I hope she gets well soon! I don't like you, Rick, but I would never direct my disdain at your family.

His daughter has Trisomy E or Edwards syndrome. It is a genetic disorder, there is no getting well unfortunately. For his daughter to actually be 3 years old, is very rare. Either it must be a more mild case or they have been very lucky. Given his scenario I'm kind of surprised that he is running for President. I'd think he would want to spend as much time as he could with his daughter as there is no telling when she could be gone.

As much as I dislike the man's politics, he and his family have my sympathy and best wishes in this ordeal.

One has to walk a fine line on those things. As long as he stops to take time when she needs it most, there is little reason to hold back. Him tackling a presidential run at the same time is impressive.

Rick is showing his true character. This is what we need more than anything in ALL our politics. God - Family - Country.

We would only be too fortunate to have Rick Santorum as our President.

he might as well be with his daughter - he has zero chance of getting the nomination. I won't fault him for putting family ahead of politics (even if his political positions SUCK)

unfortunately (as was previously explained) this is a genetic condition and the kid cannot "get better"

No matter what you think of Santorum's politics, you have to feel for him and his family. To have a sick child is bad enough, to have a sick child that you know will never get better must be heartbreaking. I am just glad that at least one politician has his priorities right and takes the time to be with his family instead of out campaigning when his family needs him. I hope that he has some time left with his daughter and that she enjoys whatever time she has left. Hopefully she will be well enough to be released from CHoP soon. It is a fantastic children's hospital and I am sure she is getting great care, but a hospital is not a place where children should have to be. They should get to be home with their families enjoying life, no matter how short it turns out to be. When I lived in the Philly area years ago I knew a few nurses that worked at CHoP and you will not find a better, more caring group of people anywhere. Best wishes to Bella and the rest of the Santorum family, as well as to the dedicated staff at CHoP.

Although he is unlikely to win at this point, stranger things have happened. The more conservative members of the party haven't come out in support of him, because they want to see how much favor he gets on his own first. The Republican party needs to drop the electability fears and just simply find the best qualified, most stable, most reasonable person who steps forward. Get behind that person and that person would win in a landslide. Just like in sports, you put the best person up and live or die on that - fear and timidity will fail every time.

@ Ron from San Hose. America would never consider electing a man as good as Santorum. We seem to only want the flawed and the more flawed they are the higher they go. I would have not considered him before but feel he is heads above any current or running candidate.

Ron from San Jose.

Sorry, but I disagree. Our president should have Country and Constitution - period. That's the job. The President must represent all citizens and not all believe in the same God. So let's just leave Him out of it please. While I'm not a Ron Paul suporter he was right, his beliefs guide him as a person and helped frame his character but have no place in the courtry's governance. We have laws for that.

Rick spend as much time with your little girl as she has left. You are doing the right thing for your child and I'm sure your wife needs your support now, too. And the rest of your kids. A sick child is way more important than cut throat politics. I admire you for doing the right thing, but abhor your polotics. May she get better soon.

I hope she's okay too and Santorum will search his soul again, because if you have a sick child, you don't want to be in the White House.

May God be with the Santorum family. He may be sending a message to Rick to get out out of the presidential race while he still has some character left. I believe in God but I think it should be left in the church and out of government for the good of all the people. You cannot force people into the kingdom of Heaven, they must be allowed to do as they wish then judged for their actions when the time comes.

Rick - stop running for POTUS and spend time with your family. You only have so much time with your daughter - you must spend the time you have with her. With this disorder, she will NOT "get well". This is fatal 100% of the time.

Think about another family, maybe one with a single parent (or both if you like) that happened to lose their job(s) and also have a child with your (Santorum's) child's condition. Except, they can't go to the hospital, unless they are willing to take out a second mortgage on their house (if they haven't already and assuming they own a house) and almost any serious illness that may be treatable, will most certainly be a death sentence for lack of ability to pay a hospital or doctor. One of my wife's coworkers, who had a job and had had it for 18 years, was one of those people who avoided the hospital for a treatable condition (like...a first year nursing student could have cared for her successfully) and died as a result. And you Rick, you're fighting to make sure it stays that way, or maybe even gets worse.

I'm a nice guy, I'm honest, I like my bacon crispy (well "facon bacon"), I like sports just like the next guy, I care about people but I'm just not compassionate enough to look at you (Santorum) and feel any sympathy and I actually feel a little bad about that. I love the song "Sympathy for the Devil"...but I have none.

Politics always takes a backseat when it comes to family. Not a fan of the man, but I wish him and his family well.

Good grief, talk about negative feedback! Have you people never heard of miracles. You should be praying for the child and forget the bad remarks about the Dad. This stinks. Have some compassion! I don't agree with his politics either, but morals are something that is needed here along with some respect for the Mother as well that is obviously living day by day hoping for that miracle. To say its 100 percent fatal....so the doctors say....nothing is carved in stone if you believe. Forget your petty scrabbles about politics and look at the big picture....you reap what you sew no matter what your "religion".

I say best wishes to Mr. Santorum and his family, and prayers for his daughter's recovery. Miracles can and do happen.

Even if this syndrome has a low rate of survival, the three years he's had with his precious child are priceless. Absolutely wishing Mr. Santorum and his family the very best during this very trying time.

Can't stand you, Rick, or your sweater vests, but this article almost makes me wish I could.

