Santorum Socks Heilemann: MSM's Job To Defend Obama, Not Mine
Rick Santorum to John Heilemann [and by extension to MSM at large] on today's Morning Joe: "it's your responsibility to defend the president, not mine." Ouch! If Newt's deft dicing of John King and Juan Williams paid huge electoral dividends, Santorum might anticipate a much-needed bump after running roughshod over the New York mag reporter.
Heilemann had called on Santorum to explain his failure to correct a woman at a town hall meeting in Florida yesterday who said President Obama was an "avowed Muslim" and legally unqualified to be president. After noting that he has repeatedly been on the record saying that he doesn't believe PBO is a Muslim and recognizes that he is legally qualified to be president, Santorum said that he chose not to chastise an elderly and infirm lady. Then came Santorum's grand slam, as set forth above. Heilemann only dug himself deeper when he responded by saying that prez candidate McCain had always defended Obama on the campaign trail. Video after the jump.
Watch and decide if this could be the kind of game-changer Santorum so needs.
JOHN HEILEMANN: I actually want to ask him, Senator Santorum, a question about something that happened yesterday in Florida. You were, did a town hall meeting down in, at an American Legion hall in Lady Lake, senator, and there was a questioner who asked you about, about, who started by, the premise was that President Obama is not legally qualified to be president and called him an avowed Muslim. You didn't respond to that. You're taking some criticism for that. I'm wondering whether you want to, whether you want to speak to that here today.
RICK SANTORUM: Guys, I've spoken to that repeatedly throughout the course of this campaign. Everybody else has too. I've said repeatedly that I don't believe President Obama is a Muslim and that he's qualified. This was an elderly lady. She was there leaning on a cane; she was quite wobbly. And I'm not going to sit there and slam an older lady because she has some way-out, some bizarre beliefs. I mean, that's just, that's your responsibility to defend the president, not mine. I've made my position clear on this issue and I don't why you guys are so fixated on making sure Republicans, at every time someone says something that the media doesn't believe is true and I don't believe is true, that it's my responsibility. But when the media and others say lies about me and call me names and do things, that it's OK and that in fact it's promoted and encouraged and made fun of when we do it. Stop it! We're not here, I'm not here to defend the president against scurrilous attacks. It's not my job, anymore than you're saying it's not your job to defend me against scurrilous attacks.
JOE SCARBOROUGH: Hold on, I've just got to know. Playing the role of John King this morning, John Heilemann, you've got a [inaudible] here.
HEILEMANN: I would point out that the previous presidential candidate, nominee, from the Republican party, John McCain, felt like it was his duty in 2008 to make clear when he was questioned by someone on these issues that he should point out that President Obama was not a Muslim and was not, was perfectly legally qualified. So Senator Santorum can say those things, but he's not aligned with the previous nominee of his own party.
SANTORUM: I would just say this. It's very clear. I am not John McCain. And I've never been like John McCain. And I'm not running as a candidate who's anything like John McCain.
- Mark Finkelstein's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Leftist Media Hacks...
Submitted by ChrisNH on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 9:54am.
Leftist Media Hacks are finding out what it's like to be unmasked and identified as such...
The time is past due to
Submitted by kg on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 10:46am.
The time is past time to report on those doing the reporting. The MSM need to be as scrutinized as our politicians.
"DumbAssity of Dope"
No bump
Submitted by David Kramer on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 9:53am.
No one watches MSNBC.
Why
Submitted by notinstl on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 10:08am.
has it taken so long for GOP candidates to show some cajones.....it took Newt's tirade to show that it works and it is what people want....it also shows that Mitt better grow some if he has any hope of winning.
This is why Santorum has no chance
Submitted by boilermaker on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 10:15am.
He made the same chicken-s**t statement on CNN yesterday. He has no backbone. He has no class. If he can't make a simple correction when a supporter makes an outright false claim he's only helping to perpetuate the rumor. And you know he loved every second of it.
Sen. Santorum is looking better everyday.
Submitted by CT on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 10:38am.
The only "...chicken-s**t statement..." on this thread is yours boilermaker.
