Rick Santorum raised a few eyebrows when he said on an interview with ABC that he "almost threw up" when he read John F. Kennedy's famous speech from 1960 about his Catholic faith. Kennedy said: "I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute."
The larger context was Kennedy's efforts to speak to Americans who were uneasy about electing a Catholic to the presidency, and whether he would be independent of the church or take his marching orders from Rome. Here is what Kennedy said.
Santorum said on Sunday ."I don't believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute. The idea that the church can have no influence or no involvement in the operation of the state is absolutely antithetical to the objectives and vision of our country."
What was noteworthy about Santorum's remarks was that he was criticizing JFK. I can't recall a candidate for president, county commissioner or dog catcher having done that in the nearly five decades since his death. It's likely to be jarring to more than a few people in their late 50s and older. Our view of President Kennedy has tended to be frozen in place since Nov. 22, 1963, for better or worse. We have heard over the years stories that have not reflected well on him, but he still has iconic status for many people of a certain age.
I don't know how this will all play out for Santorum in the short run, which means in the Arizona and Michigan primaries today. But if I were one of his advisors, I would sure tell him that he probably should discuss his beliefs about church and state without running against the memory of JFK.
Comments
"Aptly Phrased"
Wed, 03/07/2012 - 12:39 — proctorOops! In my post, let me correct my typo: "as Dan Barkin most patly phrased..." to "as Dan Barkin has most aptly phrased..."
Maybe I was dreaming up a new adverb to reflect the late Daniel Patrick (Pat) Moynihan's style of commenting on politics, educartion and journalism.
This reminds me of the "Andy Griffith Show" episode in which Don Rickels appears as a hapless handyman who can't seem to get anything right. When Andy and Barney "fix up" the handyman's paint job, Rickels' character exclaims: "I'm not inept. I'm ept!"
David McKnight
GOP Catholics
Wed, 03/07/2012 - 12:19 — proctorIt was a surprising comment coming from a candidate who was climbing in the polls and beginning to attract significant support from Catholics and other religious groups from both sides of the aisle. Indeed, some fans of JFK may have been pulling for Santorum to make a good showing in the Republican primaries to demonstrate that the "Catholic vote" should not be taken for granted by just one of the major political parties.
Santorum, who since then has expressed regret for the way in which his original criticisms of the JFK Houston speech were delivered, might have been able to express alternative views on traditional church and state issues without "jarring" so many older voters as Dan Barkin has most patly phrased the possible reaction of many to this particular point.
One problem in national campaigns may be that candidates now consider themselves "on their own" and do not like to be under the guidance of "trusted advisors" as they once were back when those watching a candidate's performance on the campaign trail might criticize him or her for going out "too far" or being "too abrupt" on certain issues. Yes, philosophical principles are most important, but so are practical political strategies in the heat of a campaign.
Both Mitt and Ann Romney, for example, could use some practical advice on their campaign attire as they seem to "overdress" or "dress down" too much all too frequently.
But then this is a new age for politics and campaigns.
David McKnight