@BJs65,

I believe you may need one.??? Cruel comment..!!

she is 3. nothing else matters. I don't keep up with politics. and I'm glad. she is 3. no matter who her father is no matter what he is doing with his political background, SHE IS 3 NOTHING ELSE MATTERS.

Arieus, not very good at reading comprehension are you. She is 3 1/2 years old, not 18. Obviously, you have no ability to understand anything and take any opportunity possible to dish out your evil hatred about things you have no knowledge of. You are a sick and arrogant fool.

I would first like to start with the best wishes for their baby daughter as well as the whole Saintorum. Whether or not I would have voted the fact that you put your child ahead of the campaign says alot about you.

As for Arieus you are one of those that truly make me sick. If this were your child would you have allowed your child to be bornor to be aborted as some disfunctional parasite. The fact that this child was born shows th e respect that he has for life. He is living the life he is preaching by the very fact that this child lives. It would have been so much easier just to dispose of her.

The child is in the hospital because she is sick and that is where she belongs. If you had a child under simular circumstance you could do the very same thing even if you could not afford it as the laws in the US stand today.

Satuorum has insurance because where he works covers insurance just as 80% of the jobs today. Would you suggest that all companies drop their health benefit? That seems to be your suggestion.

Agreed, Spartan. I don't like the man's politics, either, but I would never wish ill on him or especially on his family. I'm glad he knows what's truly important in life. I wish him and his family well!

"I don't know whether her life is going to be measured — it's always been measured — in days and weeks. Yet here I am. ... because I feel like I wouldn't be a good dad if I wasn't out here fighting for a country that would see the dignity in her and every other child."

Santorum's comment disingenuously makes it sound as if he is the only politician who cares about the health of America's children, that he is the sole supporter of rights for the handicapped in America.

While I have great sympathy for his child and his family and can fully appreciate and support the value of her life and their love for her, I feel he sometimes uses her illness for political gain.

Isn't it clear to him by now that it's high time he gave up a campaign he cannot win, and devote himself first and foremost to this precious child?

Quacked one you have a point but unfortunately under today's environment that all to often is impossible. I am working today even though my religion would suggest otherwise. We do what we can but sometimes that is impossible.

AN OPEN LETTER TO RICK SANTORUM

Mr. Santorum,

Everything about your politics and religious leanings is, to me, the Googled definition of your last name.

However, I respect who you are as a man. For a politician, you are relatively honest, and it's clear that you truly love your family. You are also clearly devoted to your positions, which is far more than I can say for your GOP counterparts, save Mr. Paul.

Many liberals probably fail to see that you actually have a sense of humor as well, and they may miss your strength as they choke on your piety.

Nonetheless, piety aside, you sir are a brave man, and I wish you and your family (and your young daughter) nothing but the best.

Signed,

A Socially Liberal, Fiscally Conservative Atheist

P.S. That said, I'd love nothing more than to debate you classically on your religious/political views. ; )

I am a liberal, agnostic who totally disagrees with Santorum's politics and positions. That being said, I think this guy seems like a good man when it comes to caring for his family. I hope for the best for his daughter and wish him and his family well.

Seeing Rick Santorum in a Political light re: his wonderful, very ill daughter at this time is terrible.

He is a caring, compassionate, loving father first.

Please reconsider the personal jabs at him. This is a very difficult time for he and his family. We all should "give him a break". Most likely he will drop out of the Presidential Race. He has a calm and quietness about him---

Love family and your children first. Politics comes last. It could happen to any of us---He is human trying to stay strong for all the Santorum Family.

There have been many rotten Politicians, such as John Edwards, who is not human.

Hawaii,

Rick has a serious choice to make---to be a full time Daddy or to continue running a campaign. His daughter and family needs him right now not the country---hence I believe it would be best fr his child and his family to leave the election now!

Arieus: man, you're totally missing the point of the article--this is about his child, not his politics. Please, try and keep it just a tad classy...

All those commentaries about the girl's father or his ideology for that matter, are entirely unnecessary.

Arieus. If you wish to see a true bigot look in the mirror. You may not like the fact that he bases his life on his religion but it is just as bigoted to smear others who follow a faith. It is your arrogance that shows from your writings. Most of those who believe in God also believe in science and medicine. The difference here is that we also believe in a higher power. You are under the impression that if you can't see it, touch it, or feel it, it simply does not exist. I hope that this will satisfy you it just won't satisfy me.

Silly Shrinks:

I TOTALLY agree with you---I think I implied that in my comments. "Love your family and children first".

"Most likely he will drop out of the Presidential Race".

Thanks.

I find it interesting the hypocracy here: Rick Santorum obviously loves his little girl with all his heart just like most parents do, and she gets the finest of medical care from our taxpayer dollars, yet given the chance at president he would suppress most programs aimed at helping kids retain medical insurance. The hypocracy of the religious folks is just astounding. It's a heartbreaking story for Rick Santorum, yet the poor mother with a child of the same condition is called a leach and a scab by his very constituents because she needs the exact same health care that Santorum gets for free.

We are supposed to feel sympathy while Santorum's daughter gets the best taxpayer health care around, but of course god damn universal health care for all Americans.

Zep, you said it all. He wants the best for his child...........as we all do. But he doesn't want the best for our children. Our children don't deserve good medical care, according to him and his political party. But hey, he's part of the 1%. He and his family deserve better medical care than the rest of us.............right???