Am I supposed to respond to this?
Submitted by boilermaker on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 10:54am.
Was this your final retort?
I'll accept the Big Owe's word...
Submitted by DumbCanuck on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 11:38am.
...that he is not a muslim... only because there is no clear-cut evidence to prove the contrary.
I remain sckeptical, though.
On the other hand, there's PLENTY of evidence to indicate that the Bamster is a socialist... and a radical one at that. ...an Alinsky socialist! Btw...Yes I know Alinsky was actually a Marxist. That's how radical Obumbum really is.
"There... Are... Four... Lights!"
Yes, actually you are supposed to respond.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 11:44am.
See, here's how it works:
1) you make an inflammatory statement;
2) you get called out;
3) you respond, but not with a stupid question.
Now let's give it the old college try.
Santorum
Submitted by davebrik on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 11:50am.
I don't believe Obama is an "avowed" muslim. I believe he is so shallow that he would be whatever it takes to perpetuate his lies each and every day. As far as being an eligible "citizen" , I believe his records have been fabricated and he is illegally prez!
Here is my proplem Boiler
Submitted by Airforce_5_O on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 1:12pm.
There is this thing called the 1st Amendment. If this little old lady believes the the President is an avowed Muslem then that is her right. Even if she is wrong it doesn't matter. It is not his place to correct her, because it is her opinion. Now if the MSM, like Heilemann would spend a little more time actually vetting the President we would have a clearer understanding of who he is. No Heilemann wants to find the smallest mole hill and make a mountian out of it.
Excellent point!
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 2:07pm.
Obama ran a campaign for almost 2 full calendar years. He's been in office 3 years. I still know almost nothing about him as a kid, a teen, a college student or an adult. Anything that is learned about him is almost immediately run through several filters before the "facts" about him can be reported.
For 8 years the press tried to get America to think that GW Bush was a pot smoking, coke snorting frat boy. If they could have actually found ONE person to corroborate this, don't you think every network would have had a week long series of interviews?
Obama admits in his book that he smoked pot and snorted coke. (crickets.......)
According to the Bible that I have read, going to church does not make you a Christian. However, non-Christians are always welcome in church. Being born to a Muslim father, going to mosque and attending school at a madrassa does make one a Muslim in the eyes of most other Muslims. Is he or isn't he? I don't have enough evidence to believe one way or another. But if it was proven beyond all doubt, I wouldn't be shocked. Even then, the press would spin it and report the opposite.
Waiting for John Heilemann
Submitted by bkeyser on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 1:28pm.
to post on NewsBusters disavowing this unsubstantiated opinion from this particular peanut gallery.
Alllllright!
Submitted by Mr_Priest on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 10:16am.
It's about time someone else learned that the Liberal Media is not - nor has ever been - your friend. Call them out on their Political Correct bias when needed and set them straight when they do/say things like this. Study Newt, learn from Newt, listen to his tapes on how to respond and connect with your audience. We all say these things behind the back of the MSM, it's time that we said them to their faces!
"The trouble with quotes on the internet is you never know if they are genuine" —Abraham Lincoln
If Disavowel is the Standard...
Submitted by Annie Ashe Fields on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 10:21am.
Then Obama has a lot of 'splainin' to do...
He's been dead silent on any number of disgusting lies uttered by people who shared a stage with him, for crying out loud.
Oh no he doesn't, Annie!
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 10:23am.
The Won is a Democrat. It's kind of like Vegas, the Rules are Different In Dem-Land.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Wow, Mark
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 10:21am.
Heilman is a whiny little b****, and Joe jumped to his defense when Santorum hit back.
No class all the way around with that crew.
Did you ever find out what was up with those faux flag graphics in the studio? I noticed them the other day again.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Good for Santorum. What's
Submitted by kareling on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 10:54am.
Good for Santorum. What's the point of running for office if it's supposed to be your "duty" to defend your opponent?
Glad to
Submitted by bobsmom on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 10:57am.
see Rick has fangs. And face it, if he had "corrected" the little gal, they'd have been all over him for his "disrespectful behavior" toward the elderly. We conservatives hate old people you know.
