Your Tears Are So Yummy and Sweet

Man, I haven't taken this much pleasure in the suffering of a small child in days.  Image via Bureaucrash.

Update: Oy. For the benefit of commenters who don't share my sense of humor, I'm not "going after" Santorum's daughter, who I'm about as sure as one can be will never, ever read this post and have her feelings hurt. Just making a joke about how good it is to be rid of this guy.

Comments

Jake Boone | November 8, 2006, 2:51pm | #

The crying girl is one thing, but check out the kid on the far right... what's he seeing out there?

toshiro_mifune | November 8, 2006, 2:51pm | #

The kid with the glasses is a nice touch too.

Leonardo | November 8, 2006, 2:51pm | #

She is a little old to be carrying a doll like that at a public event. The doll's dress even matches her dress, and why is her brother dressed like a stockbroker? Oh Robin Givhan please chime in on the strange fashion choices of the uber-religious home-schooled Santorum household.

jf | November 8, 2006, 2:51pm | #

Wow. Fucking grow up.

toshiro_mifune | November 8, 2006, 2:53pm | #

Nuts, Jake beat me to the punch.

what's he seeing out there?
Perhaps the rest of the Cenobites have come for his dad ?

Jon H | November 8, 2006, 3:14pm | #

Wait...

I don't see the dead one. Is he there?

aaa aaa | November 8, 2006, 3:24pm | #

That's his daughter Sarah, she's 8 years old. So basically because her father has different political views than yours and has been voted out of office after 12 years in the US Senate, you're happy to see her "suffering"? Eight years old is too old to have a doll, especially if that comforts her during a tough time? An eight-year old girl should "Fucking grow up"? When did this web site turn into DailyKos?

I can blame her parents for putting her out on stage as a prop, but going after an eight year old girl for petty partisan reasons is messed up. Man, I hope you guys never have kids of your own.

steveintheknow | November 8, 2006, 3:25pm | #

I am assuming that the crying one is the 8 year old who is astute enough, despite her age, to know that if you destroy the egg you don’t get the bald eagle.

aaa aaa | November 8, 2006, 3:27pm | #

Jon H, no, their child who died in 1996 shortly after birth is not standing up on the podium next to them. Making fun of live children is not enough I suppose, especially for someone you disagree with.

Pro Libertate | November 8, 2006, 3:27pm | #

Wow, I've never seen the thousand-yard stare in such a young kid before.

The Wine Commonsewer | November 8, 2006, 3:30pm | #

Wow. Fucking grow up.

Who? Julian? Or the little girl?

I think the kid with the glasses sees dead people. They don't even know they're dead.......

Chris S. | November 8, 2006, 3:30pm | #

That's his daughter Sarah, she's 8 years old. So basically because her father has different political views than yours and has been voted out of office after 12 years in the US Senate, you're happy to see her "suffering"? Eight years old is too old to have a doll, especially if that comforts her during a tough time? An eight-year old girl should "Fucking grow up"? When did this web site turn into DailyKos?

I can blame her parents for putting her out on stage as a prop, but going after an eight year old girl for petty partisan reasons is messed up. Man, I hope you guys never have kids of your own.

Come now, daddy Santorum never taught you how to laugh?

mediageek | November 8, 2006, 3:30pm | #

HI-larious!

Medals all around!

Number 6 | November 8, 2006, 3:30pm | #

I guess I'm a bad person, because I found that picture hilarious.

And aaa aaa- Santorum decided to use his spawn as political props. That makes them fair game. What's worse? Laughing at a picture, or using your children as stage dressing?

guy in the back row | November 8, 2006, 3:30pm | #

Wouldn't it suck if your dad's job got your last named turned into a slang word for a nasty, frothy substance?

And yeah, that poor boy is seeing dead people or something.

keypusher | November 8, 2006, 3:31pm | #

"Man, I haven't taken this much pleasure in the suffering of a small child in days."

You should be ashamed.

jkp1187 | November 8, 2006, 3:31pm | #

Julian,

That's pretty low class if you ask me. Weren't there any puppies or kittens around to kick when you posted this?

JKP

Chris S. | November 8, 2006, 3:31pm | #

Yeah, de-italicize that last sentence. Daddy Santorum never taught me how to write.

Jon H | November 8, 2006, 3:32pm | #

aaa: "Jon H, no, their child who died in 1996 shortly after birth is not standing up on the podium next to them."

Not even in a jar?

Number 6 | November 8, 2006, 3:33pm | #

While we're on the subject, consider this: One of those kids will:
a) Get pregnant in high school
b) Develop a drug problem
c) Grow up to be gay.
d) All of the above.

When that happens, we can all place bets on when the conversion back to whackaloony Christianity will occur.

Gawd, I love having things to look forward to.

joe | November 8, 2006, 3:33pm | #

I thought that last night. No way I would have dragged my kids out on that stage. That was obviously a tough night for them, too.

Whether they were there as props, or as support during his hour of need, he made them stand out there on the stage with him. Be an effing MAN, dude. Don't hide behind kids.

jf | November 8, 2006, 3:34pm | #

Sorry for the confusion. I meant that Julian needs to grow the fuck up, not that poor kid.

isildur | November 8, 2006, 3:34pm | #

Going after Santorum is never 'petty partisan' anything.

aaa aaa | November 8, 2006, 3:36pm | #

Number 6: "What's worse? Laughing at a picture, or using your children as stage dressing?"

Both are bad, which is why I criticized both. The difference is the parents made a choice to be there, I doubt the eight year old girl did. I guess if you are opposed to someone's political views, you have to despise and ridicule them, their kids, their deceased children, their kid's dolls, etc. Like I said, it is DailyKos day here today.

zach | November 8, 2006, 3:38pm | #

I voted against him of course, but I couldn't help but feel a little bad for the kids, since I'm a big softie. However as the guy who came on after the speech rightly said, there are much larger things at stake here. Plus, I couldn't shake the feeling that Santorum decided to bring them on stage only after they started crying.

But anyway, the best part of the speech was when, after she realized what Santorum's speech was about, some idiot lady in the audience screamed at the top of her lungs "OH NO!!!", just ruining the whole thing.

Number 6 | November 8, 2006, 3:38pm | #

No, aaa aaa, I don't have to. But I will anyway, because it's freaking hoo-larious. But go ahead and use that righteous indignation to convince yourself that you're the better person. I'll be over in the corner giggling.

FinFangFoom | November 8, 2006, 3:38pm | #

Jesus, it's a funny picture. It's (almost) always okay to make fun of anyone as long as they are not going to hear about it. I assume you're not going to go tell her about us, aaa aaa.

She should count herself lucky anyways. If she gets married, she'll lose her last name. The boy is in is in shock because everyone will always equate his last name with santorum rather than Santorum.

