Santorum Advocates Penalizing Those Who Stayed Behind -- Then Backs Off Comments

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 6:08pm

From The AP (sorry if this was already posted):

Sen. Rick Santorum said in a weekend interview that people who don't heed future evacuation warnings may need to be penalized, but said Tuesday he did not mean people who lack cars or other resources.

His remarks were sharply criticized by the campaign of Democrat Bob Casey Jr., who is seeking to unseat Santorum, the No. 3 Republican in the Senate.

"At face value (Santorum's comments) show an incredible amount of insensitivity to the Gulf Coast," said Jay Reiff, Casey's campaign manager. "What exactly does Sen. Santorum mean by imposing penalties on people who often times had no transportation and no place to go?"

In a weekend interview with WTAE-TV about the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Santorum said: "You have people who don't heed those warnings and then put people at risk as a result of not heeding those warnings. There may be a need to look at tougher penalties on those who decide to ride it out and understand that there are consequences to not leaving."

On Tuesday night on WTAE, Santorum clarified his comments.

"Obviously most of the people here in this case, an overwhelming majority of people just literally couldn't have gotten out on their own," he said. "Many didn't have cars ... and that really was a failure on the part of local officials in not making transportation available to get people out."

Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert and former first lady Barbara Bush also have drawn criticism in recent days for their comments in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

After a tour of the Houston Astrodome in Texas earlier this week, where thousands of hurricane victims are being housed, Barbara Bush said in a National Public Radio interview: "So many of the people here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them."

And last week, Hastert told the Daily Herald newspaper in Arlington Heights, Ill., that since New Orleans is located below sea level, he wasn't sure if it should be rebuilt.

He later issued a statement saying: "My comments about rebuilding the city were intended to reflect my sincere concern with how the city is rebuilt to ensure the future protection of its citizens and not to suggest that this great historic city should not be rebuilt."

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/12576902.htm

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 6:10pm

I believe they've been "penalized" quite enough. A-hole.

[Plum]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 6:10pm

*still looking forward to getting rid of his sorry ass*

[bwaysinger]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 6:25pm

Plum, you'll be throwing the "Sayonara Santorum" party for all of us after the election, right?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 7:32pm

At long last do none of these people have any decency?

[mominator]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 7:38pm

Rath you got to say it first. Santorum is just a jerk. (and I think I am being nice here!)

[Auggie27]

Posted: 9/7/05 at 8:31pm

Listen, plenty of pundits are feeling their oats, now that the first round of polls aren't blaming Bush as severely as expected (only 18% or some such, and only 42% said he handle the hurricane badly...talk about teflon, or denial).

That odious and smug Fred Barnes opined on Fox tonight that people remaining behind shouldn't get a penny of Federal money, and that anyone looting should be shot on the spot.