Doubt he will get the nomination. Not my cup of tea, but I feel sorry for him and his family with the little girl sick and not likely to live to adulthood. Sunday didn't stop Mitt from campaigning. We get calls four or five times a day. Sure be glad when the whole mess is over.

I am not a Santorum supporter and disagree with the majority of his policies but wish him and his family nothing but the best as they deal with this obviously serious medical situation, as should all Americans.

@Arieus What a sad and empty world you must occupy. You are so angry and bitter that you have to lash out at everything to make yourself feel better. There is not a single word in the Bible about not going to a doctor and in fact there are a few instances of healing balms and poultices being used. You, like most athiests, don't know the fiorst thing about Christianity and yet you attack it rabidly. If you think that Christ is anti-gay, or anti-science than you are getting your Bible from people who read it how they want but that doesn't make it any more those things than if i punched you and said your Mom told me too. And if I punched you and said your Mom told me too I would hope you would know it to be a lie because THAT is what is truly illogical. Regardless of how you feel about the man and his God hate is a cancer that will eat you alive inside so you've got to just let it go.

I am very sorry for the little girl; this is a shame. But, the point is that Santorum actively works against other parents getting the same kind of leave when their children are ill, his daughter is 3 years old though she has a syndrome which is fatal for other children (whose parents don't have Santorum's resources) by the age of 1, and he and his party have little sympathy for single parents (especially single mothers) in similar situations.

For example, a child in the state of Texas with a similarly, inevitably fatal illness fell under the "Futile Care" law. That law makes it legal for hospitals to kick out patients whose care they deem futile, giving the family only a few days to find another center to care for the patient. The specific child's mother kept praying for a miracle--it didn't happen, but fortunately the child wasn't actually kicked out of the hospital prematurely (though he did pass away), though only because of "bleeding heart liberals" and their aid to the mother.

If Santorum's daughter had been born to a poor, single mother in Texas, her care would have been deemed "futile" long ago, and she would now be dead. Santorum might not have personally weighed in on this law, but the fact remains that it is a Republican mandate in a red state, and it is perfectly in line with Santorum's other positions.

It is relevant that this candidate would deny other people the same sympathy and empathy that he is asking from us. Hypocrisy is relevant.

Still, I am sorry for the little girl--this is very sad. I hope that she can be made comfortable, that her days can be extended a bit longer, and it would be marvelous if someone came up with a treatment which extended her life even longer still. It would be great if people would pray for this and if their prayers were heard. I don't wish any ill on the child--but it really is relevant that her father is a hypocrite. Seriously--he's running for president, and it matters.

Amen CJ

Regardless of one's political views, no one deserves to have a child so sick he/she needs to be hospitalized.

CG, you might have just posted my most favorite comment ever.

Mr.Rick Santorum has better morals standards and wiser decision than Newton,Romney,Paul combine together.We do not want another 4 OBAMA years.

I agree, with a sick child you don't want to be in the White House.

Actually, he should never have been running in the first place. I grew up with a best friend I knew would die long before I would. She was an only child, and her parents' worlds revolved around her illness. There was no time for political campaigns. I cannot fathom Santorum's decision to run for office, and leave his wife to care for their minor children, including Bella, alone for extended periods. I cannot fathom his decision to leave his critically ill child to chase after a political office that he had virtually no chance of winning. Hubris and ego trumped family values, in this case. He is a relatively young man, and let's face it - Bella's odds of long-term survival are low. Why would he not enjoy her life with her, and pursue his ambitions later? When I was her age, my Daddy was the center of my universe - I cannot imagine how I would have felt if he was absent for significant periods, and I was a perfectly healthy kid.

I hope Bella recovers from this latest round with her illness quickly. And I hope her father has realized where his priorities should lie on a permanent basis, not just when she is having a relapse.

Agreed. I despise Santorum and his politics, but I am praying for his daughter.

I can't believe some of you posters can't separate your political views and a child's well being..Good Grief show some respect to this family !!!

Thanks for saying what I've been thinking, dano. Family should transcend politics, but you'd never know it by some of the comments posted here. Two thumbs up.

dano and El Grino,

You may have misunderstood the tone of these posts. I think what many of us were just trying to say that the politics are unimportant when it comes to the health of your child. At least that was what I was trying to say.

To think what you would want in a president is someone that is genuine and has their priorities right. Most people on here don't agree with the politics but care about the well-being of his daughter, which warms my heart because politics can get nasty. This guy started out as a tool in my eyes but now has just completely turned it around. He seemed a little extreme because of his strict religious beliefs but better values then any other president I have seen in a long time. I thought he was the best at the Florida debate, but I don't think he would be a good president right now. But I do think he would make an excellent vice president because of his knowledge of policy. Some people think he should be at home, but I think this is his calling and he cares about the American people. I mean he did just put everything down, in one of his best debates, and go home to see his daughter. Santorum is a real man to me and I think one day he would be a great leader for this country.

TES - why on earth would you make that comment? I do not want Mr. Santorum as president but without blinking an eye I support him and extend my admiration and sincere empathy. I do not have children. What are you trying to convey with your backhanded emotional dart by stating I cannot "...totally understand this!". Pray tell, why can't I understand this? Understanding seems to be a cognitive ability. At some point I will talk with you about what I do for a living. At this time I will express that the feeling part, the insightful emotionally intelligent and connected human person can and does understand, support and hurt for and with another in the face of sadness.

