Santorum: Obama's education stance is 'snobbery'
January 7th, 2012
12:23 PM ET
11 years ago

Santorum: Obama's education stance is 'snobbery'

Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) - Rick Santorum called President Barack Obama's education goals an agenda of "hubris" on Saturday, saying he is "outraged" that the president thinks "every child in America should go to college."

"The hubris of this president to think that he knows what's best for you [...] This is the kind of snobbery that we see from those that think they know how to run our lives," the former Pennsylvania senator said in a forum at St. Anselm's New Hampshire Institute of Politics.

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Obama has repeatedly said he wants the United States to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. Earlier this year, while announcing plans to reform "No Child Left Behind," Obama also said he intends for every student to graduate "career and college ready."

But Santorum, whose children's education includes home-schooling, argued that not everyone is suited for a college education.

"I have seven kids. Maybe they'll all go to college. But if one of my kids wants to go and be an auto mechanic, good for him, that's a good paying job, using your hands, using your mind," he said.

Santorum calls for the federal government to have a "very limited" role in education, advocating for "flexible and personalized approaches to education for each child to best maximize their potential."

"We are leaving so many children behind because they're not ready to go to college - they don't want to go to college, they don't need to go to college," Santorum said Saturday.

CNN's Ashley Killough and Gregory Wallace contributed to this report.

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Filed under: 2012 • New Hampshire • Rick Santorum
soundoff (619 Responses)
  1. HAHA!

    Apparently Santorum never worked as a mechanic.

    January 7, 2012 02:34 pm at 2:34 pm |
  2. Kay

    "Obama also said he intends for every student to graduate "career and college ready." What about that says that every kid has to go to college??? Being scholastically capable of going to college is a good thing. But it certainly doesn't mean you *have* to go to college...anymore than "career ready" means that it can't be a blue-collar career. Jeez frickin' Louise.

    January 7, 2012 02:36 pm at 2:36 pm |
  3. Eric of Reseda

    Can you believe this guy?!? ""The hubris of this president to think that he knows what's best for you [...] This is the kind of snobbery that we see from those that think they know how to run our lives," the former Pennsylvania senator said." And this is the guy that wants to tell you who you can marry, a guy who would force a rape victim to have the child of her rapist, would mandate prayer in school, etc. CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS GUY?1? If you can, then you are dumber than you thought. This is how Fascism takes root. And this guy is RIGHT out of "central casting" when it comes to religious Fascist. Start callling him Iman Santorum.

    January 7, 2012 02:36 pm at 2:36 pm |
  4. EricCT

    Santorum's positions are laughable. And it's not like he has as much as a one in a million chance of becoming President, it's okay to laugh!

    January 7, 2012 02:36 pm at 2:36 pm |
  5. Jack M.

    For some reason, I don't think any of Santorum's kids would be cut out for college.

    January 7, 2012 02:37 pm at 2:37 pm |
  6. phillygrl

    Yes, heaven forbid we be a country of well-educated individuals! And taking a step back from sarcasim, when did the President say that every child must attend college? He's pushing for 1)expanded opportunities for college and 2)a well-educated population. And who says an auto mechanic can't go to college, take a few biz and accounting courses, open his/her own shop and hire some folks! Now that's how America works! Obama-Biden 2012!

    January 7, 2012 02:37 pm at 2:37 pm |
  7. dameek

    This article is a joke, right? I guess I can't say "I want all my children going to college." And do you notice that when he said that if one of them wanted to be a auto mechanic, he would support HIM in the decision. Why didn't he say "she?"

    January 7, 2012 02:38 pm at 2:38 pm |
  8. kevininjc

    Wow....Santorum is rallying against people getting education? Are we going back to the "let's see how uneducated I can be" position George W. Bush had? Then we can get a repeat of what is was like to have someone like him as president. Considering the dumb things Santorum already has said about gays and gay marriage, he's certainly off to a flying start; check out the you-tube videos of him talking on these subjects in the last few days and listen to the booing.

    January 7, 2012 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |
  9. Hap Hazzard

    Really? You're going to take a stand AGAINST kids going to college?

    January 7, 2012 02:42 pm at 2:42 pm |
  10. works4me

    What an absolute genius this one is. Here's even more proof we need to be better educated. And, while you don't necessarily need college to be an auto mechanic, with today's vehicles it would be wise. Difference is do you want to work at WalMart your whole automotive career, or would you rather be a technician for Porsche or the like? Today's vehicles require well educated technicians... not knuckle dragging grease monkeys.

