Rev. Dr. Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite: Was Santorum running for theologian-in-chief?

[UrbScotty]

Rick Santorum has ended his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination. This is an historic moment. Santorum’s was possibly the most religiously-based presidential campaign, not only in this election cycle, but perhaps in American history.

Santorum’s vision of the presidency, as gleaned from his many statements on faith and policy, was more of a Christian “theologian-in-chief” than a political leader of the most religiously diverse nation in the world.

The Santorum run was an historic candidacy because his often off-the-cuff remarks would reveal what is at stake for American democracy when ‘faith in the public square’ shifts and becomes more like ‘one faith should dominate the public square.’

The best framing for this analysis is, of course, Santorum’s comment that he “almost threw up” after reading John F. Kennedy’s historic 1960 address on separation of church and state. The very visceral quality of Santorum’s reaction, its literal ‘from the gut’ reaction, is most revealing. The idea that his conservative Catholic faith could remain private, and not dictate what he would do as President in running the government of a religiously and non-religiously pluralistic society, was literally anathema to Santorum.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/was-santorum-running-for-theologian-in-chief/2012/04/10/gIQARZYp8S_blog.html

[lib2DaBone]

1. The Republicans have unleashed the Bible on the voters...

..Now they have to scramble to suck up to all the different factions of "Evangelical" voters in order to get their vote.

I think Santorum was pure theater.. he had no intention of being President. He filed a void in their Evangelical Jihad.

Just like Herman Cain is/was pure theater. The Republicans HATE black people, they HATE Obama.

So why would they even insert Herman Cain in the process? Pure Theater to distract the masses.

This will be a brokered convention. Marco Rubio will be the VP choice... a solid bet.

I still say they will trot out Gen David Patreaus at the last minute... and put "I Like Ike" buttons everywhere.... sell Patreaus as the next "Ike".

Word...