(CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum hit back against Bill Maher Monday night after the liberal talk show host criticized Santorum for home-schooling his children, calling his home a "Christian madrassa."
Responding to his comments, Santorum, a devout Catholic, said on Fox News that "folks on the left" are out there "trashing anybody who stands up for Christian conservative values, anybody who dares to actually teach their children faith in their home."
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
Maher made the remarks on his show Friday, saying that Santorum was sheltering his children and educating them in the home rather than in public out of fear they "could be infected by the virus of reason."
"It's no coincidence that the type of tree which God forbade Adam and Eve eating from was the tree of knowledge. Rick Santorum home-schools his children because he does not want them eating that (audio bleep) apple," Maher said. "He wants them locked up in the Christian madrassa that is the family living room, not out in public where they could be infected by the virus of reason."
The comedian has drawn criticism from many on the right for his comments against top Republicans. In response, some conservatives, including Sarah Palin, have called on a super PAC supporting President Barack Obama's re-election bid to return Maher's $1 million donation. The group, Priorities USA, has not indicated it would give back the contribution.
But Santorum on Monday, pointing to the uproar over Rush Limbaugh's comments last month against a law student who advocated for contraception coverage, said Maher's remarks were an “absolute double standard" from the left.
"All of a sudden, if you're instilling faith and teaching them about God in your home, you're a Madrassa, according to these folks, as if reason doesn't take place in these homes," Santorum said.
The candidate then argued his son, one of seven children, could take on Maher.
"Our children will out-reason him. My 12 year-old will out-reason Bill Maher when it comes to understanding how logic works, 'cause (Maher) is completely illogical," Santorum said.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
The problem here is, Santorum and Maher have different forms and types of logic. Santorum, and apparently his 12 year old, have what we called "Christian logic". This is logic where everything has to be related to mythology, I mean, religion. And then Bill Maher has what we call "real world logic", basically meaning logic which uses a high level of common sense. So it's pretty much apples and oranges...
A washout comic is the leader of the left.. Shocking !!!!! Obama is a joke and where is all the outrage about the gas prices??? Oh you morons only get mad when it was "Bushs fault".. If you could only see how stupid you are it whould shock you.. The rest of the normal world is pointing and laughing..haha
Well, let's see...do Santorum's kids think that a zygote is a human being? If they do, they've been indoctrinated in religious nonsense, and Maher is right.
I put anyone who sides with Maher in the same boat as a man who sides with Rush, You are a fanatic's for your party, Both these men are pitbulls for there perspective party's and neither one worth a plug Nichol. In the end there mouths will be there undoing when there ego over rides there ability to decide what can be said publicly and survive the firestorm. Rush has found the wall but Maher is real close to the limit, In fact his ace in the hole is the Dbl standard the Liberal press uses on Conservatives.
The only way anyone can have an argument against home schooling is AFTER we outlaw all smart phones and video games for everyone under 25.
I put anyone who sides with Maher in the same boat as a man who sides with Rush, they are a fanatic for there party, Both these men are pitbulls for there perspective party's and neither one worth a plug Nichol. In the end there mouths will be there undoing when there ego over rides there ability to decide what can be said publicly and survive the firestorm. Rush has found the wall but Maher is real close to the limit, In fact his ace in the hole is the Dbl standard the left leaning press uses on Conservatives.
Hmm I find this article to be biased
My elementary school education (grades 1-9) happened in a catholic school in Alberta. I doubt religious indoctrination could be more absolute.
But at about age 20, I became an athiest (thanks Carl Sagan). No regrets, never looked back.
I live in Ireland, where I watch Real time every week over the internet. In this countryt where all the schools are owned by the church, the homeschoolers are generally the ones trying to keep their kids away from religion.
Personally, I think that home schooling should not be allowed at all. Nor should faith based schools be allowed. Schools should not be predominantly muslim or catholic or protestant, but should have a proportional amount of each to reflect the make-up of the local community. There should then be a 'religion' lesson for 1 hour a week that focuses on all religions in the world including the dead ones (Norse gods etc). That way we dont have predominantly muslim or catholic schools, we just have schools, with kids in, being taught stuff they NEED to succeed in life.
Amazing how accurate this article is
Although I do at times take issue with Maher's extreme anti-religious views, he does make a point about the homeschooling. I suspect they're not instilling true Christian values in their children but instead hate and misinformation.
*** Truth and Nothing But the Truth
The power of the purse should be brought to bear on this hate monger.
No reason he should be getting rich off of his hate filled speech.
---------------------------------
But you posted last week defending what Rush did.
So its OK for the Conservative,
but wrong for the Liberal, huh ?
If the church starts paying taxes, let's say 10%, then they have a voice. Sanitroum, makes me want to THROW UP! That's right Ricky, hit a guy when he's dead, so that he can't come back to you! Your a piece of POOP!
I love it when the pundits tell the truth. How is home schooling for christians any different from home schooling for muslims? The answer is they are exactly the same, indoctrination centers.
Christians are trash and they need to know it
Anonymous
Top Ten Signs You're a Fundamentalist Christian
----------------
You think President Obama is a muslim, or you're just not sure if he is a Christian.
Way to paint all dems with the same brush, Rick. And, Sarah, be careful about stating Obama should "return" money. Are there no republican PACS who have said outrageous things for which the repubs should return money? Me thinks there are!
Maher and Santorum both make me laugh. One of them I laugh with, the other I laugh at.
Maher is the man. Everytime I watch his show,he makes perfect sense. Santorum does live in the bubble.Being religious is one thing,but to home-schooling their kids on christian values alone is selfish and ludicrous.It seems that Santorum was probably home-schooled himself.I feel bad for the kids,having such a close-minded dad.Sad,very sad.
Since Santorum is on record as saying advanced education is intended to brainwash youth to wean them away from faith, Maher may have a point. What is the difference between the Madrassas teaching based on memorizing the Koran and the Christian fanatics teaching based ony memorizing the Bible? Nevertheless, he is within his rights to criticize Maher. Now, if he could also extend his outrage enough to include Limbaugh...
It's not a double standard when you attack one guy, like Bill, and not even give Rush a slap on the wrist. Play fair, Rick, play fair.
What's the big deal, Bill used the word Madrasah, which according to Wikipedia, means a place of study or learning. What's up Rick, your kids don't learn in your house? Also Rick, the religious conservative right would like nothing better than to shove their morals right down everyone's throat so can the indignity you hypocrite.
Almost everyone alive is a person of faith (everyone not completely dead on the inside). the act of living requires it. the difference is how that faith looks. many christians, muslims love to tout, I AM A PERSON OF FAITH, as a badge of superiority, somehow missing in their rush to arrogance the human condition we all share and that we all struggle with.
Being that the "Rick Santorum School for the Gifted" has a very strict no gays policy, how was it he was allowed to teach there?
Maher is wrong to say hurtful personal stuff. But who listens to him? Apparently he gets more attention on the right than the left. Who listens to Rush Limbaugh...80% of the righties. Rush Limbaugh attacked a young woman, who was testifying in Washington. He went after a private citizen, personally and called her names and such. Maher sticks to public figures at least.
@Joe – Maher the leader of the lett? Hardly. John Stewart is king. Just a little liberal insider info. You think the president controls gas prices? Keep watching for the black helicopters, they are all around you.