An editorial on the Reading Eagle's web site details a recent incident at one of Rick Santorum's book signings. The incident itself was originally written about in the Wilmington News Journal and has been extensively covered around the blogosphere.
For those of you who may have missed it, here's how the Reading Eagle sums up what happened:
Earlier this month, Santorum appeared at a Barnes & Noble store in Delaware near Wilmington to sign copies of his book, “It Takes a Family.” The store billed the event as a book signing and discussion, but any discussion was limited severely.
Al Mascitti, a columnist for the Wilmington News Journal, reported that college students Stacey Galperin and Miriam Rocek of Newark, Del., and recent high school graduate Hannah Shaffer of Glen Mills, Delaware County, wanted to tell the senator they thought he was wrong about some of his attitudes concerning women.
But before Santorum arrived, one of his advance people heard the girls talking. A short time later off-duty Delaware State Police Sgt. Michael DiJiacomo, who was hired for the occasion through a private security firm, ordered the girls out of the store and threatened to arrest them.
The editorial goes on to say that, by allowing the young women to be kicked out of his book signing, Santorum missed an important opportunity:
Santorum’s people were within their rights to restrict access to the senator, although DiJiacomo’s threat to arrest the teens and his attempt to ban them from the store and nearby mall seem to be way over the top.
But Santorum, who is up for re-election next year, missed an opportunity not only to defend his beliefs but also to engage some teens in political debate. Too often young people are alienated by politics and stay away from the polls on Election Day in overwhelming numbers.
At the very least could have acknowledged the fact that well-meaning people, whether high government officials or college students, can disagree on issues without issuing threats.
Santorum may not have been responsible for that man's behavior, but it's consistant with a need to shield Senator Rick from any situation that might catch him going off-script...like that AP story with the man on dog sex routine.
1 : an establishment that provides therapy combined with a regimen (as of diet and exercise) for treatment or rehabilitation; 2 a : an institution for rest and recuperation (as of convalescents); b : an establishment for the treatment of the chronically ill
Very appropriate.