Rick Santorum Argues Heterosexual Parents Are Every Child's ‘Birthright’

Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum declared he would protect the "birthright" of children to be born to heterosexual couples in a recent conference call with conservatives, once again pledging to fight any decision by the Supreme Court in favor of marriage equality.

If the Supreme Court strikes down state bans on same-sex marriage, he vowed, "that doesn't mean we won't fight and try to push back both as the Congress should and as the president should as a coequal branch of the government."

Santorum, who Salon reported was invited to the conference call by right-wing Pastor E.W. Jackson, is one of the tens of thousands of signatories to an online campaign to defy any ruling by the Supreme Court that recognizes same-sex marriage.

"Depending on what they rule," said Santorum, "we would certainly make sure that we are protecting children and that we are creating an optimal atmosphere for every child, as I said, that have their birthright, which is to be raised by their mother and father."

Right Wing Watchreported that the very first caller asked Santorum what he would do as president, given that "our children are being forced to accept lifestyles that are totally against our values." The caller also demanded to know why "is it that our government allows people that hurt children by way of child molestation?"

The former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania answered that question by reaffirming his opposition to same-sex marriage.

"That's one of the reasons why I talk about the importance of focusing on the nuclear family," he said, adding that the next president must take a stand for the rights of children to be raised by a mother and a father.

Santorum cited sociologists Robert Putnam and Charles Murray in making his argument, according to Salon. His host, Pastor Jackson, stopped short of endorsing Santorum, but did stress that he respects the candidate's positions on policy.

Listen to Rick Santorum on the conference call recorded last week, courtesy of Right Wing Watch: