Rick Santorum strikes again, describes patriarchy in a nutshell

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I’ve generally tried to steer clear of Rick Santorum’s brilliant thoughts since he converted me on gay marriage this summer, for fear that exposure to any more nuggets of Santorum genius would sink into my brain and revolutionize my worldview yet again.

But his latest wisdom is too revealing–and disturbing– to pass over.

Rich Wing Watch reports that while speaking with Family Research Council president Tony Perkins (oy), Rick Santorum argued that Republicans should work to lessen single motherhood in order to score political points against their Democratic rivals.

Why does he think reducing single motherhood would be would be such an effective strategy? Because it is the “single mothers who run a household” who have a “desire for government” that makes them vote Democrat. Obviously the way they vote has everything to do with their single mother status and nothing to do at all with their political ideologies, or values, or economic interest, or brains. So of course the solution is to throw a man into the mix by building “two parent families”, which is necessary “to reduce the Democratic advantage.”

This summer Jos explained why the paternalistic “daughter test” makes for bad public policy. I’d argue that the kind of thinking put forth by Santorum in this video clip represents a similarly off base and dangerous right-wing talking point that is as illogical as it is sexist, reducing female voters to their reproductive choices and marital status, and suggesting that they use government as a stand-in for a husband. This is patriarchy at its finest folks.

You can watch the video below (not for the easily angered). And when you’re done, feel free to show some link love to Santorum’s official website.

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