Jeff P | November 8, 2006, 3:38pm | #

I see a "Santorums" sitcom. The daughters are Frowny and Weepy, and their son, who gets laughs each week when he inserts something new up his bum and makes that exact face (with funny sound effect).

Weepy's doll is secretly possessed.

Mom drinks. But she's a funny drunk.

Curious | November 8, 2006, 3:39pm | #

Does the blond women on the podium play the role of Dwight's girlfriend on "The Office"?

sandman | November 8, 2006, 3:40pm | #

That guy has helped to cause a lot of people in PA to lose their jobs and much suffering. He deserves what he gets.

aaa aaa | November 8, 2006, 3:40pm | #

Isildur: "Going after Santorum is never 'petty partisan' anything."

Yeah, but going after his 8 year old girl, and his deceased child, is.

Jon H: No, his dead child was not in a jar on stage with him. Dead kid jokes must be freakin hilarious over at firedoglake. I mean, you would have voted against him in an election, so you have to make fun of his deceased children, right?

Joe: You're 100% right, the kids should not have been there.

Pirate Jo | November 8, 2006, 3:42pm | #

"Man, I hope you guys never have kids of your own."

No lie, after looking at that picture, I think my tubes just tied themselves.

Tony Cadena | November 8, 2006, 3:42pm | #

I don't want kids for this very reason. They are such needy little cry babies. They are constantly in need of attention.

Hey, if they put her out as a some sort of political human shield all bets are off.

mediageek | November 8, 2006, 3:43pm | #

"I guess if you are opposed to someone's political views, you have to despise and ridicule them, their kids, their deceased children, their kid's dolls, etc. Like I said, it is DailyKos day here today."

Being a libertarian means that I'm supposed to hate children and old people. But mostly children.

At least, that's what all the leftists tell me.

Therefore your powers to garner sympathy from me are impotent!

MWA-HA-HA-HA!

*Does evil libertarian dance.*

toshiro_mifune | November 8, 2006, 3:44pm | #

Oh come on people !

At some point you have to admit that crying little fat grils are funny - even if you feel bad for them they're still funny.

The only thing better would be offering her a pony to cuddle away those sorrows and then, at the last minute taking it away and laughing. Repeat as needed.

David | November 8, 2006, 3:44pm | #

Strange that an Evangelical Christian has a son at Hogwarts.

aaa aaa | November 8, 2006, 3:44pm | #

Number 6: giggle away, especially at the dead kid jokes. There's nothing funnier!

The Wine Commonsewer | November 8, 2006, 3:45pm | #

One of the most recognizable photographs in the world is JFK Jr stage dressed as he salutes his father's casket. You think that salute was spontaneous?

Even the Cubans gave Jackie O a pass on that.

Okay, so Santorums not dead, but it is political given that if there are kids, they are always stage dressing. Win or lose, you'll always see the kids and the flag.

Just sayin'

Pro Libertate | November 8, 2006, 3:45pm | #

Be an effing MAN, dude.

joe, forgive me, but I thought when I first read that that you were directing the comment at the poor, sobbing girl. I hurt myself laughing, then realized that you were talking to Johnny Fontane.

FinFangFoom | November 8, 2006, 3:45pm | #

Looking at the picture again, I'm not sure if she is crying or is preparing to detonate.

mediageek | November 8, 2006, 3:47pm | #

"Looking at the picture again, I'm not sure if she is crying or is preparing to detonate."

What? Like Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?

The Wine Commonsewer | November 8, 2006, 3:47pm | #

How do you make a dead baby float?

Two scoops of dead baby in a mug of root beer.

Wild Pegasus | November 8, 2006, 3:47pm | #

I think we're missing out on something important in all of this:

That family is butt-ugly.

- Josh

Number 6 | November 8, 2006, 3:48pm | #

aaa aaa- Hey, I don't recall being the one to mention dead kids, nor do I remember laughing at his dead kid. Swing and a miss.

FinFangFoom | November 8, 2006, 3:48pm | #

Exactly, mediageek.

Finally, TWC brings out the dead baby jokes. Please tell as many as possible. I need as many good new ones as possible. (Dead baby jokes have a certain cache in my social circles).

Evan! | November 8, 2006, 3:49pm | #

I'm w/ Number 6. I especially appreciate the "use your righteous indignation to convince yourself that you're the better person". Goddamn, talk about hitting the nail on the head.

I can't stop laughing giddily at that crap. Couple that with Rummy's frowny-faced resignation, and it makes my week.

steve | November 8, 2006, 3:50pm | #

Ah, she's just going to grow up to be another one of the Right's fundie nutjob foot-soldiers anyway. So do we really have to wait until she's a bible-thumpin', homo-hatin' adult before we make fun of her? I think not.

Kerry Howley | November 8, 2006, 3:50pm | #

One picture is worth a thousand abstinence education classes.

isildur | November 8, 2006, 3:50pm | #

"Isildur: "Going after Santorum is never 'petty partisan' anything."

Yeah, but going after his 8 year old girl, and his deceased child, is."

I didn't say Rick Santorum. I said Santorum, inclusive.

A decent parent wouldn't have brought the kids onstage for the concession photo-op. It's sleazy Santorum politicking, as per the usual. If he wants to score political points for the future by using his spawn to manipulate the emotions of the public, then she becomes a target. Nobody twisted his arm and made him drag her onstage.

Also, she's funny-looking.

Also, her last name is Santorum.

The Wine Commonsewer | November 8, 2006, 3:50pm | #

I think my tubes just tied themselves.

Now, THAT, was funny. All in the delivery, I guess.

PJ, you get the prize, or whatever it is, for this thread.

zach | November 8, 2006, 3:51pm | #

Keep in mind this guy also ran a bunch of ads featuring his kids and how great a "family man" he's supposed to be in the weeks leading up to this. Using them as political tools is a given for him. This guy is obsessed with winning no matter what, which is part of why I voted for the other guy.

He even ended his speech with something along the lines of "this will give me more time to focus on being a good father to my kids". Starting with putting pictures of them crying on national TV. I'm sure that will be a big help to his son in prep school.

Davebo | November 8, 2006, 3:51pm | #

She's probably wondering who's going to pay for her web based education now.

That and worried they'll actually move back into the tiny home they've claimed as their actual residence all these years.

steveintheknow | November 8, 2006, 3:52pm | #

I think we have found the cast of Children of The Corn VII.

isildur | November 8, 2006, 3:52pm | #

How do you get 10 dead babies into a shoebox?

-- A blender.

How do you get them back out?

-- A straw.

Chris S. | November 8, 2006, 3:52pm | #

aaa aaa,

Seriously, lighten up. The girl will never know about this thread. No one is hurt, and people are laughing.

