we hould these truths - rick santorum 2012 presidential campaign official document

7/31/2019 We Hould These Truths - Rick Santorum 2012 Presidential Campaign Official Document

1/3

We Hould These Truths

By Rick Santorum

(Jan/13/2012)

The White House recently told the press there couldnt be more difference between my

position on gay marriage and President Obamas.

On reflection, I agree.

President Obamas position on marriage is constantly evolving, as he so often says. Hes

not sure what marriage is, or what it should become, and no doubt right now hes consulting

highly-paid polling experts to determine how his position and marriage itself should

morph next. This should come as no surprise given the Presidents musings about the othergreat moral issue of our time, the protection of human life.

In a 2008 campaign forum, Pastor Rick Warren asked, at what point does a baby get humanrights, in your view?" Obama answered, Well, you know, I think that whether youre

looking at it from a theological perspective or a science perspective, answering that question

with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade. But as an Illinois State Senator, BarackObama articulated a very clear view of when a baby was granted rights. He was the only

senator to vote against the Born Alive Infants Protection Act in committee; legislation that

protected babies who survived an abortion and were born alive. He was the only senator tospeak against it on the senate floor.

At the time, the constitutional law professor boldly asserted, that whenever we define a pre-

viable fetus as a person that is protected by the equal protection clause or other elements ofthe Constitution, what were really saying is, in fact, that they are persons that are entitled to

the kinds of protections that would be provided to aa child, a 9 month oldchild that was

delivered to term. He says children only have rights who are 9-months old and delivered atterm. So, does that mean any child born before 9 months is not entitled to rights?

By contrast, millions of Americans, including myself, know what we think about human lifeand marriage. We know not only what we think but why we believe what we believe. We

know that some truths are bigger than the next election and should not shift with political

consultants advice. And among those great, enduring, and foundational truths, I believe, are

life and marriage.

An unborn child is not just a clump of cells. He or she is a human life, as worthy of basic

dignity and respect as any one of us. Each precious, irreplaceable human life is too infinitelyvaluable to permit courts to redefine its meaning away. I fought against Partial Birth

Abortion, a horrific procedure supported by President Obama, all the way to the U.S.

Supreme Court. When the highest court found the law banning the practice unconstitutional, Isent it back to the justices a second time so they could get it right.

1


2/3

Marriage is, and has always been through human history, a union of a man and woman and

for a reason. These unions are special because they are the ones we all depend on to makenew life and to connect those new lives to their mom and dad.

A husband is a man who commits to a woman, to her and any children she may give him. He

commits to his wife without any reservations, to share with her all his worldly goods and toexclude all others from this intimate communion of life. From this vow of marriage comes a

wonderful and unique good: any children their union creates will have a mom and a dad

united in love, in one family.

Thats the special work of marriage in law to connect things that otherwise fray and

fragment: love, life, money, moms, and dads.

A man who does not seek to do this who doesnt choose to give himself to a woman and

any children they may have together in this unique and special way may well be a very

good man and have wonderful other kinds of relationships, but he isnt seeking to be ahusband. We cant redefine reality to accommodate politically fashionable wishes. Words

matter because they capture enduring and timeless truths about human nature and about the

common good.

Lawyers cannot create life and did not create marriage. And lawyers (whether on the bench

or in politics) have no business redefining either to suit the shifting winds of fashion, orworse, for political expediency.

I know so many single moms who work so hard and do such a great job raising children. Weneed to applaud every heroic parent working hard to raise good kids regardless of whether or

not they are married; just as we need to protect all our children, born and unborn, those lucky

enough to have the gift of a married mom and dad and those who do not.

We can do this without cravenly surrendering timeless truths about marriage and human life.

We dont want liberal media-approved lawyers and politicians massaging the meaning of

words, or judges implementing vast social changes without the consent of the governed, or,frankly, politicians like President Obama who cannot even tell you what marriage will be

next week.

In positions of power, we need men and women of character, willing to stand up and defend

what they think is right and to level with the American people. America is hungry for

leadership. I have found everywhere I go across this great land that people appreciate it if

they know youre the kind of man they can trust to tell the truth on important issues even ifthey do not agree with you on every issue.

Marriage is a societys life blood. Not everybody can or will marry, but all of us (married ornot) depend on marriage in a unique way. Marriage is foundational: it creates and sustains

not only children but civilization itself. This is an institution which protects our liberty.

A president who, after thousands of years of human history, a Harvard law degree, and four

years in the White House, cannot tell us with certainty what he thinks marriage or life is, is

2


3/3

not worthy of the trust of the American people or a second term in office. It is time for

leadership in America. It is time again to stand for self-evident foundational truths.

3

we hould these truths - rick santorum 2012 presidential campaign official document

Documents