Rick Santorum must be an expert on Sarah Palin’s schedule, at least enough of one to comment on it on S.E. Cupp’s new radio show that streams on Glenn Beck’s website. Politico reports:
Rick Santorum knocked Sarah Palin’s decision to skip CPAC, saying on Tuesday that she must have “business opportunities” that are keeping her from the annual conservative conference that is a showcase for potential presidential contenders.
“I have a feeling that she has some demands on her time, and a lot of them have financial benefit attached to them,” Santorum told conservative commentator S.E. Cupp, who hosts an online radio show on Glenn Beck’s website.
Santorum added that Palin has “other business opportunities” — implying her paid speeches were the former Alaska governor’s priority…
….Santorum — the father of seven children — also said that Palin has “other responsibilities,” such as raising her children, that he doesn’t.
“I don’t live in Alaska and I’m not the mother to all these kids and I don’t have other responsibilities that she has,” he said.
Now I haven’t listened to the radio show (and I won’t I refuse to pay for internet radio) so it could be that Politico is putting a spin on this, which would like *totally surprise* me, I mean Andy Barr would *never* do such a thing. Regardless, I’ve seen Senator Santorum take the high road on similar questions like this and I’m disappointed he felt it necessary to respond.
He’s right he doesn’t have the other responsibilities that she has, and he doesn’t live in Alaska. The only thing this week that I’ve seen that she has is her birthday on Friday. Her husband is also getting ready for the Iron Dog Race that will start the following week. I’m sure she has Fox News responsibilities, and she may have some speaking engagements. The point is I don’t know, and neither does he.
He should have told S.E. Cupp, “I’m going to be there, whether other prospective candidates are is totally up to them… none of my business.” If candidates are going to participate in political blood sport let it be over issues, not something petty like this. Candidates don’t need to be sniping at one another regarding schedules. CPAC will have little bearing on who wins the 2012 nomination, let’s not make it more important than what it really is.
Update: Sheya has video of this exchange up, and I personally wouldn’t have labeled this a “knock.” Also the first thing he says is, “I don’t know.” It seems blunter in print, but here is the video below. You decide.
Politico is making seem worse than it actually is, but if I were advising Senator Santorum it would have been best to stop after saying, “I don’t know.” Possibly say, “she’s got to be a busy person.”