Besided, Santorum should be blamed for this, and I'm not talking about his decision to bring her on stage. I'm talking about his decision not to abort her and donate her stem cells to Michael J. Fox.

gaius marius | November 8, 2006, 4:01pm | #

wait... when did h&r become the internet center for shallowly contrived sanctimony of convenience? i thought deadspin was just a couple weeks ago! man, this internet thing is fast!

lol -- republicans and fellow conservatives (if in fact you are), you should be able to take your decimations with more grace than this. laugh at the comitragedy that the outgoing senator has so kindly presented for your entertainment.

At some point you have to admit that crying little fat grils are funny - even if you feel bad for them they're still funny.

precisely, mr mifune.

ChrisO | November 8, 2006, 4:02pm | #

Wow, that's very Stepford-looking family. That said, laughing at the misery of 8-year-old girls is not my specialty.

The fundies are already making noises about encouraging Santorum to run for president. Uhh yeah, right.

aaa aaa | November 8, 2006, 4:03pm | #

Number 6: You are completely right. The whole thread is hilarious! That's why you're in the corner giggling! I mean, you weren't the first to mention it, but it did not (and should not) stop you from laughing uncontrollably. Crying kids, dead kids, it's all comedy gold! You're right, to be a better person I should make dead baby jokes! I should mock eight year olds going through a tough time! I mean, it's not like this is a web site devoted to free minds and free markets, we should focus on the important business: spewing ricidule against any political opponent & their families.

Thank you for showing me the error of my ways, you are so so much morally superior to me in every conceivable way.

Pig Mannix | November 8, 2006, 4:03pm | #

Man, I haven't taken this much pleasure in the suffering of a small child in days.

Hey, if Rick Santorum was your old man, you'd cry too.

highnumber | November 8, 2006, 4:03pm | #

I join the ranks of the depraved, I guess, because I saw this photo in the paper this morning, smiled, and hoped that I would see it online so I could email it to all my friends. I had all the same thoughts as the bad people posting here:
Crying girl is funny.
Crying girl is way too old to be clutching doll. Also funny.
Boy is extra creepy. Also funny.
I don't feel bad about laughing. If the girl had lost her father, this would not be funny. If the girl was actually suffering, not funny. The girl's father is going to have a career following his departure from office. He will make more money, not less. He will lose some perks and power. He is a major league asshole. I have no sympathy for him or his daughter. The creepy son has plenty of time to get over it. I spent those years looking creepy too.
By the way, I do have a child. When he cries over nothing (which is often since he is not quite 8 months old), I comfort him. Inside, I smile and think it's cute.

jeem | November 8, 2006, 4:05pm | #

I'm glad Santorum lost, but you're a dick for taking pleasure in a child's sorrow.

Thomas Paine's Goiter | November 8, 2006, 4:05pm | #

The kid on the far left, obscured by Guy Smiley, was bawling too. He seemed to be about 15.

Buckshot | November 8, 2006, 4:05pm | #

Now I see why tigers eat their young.

Pro Libertate | November 8, 2006, 4:05pm | #

Kerry,

I see it more as a eugenics poster.

Swillfredo Pareto | November 8, 2006, 4:06pm | #

Santorum decided to use his spawn as political props. That makes them fair game.

I disagree. It makes him fair game. The kids never did anything to anybody as far as I know

ed | November 8, 2006, 4:09pm | #

Wouldn't it suck if your dad's job got your last named turned into a slang word for a nasty, frothy substance?

Sorry, but only polito-geeks in certain corners of the blogosphere are aware of that slang. It's truly an inside joke, no pun intended.

Pro Libertate | November 8, 2006, 4:10pm | #

I'm reminded of Billy Thorpe's "Children of Santorum".

Number 6 | November 8, 2006, 4:11pm | #

aaa aaa- Jebus, dude, why not just fall to the floor, pound your fists and kick your legs? Are you always this quick to descend into incoherence?

Evan! | November 8, 2006, 4:11pm | #

aaa aaa:

Yeah, and there's nothing fucking CREEPIER than a family sitting around cooing and lavishing love on an infant corpse in their living room. I'll admit, that's not funny...that's fuckin sick.

M | November 8, 2006, 4:12pm | #

"The ML [Modal Libertarian] does not, unfortunately, hate the State because he sees it as the unique social instrument of organized aggression against person and property. Instead, the ML is an adolescent rebel against everyone around him: first, against his parents, second against his family, third against his neighbours, and finally against society itself … The ML also has the thousand-mile stare of the fanatic." ~ Hans-Herman Hoppe, Democracy: The God That Failed, p. 206, Footnote #22

Is that the stare that equips the ML to surpass traditionalists in tackiness? Leave the kids alone; they've been exploited enough.

Jesse Walker | November 8, 2006, 4:12pm | #

I don't think crying girls are funny. But I do like South Park references.

GILMORE | November 8, 2006, 4:12pm | #

Rick Jr. (or, "little dick" as he's known around the house) was actually weeping his eyes out too during the concession speech. They just caught him in a stunned moment where he contemplating what Dad had told him =

"If I'm not re-elected, Democrats are going to gay-up every red blooded male in America, and everyones going to burn in Hell for eternity"

I actually dont know his name, but he was crying. I wanted to hit him and take his milk money. Then tear the head off of his daughters doll, and start doing a sassy gay strip routine directed at Rick, making him 'froth' with rage.

This is all just emotional payback for so many weeks of dumb political news

Felcher Santorum | November 8, 2006, 4:12pm | #

Maybe she's sad that he's going to be home more often? Was this picture taken right after he made that statement?

Grummun | November 8, 2006, 4:14pm | #

The girl will never know about this thread.

Maybe not this thread in specific, but that pic will make the rounds, for sure. It'll get back to her, along with the vitriol.

In 20 or so years, when l'il Sarah, after years of training with mysterious masters of secret deadly martial arts comes back and caves in Sanchez' head with her pinky finger, I'll say, "eh, I guess he had that coming."

Felcher Santorum | November 8, 2006, 4:15pm | #

Evan, are you implying that they do have the body of their infant on display?

no way!

That Annoying Guy Who Always Quotes Caddyshack | November 8, 2006, 4:16pm | #

Now I see why tigers eat their young.

Hey, that's my gig.

B | November 8, 2006, 4:16pm | #

(sigh)

The fact that Julian's post is immature and mean-spirited does not in any way undermine the fact that it is also hillarious.

If this is the worst thing Rick Santorum's daughter ever endures, she's very, very lucky.

Evan! | November 8, 2006, 4:16pm | #

Holy fuck, would you people just relax? It's not like anyone is up in the little girl's face screaming "boooyaaaah, ya little twat! Daddy LOST! Your daddy sucks, so do you! Now you're gonna have to move to the poorhouse! HAHAHAHA!" No, it's a few people having a laugh at a photograph in the comfort of their computer. Oh, god, how immoral! Humorless idiots.