Yeah, Mom
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 12:12pm.
I'm surprised Santorum didn't grab her cane, toss her in a wheelchair, and roll her off the nearest cliff for her impertinence to The Won.
Oh wait, Florida is flat, we have no cliffs here. Never mind!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Florida IS Flat
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 2:12pm.
But you all do lead the nation in sink holes! They could also wheel granny to the Everglades. Those Burmese Pythons are always hungry.
The Everglades!
Submitted by Blonde on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 2:21pm.
Why didn't I think of that?
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Dang!
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 2:50pm.
For a few brief moments, that was the best meal he'd ever had.
Another mediapimp.......
Submitted by Herbster on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 11:20am.
Another simpering mediapimp gets his pink thong in a knot. No surprise here. Heilemann will fall on his sword (In this case, a penknife) to defend BHO.
Good job Rick!!! Where are
Submitted by okie-pastor on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 11:41am.
Good job Rick!!!
Where are the defenders of "truth" when false claims are made about Sarah Palin?
I remember when a guy threw a shoe at Bush and the media sympathized with the shoe thrower. The only outrage they expressed was at the fact he missed.
Glad to see the liberal bias exposed. Republicans should call them out at every turn.
Why?
Submitted by okiehawk44 on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 11:50am.
97% of media from researchers to top executives supported Obama in '08 -- by their own admission.
I just don't expect the left to be anything other than derogatory and dismissive towards those I support -- the media and the left is arrogant and has a superiority complex and there continue to be those who crave their support like McCain did and does today. Not me!
Just an example on Yahoo
Submitted by okie-pastor on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 11:55am.
Just an example on Yahoo
"Buffet slams Congress for Romney's taxes"
"Under pressure, Romney releases tax info: the GOP candidate's records indicate he earned 42.5 million over the past two years" (imperial march playing in the background)
On the same page:
"Obama readies State of the Union: In the midst of his re-election battle, the president is preparing to issue a plea for economic fairness"
"Obama's Disney World visit: Jake Tapper offers an inside look at a presidential visit to the magic Kingdom"
nope, absolutely no bias there!
Nice zinger, Rick.
Submitted by KyWriter on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 12:37pm.
I can smell the burning flesh from here.
It Took A Leader To Show Santorum The Way
Submitted by Winghunter on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 1:00pm.
Quite content to grovel at the feet of Enemedia until Newt broke the seal of enabling respect for the shameless.
Yet, "I'm not John McCain"?? Closer than he wants us to think:
Felon Voting & The Constitution (Santorum wants to add these 12 Million ex-con voters which will join with the 65 Million who elected Obama ) http://bit.ly/xATsu7
What A Big Government Conservative Looks Like http://bit.ly/xzpdiV
Rick Santorum: A Massively Expanded Welfare State is ‘The Genuine Conservatism our Founders Envisioned’
Santorum: "I often describe my conservative colleagues during this time as simply ‘cheap liberals'." http://bit.ly/A0FZeg
Rick Santorum’s anti-gun history http://bit.ly/uiyBCe
Santorum lost the whine, and
Submitted by amyshulk on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 1:13pm.
Santorum lost the whine, and found his backbone, bravo!!!
Ronald Reagan
And look what good it did
Submitted by katiejane on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 1:42pm.
"the previous presidential candidate, nominee, from the Republican party, John McCain, felt like it was his duty in 2008 to make clear when he was questioned by someone on these issues "
Perhaps if McCain had worried a little more about pointing out BO's flaws and less time defending him we wouldn't be enduring 4 years of BO?
Liberal Joke of the
Submitted by Jack Bauer on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 1:47pm.
Liberal Joke of the Week
HEILEMANN: John McCain, felt like it was his duty in 2008 to make clear when he was questioned by someone on these issues that he should point out that President Obama was not a Muslim and was not, was perfectly legally qualified.
ME: Yeah, and that worked out so well for McCain didn't it, you rancid Obama toad who thinks it's his DUTY to shill for the worst President in living memory..
All of the above Mr Obama? --- How about ALL OF THE BELOW, instead.