Rick Santorum stutteringly blames 'country of Puerto Rico' for poor hurricane response
Rick Santorum twice tried to be president of the United States — and, though he may not know it, that includes Puerto Rico.
In a CNN appearance Tuesday night, the former Republican senator and two-time presidential candidate discussed how the federal government isn't completely responsible for a poor response to Hurricane Maria's devastation. The "country of Puerto Rico" is more at fault, Santorum said.
Despite the 2017 hurricane leading to nearly 3,000 deaths in Puerto Rico, President Trump on Tuesday labeled the federal response to the storm an "unsung success." Santorum similarly didn't think the blame for Maria's devastating death toll should fall entirely on the federal government. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is "not a huge operation" and only "supplements state and local — in this case the country of Puerto Rico — their response," Santorum told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Tuesday. Cooper did not correct Santorum's geographical gaffe.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It's not clear why Santorum visited the "country" during his 2012 presidential run. It may have something to do with the fact that Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States and had 23 delegates to devote to the Republican primary. But if telling Puerto Rico that "English has to be the principal language" for it to become a state didn't turn the whole island against Santorum already, this comment may well do the trick.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Why are people microdosing Ozempic?
In The Spotlight Tiny doses of the weight-loss drug can sidestep its unpleasant side effects, say influencers. But is customising the dose a good idea?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Five festive cocktails for Christmas 2024
The Week Recommends Serve seasonal libations for an extra special gathering
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Octopuses could be the next big species after humans
UNDER THE RADAR What has eight arms, a beaked mouth, and is poised to take over the planet when we're all gone?
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Hundreds feared dead in French Mayotte cyclone
Speed Read Cyclone Chido slammed into Mayotte, a French territory in the Indian Ocean
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Thirteen missing after Red Sea tourist boat sinks
Speed Read The vessel sank near the Egyptian coastal town of Marsa Alam
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Global plastics summit starts as COP29 ends
Speed Read Negotiators gathering in South Korea seek an end to the world's plastic pollution crisis, though Trump's election may muddle the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden visits Amazon, says climate legacy irreversible
Speed Read Nobody can reverse America's 'clean energy revolution,' said the president, despite the incoming Trump administration's promises to dismantle climate policies
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
At least 95 dead in Spain flash floods
Speed Read Torrential rainfall caused the country's worst flooding since 1996
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Cuba roiled by island-wide blackouts, Hurricane Oscar
Speed Read The country's power grid collapsed for the fourth time in just two days
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Wildlife populations drop a 'catastrophic' 73%
Speed Read The decline occurred between 1970 and 2020
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Floridians flee oncoming Hurricane Milton
Speed Read The hurricane is expected to cause widespread damage in the state
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published