I daresay with your seeming arrogance it might be YOU who cannot understand... is YOUR child impacted by this illness? I did not get that impression but in your attitude of I AM A PARENT SO I KNOW ALL...I present this question to you: If YOUR child is not impacted with that illness how in heaven's name can YOU "...totally understand it..." No Dear TES, you cannot totally understand it.

I am so tired of coming across these inane arrogant 'parent' comments... It sounded to me that you were aligning yourself with Mr. Santorum when in fact, even YOU, even as a parent cannot 'totally understand" what thia child, mother, father, neighbor, grandmother, sibling or cousin etc., is going through.

"Only as a parent"? Really? What an arrogant statement to make.

Lilly and BJs::: Thank you both for putting Miss Smarty Pants (TES) in her place. She is showing her imagined superiority and she needed to be taken down a couple of pegs-- taking her down one peg wouldn't work.

Her "only as a parent" talk shows that she doesn't understand anything. TES, you don't have to be a parent to understand how to be a human-- and being a parent doesn't make one understand how to be a human. You are a good example of the latter.

Maybe some day you will learn how to be a human.

I am the parent of a child with a life threatening illness and again I still say you will never totally understand it until you have been it that position. So call me arrogant if you want. You are delusional if you think you truly understand without having been there!!! "how to be a human", Susie!!?? Get a life!!

TES -2640989

I feel for your family and will pray for a continued recovery and good life. May God's grace touch you all!

While I find it heartbreaking for his child to be so sick, I don't think his priorities are in the right place. Knowing how fragile she is, he shouldn't be dragging her out on any of these campaign trips in the first place.

I am glad he is taking time off to be with her. That part he has right. What he didn't get right was possibly exposing her to something while they were on travel that could harm her. It's a delicate balance of being with family and protecting them. The fact that he has to balance these two suggests that he is not the right man for the job, at least not yet.

Is he really putting his child first? He canceled two campaign stops to be with her, and then he is going back to the road. I've read all the quotes he has thrown around regarding her and, while I feel for her plight and his as a parent, I can't help but feel that he is simply using her as a tool to further his campaign. He may as well just come out and say "Florida is an expensive state in which to campaign and the rewards for second place just aren't there. I'm going to skip campaigning while Romney and Gingrich duke it out and then step it up later. Please don't forget me while the spotlight rests here."

Maybe I'm just a bit of a cynic, but politicians mentioning their families and the hardships they face can never strike me as genuine; politicians have agendas, plain and simple.

RealityCheck,

I disagree with you. You are being cynical. Politicians are people too, and they have family lives. As voters, we would be asking where a candidate is if he/she was missing from his/her own political rally. That makes disclosing such events a necessity. I can't say it is best for us, the candidates or their families, but it is the nature of running for office in the US.

To put it another way, I am sure Mr. Santorum is not excited about the political implications of his daughter's illness and hospitalization. To suggest as much is more than insensitive, it is out-of-touch with the human experience.

kthorne,

Politicians are more closely related to psychopaths than they are to "normal" people. Lets be clear about that. This is not hyperbole. Think of all the politicians you know and compare it to this line from the wikipedia definition of psychopathy:

"a pervasive pattern of disregard for, or violation of, the rights of others. It is defined in different ways, but can involve a lack of empathy or remorse, shallow emotions, selfishness, grandiosity or deceptiveness"

Now, all those people in public office that match that definition are politicians. Those that don't are quite probably civil servants. Lets be clear that these are two distinct groups.

Now, lets look at Mr. Santorum's record. It isn't nearly as bad as most other politicians', but he does look to push his agenda on others, not just live his life and let others live theirs. He has a history of changing positions and that is usually an indicator that he is catering to special interests groups. He may not be the worst of the lot, and I certainly wouldn't lump him in as an actual psychopath, but there are similar characteristics. Also, to be perfectly clear, I am not suggesting that psychopathy is a wholly negative trait; it is an asset in many lines of work.

Back to Mr. Santorum. He has two agendas--raise a family and become elected to office. I'm not suggesting that he doesn't care about his family, but he is a politician and that means I do have to look at his actions with at least a degree of skepticism. By playing the sympathy card a politician is looking for a reaction like yours--a reaction that his genuine suffering absolves him of his other responsibilities. It does not. He could have taken a leave from the race to spend time with family and not played the sympathy card. But he is a politician. It is not enough to tell you the truth, he has to try to protect his image and campaign in the process. I don't respect leaders that try to sugar-coat the situation; it is counterproductive and, quite frankly, insulting to be treated as if I cannot handle the plain truth. Florida is a winner-take-all state, and he doesn't have the poll numbers to place first. With a high cost to compete, 2nd place has no merit. How convenient. Am I being too harsh? He claims that his daughter typically stays at home, but she was back-stage at both Iowa and South Carolina. Those are not short trips from Pennsylvania. If her condition is as fragile as he claims, why put her to that much risk?

I agree with 12349876 that while he might make a good candidate (I'd rather a true civil servant than a politician, but I'm a realist), as long as he has family issues like this, he is not the best choice. POTUS is not a position for the the meek. When his family has issues I want him to take the time to deal with them, but when South Korea, Iran, trade deals, or any of the other issues that have a serious effect on our entire country rear their heads, I don't want him to have to choose between family and work.

