Republican presidential candidate former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum argued that “Islam is different” and the idea that its political structure is “protected under the First Amendment is wrong,” a point former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee agreed with.
Santorum said, “The fact of the matter is, Islam is different. I know this is going to come as a shock to a lot of people, and I mean that sincerely. Islam is not just a religion. it is also a political governing structure. The fact of the matter is, Islam is a religion, but it is also Sharia law. It is also a civil government. It is also a form of government. And so the idea that that is protected under the First Amendment is wrong. And in fact, that political structure is what is the big problem. the imposition of sharia law and adherence to fundamental Islam as it was practiced in the 7th century, and there has to be a line drawn.”
Huckabee responded, “I don’t disagree with anything that the senator just said, because that’s exactly right. But I just want to go back to the point that when people say, oh we can’t go into the mosques, we can’t listen, that’s utter nonsense. Of course we can. And if we can’t, if there’s something so secretive going on in there that somebody isn’t allowed to go and hear it, maybe we do need, for sure to send somebody in there and gather the intelligence. And that’s all in the world I’m saying. And I think it stands to be true.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett