Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann, and More Sunday Talk

Rick Santorum: Prenatal Testing Leads to Abortion

A new day, a new Santorum controversy. A day after calling the president’s beliefs a “phony theology,” the former Pennsylvania senator got into a heated exchange with Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer over whether or not prenatal testing leads to increased abortions. “Prenatal testing—amniocentesis—does in fact result more often than not in this country in abortion,” Santorum said. The 2012 contender also clarified his statement about the president’s faith and said he was instead questioning Obama’s “world view”: “I accept the fact that the president’s a Christian.”

Michele Bachmann: GOP Isn’t ‘Anti-Woman’

The culture wars were all over the Sunday shows this week. Has the GOP’s reaction to the president’s mandate that Catholic organizations cover contraception hurt women? Not according to Michele Bachmann. “The Republican party is extremely pro-woman,” the former presidential candidate said on State of the Union. The Minnesota congresswoman added that the controversial move was the president’s policies in action: “What we saw was President Obama’s signature piece of legislation, which is Obamacare, demonstrated 3-D.”

Newt Gingrich on His 'Open Relationship'

Call it cashing in. While the speaker has accused Mitt Romney of buying his wins, he’s no stranger to sizeable donations himself—in fact, he might have those donations to thank for extending the life of his campaign. After throwing jabs at Romney’s financial backers on Fox News Sunday, the 2012 contender defended his own revenue stream. The speaker said he has a transparent relationship with Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate who’s donated millions to his camp. “He’s helping balance off Romney’s Wall Street money…It’s a very open relationship,” Gingrich said. 

Paul Ryan: Contraception Mandate Is ‘Paternalistic, Arrogant’

The contraception mandate isn’t really about contraception at all, at least according to Paul Ryan. On Meet the Press, the Wisconsin representative said the mandate was more about “violating our first amendment rights” than protecting our health. “I would simply say that [Obama] has a political philosophy that believes that he can mandate certain benefits and activities of the American people, which conflicts with their constitutional rights,” Ryan said. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democratic representative disagreed: “You find Republicans going back to the old red meat social issues that help rile up their base.”

Does Ron Paul Stand a Chance?

Despite staunch supporters and steady finances, Ron Paul seems like a presidential long shot. Or does he? State of the Union host Candy Crowley challenged the Texas congressman on the likelihood that he’ll make it to the White House in the face of disappointing losses in the primaries. Paul was undeterred: “The bottom line is who’s going to get the delegates, and we think we’re doing pretty good,” the 2012 contender said. Another non-issue for Paul: the contraception debate—what he called a “losing position” for his party.  

John McCain: Stop Negative Campaigns!

The 2008 presidential campaign might have been vitriolic, but it was no 2012, according to the Arizona senator. On This Week, McCain, a Romney supporter, said he had never witnessed so much negative campaigning before this election cycle. “I don’t think I’ve seen one that was as personal and as characterized by so many attacks as these are and frankly, one of the reasons is the super PACs,” he said. As for Paul Babeu, the sheriff who appeared in McCain’s ads and recently quit Romney’s camp, the former presidential candidate was diplomatic: “He also deserves the benefit, as every citizen does, of innocence until proven guilty.”

Does Mitt’s Mormonism Matter?

Has the media put Mitt Romney’s religion under the microscope—more so than other politicians? The candidate’s Mormonism has taken a back seat to his campaign, but a recent revelation that the 2012 frontrunner baptized dead Jews has put his beliefs under fire once again. “What is appropriate is to ask the question that’s been asked many times…and that is how does your faith affect your judgment,” The Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin said on Reliable Sources.