Exposed! Rick Santorum’s Inadvertent Support of Teen- and Single-Motherhood

Rick Santorum, in a recent interview with CaffeinatedThoughts.com editor Shane Vander Hart, said he thinks contraception is “dangerous to the country.”

As a citizen of this country, I, for one, am always alert to the possible danger I could be in, and if Rick Santorum is aware of new dangers, I think most would agree that it’s our duty to find out what they are and learn how we can protect ourselves.

Now, I’ve used contraception in the past, and my partner has undergone what you might call a “permanent contraception” procedure, so you can understand our concern and the concern of countless others practicing responsible (non)reproductive behavior in light of this most concerning concern.

Where is the danger? Is it the chemicals used in spermicidal jellies? Allergic reactions to latex? The cancer, stroke, and blood clot risks associated with the pill and the patch?Have vasectomies or tubal ligations been shown to expose men and women to previously unknown health risks?

Rick Santorum explains.

MR. SANTORUM, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING A WEALTH OF INSIGHT AND PERSONAL BELIEF STATEMENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY CATALOGED ON THE INTERNET AND AVAILABLE TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS TODAY IN YOUR STEAD.

AMERICANS, AND IN PARTICULAR THE “98% OF SEXUALLY ACTIVE CATHOLIC WOMEN WHO ARE USING BIRTH CONTROL METHODS BANNED BY THE CHURCH,” ARE SCARED FOR THEIR HEALTH.  PLEASE TELL US: WHAT IS THE DANGER BIRTH CONTROL PRESENTS TO THE NATION?

SANTORUM: “It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.”

I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN BY ‘HOW THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.’ IN THE SEXUAL REALM, ‘THINGS’ OF A SEXUAL NATURE ARE MANY AND VARIED. THERE WAS THIS BOOK IN BARNES AND NOBLE WITH PICTURES–

“It’s supposed to be for purposes that are yes, conjugal…”

OH! OKAY.

“…but also procreative.”

OH.

“That’s the perfect way that a sexual union should happen.”

AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE OF US WHO USE BIRTH CONTROL TO AVOID PREGNANCY ARE, UM…WE’RE NOT HAVING THE SEX IN THE RIGHT WAY, AND SO WE’RE IN DANGER, NOW?

“Look, I vote and have supported birth control because it is not the taking of a human life, ah, but, you know, I’m not a believer in birth control as–artificial birth control. Again, I think it goes down the line of being able to do whatever you want to do without having the responsibility that comes with that.”

BUT, WE THOUGHT WE WERE BEING RESPONSIB–

“It’s harmful to our society to have a society that says that sex outside of marriage is something that should be encouraged.”

BUT, A LOT OF MARRIED PEOPLE USE BIRTH CONTROL. INCLUDING THOSE 98% OF MARRIED, SEXUALLY ACTIVE CATHOLIC WOMEN. COULD THAT MANY CATHOLICS BE WRONG?

“Or, or, or, or tolerated, particularly among the young.”

ACCORDING TO THE GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE, “TEENAGERS (AGED 15-19) WHO DO NOT USE A CONTRACEPTIVE AT FIRST SEX ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO BECOME TEEN MOTHERS AS ARE TEENAGERS WHO USE A METHOD.” TAKING AWAY THEIR BIRTH CONTROL WOULDN’T NECESSARILY STOP THEM FROM DOING SEXUAL THINGS THAT ARE COUNTER TO HOW THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO BE DONE.

“We want to encourage and support families.”

WELL, OKAY, BUT BY ENCOURAGING FAMILIES THROUGH THE RESTRICTION OF BIRTH CONTROL ACCESS, YOU INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF TEEN PREGNANCY AND SINGLE-PARENTHOOD, AND THE CDC REPORTED IN 2009 THAT “TEEN PREGNANCY AND CHILDBEARING BRING SUBSTANTIAL SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC COSTS THROUGH IMMEDIATE AND LONG-TERM IMPACTS ON TEEN PARENTS AND THEIR CHILDREN.”

Sex “is supposed to be within marriage.”

I CAN APPRECIATE THAT YOU THINK THEY SHOULD WAIT UNTIL MARRIAGE TO HAVE SEX, BUT THE FACTS AS PRESENTED BY THE GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE INDICATE THAT “ON AVERAGE, YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE SEX FOR THE FIRST TIME AT ABOUT AGE 17…BUT THEY DO NOT MARRY UNTIL THEIR MID-20S.” SO, WHAT ARE YOU GAINING BY LIMITING THE AVAILABILITY OF BIRTH CONTROL?