I too am very sorry for Rick's little girl and the family..I lost a son and a grandson and no how hard it is.

Living in Pennsylvania I would never vote for Rick Santorum for President. We were happy when he lost his senate seat in 2006..I really don't know how he thinks he could ever win Pa. again..his ideas are setting this country back years. You can't make all people believe the way you do..

God gave us all mines to think and examine our conscious of what we feel is right and wrong..if we choose to believe differently that he does I don't feel it's his or anyone's business.. That will be for us to live with.

The thing that really bothers me about him is how he continues to say he lives in Pa. and, how he is flying back to Pa to be with his family.. Rich Santorum hasn't lived in Pa. since approximately 1995..He lived in Virginia all of the years he was a senator. If you look up his biography on line you will read this. The house he had here in Pittsburgh set empty for years. It was 2 bedrooms and the neighbors said no one lived there for years.. He maintained the house so that he could have a residency to run for office in Pa. He place his children in the Cyber School in Midland, Pa. to make people think he lived in Pa. They finally caught up with him and they wanted him to pay $100,000.00 he owed them for ecucating his children.. The news also said that his wife quit her job to home school her children, if they were in a Cyber School and our State was picking up the tab I guess she wasn't home schooling them . If he was flying back to Pa. to be with his family it was to admit his daughter to the Children's Hospital in Philly..No other reason..I just wish he would tell the truth about where he lives and his wife's home schooling...What's the big secret??? If he lies about this, what else does he lie about?

@Reality I think you have shown a lack of Empathy by making the statements in the first place, a lack of remorse by defending them the way you did, shallow emotions because of your inability to understand why someone would call you out on your statement, and grandiosity and deceptivness by painting a whole group with one broad brush. If there is anyone who fits the definition of a psycopath it would be you so why don't you keep your thrid grade understanding of psycology to yourself. Your statements are disgusting and petty.

Realitycheck,

Psychopath? I think sociopath is the word you are looking for. Putting politicians in the same category as serial killers is a little deranged in its self.

Linda,

Please tell me where you get all of this top secret information from because it is weird to me that there is no national report of this at all from any of the top news sources. Stop slinging self absorbed propaganda.

Actually Googlesmart there is nothing "top secret" about it. I'm not from PA but these are facts I am aware of.

Linda is correct. It is pretty well known that Santorum lives in Leesburg, VA and the kids were going to this "cyber school" in PA which was tied to the residence that he did not live in but maybe one month out of the year if that. He was supposed to pay a fine when it came out that he didn't really live in the house because Pennsylvania taxpayers were paying 80% of the tuition for five of Santorum's children to attend this online "cyber school". This is benefit that is only available Pennsylvania residents.

The cyber school they were attending was The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, also known as PA Cyber, which is a public virtual charter school based out of Midland, PA. Enrollment is open to Pennsylvania students in grades PreK-12.

The Penn Hills school district challenged the Santorum's residency and billed Santorum $73,000, which prompted him to withdraw the children from the school. He also made it a point to say his opponents were using this as a political play and his children as pawns.

What is so ironic about all of this is that...During the first campaign he won campaign Santorum repeatedly criticized the incumbent for living outside the district for most of the year...gee...sounds familiar doesn't it.

Gee, it turns out that he was home for barely a day, had a touching moment with his daughter and shared it shamelessly with the press, and then he was off to Colorado to campaign there, before Florida votes were even in. He even mentioned how Florida was a lost cause what with all those things I mentioned earlier.

*pats self on back*

Guess I got that one right. Maybe that psychology degree did pay off after all. Doesn't get me a job, but, y'know, at least it keeps the good ol' BS detector primed and calibrated.

@EMTMatt. Wow, you got me. You really did. I can feel the sting still. Except, you made no constructive contributions or defense for his record of behaviors. Mental disorders have two significant components. First is a pattern of behaviors, and second is a severity. While both are necessary for a diagnosis of disorder, the patterns generally hold regardless of severity; a disorder is a personality at such an extreme level it deviates from mainstream. I never claimed that he was a genuine psychopath, merely that by consistently demonstrating most of the listed qualities, the others are likely to be found as well. Most psychopaths go undiagnosed because they are successful businessmen and politicians. They are in it for themselves and they can thrive in those environments. With a few high-profile articles recently that cover that, I had kinda made the assumption that people engaging in political commentary were well-read. I should have known better. I apologize. Is he a psychopath? Not likely. However, he does consistently demonstrate the traits and that is evidence of an underlying in-it-for-myself mentality; the psychopath is the extreme of this mentality, which is why it is a disorder and not normal. Also, I never said I don't feel for his position; as father of 3, believe me I do. However there is a world of difference between empathy and letting an emotional plea blind you to facts. He is a politician. He lies, misleads, and manipulates people. Just because I feel bad that he has to endure a duaghter with a serious [but not as serious as he wants you to think]condition doesn't mean I have to ignore the fact that he wants something from me (votes). I feel no remorse because I did nothing wrong. Is it wrong to suspect that a politician might be trying to manipulate your emotions? Rational discourse is not a place for emotions. I can separate emotion from debate, perhaps that is why I was rated so much more highly than you were. If you want emotion, watch Mr. Holland's Opus, Finding Forrester, or Saving Private Ryan with me sometime (not really sincere offer, I have a feeling I wouldn't be able to stand your company that long). You also mention my painting a whole group with a broad brush, but you did that when you decided that psychopaths were serial killers, I never even approached that topic. You're really off-base and, quite frankly, need to look at the world a little more objectively and rationally. You clearly have a lot invested in Santorum but don't have the material to form an argument supporting him.

