Occupy Wall Street protesters nearly drowned out Rick Santorum for 44 minutes as he tried to deliver remarks at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, Washington on Monday night. Speaking from a balcony, Santorum sought to condemn the state’s newly-enacted same-sex marriage law and the Ninth Circuit’s ruling against Proposition 8, but was repeatedly interrupted by protesters yelling, “we are the 99 percent.” Santorum told the protesters to “go out and get a job,” adding:
SANTORUM: I know this is a very important day in Washington. And in many respects a sad day for many people. We saw the law signed into here in Washington sate. But it is very important you understand what just happened in another place….in the Ninth Circuit….The Ninth Circuit decided that anybody that disagrees with any of these folks, anyone who disagrees with these folks when it comes to the issue if what marriage is in this country, well they are irrational. That’s what the Ninth Circuit said. They said anybody who disagrees with their decision to shoot down Prop 8 in California, they do so because they are irrational and the only possible reason they can possibly…
Before he could mischaracterize the court’s decision, however, a scuffle broke out. Police shoved two men to the ground, tased and arrested them. Santorum briefly paused in his remarks and said, “Let’s give a hand to our men and women in uniform. It’s not easy.”
He described the protesters as a “radical element” that represents “true intolerance,” but claimed that he understood “their frustration” at being left behind by “a president that doesn’t care about them.” “We got to provide an opportunity for them,” he insisted. “Instead of standing here unemployed, yelling at somebody, to go out out there and try to work for a living.” Watch videos of the event:
Santorum has pledged to annul all same-sex marriage around the country and he met with opponents of marriage equality just hours after Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) approved a measure that would allow gays and lesbians to marry in Washington state. “I encouraged them to continue the fight,” he told reporters. “There are ebbs and flows in every battle, and this is not the final word.” “There are legitimate reasons that people have to want to have to change the law, and there are legitimate reasons that people have to want to keep the law in place. If you keep it at that level, don’t make it personal, make it about what is best for society, then I think we’ll be fine.”
Washington’s marriage law will not take effect before June 7, three months after the conclusion of the legislative session. However, if opponents succeed in putting a question of marriage on the November ballot defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman, the law would be suspended until the certification of election returns in December.