The Native Americans who DID get to America before the Vikings and Columbus don’t count in the ex-Senator’s and CNN talking heads view….
Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), a senior political commentator at CNN, dismissed the influence Native Americans had on America last week, saying in a speech that America was birthed from “nothing,” and that “there isn’t much Native American culture in American culture.”
Santorum’s comments were met with immediate criticism online, with some calling on CNN to dump him.
“We birthed a nation from nothing; I mean, there’s nothing here. I mean, yes, we have Native Americans but candidly, there isn’t much Native American culture in American culture,” Santorum said in remarks delivered at the Standing Up For Faith & Freedom Conference hosted by the Young America’s Foundation, a conservative youth organization.
It was born of the people who came here, pursuing religious liberty to practice their faith, to live as they ought to live and have the freedom to do so, religious liberty. Those are the two bulwarks of American. Faith and freedom.” Santorum, who ran for president in 2016, continued…
…
Santorum also discussed the religious motivations behind people moving to America, saying, “I don’t know of any other country in the world that was settled predominantly by people who were coming to practice their faith. They came here, because they were not allowed to practice their particular faith in their own country.”
“And so they came here, mostly from Europe, and they set up a country that was based on Judeo-Christian principles,” he continued.
Santorum’s comments were met with a flurry of backlash on social media, with a number of individuals denouncing the CNN senior political commentator’s interpretation of America’s beginning.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison questioned Santorum’s remarks on Twitter, calling his comments “hot garbage.”….
This is typical with how conservatives think. Rather remarkable ignorance.
Native Americans didn’t have the religious intolerance of European Americans, and they didn’t accuse people of being witches and burn them. Respect for people of other religions was something native Americans taught us – or at least tried to teach us.
respect for the earth was also something that native Anericans taught us- or at least tried to. Many Conservatives may not agree with that value. And hunters – many of whom are conservatives usually do not kill an animal that they won’t eat. This practice came from native Americans.
The American form of government was heavily influenced by the Iroquois confederacy.
Ball games largely originated from native Americans, and lacrosse in particular was an Indian game. Canoeing came from the native Americans. And many of the foods we eat did too: beans, corn, popcorn, peanuts (Jack, I don’t know if boiled peanuts came from Native Americans; that might have been a South Carolina invention!)
An of course, some American art was heavily influenced by native Americans. I have Native American paintings in my home.
Santorum’s comments were deeply offensive to all people. Why is it so difficult for conservatives to recognize the obvious contributions of people who don’t look like or pray like them?
I’m not sure where boiled peanuts came from.
They are ,however, highly addictive.
My mother used to regularly ply me with them as a youngster and I’ve been hooked ever since!
I never developed a taste for boiled peanuts. after my first taste of them, I didn’t give them a second chance! Boiled peanuts appear to be only popular in SC. I only once saw them in NC – and I lived there 16 years.
Very occasionally I see boiled peanuts at farmers markets here in Missouri. Tried em once. They were alright.
I’ll be in Charleston in early June so I’ll have to see how the locals make em!
Jack calling boiled peanuts addictive reminded me that Kelly Tshibaca who is challenging Murkowski for the Alaska GOP nomination has called witchcraft addictive. I wonder what is more addictive – boiled peanuts or witchcraft? Maybe Tshibaca needs to do a commercial like a former GOP Delaware Senate candidate (O’Donnell?) in which she declares emphatically”I am not a witch”.
Rick Santorum has gotten ‘the hook’ at CNN….
He’s out…..
Rick Santorum, the former Pennsylvania senator and Republican presidential candidate, has been dropped from his role as a CNN political commentator amid controversy over recent remarks in which he seemed to erase the role of Native Americans in U.S. history.
Matt Dornic, head of strategic communications at CNN, confirmed in an email on Saturday that the network had “parted ways” with the former senator.
Mr. Santorum’s departure from CNN came after comments he made about Native Americans at a Young America’s Foundation event last month….
More…
Good points Zreebs. My current address is on a street named after a Native tribe and in a state named by Native peoples.
“Nothing there” is a more accurate description of Santorum’s head!
Good to have ya back Z….
Hope all is well….
Santorum IS a asshole…..
The continual disregard of history will persist with people like him…
Grade school who discovered America has been a lie for decades…
U’d think working for CNN would help reset his brain somewhat?
Nope….