@Googlesmart, sociopath was a term proposed as an equivalent for psychopath, however psychopath remains more correct from a clinical standpoint. Psychopathy is very poorly represented in popular fiction and so is commonly misunderstood, which is why it leads to knee-jerk reactions like EMTMatt's above. You can look at most personality disorders and have the same diagnosis manifest in very varied ways. For example, OCPD (OCD) can be observed in a "What About Bob?" style nervous wreck character, or possibly the most efficient, friendly, but slightly quirky and overbearing administrative assistant you've ever met. There are a lot of environmental factors that lead people to overlook disorders because people with disorders can thrive when provided the right opportunity. You didn't resort to personal attacks and for that I respect your contributions to discourse. My goal, which some people seemed to miss, was to point out that while he tells a good story, theres another story he could be telling, and his personality type makes me think that the first is just a cover for the second--time has shown that I was right.

I have followed up on Santorum and continue to do so. It's not rhetoric, he believes in what he says, and does not expect you and I to live up to his standards. I don't see him promoting gay marriage, but he has no problem with those who think it should be law accomplishing the passage of a law acceptable to the majority.

He appears to understand that the President doesn't write the laws, but must enforce them. What a contrast to Obama, who abandons enforcement of laws he doesn't agree with!

I've yet to see a candidate that I was 100% in full agreement with but I had made up my mind before tonight and I am voting for Rick Santorum in the primary this week. My Prayers and best wishes for his daughter Bella and their entire family.

I don't understand why everyone is patting Santorum on the back since this isn't some recent condition. His daughter was born with this condition and instead of spending all of the time possible with her he's been satisfying his ego by running for a position that he is unlikely to obtain at best.

From what I read he's was already leaving the campaign trail because he is out of money and it takes lots of money to compete in a state as large as Florida.

@12349876: So you think locking her up in the house would be better? I see nothing wrong with having her experience LIFE while she still can, even if that means supporting her father. My prayers are with Santorum and his family.

Putting his politics aside, I'm not at all understanding people's comments judging Santorum. He shouldn't run for President because he has a child that is possibly terminally ill? He should be spending every minute with her? So, for the past 3 years he should have just quit work and stayed with her 24/7? He still has to work on a future for his family. If you don't like his politics, fine, just say that, but don't judge what he should be doing with his life because you don't like him as a politician.

I'm in total agreement. This child is already defying the odds probably because of all of the love and prayers she receives everyday. This is a brave, strong man that is doing two of the hardest things a man could do in the United States(to me); run for president and deal with a terminally ill child. Hats off to you sir.

Hey Repubes, quit living out your fantasies by conveying them through Romney, and even Gingrich. We all know who likes little girls, and hiding in janitor closets.

7summits you take the sickness of a littel girl and take it to suggest child abuse. This is disgusting and only goes to show the limited value of your brain. If you have any evidence to support this then go to the police. If not shut up.

David, you obviously missed it here. Your bed buddy "republicans or just plain greedy" made this comment:

"ASK ROMNEY ABOUT RAPING LITTLE GIRLS FOR THE GOSPEL OF MORONI ; then ask ging-grinch about his views of respecting gods children. nothing but janitors to him"

thus my comments directed back to him. I would start pointing the finger at your liberal brothers mind-set, not mine.

Ron Paul's one who doesn't change his views to appease his audience. While I'm absolutely against having Rick Santorum in the White House, it's got nothing to do with his sick daughter. I hope the poor girl gets well soon.

Yeah, how many Mormans crash planes into buildings, run down the USA, behead people for whatever, and in general cost the country billions in welfare? How many? And how many have come to your door threatening your way of life? Utah is a great state partly because of Mormons. They are good and generous people. When you disqualify someone because of their religion it is called bigotry. You must be a bigot; you just said so.

judith, santorum isn't a mormon. the mormon candidate is mitt romney, and jon huntsman was too until recently. santorum is very much a protestant. not sure which denomination, but i also don't really see any difference amongst most of them. as a side note, if my daughter was considered lucky to be 3-years-old, i would not be more than 5 feet away from her at anytime unless absolutely necessary. i would certainly not be flapping my gums halfway across the country. i hope she lives a long and healthy life, but i hope her dad realizes the time spent with her is more important than promoting his idea of an american president.

Judith, I'll have to make a few assumptions here as your posts seems veiled.First, I assume you are mormon. Second, I assume you refer to muslims and President Obama in you mindless dribble. As a non supporter of any religion, allow me to enlighten you as to how your own words can be used against your own religion. 9-11? Are you speaking of 2001 or 1857? Americans were slaughtered on both dates by religious zealots! Remember the mountain meadow massacre?Run down the U.S,? Ever hear of the Oath Of Vengeance in the nauvoo endowment ritual? Behead people? Kind of like blood atonement is it not? And your welfare argument is as lame as you are, mormonism has very deep roots in racism and you are living proof. Bigot

dougamterdam add to your list those coward men that covered themselves in white sheets that terrorized black people at night and sit in church on Sunday morning .

Honestly folks what does the Mormon faith have anything to do with this sick child. The focus should be on the child and her family not the faith of the other candidates.

