At Friday’s Conservative Political Action Conference, former Republican presidential contender Rick Santorum Santorum referenced an unexpected source — the Buddha.
Addressing the crowd, Santorum, well-known for conservative Catholic beliefs, spoke about his young nephew, who died from a painful illness the day before. “I couldn’t help but have my experience yesterday impact my message here to you today,” he said. “I thought of Buddha’s first noble truth – to live is to suffer.” Santorum then went on to say that while medicine has taken great strides to reduce physical pain, Democrats have gone too far in using government programs to reduce other types of pain with taxpayers’ money. Read the rest of the story, and watch a brief video clip, here.
6 Comments
He would do well to take to heart the other 3.
Sorry Rick..
The former two-term senator urged the audience to not look to lawmakers to solve their problems. Rather, it was up to private individuals to take care of each other. = PRIVATIZATION
and
"We have to rededicate ourselves in our churches, in our families in our communities, in our local school boards," he said. "We have to fight for those who are suffering and being left behind. They don't want government money, they want your money. They want what comes and they need what comes with it: your caring, your mentorship, your love–all things government cannot give." "left behind" as in some book series and a recent pop song. ugghh
Interesting that he would cite the Buddha. Some in the GOP might tar and feather him. Nevertheless, the Buddha taught the truth of dukkha, not that life itself is suffering. He might have done well to suggest that his own attachment to political gain might lead to more conflict, more stress, more being “stuck” in the politics of division. His own inability to follow the Eightfold Path might lead to more dukkha itself. Metta to his wife’s family on their son’s departure and new journey.
So the fact remains they want someone's money, and a private source is better? Wow. That's logical.
Rick Santorum’s religious/political philosophy is a source of suffering…
Condolences to his family…
grab the torches and pitchforks