(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."
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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.
At last count Santorum has Alienated :
Democrats
Independants
Moderate Republicans
Blacks
Gays
Woman
The Poor
Protestants
Latinos
Muslims
Snobs (The educated)
Can we add Comedians to the list ?
Is Santorum retarded? A Madrassa refers to any place where learning takes place. Even our twisted definition means a place where the Quran is taught and where young people become scholars. A Christian Madrassa would simply be a place where someone is receiving the education of the bible and also being schooled. Santorum thinks it is an insult to be confused with education. He really is a frothy mixture.
I thought George bush was dangerous. Sanitarium is like Bush on steroids.
I'm so sick of hearing about white conservative christianty. Let me ask the question are whites the only people who have a conncetion to the God of the "Jews"? or am I just paranoid. White conservative christians do not speak for the millions of multi-ethnic christians, and trust me they don't have any monopoly. It's rather insane for them to think that me a female, black, educated, could not be a christian or even conservative and at the same time vote for Obama. You just watch me...see what lever I'm gonna pull. I say that many of those right-wing conservatives are just like the pharisees. Would pass you by in a minute..for their so called religion.
Maher went to Cornell and Santorum's 12 year old hasnt yet graduated from Living Room High School. I kow it was hyperbole, but I think when that debate takes place I will be betting heavily on Bill.
Bill M. is like Chris Mathews, he talks over people, interrups them when they're getting the best of him and especially when they have a solid point to make.
the only difference is that Bill M. doesn't druel from the mouth when he talks like Chris M.
Maher and Rush both are playing us. What they want is pub, pub good or bad, brings in viewers which equals$$$$$$$$$$$. We all have been taken by even commenting on this. Lets focus our attention on something more promising.
If he would actually set his twelve-year-old kid up for a thrashing by an experienced and brilliant comedian, the state should take that child away from him. Is he going to let Rush talk about his handicapped daughter next? This guy is everything Maher said he was. I had a grain of sympathy until he started pimping his kid.
Maher is correct. Santorum is an Ayatollah wannabe.
Bill M., for the misfits and losers!!!! Stay tuned, you're really getting educated by this moran.
Yep, He's an IDIOT. Maher got what he wanted, Right wackos getting sidetracked and freaking out about what he as to say. Calling the way is really makes people mad when you make fun of their little world of adamant delusion. Remembe when Copernicus dared to say that the Earth was NOT the center of the universe. Fortunately for him, he died of natural causes before the conservative authroity couild torture and kill him into the REASON of a 12 yr old.
NOPE.
libs suck
Libs hate it when they know the far right is correct
We love it when you show your IQ.
conservative Christian values???? My foot! Christian values = no war, no guns, taking care of those less fortunate.,....he's got it all WRONG!
Christian values? Not! Christian values are no war, no need to bear arms, looking after those less fortunate and not judging others. How's that for starters?
"Can we add Comedians to the list ?" Letterman is supporting him and intends to vote for him(he says) because he would be a big 'Win' for comedians everywhere.
Libs hate it when they know the far right is correct.
Doesnt bother me, you never are correct.
Santorum also thinks it's a violation of religious freedom to prosecute pedophile priests. His view of freedom of religion is Catholics can do whatever they want to everyone else!
"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."
No they aren't, they are trashing "Make Pretend Christians" Like Santorum who are hypocrites and know very little about the Bible. The Catholic church is far removed from anything that the Bible actually teaches. It is rooted in Pagan customs and Greek mythology. It continues to condoned its priests that molest young children. Sorry Mr. Santorum, but those are NOT true Christian values!
Guess my last post was tooo liberal to post. The lack of 1st amd rights runs rampant. Maher can say what he wants on National TV, but I cant post on this small news blog? Whats up with that?
That settles it. I'm not voting for Bill Maher
SANTORUM 1912
When little Ricky dies and goes to heaven,
he is going to be in shock when he finds out that God is
a black female lesbian.
Maher is BRILLIANT. His comment was right on target!!! Go Bill!
They say history repeats itself. So it is with the fall of most great nations when men exalt their ways and knowledge above God. This man has made a choice to be held accountable for what his children are exposed too. He has not argued that any of you don't have that same choice. WE all have a God given opportunity to make our own choices, even if that choice is not to believe in God. We all have a destiny with the consequences of our choices.
Bill Maher? Who cares what he thinks? He's a comedian. And he loves the spotlight. Stupid statements are what he makes money on. So the more outlandish the statement(s), the more money. Does anyone actually believe that Christian home schooled kids are taught just religion (like a Madrassa does almost exclusively)? Does anyone actually believe that home schooled kids don't have to pass standardized tests on knowledge they gained of the real world subjects? If you believe that kind of thing then you are not as smart as you think you are. Keep it up Bill, you have a wonderful way of showing us you are in for the dough and your atheism and your politics are just part of the game BTW, I know you don't believe in the afterlife. And if you're correct than you are OK. But if you're wrong you're not OK.
Conor: That's clearly not what Maher meant. The term is most commonly used in this country to refer to those places where radical, fundamentalist Islam is taught. He obviously meant for it to be pejorative. He wasn't just objectively stating that Santorum's home was a place of Christian learning. His statement was deeply offensive to both Muslims and Christians. Maher and others like him are openly hostile to any religious beliefs and couldn't care less who they offend.