As far as their individual faiths go Sanatorum and Gingrich are both Catholic. Romney as you stated is Mormon and I don't know the faith of Ron Paul.

Actually Vincent, Santorum is a Catholic, not a Protestant, and if you knew what our church is being dealt with from the Obama admin. I think you'd see why he's so intent on making a difference. In brief, they are forcing institutions to go against our morals and violating our Religious Freedom. I suggest you read up on it and then you'll see why he's making this huge sacrifice. God Bless!

frank, i was raised catholic. i have been to a bunch of protestant churches too. there's really, really not a hell of a lot of difference. it's like golden delicious vs. gala apples. i really don't care. either way, the way i see it is that the permeation of extremely religious people into office is imposing on my freedom to not be religious based on the fact that these people are legislating using their own subjective moralities as a compass. call it what you want, but i don't see it as courageous that he doesn't spend this time with his kid. i see that as antithetical to family values.

People who work do not necessarily quit their jobs when they have a child that may be terminally ill. Why are so many posters imposing guidelines on this man and judging him as if they somehow know better than he how he should manage his work and life for his family. Butt out!!

He hates gay people and says terrible things about them.

From what I have seen, there isn't a bone of hate in his body. Disagreeing with one's chosen lifestyle is not hate. It is more likely people hating him for disagreeing with their self interest.

He says terrible things about our president

I could see that, but is what he says about the president accurate?

He wants to be POTUS and doesn't care about anyone that doesn't agree with him or his religious beliefs.

This is one incident of many, but it seems to me personally is not in favor (quite a difference from against) of contraceptive, yet he voted for funding contraceptive programs each time they were renewed.

FYI...I'm Catholic. I know this will tick some off.

Seems to me that anyone being ticked off that you are Catholic or that you have some position they don't like - they are the ones with the problem, not you.

Since Iowa I have come to see he is probably the candidate that should get the nod from the Republicans, not the other three.

God Bless Patricia!

Patricia,

As a Democrat. I say there is a time and a place, and this is neither.

As a Catholic. I say your words are judgemental, mean spirited and quite frankly a complete contradiction of everything I've learned from the Church and the teachings of Christ.

Most importantly, as a parent. I find your words to be extremely disturbing. Best friend or worst enemy, no parent should ever use a situation such as this to point out anothers "shortcomings" as they are. Some may disagree, but I find it to be pretty inhumane that anyone would choose a time when a man is at his weakest to level personal attacks or dislikes. If you don't like this man, then don't vote for him. If you can't find the place in your own heart to be the least bit compassionate ( a Catholic virtue) then simply say nothing. Move on to the next story. A true Catholic would tend to believe that a mans shortcomings are not for you to judge, but are in fact between him and his maker.

Ryan, I am not a Catholic or a Democrat but well said!!!

Easy Ryan, Christians are not perfect, just forgiven. Let's encourage instead of through darts, even if they seem deserved, OK?

Patricia, If you call them like you see them, then you might start looking to see what's out there besides the inside of someone's s***. If you don't like the man's politics, simply don't vote for him. This is American after all. Does Catholicism teach hatred, or did you come about this on your own?

And are you aware that he can file his taxes while at his daughter's bedside. I'm cynical. What you are goes way beyond.

DB

I certainly didn't mean to appear to be throwing darts. I just think that this is not a time for politics, mine or his. Politically, I disagree with Senator Santorum and his platform. but this isn't a time for politics.

As a parent, and more importantly as a father who as I type this am sitting next to my infant daughters crib, the feeling of not being able to make whatever hurts your child go away is nothing short of heartbreaking. My daughter was born on September 13th. She was due December 10th. She was born 3 months early and spent the first 3 months of her life in an incubator in the NICU. The first week was the most important, and the most gut wrenching. No doctor in that hospital could give anything better than 50/50. My little girl is home and healthy now and unless something drastic happens will be a normal, healthy child. Senator Santorum is well aware that more likely than not his little girl won't make it to her first day of school. I will freely admit that I was a mess with 50/50. If a doctor told him 50/50 today it would be a miracle. So yes, as a voter, Senator Santorum will never have my vote, but as a father who knows what he is going through if there was anything I could do to help him I assure you he wouldn't have to ask twice.

My problem with Patricia's post was that she stated she was a Catholic, and also as a Catholic I felt her post was unnecessary and more than a little disrespectful. And again, as someone who can say he's walked in those shoes, when I sat in the NICU, watching a machine breathe for my little girl and feeling absolutely helpless, I couldn't imagine that there would be anyone questioning me personally and professionally.

I'm not a Santorum supporter but I've never heard him say he "hates" gay people. He has different views than some on gay marriage and other things but then the POTUS hasn't exactly strongly advocated for gay marriage since he's been in office either. That aside, this thread should have little to do with political bickering, there are 1000's of other threads for that.

I respect Santorum for putting his sick child ahead of politics. Whether you like him or not as a politician, as a parent you have to respect him for that.

Twas a bit, but I saw her struggling just like we all do at times over what is truth. Each one of us needs to figure out when our opinions aren't exactly matching up to the the reality and adjust. At least she was looking at that possibility, a lot of people on here don't care and and don't want to hear about it either. No harm no foul.