The Wine Commonsewer | November 8, 2006, 4:16pm | #

Hey, when I was a little fat girl I didn't think it was funny at all.

aaa aaa | November 8, 2006, 4:17pm | #

Here you go, enjoy:

http://www.dead-baby-joke.com/

Good thing Sanchez posted this update: "For the benefit of commenters who don't share my sense of humor, I'm not 'going after' Santorum's daughter"

Who could possibly assume that based on this statement "Man, I haven't taken this much pleasure in the suffering of a small child in days"?

Plus, I thought we all established here there's no problem ridiculing the children of opponents? Join in the fun, pile on! Otherwise you are full of "righteous indignation", and you don't want that.

Evan! | November 8, 2006, 4:18pm | #

Felcher,

no, I was not implying anything---I was stating how sick it was for the Santorum family to cuddle and love and spend time lavishing affection on a corpse in their living room. That's all.

mediageek | November 8, 2006, 4:19pm | #

FARKED!

Pro Libertate | November 8, 2006, 4:19pm | #

Hold on, GILMORE, I'm seeing a pattern. First, I noted the child's thousand-yard stare. Then M notes above that the thousand-yard stare is an attribute of a libertarian. Could Son of Santorum be the Libertarian Messiah that we've been waiting for? Sweater-vest clad for liberty.

Julian, you most certainly were going after the daughter. Tsk, tsk. I'd update my disclaimer with a counter disclaimer. Maybe authored by Kerry, saying "Nah, Julian's mocking the girl. But the boy freaks him out".

mediageek | November 8, 2006, 4:20pm | #

Evan!

Did they really do that?

The Wine Commonsewer | November 8, 2006, 4:20pm | #

I've forgotten most of the best dead baby jokes but here goes........

Difference between a truckload of dead babies and a truckload of golf balls?

You cannot unload a truckload of golf balls with a pitchfork.

FinFangFoom | November 8, 2006, 4:21pm | #

Yes, the Santorums have a rough future ahead of them, what with their father returning to his position as a partner at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, increasing the firm's lobbying practice, and pulling down $2-3 mil for bringin in all the Republican and religious conservative work.

Tear.

Evan! | November 8, 2006, 4:21pm | #

"Plus, I thought we all established here there's no problem ridiculing the children of opponents?"

Rick's not just an "opponent", he's a hateful scumbag who likens homosexuality to fornicating with goats. Let's not sugar-coat this bastard, okay?

Damn, not only are you full of righteous indignation, you're also devoid of any levity or capacity for humor. Way to turn this lighthearted situation into a matter of somber importance. Ugh. I bet you're the life of the party.

aaa aaa | November 8, 2006, 4:22pm | #

Number 6: "aaa aaa- Jebus, dude, why not just fall to the floor, pound your fists and kick your legs? Are you always this quick to descend into incoherence?"

No, but you're quicker to invoke Jebus. I hope you're not some kind of bible thumping freak like Santorum, because I am revising my moral worldview based on your example. I mean, look at the necklace his 8 year old is wearing. It's a cross! Might was well be a swastika!

Jon H | November 8, 2006, 4:22pm | #

"Evan, are you implying that they do have the body of their infant on display?

no way!"

In the book Santorum wrote, he revealed that they brought their dead baby home for the night.

Presumably, they took it to a funeral home for burial, but, you know, maybe they gave the funeral home a cabbage patch kid.

Karen | November 8, 2006, 4:23pm | #

I'm with David. I spent several minutes wondering why the kid who played Crabbe in the movie was in that picture, and in costume no less.

Evan! | November 8, 2006, 4:23pm | #

Mediageek: they did indeed. Their infant child died, and they spent the next day passing the corpse around the living room, lavishing it with love and treating it as if it were alive. Fucking creepy, I tells ya.

mk | November 8, 2006, 4:24pm | #

*sigh*

The girl was probably just tired. It was midnight or something after all. Plus everyone was upset, plus she was wearing that awful dress with waaayyy too much starch in it, plus it was probably reallly boring there.

I think Santorum is an evil twat and I experienced a level of schadenfreude at his concession speech that was a new high for me. Still, I felt for the poor kid. My immediate reaction was to think that Julian is pretty much a fucking douchebag for having made fun of her and to think that if he ever said anything so mean to my child I would crush his testicles in such a way that there would never be a chance that his unfortunate sense of humour would be passed on to his own children.

So go ahead and ban me. Fuck you Julian.

FinFangFoom | November 8, 2006, 4:24pm | #

ah ah ah aaa aaa, you can't invoke Godwin's law yourself.

Evan! | November 8, 2006, 4:25pm | #

"No, but you're quicker to invoke Jebus. I hope you're not some kind of bible thumping freak like Santorum, because I am revising my moral worldview based on your example. I mean, look at the necklace his 8 year old is wearing. It's a cross! Might was well be a swastika!"

How's life over in Batshitinsaneville?

CaptainMOAB | November 8, 2006, 4:26pm | #

Someone mentioned giving the girl a pony. I agree, comfort food is nice at times like this.

Jon H | November 8, 2006, 4:26pm | #

aaa aaa writes: "Who could possibly assume that based on this statement "Man, I haven't taken this much pleasure in the suffering of a small child in days"?"

Come on, this isn't suffering, unless the mom is tugging on her hair to make her cry.

"Suffering" would be, say, that little Iraqi kid who was burned, had his arms blown off and his family killed, pictures of whom were distributed in the early days of the war.

This is probably "little girl up way past her bedtime", 'cause you *know* they go to bed at 7 at the Santorum house.

Chris S. | November 8, 2006, 4:28pm | #

Is that the stare that equips the ML to surpass traditionalists in tackiness? Leave the kids alone; they've been exploited enough.

The Austrian school -- they are a humorless bunch. M repeats Herman Hoppe who repeats Rothbard. In a parallel universe, without humans, humor, and all things joyful and lighthearted, the Rothbardians would rule supreme. In this universe, the failed economists cum philosophers that deck the halls of Mises.org are apparently looking out for the exploited children.

Evan! | November 8, 2006, 4:29pm | #

Oh, the HORROR, someone made fun of a crying little girl! Time to crush his testicles because I don't agree that it's funny!

"Sigh" indeed

aaa aaa | November 8, 2006, 4:31pm | #

Evan, I am the life of the party, look at my link to dead baby jokes. It is freakin' high-larious!

But seriously, I agree with you on Santorum: he has different views than we do on this subject. This does not make him an opponent, it makes him an enemy. We should not only ridicule his kids, we should try to have them all arrested and convicted for hate crimes for daddy even expressing such views. Make a note to go after his grandkids as well, just to be sure.

Stephen Macklin | November 8, 2006, 4:31pm | #

Welcome to the Libertarian Underground.

The Wine Commonsewer | November 8, 2006, 4:32pm | #

Julian, your disclaimer reminds me that Clinton never inhaled and that GWB served in the National Guard.