    January 7, 2012 02:43 pm at 2:43 pm |
  11. Tish

    I usually don’t have a whole lot to say but this one is truly unbelievable. I never thought the GOP could get any lower but I think Ricky just sunk to a whole lower level. This is truly GOP ignorance at its best and the pot calling the kettle black. I had expected that the criticism blasted at Mrs. Obama for saying that kids should eat more vegetable couldn’t be beat but I guess these folks find new ways to surprise me every day.

    Obama 2012

    January 7, 2012 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |
  12. Jose

    This reads like something out of The Onion. How could anyone vote for this guy?

    January 7, 2012 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |
  13. Marlee

    I would sure like to see every child in America who wants to attend college have the opportunity! Nothing wrong with aiming high and we need to keep up with the world. I'd like school vouchers in Michigan as well. We already have the right to work, bring on American jobs.

    January 7, 2012 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |
  14. Tish

    To answer Ricky’s question about who does ‘that one’ think he is? The answer-The President of the United States of America, so get used to it because you’re going to have deal with it for another 5 years.

    Obama 2012

    January 7, 2012 02:44 pm at 2:44 pm |
  15. Angela Birch

    I guess Santorum can't listen or read. Obama said CAREER or college ready. Does he think it is a bad thing to have kids that are unable to support themselves at 18? His theoretical mechanic child could be career ready by having mechanic classes available in high school, not something not available in most schools.

    January 7, 2012 02:45 pm at 2:45 pm |
  16. Pine Razor

    Santorum....we are smart enough to understand what the president is trying to accomplish. You alone want to twist his message to suit your political ambitions. Not smart enough to be president.

    January 7, 2012 02:45 pm at 2:45 pm |
  17. Grover Norquist American terrorist

    Republicans in general have a problem with education. Republicans know that uneducated people are easier to controll

    January 7, 2012 02:45 pm at 2:45 pm |
  18. cigarman

    AS shole Santorum must be having a hallucination, Santorum is the one who wants to tell everyone what to do. Santorum wants to ban birth control pills. Santorum wants to ban legal abortion. Santorum wants to tell women what to do with there bodies. Santorum wants something in the United States similar to Sharia law. Santorum in not only a religious nut, he wants to tell everyone in the United States how to live. That dog will not hunt.

    January 7, 2012 02:46 pm at 2:46 pm |
  19. gsquare

    No be a nit-wit like Santorum and don't go to college. People, if you want to have the American dream, you better get a college education> Also get a real degree in something like business or engineering, not a liberal arts degree. You need a good skill set to give employers a reason to hire you

    January 7, 2012 02:47 pm at 2:47 pm |
  20. Aaron E.

    Mr. Santorum says: “The hubris of this president to think that he knows what’s best for you [...] This is the kind of snobbery that we see from those that think they know how to run our lives,”

    And yet demands that only men and women be allowed to marry...things that make you go: hmmmmmm.

    January 7, 2012 02:47 pm at 2:47 pm |
  21. dhakarpola

    Sorry Santoram, cannot ditto for you. Whether I like Obama or not that's another question. But I believe education is the most important thing to achieve for a nation to be able to lead the world.

    January 7, 2012 02:48 pm at 2:48 pm |
  22. Reasonable1

    Santorum does not agree that college eduction for all is a good thing? He just lost my vote for sure.

    January 7, 2012 02:48 pm at 2:48 pm |
  23. MPAGEL

    Obama said "Career and College ready". Santorum only heard "College". Rick: learn to listen if you want to be POTUS.

    January 7, 2012 02:48 pm at 2:48 pm |
  24. joe schmoe

    I enjoy the way the GOP tends to twist things around. I believe Obama is saying NOT that every child SHOULD go to college but that every child should have the CHANCE to go to college. Big difference between what Obama was saying to what these GOP clowns THINK or twist around what Obama was saying. College is outrageously expensive for many families out there there should be a way for everyone to be able to get a University education without declaring bankruptcy on graduation day. The cost of University needs to be a little more under control.
    Santorum is just and idiot!

    January 7, 2012 02:49 pm at 2:49 pm |
  25. Bill C

    Good for him. I don't know if my kids will go to college or not, but if they choose to be plumbers, musicians or full time parents, that is their decision, not the presidents.

    January 7, 2012 02:50 pm at 2:50 pm |
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