Rick Santorum strikes again, describes patriarchy in a nutshell

I’ve generally tried to steer clear of Rick Santorum’s brilliant thoughts since he converted me on gay marriage this summer, for fear that exposure to any more nuggets of Santorum genius would sink into my brain and revolutionize my worldview yet again.

But his latest wisdom is too revealing–and disturbing– to pass over.

Rich Wing Watch reports that while speaking with Family Research Council president Tony Perkins (oy), Rick Santorum argued that Republicans should work to lessen single motherhood in order to score political points against their Democratic rivals.

Why does he think reducing single motherhood would be would be such an effective strategy? Because it is the “single mothers who run a household” who have a “desire for government” that makes them vote Democrat. Obviously the way they vote has everything to do with their single mother status and nothing to do at all with their political ideologies, or values, or economic interest, or brains. So of course the solution is to throw a man into the mix by building “two parent families”, which is necessary “to reduce the Democratic advantage.”

This summer Jos explained why the paternalistic “daughter test” makes for bad public policy. I’d argue that the kind of thinking put forth by Santorum in this video clip represents a similarly off base and dangerous right-wing talking point that is as illogical as it is sexist, reducing female voters to their reproductive choices and marital status, and suggesting that they use government as a stand-in for a husband. This is patriarchy at its finest folks.

You can watch the video below (not for the easily angered). And when you’re done, feel free to show some link love to Santorum’s official website.

Brooklyn, NY

Lori Adelman started blogging with Feministing in 2008, and now runs partnerships and strategy as a co-Executive Director. She is also the Director of Youth Engagement at Women Deliver, where she promotes meaningful youth engagement in international development efforts, including through running the award-winning Women Deliver Young Leaders Program. Lori was formerly the Director of Global Communications at Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and has also worked at the United Nations Foundation on the Secretary-General's flagship Every Woman Every Child initiative, and at the International Women’s Health Coalition and Human Rights Watch. As a leading voice on women’s rights issues, Lori frequently consults, speaks and publishes on feminism, activism and movement-building. A graduate of Harvard University, Lori has been named to The Root 100 list of the most influential African Americans in the United States, and to Forbes Magazine‘s list of the “30 Under 30” successful mediamakers. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Lori Adelman is an Executive Director of Feministing in charge of Partnerships.

Read more about Lori

Join the Conversation