http://spectator.org/blog/62877/rick-santorum-dumps-duggarsRick Santorum Dumps the Duggars
By Emily Zanotti on 5.28.15 | 4:01PM
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Rick Santorum has decided to inflict himself, yet again, on our fair nation, running for President a third (I think) time. Now, while I'm not entirely certain what America did to deserve such an honor, clearly God is trying to punish us for some string of transgressions, because otherwise, His chosen candidate, Santorum, would have long ago retired to head up a DC-based family-focused think tank or sell panini presses on late night television.
Not that I begrudge Rick his chance. Although he's not very attractive as a candidate, he did do well last time around, and he has, at least, earned the right to try again. He's out of touch with the voter base (and not just on social issues), he's smarmy and spray-tanned, but the man does do well in Middle America. And that's enough to keep him on the trail. And unlike his compatriot Mike Huckabee, this time around, Rick Santorum won't be welcoming the Duggars, the family from the TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting to accompany him at his campaign stops the way he did in 2012, after the family came under fire recently for allegations that their oldest son, Josh, molested several girls, including his own sisters.
Presidential candidate Rick Santorum has said he is 'sickened' by Josh Duggar's molestation of several young girls - three years after the Duggar family campaigned for him across ten states.
Appearing on Good Morning America on Thursday morning, the former Pennsylvania senator was asked for his thoughts on the controversy surrounding Josh's sordid actions in 2002 and 2003.
Shaking his head and looking down, the 57-year-old replied: 'I'm sickened by it. I'm just sickened by it. I pray for those girls, in particular. To have gone through that is... just hard to think about.'
In 2012, Santorum, a Christian conservative, was publicly supported by Jim Bob Duggar, his wife Michelle and their 19 children during his first - ultimately, unsuccessful - presidential campaign.
The Duggars, of course, have endorsed Mike Huckabee. He's welcomed them so far, and, as linked above, has publicly expressed his support for the family, even going so far as to claim that Josh Duggar's critics were "sensationalizing" the story and that while Josh's actions were "inexcusable" they were not "unforgivable."