Santorum's Daughter | November 8, 2006, 4:32pm | #

3...2...1...

ALLAH AKBAR!!!

Pro Libertate | November 8, 2006, 4:33pm | #

Actually--and I mean this in all seriousness--why were the kids so upset? Did Dad simply freak out on them before they got on stage? Were they forced to get up there and were crying because of that? Did Santorum curse God? Certainly, they're going to be wealthier if anything, so it's not the "Daddy's losing his job" issue. Are they even going to have to move, if he's going to K&L (presumably the DC office)?

I'm not much for mocking kids who've done no wrong, either. But I do find the situation somewhat surreal. As I do Santorum.

John | November 8, 2006, 4:35pm | #

Jesus Evan do you have an enemies list and is it prioritized according who is to be shot first, rather than merely arrested, once you take power?

Bunnie | November 8, 2006, 4:35pm | #

Wow. I'm shocked that libertarians haven't made more inroads what with our erudite commentary and thoughtful analysis on display here.

Way to handle "victory," there, assholes.

mantooth | November 8, 2006, 4:35pm | #

Julian,

You'd have more defenders around here if you were a child molester. They fight to death for those guys on this board.

joe | November 8, 2006, 4:37pm | #

Look, people, society exists for the purpose of elevating our lives above what they would be in a state of nature.

In a state of nature, I'd laugh at the crying fat girl, too. Who wouldn't? But we're supposed to be civilized here, and pretend that that picture isn't funny. At all.

Isn't funny at all. Repeat that phrase until you can stop giggling and come out of the corner.

Also, as a liberal, the story about the Santorums bringing the body of their stillborn child home for their other kids to hug and pet is so freaking weird that it brings out my liberal cultural relativism. Who are we to judge, ya know? That's just the way those people grieve. It's no better or worse than, say, not passing around a dead baby's body like it was a teddy bear. It's just different. We really need to be more open-minded about people, like the Santorums, who aren't like us.

mediageek | November 8, 2006, 4:38pm | #

Is it just me, or does The Mrs. look like she's really jonesing for a Highball?

FinFangFoom | November 8, 2006, 4:40pm | #

He was a partner at K&L before he went into politics. I would assume that he would end up in DC if his goal is to make the most money. If not he may have to content himself with a measely half million or whathever their partners make in PA.

John | November 8, 2006, 4:40pm | #

Hey Joe

How about that it is none of ours or anyone else's business how these people grieve for their dead child no matter how creepy it is? Libertarians love privacy as long as it doesn't deprive them of the ability to merciless redicule someone who doesn't agree with them.

Pro Libertate | November 8, 2006, 4:41pm | #

joe,

I agree about the weird baby corpse issue. That's a horrifying thing for a family to deal with, and if they do it in a somewhat freaky manner, that's their business. I had to attend a funeral for a friend's baby girl (3-days old when she died), and it was an incredibly heart-wrenching event. I'm not even sure how people live with such a loss, let alone endure it.

John | November 8, 2006, 4:41pm | #

"Is it just me, or does The Mrs. look like she's really jonesing for a Highball?"

Hey, who isn't jonesing for a highball?

aaa aaa | November 8, 2006, 4:43pm | #

Jon H, your absolutely right, Sanchez should never have used the word "suffering", since no one can truly suffer unless it is as a result of the application of US military power in an illegal and immoral war. Speak truth to power!

Evan: "How's life over in Batshitinsaneville?" What an odd question to ask, since I agree with everything you say. You are right, people should behave in a calm and completely rational way when they lose a newborn child, and any deviation from standard practice should be ruthlessly criticized and brought up at every opportunity as a political weapon.

mediageek | November 8, 2006, 4:43pm | #

Alternate photo at Wonkette.

Walker, Texas Stranger | November 8, 2006, 4:43pm | #

Santorum's daughter Sarah Maria cries while holding and consoling son Gabriel Michael.

David | November 8, 2006, 4:44pm | #

Libertarians love privacy as long as it doesn't deprive them of the ability to merciless redicule someone who doesn't agree with them.

Can anything that's been published in a book really be considered private anymore?

peachy | November 8, 2006, 4:45pm | #

"Victory?" Divided government is an improvement, but it surely isn't "victory" - whichever side wins we still lose. (Pelosi is better than Hastert only because Bush beat Kerry - see how that works?) But at least we can take a bitter satisfaction in watching so many of the most unpleasant politicians take a swan dive out of office.

The Wine Commonsewer | November 8, 2006, 4:46pm | #

My uncle kissed my grandfather's dead face in the casket (gave me the willies, I ain't touching no dead bodies). My friend Amphetamine Annie sat with her dead husband for nearly a day. I'll give you wierd on the dead infant corpse pass around pack BUT......I've seen a lot of strange stuff when it comes to dead people and the way people grieve.

Pro, I hear that. Knew a girl who lost a baby to crib death. She was insane for five years after. BTW, my boy was saved from crib death by a cat.

John, I ain't jonesing for a highball, I'm jonesing for Wine-Thirty.

crustybread | November 8, 2006, 4:46pm | #

There is no loss this year as sweet as that douchebag scrotorum... his daughter is crying because now she knows her dad sucks.

The Wine Commonsewer | November 8, 2006, 4:48pm | #

Media, that's a great photo.

Santorum Wrong Here | November 8, 2006, 4:49pm | #

Say what you want about individuals' comments here; however the issue rest with Santorum. He chose to put his children in a public eye via campaign commercials and now via this public concession speech. I personally find Santorum very self serving here. If he thought about his children's welfare for a second over his political ambition, he would not have put them in this type of situation.

The Wine Commonsewer | November 8, 2006, 4:50pm | #

Media, that's a great photo, and the highball crack was excellent.

The Wine Commonsewer | November 8, 2006, 4:53pm | #

Santorum Wrong Here, sure he is, but.......Every politician does exactly the same thing. The flag and the kids. Flag behind, kids upfront, doting wife standing one step to the right and behind, demure smile, conservative Sunday-go-to-meeting suit, no cleavage. Well, except Gore's wife that is.....

Kap | November 8, 2006, 4:54pm | #

It appears to me the young lad - innocently trying to help with the photo op - told his sister that he slaughtered and ate her pony, only to realized he had just implicated himself in a felony, thanks in part to his dad's cronies.

Karma: it'l get you in the end.

Bunnie | November 8, 2006, 4:59pm | #

And all this "it's his fault because he used his family as props" rationalization is just stupid.

Stop blaming other people for your own behavior.
And stop being so hateful and juvenile.

BobDobolina | November 8, 2006, 4:59pm | #

Julian, that not only made my day, but my entire month. Hopefully, it will be emailed to Bill O'Reilly who will bust a vein ...

