Lagging in the polls and hoping to get a boost before the next Republican presidential debate, Rick Santorum chided the idea that multiculturalism is a benefit for America during a radio interview this week.
In a Tuesday appearance on Mickelson in the Morning, a popular Iowa radio show among conservatives, the former Pennsylvania senator recounted a debate he had had with former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean (D).
“We were asked a question by a student, what’s the greatest virtue of the United States of America? You know what Howard Dean said? Diversity.” Santorum incredulously noted as the host laughed.
“But that’s what they believe!” Santorum continued. He later went on to criticize President Obama for accepting refugees who are persecuted because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Listen to it:
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Belittling diversity in America is becoming strangely en vogue among Republicans of late. On a radio show last week, for instance, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) blamed gun violence on “diversity in America.”
More broadly, attacks on immigrants and minorities have been a near-daily occurrence in the 2016 GOP presidential contest. While Donald Trump has gotten most of the attention for his vitriol, anti-immigrant rhetoric has spread to establishment candidates like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R), who joined Trump in questioning birthright citizenship (something he later walked back), and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), who called children of undocumented immigrants “anchor babies.” Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, an Indian-American himself, said recently, “Immigration without assimilation is invasion.”
Of course, Santorum’s latest attack on diversity isn’t terribly out of line with his penchant for controversial statements. In the past, Santorum has argued that women were ill-suited to combat because of “emotions that are involved,” said “the NBA” was corrupting American culture, and declared that consensual sex between gay people should be illegal. During his 2012 presidential bid, the Pennsylvania Republican was roundly criticized for making racist remarks about black people and welfare. Despite video evidence to the contrary, Santorum defended himself by arguing that he either said “blah people” or “plives” instead of black.