URBANDALE, Iowa -- Rick Santorum on Friday proposed amending the Constitution to ban gay marriage and abortion as part of a broad appeal to social conservatives in his race for the GOP presidential nomination.
He also proposed reinstating a ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military as well as teaching abstinence-only sex education courses in schools and ending taxpayer dollars for contraception. And he promised to fund organizations that promote marriage and counsel against abortions."We have to have strong families and strong culture to have a free and prosperous and strong America," Santorum said.Trailing in the polls and looking at Iowa as the linchpin to his strategy, Santorum is highlighting his long-standing positions on social issues in the hope of winning over Iowans. None of his proposals Friday came as a surprise but, when taken together, they represent the bedrock of what would be a deeply conservative administration.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