Captain Holly | November 8, 2006, 5:02pm | #

Mediageek: they did indeed. Their infant child died, and they spent the next day passing the corpse around the living room, lavishing it with love and treating it as if it were alive. Fucking creepy, I tells ya.

And not terribly unusual, either. In fact, preparing the body of the deceased used to be normally done by the family up until about 50-60 years ago, when mortuaries were given monopolies by most states. Even then, almost all funeral homes today will allow family members to help prepare the body for burial.

Back then the body would often stay in the home until the funeral, and people would come by the home and pay their last respects. It's only during the post-WWII era that it has changed.

IIRC, Paul McCartney did this same thing with Linda's body after she died, and then did a no-no by not reporting her death to the local health department before shipping it out of the state. Of course, being a Wonderful and Popular Celebrity, he wasn't charged with a crime.

Regarding Julian's glee over a little girl's discomfort, I always knew Libertarians were snarky and insensitive, so I'm not terribly shocked by the juvenile piling-on here in the comments. It does, however, illustrate Reason #1,145 of why Libertarian Party candidates rarely get more than 2% of the vote: If they're not crazy, they're insufferably snotty.

Number 6 | November 8, 2006, 5:03pm | #

aaa aaa: Seriously, do you realize how stupid you sound? Here, I'll help: why not accuse me of thinking the gas chambers are funny?

Chris S. | November 8, 2006, 5:04pm | #

Santorum Wrong Here, sure he is, but.......Every politician does exactly the same thing. The flag and the kids. Flag behind, kids upfront, doting wife standing one step to the right and behind, demure smile, conservative Sunday-go-to-meeting suit, no cleavage. Well, except Gore's wife that is...

That reminds me: I would have voted for Gore if he and Tipper had released a 'stolen' sex tape. All the kissing photo ops were fun, but couldn't he have taken the "I promise: my marriage is healthy" thing to the next level. As for Gore's daughters...

Thomas Paine's Goiter | November 8, 2006, 5:05pm | #

"In his Senate office, on a shelf next to an autographed baseball, Sen. Rick Santorum keeps a framed photo of his son Gabriel Michael, the fourth of his seven children. Named for two archangels, Gabriel Michael was born prematurely, at 20 weeks, on Oct. 11, 1996, and lived two hours outside the womb.

"Upon their son's death, Rick and Karen Santorum opted not to bring his body to a funeral home. Instead, they bundled him in a blanket and drove him to Karen's parents' home in Pittsburgh. There, they spent several hours kissing and cuddling Gabriel with his three siblings, ages 6, 4 and 1 1/2. They took photos, sang lullabies in his ear and held a private Mass.

"'That's my little guy,' Santorum says, pointing to the photo of Gabriel, in which his tiny physique is framed by his father's hand. The senator often speaks of his late son in the present tense. It is a rare instance in which he talks softly.

"He and Karen brought Gabriel's body home so their children could 'absorb and understand that they had a brother,' Santorum says. 'We wanted them to see that he was real,' not an abstraction, he says. Not a 'fetus,' either, as Rick and Karen were appalled to see him described -- 'a 20-week-old fetus' -- on a hospital form. They changed the form to read '20-week-old baby.'"

highnumber | November 8, 2006, 5:07pm | #

If a 5 year old at a birthday party drops his cake and ice cream and starts bawling, are you filled with sympathy or do you smile and think it's kind of funny? Maybe both, right? Would you start threatening to crush the testicles of the adult next to you who thinks it is a little funny? Gosh, I hope not. What is wrong with having a little fun because a child is bawling her eyes out (or maybe bawling her eyes in, as it appears in the photo) over nothing? If I were her father, I would put my arm around her, smile, and tell her it's okay, and try to get her to laugh at herself for taking things so seriously. If she is going to have the opportunity to look back at this photo and laugh in 10 or 20 years, I can look at it and laugh right now.

FinFangFoom | November 8, 2006, 5:08pm | #

TPG, that is fucking creepy.

Number 6 | November 8, 2006, 5:08pm | #

I must say that the crying fat girl pick isn't nearly as funny as the hystrionics on display here.

aaa aaa | November 8, 2006, 5:09pm | #

Joe, you're missing the whole point of this thread.

Santorum is a political opponent. That makes everything about him and his family fair game. I mean, sure his kid was upset to see her dad suffer a crushing loss after an exhausting few months, an event she does not really understand and that makes it scarier, and little kids have a way of picking up the vibes of people around them and magnifying them. This was a bad, bad day for her (of course, as per Jon H it is nothing compared to being napalmed and bayonetted by baby-killing US marines). But that cannot, and should not, stop us from mocking her in a public way (and e-mailing / linking the hell out of this photo), and squeezing her suffering for all it is worth. Let us all follow Number 6's exemplary behavior in this regard.

Pro Libertate: Of course the loss of a newborn is a heart wrenching event. Coupled perhaps with post-partum, it is more than some people can endure, so it is not surprising that they did something we (who thankfully have never been through that) find strange. But their behavior seems odd to us, and that is as good a reason as any to bring it up 10 years later in an unrelated discussion, because it might make a political opponent look bad. Plus, as we have all learned here today, there is nothing funnier than dead babies, especially in a good cause!

Grampa Sanchez | November 8, 2006, 5:10pm | #

Okay, that's enough now.

Chris S. | November 8, 2006, 5:10pm | #

Wow.

OK, (1) anybody who doesn't find the above passage creepy needs to get their creep-o-meter checked, and (2) anybody who thinks Rick Santorum makes any distinction between the public and private sphere is insane.

Number 6 | November 8, 2006, 5:11pm | #

Please, please keep going aaa aaa! You have truly made an otherwise good day great.

mediageek | November 8, 2006, 5:13pm | #

TWC-

Thank you, sir, for your kind words.

jf | November 8, 2006, 5:13pm | #

Stop blaming other people for your own behavior.
And stop being so hateful and juvenile.

To that I'd label as "incredibly stupid" the remarks that Santorum had his family out there for political reasons. Number 1, thankfully this douchebag's political career is over. Number 2, just maybe he and his supporters really believe the "family values stuff" that we all mock around here and he thought that it was appropriate to have his family with him as he gave his concession (or whatever) speech.

FinFangFoom | November 8, 2006, 5:13pm | #

In the interests of shooting this one off of the bad-taste-o-meter:

Why are the kids freaked out? Because their father told that if he lost, then Gabriel Michael would come to visit again.

aaa aaa | November 8, 2006, 5:14pm | #

Number 6: "aaa aaa: Seriously, do you realize how stupid you sound? Here, I'll help: why not accuse me of thinking the gas chambers are funny?"

But I'm following your example, laughing at the little kid of someone I disagree with, trying not to be "righteously indignant" about dead baby jokes. You're my moral superior, show me the way! I'm not accusing you of anything, I'm agreeing with you. Let's keep bashing the 8 year old girl!

