Controversial Comments
By: Tracie Potts, NBC News
Updated: February 20, 2012
Santorum's pitched himself as the most conservative candidate in this race, but critics argue his comments this weekend went over the line.
Last night, Rick Santorum seemed to compare President Obama to Hitler, saying, "Maybe he's not the best guy. After a while, after a while you find out some things about this guy over in Europe who's not so good of a guy after all."
This, after another controversial comment Saturday. "It's not about you. It's not about your quality of life. It's not about your jobs. It's about some phony ideal, some phony theology."
"He's actually questioning the President's faith and that is a new low in American politics," says Representative Chris Van Hollen, (D-Maryland).
Santorum said he wasn't talking about the President's faith. "I believe the president is a Christian. He says he is a Christian. But I am talking about his world view."
Republicans came to Santorum's rescue, criticizing the president for requiring churches to pay for employees' birth control. "He is a political philosophy that believes that he can mandate certain benefits and activities of the American people," said Representative Paul Ryan (R) Wisconsin.
Despite his comments, Santorum's leading the latest Michigan polls by three- to ten points.
Mitt Romney is still unable to command the vote so far in his home state. Newt Gingrich sees opportunity. "If any of the three loses our home state, if Santorum loses Pennsylvania, Romney loses Michigan, or I lose Georgia, you have I think a very, very badly weakened candidacies," said Newt Gingrich (R) Presidential Candidate.
President Obama's campaign reacted to Santorum, saying he was attacking the President's faith in what's become a bitter and negative Republican race.
Last night, Rick Santorum seemed to compare President Obama to Hitler, saying, "Maybe he's not the best guy. After a while, after a while you find out some things about this guy over in Europe who's not so good of a guy after all."
This, after another controversial comment Saturday. "It's not about you. It's not about your quality of life. It's not about your jobs. It's about some phony ideal, some phony theology."
"He's actually questioning the President's faith and that is a new low in American politics," says Representative Chris Van Hollen, (D-Maryland).
Santorum said he wasn't talking about the President's faith. "I believe the president is a Christian. He says he is a Christian. But I am talking about his world view."
Republicans came to Santorum's rescue, criticizing the president for requiring churches to pay for employees' birth control. "He is a political philosophy that believes that he can mandate certain benefits and activities of the American people," said Representative Paul Ryan (R) Wisconsin.
Despite his comments, Santorum's leading the latest Michigan polls by three- to ten points.
Mitt Romney is still unable to command the vote so far in his home state. Newt Gingrich sees opportunity. "If any of the three loses our home state, if Santorum loses Pennsylvania, Romney loses Michigan, or I lose Georgia, you have I think a very, very badly weakened candidacies," said Newt Gingrich (R) Presidential Candidate.
President Obama's campaign reacted to Santorum, saying he was attacking the President's faith in what's become a bitter and negative Republican race.
