Some
Residents Feel Santorum Overstepped Bounds with Comments
The
Herald-Mail, April 25, 2003
100 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21742 Fax: 301-733-7264
Email: opinion@herald-mail.com
By Laura Ernde, laurae@herald-mail.com
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.—Everyone has a
right to an opinion, but some Franklin County, Pa., residents say Sen. Rick
Santorum should have kept his to himself recently.
Santorum, R-Pa., came under fire this week for his
comments comparing homosexuality to polygamy and incest.
Santorum said he is not intolerant of gay people and his
remarks were “simply a reflection of the law.”
Santorum referred to a 5-4 Supreme Court decision in 1986
that upheld Georgia’s legal ban on sodomy.
In an Associated Press interview, Santorum said, “If
the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual (gay) sex within
your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy,
you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the
right to anything.”
Some Franklin County residents interviewed on the street
this week said the remarks were out of line.
“He put his foot in his face,” said Karen McDermott,
70, of Chambersburg.
“He’s entitled to his opinion. However, many people
don’t agree with him, like us Democrats,” said her husband, John
McDermott.
Howard Guest, a retiree from Chambersburg, said it upsets
him that people always seem to take a negative view.
“It just proves how sensitive people are today to
‘politically incorrect’ comments and how they can be used very easily to
someone’s disadvantage,” he said.
Betty Taylor of Fayetteville, Pa., who declined to give
her age, said the comment probably was spoken without a lot of thought.
“He should have chosen his words more carefully,” she
said.
Robin Cornelius, 30, of Fayetteville, said people have a
right to their own sexuality.
Donna Clepper, 45, of Chambersburg, agreed.
“Sen. Santorum should keep his mouth shut. I think
people have a right to live the lifestyle that they choose. I don’t think
the government has any right to tell people how they can practice their
sexuality,” she said.
People have a right to their personal lives, said Max
Stine, 46, of State Line, Pa.
“What they do in their bedroom is their business and
leave it at that,” he said.
As a Catholic, Scott Fickes, 28, of Chambersburg, said he
opposes the gay lifestyle.
But he does condemn Santorum’s comments.
“It was bad form, really. Being a political leader I
don’t think that was the best time to say that,” Fickes said.
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