Lazlo | November 8, 2006, 5:14pm | #

Actually--and I mean this in all seriousness--why were the kids so upset?

They've spent the last eight or nine months listening to Daddy tell the world that he stands for all that is Right and Good; that God is on his side and that his opponents are all Heathens and Perverts and Terrorists who represent the forces of Satan.

Then, whoops, Daddy loses the election.

So if you're an eight-year-old from a highly religious family with a deep, abiding belief in the reality of God and Jesus and the Devil, that must mean that God has abandoned Daddy. Maybe Evil has just taken over the world, or perhaps the Tribulation has started and since they're all still here, they somehow missed the Rapture-Bus. I'd be crying too!

Number 6 | November 8, 2006, 5:14pm | #

JF- Or maybe Santorum's use of his family was cynically calculated. Given what you know about politicians, which seems more likely?

Number 6 | November 8, 2006, 5:15pm | #

Keep the hits coming, aaa aaa!

Thomas Paine's Goiter | November 8, 2006, 5:16pm | #

Honestly people, fat people are funny. Fat kids are funnier. Crying fat kids are funnier yet. Crying fat kids holding dolls dressed exactly like them are hilarious.

But you really had to see the oldest boy crying his eyes out. It was definitely a "parents in the chili" cry.

Swillfredo Pareto | November 8, 2006, 5:16pm | #

"'That's my little guy,' Santorum says, pointing to the photo of Gabriel, in which his tiny physique is framed by his father's hand. The senator often speaks of his late son in the present tense. It is a rare instance in which he talks softly.

Taking everyone's word that Santorum is a complete cockknocker as gospel, as a father I just don't find the way he treated his deceased son that horrifying. The man was grieving. The fact that he chose to publicize it is far more unsavory.

Jennifer | November 8, 2006, 5:17pm | #

To that I'd label as "incredibly stupid" the remarks that Santorum had his family out there for political reasons. Number 1, thankfully this douchebag's political career is over. Number 2, just maybe he and his supporters really believe the "family values stuff" that we all mock around here and he thought that it was appropriate to have his family with him as he gave his concession (or whatever) speech.

As someone pointed out already, it was probably around midnight when the photo was taken. My own family had some pretty messed-up values, but when I was eight my parents damn well knew better than to force me to stay up that late at a noisy, boring grown-ups' function related to my father's career and then trot me out on stage while he made his speeches. To hell with Santorum's so-called "family values."

jf | November 8, 2006, 5:20pm | #

Number 6,

I did say "just maybe" :)

However, like I said, his political career is over, which might eliminate the need for cynical manipulations.

Or, considering what a prick he is, who knows? Maybe I'm just looking at this from the view of someone who doesn't think that no matter how bad a person might be, their kids don't deserve to take shit just for that reason.

Timothy | November 8, 2006, 5:20pm | #

Look, the two funniest things that can ever be on TV are a crying fat person and a crying kid. A crying fat kid is the perfect storm of comedy gold.

Thomas Paine's Goiter | November 8, 2006, 5:21pm | #

So if you're an eight-year-old from a highly religious family with a deep, abiding belief in the reality of God and Jesus and the Devil, that must mean that God has abandoned Daddy. Maybe Evil has just taken over the world, or perhaps the Tribulation has started and since they're all still here, they somehow missed the Rapture-Bus. I'd be crying too!

The gay men are coming and bringing their goats. And they are all going to rape daddy.

Thomas Paine's Goiter | November 8, 2006, 5:23pm | #

The fact that he chose to publicize it is far more unsavory.

You get prize. What you want?

JW | November 8, 2006, 5:25pm | #

Walks into room.

**Blinks**

Walks back out.

Zeno | November 8, 2006, 5:26pm | #

Oy. For the benefit of commenters who don't share my sense of humor, I'm not "going after" Santorum's daughter, who I'm about as sure as one can be will never, ever read this post and have her feelings hurt. Just making a joke about how good it is to be rid of this guy.

Then pick a picture where Santorum is featured more prominently. As the picture focuses on his daughter a perfectly acceptable reading of this write-up is that you are taking some pleasure in watching an eight year old cry.

_____________________

As for the "stage dressing" deal, it is common to have your family at such events, so that criticism has no merit whatsover.

_____________________

Clearly I have no sympathies for most of the positions of Rick Santorum, at the same time I am not going to anonymously beat up on his children on a blog.

biologist | November 8, 2006, 5:26pm | #

FinFangFoom | November 8, 2006, 5:13pm | #

In the interests of shooting this one off of the bad-taste-o-meter:

Why are the kids freaked out? Because their father told that if he lost, then Gabriel Michael would come to visit again.

or, he told them that if he lost, they'd all go to be with Gabriel Michael.

that said, although their handling of the dead baby is unusual, I have to give them respect for showing their kids the reality of their dead sibling, not trying to protect them from unpleasant truths or deny the existence of unpleasant truths

Thomas Paine's Goiter | November 8, 2006, 5:30pm | #

As someone pointed out already, it was probably around midnight when the photo was taken.

It was 10 PM

Thomas Paine's Goiter | November 8, 2006, 5:30pm | #

However, like I said, his political career is over, which might eliminate the need for cynical manipulations.

PA conservatives are already asking him to run for governor.

FinFangFoom | November 8, 2006, 5:31pm | #

I don't know about the handling of the baby with such young kids. It has a flavor of that Simpsons episode where Homer says something like, "Say your prayers, Bart, you might wake up dead."

Number 6 | November 8, 2006, 5:31pm | #

As for the "stage dressing" deal, it is common to have your family at such events, so that criticism has no merit whatsover.

Unless, of course, it's contemptible even if everyone does it.

Zeno | November 8, 2006, 5:32pm | #

Why is she crying? I dunno, maybe because children often love their parents?

MP | November 8, 2006, 5:33pm | #

This thread makes me realize how much I missed H&R. Good riddance, squirrels.

Greg | November 8, 2006, 5:34pm | #

Why is she crying? I dunno, maybe because children often love their parents?

Yes, and that makes this picture not funny because?

Seinfeld was on for what, ten years, doing this very type of humor? Please.

Zeno | November 8, 2006, 5:34pm | #

Number 6,

How is it per se contemptable?

Zeno | November 8, 2006, 5:36pm | #

Greg,

Being the heartless, morally bankrupt, etc. atheist that I am, I try not to find humor in the wholely innocent suffering of others.

Thomas Paine's Goiter | November 8, 2006, 5:37pm | #

Why is she crying? I dunno, maybe because children often love their parents?

Crying fat kids, who love their parents, and have dolls dressed exactly like them are hilarious.

