Rick Santorum isn't opposed to gay
rights, he's opposed to gay 'privileges.'
After telling Fox News Sunday host
Chris Wallace that gay people have the right to employment, the
former Pennsylvania senator and (likely) Republican presidential
hopeful went on to say he doesn't view marriage as a right but as a
privilege.
When Wallace asked, “Would you give
them [gay people] any rights as a matter of public policy?”
Santorum questioned what he meant by rights.
“Well, it depends what you mean by
rights, I mean, if you're talking benefits as far as rights, I mean,
they have the right to be able to, you know, employment,” a
flustered Santorum offered. “I mean, I don't know what you mean by
rights.”
“What I'm talking about are
privileges, here privileges of marriage, privileges of government
benefits is a different thing than basic rights to be able to live
their lives as they well should and can as free Americans.” (The
video is embedded in the right panel of this page.)
Earlier, Santorum said he
would support reinstatement of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the
Clinton-era law that bans gay and bisexual troops from serving
openly, and that he
opposes the adoption of children by gay men and lesbians.