Rick Santorum Glitter Bombed At Focus On The Family Event In Columbia Missouri Where He And Founder James Dobson Warn Of Homosexual-Engendered Apocalypse; In Fulton, Santorum Challenged On His Anti-Gay Stance By College Junior Corey Harlan

Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum on Friday brought to Mid-Missouri his apocalyptic vision of an America ruined by President Barack Obama’s second term. In appearances in Columbia and Fulton, Santorum hit heavily on themes that will appeal to social conservatives upset by changing societal views on homosexuality, health care and the environment. Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, is hoping to secure a victory in Tuesday’s Republican presidential primary. Although Missouri’s contest will not award any delegates to the party’s national convention, Santorum is making a push here after polls showed he was leading national frontrunner Mitt Romney. Newt Gingrich is not on Missouri’s ballot, so the primary is Santorum’s chance to test himself against Romney. Ron Paul is on the ballot and is polling in the low teens. At Grace Bible Church in Columbia, Santorum was joined by Focus on the Family founder James Dobson for an event staged like a talk show. A standing-room crowd filled the 450-seat church and gave Santorum several rousing ovations. Santorum’s message, however, wasn’t appreciated by everyone. A University of Missouri student who declined to give his name to reporters was handcuffed by Columbia police after throwing a glitter bomb on Santorum. He was released after Santorum left. And in Fulton, reports The Daily Tribune, a gay William Woods University student challenged Santorum. In one exchange with Dobson, Santorum painted a bleak future if gays are allowed to marry. “There have been times when homosexuality has been at an epidemic, in Rome, in Sodom and Gomorrah … but the family has always consisted of one man and one woman,” Dobson said. “That is the way it has been. We are about to throw it on the ash heap of history in this country, and God help us if we do.” In reply, Santorum said, “We don’t want to offend people. We want to sound like we’re tolerant. But the institution of marriage is not something we can mess with and have civilization survive.” Santorum sees Missouri as one of his best chances to build on momentum from his January victory in Iowa. He told the audience in Columbia that his fundraising this week was the best of the campaign. “We are in this for the long haul,” he said. In Fulton, Santorum spoke to about 300 people at William Woods University, where he declared that only he among the leading Republican candidates can challenge Obama on health care and beat the Democratic incumbent by firing up the Republican base. Romney is fatally flawed because, while governor of Massachusetts, he pushed through a health insurance mandate that resembles the 2010 federal health care overhaul, he said. “We cannot nominate someone who gives away the central issue of the campaign,” Santorum said. Many of Missouri’s top Republicans back Romney. State Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, said Thursday that he supports Romney, but he called it a “difficult choice.” One of his sons, Mayer said, supports Santorum. “I share that high regard for him, but I believe Mitt Romney gives the Republican Party the best chance to beat Obama in the fall.” Corey Harlan, a junior at William Woods, told Santorum he is wrong to believe homosexuals cannot be loving parents. “Who are you or any elected official to tell me I don’t have the same rights as anybody else in this country and to put me in a group that I am discriminated against in the workplace and in many situations?” Harlan asked. Santorum replied that he doesn’t consider marriage a right. Instead, he said, laws on marriage grant privileges intended to encourage acceptable behaviour and discourage unacceptable behaviour. No one should suffer discrimination, he said. “That doesn’t mean you are entitled to special privileges. There is a difference,” Santorum said.