Number 6 | November 8, 2006, 5:38pm | #

Zeno- Much as I hate the following phrase, it's appropriate here: If you don't know, I'm not going to bother trying to explain it to you.

torrentprime | November 8, 2006, 5:39pm | #

My friend and I watched the concession speech last night, and his first comment, in less than 10 seconds, was, "His son is gay." Not a slam, but he's one of those people who think they have perfect gaydar, and looking at one of his sons, he swore he could see it.
Might be interesting, in light of the predictions above.

Greg | November 8, 2006, 5:39pm | #

Being the heartless, morally bankrupt, etc. atheist that I am, I try not to find humor in the wholely innocent suffering of others.

Ok, I can appreciate that, but how deep is the suffering of an eight year old who is crying because her millionaire father just lost an election? This is no different than enjoying watching Duke players cry after a 3rd round exit.

Zeno | November 8, 2006, 5:42pm | #

Number 6,

Then you have chosen to close off conversation on the matter. Not much I can do about that.

Number 6 | November 8, 2006, 5:44pm | #

Zeno-True enough. If you don't immediately grasp why using your children as political props is repugnant, then there's no point in conversing about the matter.

Zeno | November 8, 2006, 5:44pm | #

Greg,

The Duke players are active participants (though I still wouldn't mock them - or at the very least I would try not to), this kid isn't. She's just the kid of a man who lost a Senate race; she didn't run for the office, etc.

highnumber | November 8, 2006, 5:47pm | #

I try not to find humor in the wholely innocent suffering of others.

She is not suffering! Her daddy lost an election. He did not die. He is not going away for a long time. She is not in physical pain. No one is laughing at her suffering, because she is not suffering. She is acting like a brat. I can laugh at brats.

Zeno | November 8, 2006, 5:48pm | #

Number 6,

That's the problem; your assertion is based on an undemonstrated assumption. Which is of course why it is not per se contemptable to have your kids with you during a concession speech.

Zeno | November 8, 2006, 5:51pm | #

highnumber,

Apparently you are intimately aware with the inner workings of this kid's brain; I am not. She appears to be suffering in the photograph and that's the position which I will hold to.

Greg | November 8, 2006, 5:51pm | #

She's just the kid of a man who lost a Senate race; she didn't run for the office, etc.

Ok, so it is no different than laughing at sobbing Packer fans after finally accepting the demise of their once great quarterback. If anything, that makes enjoying it all the more harmless. You didn't enjoy the tears of JJ Reddick? You truly have no soul. Denying the ability to enjoy the extremely minor sufferings of others is to deny very evident human nature.

Zeno | November 8, 2006, 5:52pm | #

Anyway, I've said my piece on the matter. Cheers.

mk | November 8, 2006, 5:52pm | #

The gay men are coming and bringing their goats. And they are all going to rape daddy.

ok. THAT,is funny.

aaa aaa aaa | November 8, 2006, 5:54pm | #

I'll end with this non-sarcastic comment. There are not that many libertarian web sites out there, and it is unfortunate to see this one sliding into DailyKos-hood. I know the magazine (and web site) is being reoriented towards a somewhat different market segment, and I guess you have to go where the eyeballs are, but it is a little disappointing how the quality of the "Hit & Run" blog has deteriorated. I would think people here would stand up more for a core libertarian value like personal privacy, but I suppose that is not the new target audience.

If you had a pic of Santorum crying, then unleash the hounds! He chose to be a public figure (the treatment here gives you a good idea why many very highly capable people don't). But I don't like to see attacks on the small children of politicians: it is not like the kids chose to be up there on stage. Yeah, they shouldn't be used as props, but that does not make us any better for making fun of a crying 8 year old girl holding a doll. Turning the personal into the political, and vice versa, is unhealthy for a democracy. Sorry for injecting a serious comment into all the levity.

Plus, I've never had a child die, and I don't have any idea how I would handle it, but unless they sell it on eBay I'm not about to criticize someone else for how they dealt with it.

Does that make me "righteously indignant"? I don't know, you tell me: let the ad hominens begin! Calling Number 6... [To allow you to focus your vitriol more effectively, I'm an atheist libertarian, non-US citizen living outside the US, with 2 small girls at home, I support gay marriage, and would not have voted for Santorum. I don't like to see people pick on little kids for fun, and I think it is both bad luck and in bad taste to make fun of someone's deceased child.]

highnumber | November 8, 2006, 5:56pm | #

aaa aaa aaa,

You are a Canadian, aren't you? That would explain a lot. Cultural differences and all that...

MUTT | November 8, 2006, 5:58pm | #

A vile swine. Indeed "A Generation of Swine" shoots low.
Upside of pic: by widely posting them, we may forstall anyone breeding with the offspring.
Crackpot Right Sunnyside Take: Santorum free for Supreme Court, or Sec Def, after folks remember (any takers here) about Gates DCI confirmation hearing.

Thomas Paine's Goiter | November 8, 2006, 5:58pm | #

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/061108/480/a7e555806d1144489f0158b8d4b3e7c3

THERE HE IS!

After Santorum goes for the photo op moment with the crying fat girl, we can see his son in the background!

Thomas Paine's Goiter | November 8, 2006, 5:58pm | #

Also good:

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/061108/ids_photos_ts/r1012833467.jpg

mk | November 8, 2006, 5:59pm | #

Thanks for participating mister, um, aaa aaa aaaa (if that is your real name). You did a much better job of expressing your feelings on the matter than I did. What with your not invoking testicle crushing and all.

Bob Z | November 8, 2006, 5:59pm | #

I think this is the most entertaining thread I've ever seen on Reason. Thank God they traded in the server squirrels for server terriers or some such.
As a Republican-leaning Libertarian, I'm not thrilled with the overall election outcome, but the Casey win has to be one of the silver linings for me. Santorum was a total douche and gave credence to the left wing cries about a theocracy and a GOP Taliban. The man was so arrogantly pious I'm surprised he didn't go around wearing a halo. The big family is all part of the act so he had to drag young kids on stage after midnight. I'm convinced if Santorum lived circa 1 A.D. he would have been a Pharisee.

Thomas Paine's Goiter | November 8, 2006, 6:01pm | #

The big family is all part of the act so he had to drag young kids on stage after midnight.

It was 10 PM

rob | November 8, 2006, 6:02pm | #

Maybe I'm just a sick bastidge, but I laughed so hard over this and the fark thread that I literally had teaars coming out of my eyes.

Pro Libertate | November 8, 2006, 6:04pm | #

Aaa aaa aaaa. Is that near Castle Aaa aaa aaaa?

You know, another way of looking at this is that at least people here are mocking some kid rather than lusting for her. The Gore and Bush children have to be kept in protective custody, even though they are adults.

Jennifer | November 8, 2006, 6:05pm | #

It was 10 PM

Still damned late for an eight-year-old kid to be kept up at a boring grown-up function. A responsible parent would know that. Santorum apparently does not.