Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

Rick Santorum thinks contraceptive use is wrong and a danger to the country, he declares in a video clip that's racing across the blogosphere today. In an October interview with the evangelical blog Caffeinated Thoughts, Santorum volunteers that, as president, he'd confront the "dangers of contraception" and religious groups who think it's OK. "It's not OK, because it's a license to do things in the sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be," he says. "They're supposed to be within marriage, for purposes that are, yes, conjugal... but also procreative. " Some reactions:

• Matt Lewis of the Daily Caller likens it to an "October Surprise," adding that this "was not a mistake or gaffe," but Santorum insisting on preaching. "When it comes to discussing such issues, Santorum should have practiced abstinence. He did not."
• Michael Scherer of Time notes that 99% of women aged 15 to 44 have used contraceptives, and only 8% of voters view it as morally wrong. "In politics, it is generally not a good thing to characterize something nearly every adult in the country has happily used as" wrong.
• Connor Friesdorf of the Atlantic finds it "baffling," adding that "Any politician who regards the adult use of contraceptives as a matter under his purview cannot lay claim to the limited government label."

(More Rick Santorum stories.)