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Santorum Backer Sorry for Birth Control 'Joke'

Foster Friess' unfunny comment not campaign's problem: candidate

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 17, 2012 7:55 AM CST | Updated Feb 17, 2012 9:18 AM CST

(Newser) – After making headlines yesterday by saying aspirin "between [gals'] knees" once served as birth control, Foster Friess explained his comments to Lawrence O'Donnell last night. "I love the expression, 'It’s not so much what people say, it’s what people hear,' and obviously a lot of people who are younger than 71 didn’t get the context of that joke," the leading Rick Santorum backer said. "Back in my days, they didn’t have the birth control pill, so to suggest that Bayer Aspirin could be a birth control was considered pretty ridiculous and quite funny." But on his website today, Friess went further and actually apologized, saying that even his wife "didn't like" the joke.

Last night, added that he isn't against contraception—he's just opposed to government mandates requiring religious groups to fund them, Mediaite reports. Meanwhile, over at Fox News, Greta Van Susteren asked Santorum himself about the comment, wondering whether he'd "correct" Friess. "Foster is known in political circles as telling a lot of jokes and some of them are not particularly funny. This one was not," Santorum said, adding that it was Friess' "business" and thus doesn't "reflect on the campaign." (Click to see why Daily Intel thinks Friess' "joke" is actually a good reflection of Santorum's feelings on birth control.)

A frame grab from Lawrence O'Donnell's interview with Foster Friess, via Mediaite.
A frame grab from Lawrence O'Donnell's interview with Foster Friess, via Mediaite.   (MSNBC via Mediaite)
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Foster Friess talks about those comments.   (msnbc)
Greta Van Susteren asks Santorum about the comment.   (Fox News via Mediaite)

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 17 comments
lauriec67
Feb 17, 2012 6:22 PM CST
I dont even know who this particuar idiot is..but he IS an idiot! Im close to him in age and I find that remark offensive, sexist, and stupid!  I had friends who almost died from illegal abortions in the late 50's, and I would march in a heartbeat to protect our right to choose! any man who has not had his feet in the stirrups and heard "push" has NO FREAKIN IDEA what he's talkiing about! If he likes kids so much, let him adopt all the ones who are born after abortion is ILLEGAL again....idiots....and they run our country? no wonder we're all so happy to "go'.....
tdemex
Feb 17, 2012 2:24 PM CST
OH! Well if your Sorry it's OK!!!!  Like all the other stupid bastards we elect...tap your foot under the doot of thr restroom for a BJ.... He was sorry too!... The ones that like the young Pages on the Hill,,, hey a little young stuff is OK but if your caught then Say Your Sorry and it's OK "ALL is forgiven We all make mistakes!... Send a pic on your phone with a close up of your hard on!   I'm Sorry... WTF... doesn't anyone take responsibility for thier mis cues???
fancygapva
Feb 17, 2012 2:18 PM CST
That is an old sexist joke and that old sexist ought to stay home. He's not helping his candidate (who isn't helping himself all that much either).
 

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