In Defense of Heroes, Rick and Karen Santorum

This piece is not an endorsement of Rick Santorum for President of the United States. It is a glowing endorsement of Rick and Karen Santorum as parents and human beings.

If you have not heard, pundit Alan Colmes of Fox News made one of the most insensitive comments ever uttered a few days ago. When asked what he thought about Rick Santorum, Colmes said “Once they get a hold of the crazy things he’s said and done like taking his two-hour old baby who died right after childbirth home and played with it for a couple of hours so his other children would know that the child was real.”

At an Iowa event, Santorum was asked about Colmes and his idiotic comments. Santorum explained how important it was for his children to know they had a brother. As he spoke of this riveting experience that only parents who have lived it can understand, Karen wept openly, tears streaming down her face. How could he? How could Colmes ridicule such a touching and devastating moment? Insensitive is probably too mild a description.

Of course, Colmes eventually apologized and the Santorums graciously accepted his apology. This episode is reminiscent of all of the ugly things said about Sarah Palin’s son Trig who has Down syndrome. Some people just have a gross and distorted view of what it means to be human. They have little or no respect for human life.

Rick Santorum was the featured speaker at our Wisconsin Right to Life Education Fund dinner in 2010. Santorum literally bared his heart and soul in describing his personal journey to becoming a pro-life leader. Driving his convictions were his personal experiences with baby son Gabriel who died, and precious daughter Bella who has defied medical predictions by living well beyond her life expectancy as a child with significant disabilities. It was one of the most gripping and profound presentations ever. You can view the Santorum speech here.

Bravo Rick and Karen Santorum! You epitomize what it is to be a hero and role model for living what it means to respect human life.

Barbara Lyons