“Children of two parents who are working don’t need more things. They need us! In far too many families with young children, both parents are working, when, if they really took an honest look at the budget, they might confess that both of them really don’t need to, or at least may not need to work as much as they do. Some are working because they think they must buy their kids and themselves more things that they `need’ – instead of giving of themselves to their kids. And for some parents, the purported need to provide things for their children simply provides a convenient rationalization for pursuing a gratifying career outside the home. But in this world, at a time when it is increasingly difficult to raise children well, we should all recognize that our kids really need fewer things and more mom and dad.” ~AP (quoting Santorum’s book, It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good)

When I see things like this, I remember the things about Santorum that I like.  It also reminds me that it is particularly dreadful that someone who understands so many social conservative ideas so well can be so bafflingly wrong on foreign policy such that listening to him talk about Islamofascism in Iran and “the WMDs we found in Iraq” makes your ears bleed.  Oddly, the NROniks seem to think this citation is some kind of political hit job against Santorum (as if liberals at the AP needed to step on his head while he was drowning on his own) that is designed to “stir things up.”  Why?  Isn’t this what most social conservatives already believe?  How does it do anything but emphasise one of Santorum’s strengths with his key supporters? 

Arguably, if this wire report circulated widely a lot of the conservatives alienated from Santorum over the Toomey betrayal might briefly remember why they used to support him and come back to him; this is perfect free advertising designed to appeal to Santorum’s core supporters.  However, the bitterness over the Toomey business and general discontent in Pennsylvania will end up outweighing any small positive items like this one.