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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMrs. Santorum's Abortion Doctor Boyfriend
Mrs. Santorum's Abortion Doctor Boyfriend
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Karen Santorum with her husband, Rick, at his Iowa caucus party on Jan. 3. Charlie Riedel / AP
Karen Santorum, the ultra-pro-life wife and mother of seven home-schooled children, has been the perfect complement to her husband, Rick, as he chases the Republican presidential nomination. On the campaign trail, the candidate often refers to her book, Letters to Gabriel, the story of the devoutly Catholic couples traumatic late-term 1997 miscarriage (the 20-week-old fetus lived two hours outside the womb). The couple opposes birth control as well as abortion, even in cases of rape.
But Mrs. Santorum, 51, apparently wasnt always committed to the cause. In fact, her live-in partner through most of her 20s was Tom Allen, a Pittsburgh obstetrician and abortion provider 40 years older than she, who remains an outspoken crusader for reproductive rights and liberal ideals. Dr. Allen has known Mrs. Santorum, born Karen Garver, her entire life: he delivered her in 1960.
Karen was a lovely girl, very intelligent and sweet, says Allen, who at 92 uses a walker but retains a sly smile. A wine aficionado who frequented the Pittsburgh Symphony and was active in the local chapter of the ACLU, he lives with his wife of 16 years, Judithey started dating in 1989, soon after he and Garver splitin the same large detached row house where he lived with the woman who would become Santorums wife. He and Garver also lived for several years in another house a few blocks away. Karen had no problems with what I did for a living, says Allen, who helped start one of the first hospital-sanctioned abortion clinics in Pennsylvania. We never really discussed it. (The Santorum campaign did not return repeated requests for comment on the relationship.)
The six-year-long May-December affair, which was always out in the open, began in 1982, when Garver was a 22-year-old nursing student at Duquesne University. Allen was then 63. He was well known for delivering babies and helping to start a therapeutic abortion clinic at Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh years before Roe v. Wade. As at most such clinics, sympathetic psychiatrists of the era attested to womens fragile mental health as a way to skirt restrictions on the procedure. Rick Santorum has lampooned the notion that abortion statutes should contain exceptions in cases where womens health is at risk.
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http://www.newsweek.com/mrs-santorums-abortion-doctor-boyfriend-64187
HassleCat
(6,409 posts)She certainly perfected that candidate's wife hypnotized gaze of absolute adoration. The problem is, it's too much, waaaay too much. When the wife looks at the candidate, it should say, "Gosh! Isn't my husband smart? Listen to what he's saying." Instead, the right wing wives can only manage a stare that says, "I don't care what he's saying. It's not my job to listen. I just have to stand here and look like a puppy waiting for a pat on the head. Darn, these shoe are tight..."
niyad
(113,596 posts)and look at the boy right behind her--looking at something that only he can see, apparently.
ScreamingMeemie
(68,918 posts)Those who stand proud of who they, themselves are. I am reminded of the guff Howard Dean received when he was running because his wife was a doctor who didn't take time off.
That said more to me about her character, and his, than a simple presence at a podium ever could. No matter what look is on the candidate's spouse's face. Man or woman.
Basically,"Look at me. I am a worthy, active, educated person in my own right who's willing to share my spouse with the world.
Cirque du So-What
(25,989 posts)and it may explain Frothy's wild-eyed fanatical anti-abortion stance. Makes me wonder how often he rubs her nose into that past relationship.
niyad
(113,596 posts)I love your sig line.
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)bobclark86
(1,415 posts)Got something that isn't pushing 4 years old?
niyad
(113,596 posts)bobclark86
(1,415 posts)Didn't stop anything last time.
And besides, who really gives a crap about who a candidate's not-then wife lived with 30 years ago (Did she shoot people? Worship Satan?)?
Oh, and it wasn't the candidate. There's that, too. Sounds like it's half slut-shaming to me...
Oh, and it's not a "real" candidate. Go read any AP or NYT article on the race. You won't see him listed in the paragraph on who all is running. Why? Because he can't even get elected dog catcher in Pennsylvania right now (and hasn't for the last 10 years or so).
Yawn. Now I remember why I scaled back on coming here. Between the incessant "my favorite Dem can beat up your favorite Dem" and the faux outrage to the right over stupid crap (when there's plenty to be ticked off about that is, well, real).
Wake me up when a) the election is over, or b) somebody gets caught stashing dead hookers in their campaign bus bathroom.
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)that's just a little odd.
Jim Lane
(11,175 posts)Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)Wally World here we come! "He's a genius with preservatives" And a dog killer.
Vinca
(50,313 posts)or didn't do in their twenties when it was at least 30 years ago. In years to come, with Twitter and Facebook, this will be more apparent. Would you want your 45 or 50 year old child derided for a naked photo posted in their teens? Would you want them reminded of their juvenile arrest for shoplifting? People change their opinions as they age which is certainly their right.
progressoid
(49,999 posts)This issue is more than just a youthful indiscretion. The hypocrisy of wanting to deny a woman the right to choose while hiding your own involvement is just sickening.
Yes, people are allowed to change their opinions. But the sanctimonious Santorums don't want the rest of America to have an opinion that differs from their (current) one.
MyOwnPeace
(16,940 posts)is a wonderful response!!!!
But the sanctimonious Santorums don't want the rest of America to have an opinion that differs from their (current) one.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)KoKo
(84,711 posts)progressoid
(49,999 posts)niyad
(113,596 posts)Having a relationship with the Dr. who delivered you...major ick factor. May also be why Rick is so anti abortion , his wife having a love affair with an abortion Dr. for 6 years, obviously Rick wasn't her first!
MyOwnPeace
(16,940 posts)he was on the school board that hired me - yes, he was a very active "card-carrying liberal!"
And I loved him for it.
Taking it the next step forward - he delivered my first child! It was July - he entered the delivering room wearing sandals and we had a lovely chat about the school, then he brought my son into this world!
Loved him - great guy!