When the Pentagon announced Feb. 9 that it was shifting women closer to frontline combat, Santorum raised objections.
鈥淚 think that could be a very compromising situation, where people naturally may do things that may not be in the interest of the mission because of other types of emotions that are involved,鈥� he said on CNN. 鈥淚t already happens, of course, with the camaraderie of men in combat, but I think it would be even more unique if women were in combat. And I think that鈥檚 not in the best interests of men, women, or the mission.鈥�
Turns out Santorum was referring to the emotions of men. Or at least that鈥檚 what he said the next day on NBC鈥檚 鈥�Today Show.鈥�
鈥淲hen you have men and women together in combat, I think men have emotions when you see a woman in harm's way,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think it's natural. It's very much in our culture to be protective. That was my concern.鈥�
