Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) pleaded with Democrats to give Republicans “space to work through” their feelings about Donald Trump possibly losing the election, and progressives weren’t having it.
Santorum famously compared marriage equality to bestiality when he was in the Senate and later signed a pledge that he “will not honor any decision by the Supreme Court which will force us to violate a clear biblical understanding of marriage as solely the union of one man and one woman.” And now he’s asking for people to be nicer to Republicans.
Related: Rick Santorum says legalizing same-sex marriage is like changing ‘the chemical equation of water’
On CNN, Santorum exhorted Democrats to “give people time.”
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
Trump “just found out that he’s probably not going to be the president of the United States here. I mean, you can say, ‘Well, it was in the cards,’ but you don’t know until the votes are counted,” Santorum said.
At the time Santorum was speaking, major news organizations including CNN, the AP, and the New York Times had not called the election for either candidate, but Biden took the lead in Pennsylvania’s vote count. Winning that state – along with the other that had been called – would give him the 270 electoral votes needed to win.
“Give his supporters and everybody time to figure this out,” Santorum continued. “This is a very emotional time.”
“Give people space to work through this.”
Democrats on social media do not appear very ready to comfort Republicans. Some pointed to U.S. Congressman-elect Madison Cawthorn’s (R-NC) words from earlier this week when he was announced the winner of his race: “Cry more, lib.”
I'm trying to think of why Rick Santorum's pleas to Democrats to be magnanimous and let Republicans process things in a respectful manner are ringing false to me, but I just can't explain why… https://t.co/RuuBbHpEdG
— Daniel Fienberg (@d_fienberg) November 6, 2020
So it seems like the answer is “No.”
Rick Santorum saying we have to give Trump time to take this loss and I am all like going to buy a tuba so I can follow him and play the sad tuba all day.
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) November 6, 2020
Remember: Trumpers have attacked Hillary for four years for "refusing to concede" – by waiting till the morning after the election (because states were still in flux the night of) sted of on election night.
So screw your "let GOP deal with their feelings" garbage, @RickSantorum
— Kurt "Mask Up, Vote Early" Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) November 6, 2020
Lol. @RickSantorum on @CNN said that Democrats need to give Trump/GOP "time" to "work through their feelings."
If I may. pic.twitter.com/3Du5yaRts6
— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) November 6, 2020
Rick Santorum on CNN literally saying "Democrats need to give Republicans, including Trump, time and space to work through their feelings about losing." pic.twitter.com/CluwdzqSwo
— Doc Wolvy, Not in Tweet Gulog for Horny Crimes, MD (@Doc_Wolverine) November 6, 2020
Footage of Rick Santorum defending Trump all week on CNN pic.twitter.com/nOl08kzGOu
— TiffanyTrumpVEVO (@Johnatron4000) November 6, 2020
Out comedian Dana Goldberg was more curt.
Rick Santorum…STFU.
— Dana Goldberg (@DGComedy) November 6, 2020
