that Obama's decisions were based on "some phony theology, not a theology based on the Bible."
After coming under fire for attacking the president's faith, Santorum argued that his comments were unrelated to Obama's Christianity. On CBS' "Face The Nation," Santorum explained, "I am talking about his world view, and the way he approaches problems in this country. I think they're different than how most people do in America."
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Santorum believes that Obama's viewpoint is that of radical environmentalism. "This idea that man is here to serve the Earth, as opposed to husband its resources and be good stewards of the Earth… I think that is a phony ideal. I don't believe that that's what we're here to do -- that man is here to use the resources and use them wisely, to care for the Earth, to be a steward of the Earth, but we're not here to serve the Earth," Santorum said. "The Earth is not the objective, man is the objective. I think a lot of radical environmentalists have it upside -- down."
As for the president's faith, Santorum responded, "I've repeatedly said I don't question the president's faith. I've repeatedly said that I believe the president's Christian."
These comments did not, however, signal that Santorum would be backing away from anti-Obama rhetoric. The president's theology came up again at a speech in the First Redeemer Church near Cumming, Ga. While discussing the Obama Administration's policies on contraception, Santorum said, "It is imposing his ideology on a group of people expressing their theology, their moral code."
Later in the same speech, Santorum also compared the current situation in the U.S. to the onset of World War II. "Remember, the Greatest Generation for a year and a half sat on the sidelines while Europe was under darkness," Mr. Santorum said. "Why? Because we're a hopeful people. We think, 'Well, you know, it'll get better. Yeah, he's not, I mean, he's a nice guy. I mean, it won't be as near as bad as what we think. I mean, you know, this will be OK. I mean, you know, yeah, maybe he's not the best guy.' After a while you found some things out about this guy over in Europe, but he's not so good of a guy after all."