Why aren't folks allowed to have their own opinion when it comes to homosexuality? If you do not lock step with the pro-gay agenda you are automatically labeled a hater. Forcing everyone to think exactly what you think and condemning anyone whose beliefs differ? How is that right?

Patricia48, How do you know what is in his heart? I haven't heard him say anything hateful. I personally don't agree with the homosexual lifestyle either, I think it goes against both God and nature. You state that you are a Catholic. Have you read your catechism lately? Have you been to Reconcillation lately? Have you consulted a priest recently for conseling concerning some of your views? At the bottom of your post you placed "obama/biden 2012". Are you aware that the obama administration has told the USCCB they don't care about Catholic beliefs and conscience concerning abortion and other policies concerning life and is forcing all Christians to forego their beliefs and consciences for rules imposed by his HHS secretary sebulus which is a direct violation of the Constitution! The Catholic church is under direct attack by this administration and you support this as a Catholic?

This is a very negative comment that seems to lack truth, but rather full of opinion and assumptions. Tell me why am I not surprised your voting for BO?

Are you aware that the obama administration has told the USCCB they don't care about Catholic beliefs and conscience concerning abortion and other policies concerning life and is forcing all Christians to forego their beliefs and consciences for rules imposed by his HHS secretary sebulus which is a direct violation of the Constitution! The Catholic church is under direct attack by this administration and you support this as a Catholic?

The Catholic Church was responsible for handling over half of the adoptions in Boston / Massachusetts. Becuase of the anti-christian rules put in place by this administration they had to abandon the adoption process completely. You will never hear this on the overly Obama supportive media.

Have you ever noticed when right wing religious hypocrites start claiming christianity is "under attack", the examples they cite are never a case where a legitimate tenet of the Christian faith is being repressed, it's always something only modern day pharisees practice in their vanity driven attempts to assert their imagined superiority over others. I especially love how the catholic church points the fingers at gays and people who have abortions when they are STILL trying to protect their child raping priests. Maybe that's why Newt joined, Callista is looking a bit dry and wrinkled, and his tastes have always been for younger women.

Well it certainly appears that the "let's stop talking politics, and knowledge a father going to be with his sick daughter" wave of decency has passed. We really couldn't go 12 hours without making Isabella Santorums health into a liberal this, conservative that, Obama said, Gingrich did, Ron Paul will, Christian, Jew, Muslim, I'm right, you're wrong pissing contest. Is it really THAT impossible to go one whole day without making absolutely everything into a political argument? Are we collectively really that classless? There are probably 50 stories on this website where you can argue politics, religion, pro this, anti that, or whatever makes you happy. Can't a story about a SICK LITTLE GIRL AND HER FATHER GOING TO BE WITH HER be about a SICK LITTLE GIRL AND HER FATHER GOING TO BE WITH HER?

You Liberals using this story as a sounding board for your Liberal beliefs are disgusting.

You Conservatives using this story as a sounding board for you Conservative beliefs are disgusting.

If you've posted a comment here arguing religion, did you even take the time to realize that by using this story to go on about how any one religion and its followers are any better or worse than any other you've actually just contradicted the moral code of every religion?

Using this story to explain why you should vote for one candidate over another is monumentally stupid. What does it say about the guy or party you support for sharing your values, when you don't even have the common decency to let a sick child be a sick child without cramming your politics down everyones throat?

There used to be a time when there was an unwritten, yet totally respected and extremely decent rule. A mans politics are politics, but his family and his religion are off limits. As I stated in a post I wrote on this story last night, as a voter Rick Santorum and I couldn't be more far apart politically. As a father, and more importantly, a father who has very recently gone through the same thing as Senator Santorum, if there was anything I could do to help he certainly wouldn't have to ask twice.

This story was essentially about a sick little girl. A sick little girl with a disease that all but guarantees that she won't live to see her first day of school. If you start reading the comments, especially the most recent comments, you'd never know that. If I get any replies I am certain that there will be one or two that do exactly what I stated was wrong.

Perhaps before being Liberal or Conservative, Republican or Democrat, Christian, Jewish, Muslim or athiest we try being human on for size?

Patricia, Catholic is a lot more than a word. You sure sound like just the opposite! Please don't call yourself that, we already get a bad rep. from people who don't know anything about us. I've never heard Santorum say he hates gays. We love all people, just hate the sin. Please get educated on your faith, it's a very beautiful thing. God Bless!

Agree with you Ryan, perhaps that's the problem we've divided up into so many groups that "hate" each other we've forgotten that we are all human and compassion has been thrown out the window.

No worries. And as I wrote back on the original post, I didn't mean for my response to come off as throwing darts. I just had a very personal reaction to your post because I've very recently been in the same situation as Senator Santorum.

Thanks Ryan. I know where you're at. I have also been there. I still am. Sleep well.

My neice Nicole has trisomy18. She is 26 years old and has had a fight all her life all her life. Still in diapers and has a trach, port and feeding tube. Can speak some words but more like a baby. Very alert and knows everyone. Her favorite thing is Karoake and music in general. She can stand for a few seconds with help but cannot walk(she used to beable to with a walker). We almost lost her so many times in the past and twice here last month. Nicole is a rare case. Nicole is our angel here on earth as she will be our angel in heaven someday. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Santorum family. For those who know this journey know the joy as well as gut wrenching heartaches and fears it can bring as well.

Special need kids that get a good family indeed do live a lot longer - and the families really miss them when they finally go.