Santorum: The spineless politicking moron.

Following 2012 GOP presidential nomination candidate Rick Santorum's declaration that 'to apologize for something that has happened unintentionally is wrong', in response to Obama's apology to the people of Afghanistan that copies of the Qu'Ran were burned, I have come to the conclusion that this specimen of humankind is not fit to be let loose near a pot of silly putty, let alone a microphone, and god forbid any form of executive power. That he has already been in elected office demonstrates the perplexing mystery with which American politics works.

I suppose this clench-jawed simmering pit of righteous Christian fundamentalist anger, who also believes a raped woman MUST bear any prospective embryo created in that violation to full term and give birth to it, must therefore, surely, extend this anti-apology principle to daily life if it must be considered applicable to the most powerful political office in the world.
    With this I must presume that should his driver accidentally mow down and kill a line of children waiting for the school bus that neither he nor his driver should express any regretful sentiment or apology. After all, it was an unintentional act and therefore one is not only not needed, but to give one would be a sign of weakness.

An apology is not intrinsically an admission of guilt, but an expression of solemn meaningful regret for an occurrence for which the apologizing individual has a direct, implied, or even tenuous connection. It has a personal, social, and political value as a phrase and as an action. It creates space for stabilizing a relationship and enables progress. In this case, as Commander in Chief of a significant contributor to NATO forces, there is a direct relationship to those who made a mistake. Just as the chief executive of a corporation would be expected to apologize for causing grievous offence, it was right and proper for the occupant of the office of President of the USA to offer an apology for the event occurring, and for the role played by those below him in the chain of command.

That Santorum would never apologize for something which he personally, or the office of president, has no direct intentional causative role should exclude him from viable candidacy for that office in the minds of any intelligent person.

Luckily for him, he's running to be the Republican nominee.