Santorum rails against Maher on 'Christian madrassa' comment
(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.
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School is not just about reading, writing and arithmetic. Its about socializing our children so they can become social adults. Homeschooling is sheltering children from necessary regular interaction with other children. Its bad for everyone.
No Santorum, he's just railing against you and all the other "conservatives" that are brain washing this country into believeing thsi is a Christian-Judeao county and it's NOT. So, PLEASE get over your catholocism, you're not perfect nor are you right. Right wing fanatic maybe, but not right.
Didn't know Maher was running for any office, much less against Santorum. No wonder the R's will lose in November; they aren't running FOR anything and spend their time running AGAINST each other or whoever.
Mr. Santorum better toughen up or he's going to be the absolute butt of any number of jokes and commentaries leveled straight at him the closer he gets to being a viable candidate. Besides how do we know what he's teaching his children in home schooling, terrorist activities against the left?
Idiot.
Bulls eye Bill! You've got that obscene little sewer rat Sanorectum squawking in tongues! Keep up the good work...
What Maher said was the complete truth. Santorum is against college for the same reason, because it threatens the authority of the church. Keep everyone stupid, and it will be easier to rule over them. That's Santorum's philosophy.
Sure, Rick Santorum and 45% of Republican voters in Mississippi and Alabama believes the POTUS is a Mus lim because they ignore education and truth.
Bill Maher is so wrong, Santorum is correct bcoz the earth is flat and it is only 2000 years old. Jesus walked with dinosaurs. What evolution? God created Adam & Eve & the world. It is all in the bible,
Way to go Bill. Scored a bulls eye!
I can just imagine President Santorum throwing this kind of temper tantrums in the Oval Office. Rick is a very honest man and you can always see exactly where he is at and what his beliefs are. His views are terrifying.
Why is it if you don't agree with a liberal Democrat, you are called "stupid, ignorant, moron" etc.,?
Anyone WANTING to open a dialog doesn't start by degrading the other individual. Bottom line, if you don't agree, no room for discussion, THEY WANT YOU GONE!
Both of you should be sent to your respective corner's for a long time-out . You both have a right to your opinions, whether I agree with them or not, but this spit for spat is not what adults are suppose to do and you are both more mature than you are acting.
You get a pass for demeaning women if the demeanor comedian and/or leftist and the demeanee is a conservative. Works every time.
BTW, have you ever noticed that, in spite of his wealth, fame and charm, he's NEVER seen with a woman as in "on a date"...not even at the Playboy Mansion. Bill Maher is either a misogynist and/or a closeted gay.
Where is the Like button when you need it... more funny comments on these boards than SNL...writers onward to these discussion boards for crowdsourced fun
Rasing a child to be yet another worthless religious imbecile on this planet is clearly child abuse. All religions are a joke and all followers are egotistical morons. Ban all religions now, tolerance is not the answer. We need a rational atheist for president.
Maher's failed atheist agenda will always get him to the same place – nowhere. He is no better or no different than any of these talk radio idiots and his only purpose is to denigrate other human beings. What a waste – anyone can lambast and tear down – it takes a real person to be intelligent and compassionate.
Nothing wrong with home schooling but the it is okay to be home schooled by a old lady who thinks her husbands semen & lust are some gift from God and the all the other nonsense from the Bible.
Maher is a buffoon.
A "madrassa" is a school. He teaches his kids at home, therefore it is a school. He is getting all uppity because he used an Arab word?
I actually agree with Bill Maher 100%. I'm sure he was trying to be a liittle bit funny when he said what he said, but I agree (he's totally handicapping his children).
Actually, he called Santorum creepy as well, a claim I'd stick to if I were Maher.
I don't agree with everything that Maher says but, when he's right, he's right! Little Ricky has also said that he wants to change (or eliminate) every law that isn't in compliance with God's law. So, first question, Who's God? Let me guess, little Ricky's god of course. More than that, what's the difference between little Ricky's plan and the Taliban? They both want the same thing, the state being the same as their religion, just different god's I guess.
Just like driving a car, put the car "D" to go forward, put the car in "R" to go backwards.
Does anyone listen to Maher anyways? Who gives a crap what he says?
I am a left leaning Christian. People act like we don't exist, but there are a lot of us out there. Bill Maher is obviously a disgusting human being who has no respect for Christians whatsoever. On the other hand, Santorum is revolting in his own way since the spends so much time on social issues that absolutely have no impact on our country. The abortion issue is settled. Gays in the military is settled. Gay marriages is on the way to be settled. So, move on. In case he didn't notice, the economy needs some work. No amount of gay bashing, race baiting or liberal bashing is going to change that.