CNN contributor and former U.S. senator Rick Santorum spoke at an event last month, telling his audience: There isn t much Native American culture in American culture. File photo by Gage Skidmore / Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Last month, at an event hosted by the Young America’s Foundation, a non-profit for conservative youth, CNN contributor and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum was riffing on the origins of the United States when a thought appeared to cross his mind.
“We came here and created a blank slate. We birthed a nation from nothing. I mean, there was nothing here,” speechified Santorum, when the idea intruded upon his brain. “I mean, yes we have Native Americans, but candidly, there isn t much Native American culture in American culture. It was born of the people who came here pursuing religious liberty to practise their faith, to live as they ought to live and have the freedom to do so.”
By Vivian KaneMay 5th, 2021, 6:11 pm
Last month, former Republican Senator Rick Santorum spoke to the ultra-conservative youth organization Young America’s Foundation at their “Standing Up for Faith and Freedom” summit, during which he exercised the freedom to spout utter racist ignorance.
Santorum told these young people that while most cultures around the world developed over time, America just sprang into the world fully formed.
“We came here and created a blank slate, we birthed a nation from nothing,” Santorum said.
“We birthed a nation from nothing. I mean, there was nothing here,” he continued. “I mean, yes, we have Native Americans, but candidly, there isn’t much Native American culture in American culture.”
Cuomo Prime Time
RICK SANTORUM (CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR): I was not trying to dismiss Native Americans. In fact, I mentioned them because, yes, they were here, and they did have an impact. In fact, in this country, you re right, they have a huge impact, particularly in the west and many other areas of the country, where they have a huge impact on American culture. I was talking about, and I misspoke in this respect, I was talking about the founding and the principles embodied in the founding.
I would never and, you know, people have said, oh, I m trying to, you know, dismiss what we did to the Native Americans, far from it. The way we treated Native Americans was horrific. It goes against every bone and everything I have ever fought for as a leader in the Congress. I believe, as our founding document says that we are endowed by created with inalienable rights and that we are all equal.
Voices across Indian Country are condemning CNN pundit and former Pennsylvania Republican U.S. senator Rick Santorum's remarks dismissing Native Americans
TNT adds community-funded reporter to cover indigenous communities. Here s how to help
News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. 4/29/2021 Stephanie Pedersen, The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)
Apr. 29 The News Tribune, along with sister papers in Olympia, Bellingham and Tri-Cities, is adding a reporter to cover indigenous communities in Washington state.
Natasha Brennan starts June 1. Her coverage will focus on tribes in the state of Washington, their impact in our local communities, environment, politics and more.
Natasha said she became inspired to specialize in writing about Native American culture and issues as a child visiting her father s family on the Cahuilla Reservation in southern California.