“Look at the political base of the Democratic Party: It is single mothers who run a household.”

I SEE. YOU THINK DEFUNDING BIRTH CONTROL WILL ELIMINATE SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS AND INCREASE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BASE?

“It’s so tough economically that [single mothers] look to the government for help and therefore they’re going to vote. So if you want to reduce the Democratic advantage, what you want to do is build two parent families, you eliminate that desire for government.”

BUT SENATOR, NEVER MIND FOR A MINUTE THAT YOU’RE ACTUALLY GOING TO INCREASE THE CASES OF SINGLE-MOTHERHOOD IF YOU MAKE BIRTH CONTROL HARDER TO GET.  “THE CHILDREN OF TEENAGE MOTHERS”–AND KEEP IN MIND THAT 2.9 MILLION TEENS USE CONTRACEPTIVES–”ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE LOWER ACHIEVEMENT AND DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, HAVE MORE HEALTH PROBLEMS, BE INCARCERATED AT SOME TIME DURING ADOLESCENCE, GIVE BIRTH AS A TEENAGER, AND FACE UNEMPLOYMENT AS A YOUNG ADULT.” IN ESSENCE, BECOME THE DEMOCRATIC BASE.

“Clearly, providing some sort of supportive services [is what I want to do]…  We should start with the family and then look to local organizations like community groups, churches, civic organizations, then local government, state government and ultimately, if necessary, the federal government.”

ACCORDING TO THE HUFFINGTON POST, THOUGH, YOU “VOTED FOR MEASURES THAT WOULD INCREASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN ON SINGLE MOTHERS, THEREBY MAKING THEM MORE DEPENDENT ON GOVERNMENT SERVICES.” YOU ALSO “SUPPORTED THE ‘FAMILY CAP’ IN 1995 THAT FORBID STATES TO GIVE MOTHERS ON WELFARE MORE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AFTER THE BIRTH OF A CHILD.”

“It takes a family.”

SO YOU’RE IN FAVOR OF FAMILY SUPPORT INSTEAD OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT?

“We should make it easier for one of those parents to stay at home at least during times when children are home.”

BUT YOU VOTED “AGAINST THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT, WHICH WOULD HAVE ENSURED 12 WEEKS OF UNPAID LEAVE FOR WOMEN TO CARE FOR THEIR NEW BABIES.”

“Many women have told me, and surveys have shown, that they find it easier, more ‘professionally’ gratifying…to work outside the home than to give up their careers to take care of their children. What happened in America so that mothers and fathers who leave their children in the care of someone else…find themselves more affirmed by society. Here, we can thank the influence of radical feminism, one of the core philosophies of the village elders.”

THE VILLAGE–WHAT?

“The word ‘home’ in Greek is the basis of the word ‘economy.’It is the foundation of our country. You can’t have a limited government if the family breaks down.”

SPEAKING OF THE BREAKDOWN OF FAMILIES, IF MOST SINGLE PARENTS ARE MOTHERS, DOESN’T THAT MEAN THE FATHERS ARE LARGELY ABSENT AND THEREBY CONTRIBUTING TO THIS BREAKDOWN?

“I’ve worked for a lot of non-profit organizations … to try to focus some resources on trying to bring fathers back involved with their children.”

WELL, THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY REPORTS THAT “EIGHT OF TEN TEEN FATHERS DO NOT MARRY THE MOTHERS OF THEIR FIRST CHILDREN,” AND THAT “REDUCING TEEN PREGNANCY IS CLOSELY CONNECTED TO THE GOAL OF PROMOTING RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD.”

IT’S SAFE TO SAY, THEN, THAT EASILY ACCESSIBLE BIRTH CONTROL WOULD PREVENT PREGNANCIES IN THE MILLIONS OF SEXUALLY ACTIVE TEENS WHO MAY OTHERWISE BECOME PREGNANT GIRLS OR ABSENTEE-FATHERS, WHICH WOULD THEN REDUCE THIS DANGEROUS FAMILY BREAKDOWN YOU SPEAK OF.

“I think it’s harmful to women.”

OH, FOR FUCK’S SAKE.
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The above statements attributed to Rick Santorum were, at one time or another, said by Rick Santorum. To locate the source of each quote, find the link (highlighted in red) that corresponds with the statement. A new link appears any time the source changes.