Why I Want To Be Your President: Republican Round-Up

In the day when gay kids are being bullied into committing suicide, Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum seems to be having a little trouble with his choice of words:

Rick Santorum criticized a Saturday Night Live skit that poked fun at his anti-gay marriage views and trailing poll numbers as "bullying" in an interview this weekend.

SNL, in a send-up of last week's Bloomberg/Washington Post debate that set candidate's seating order based on poll numbers, said seating for the skit was based "on the likelihood of the candidate winning the nomination."

Actors playing contenders Herman Cain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were seated at the table, while Texas Gov. Rick Perry was placed in the corner of the set, Rep. Ron Paul (Texas) was banished to a parking garage, former Speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) and Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) were put a broom closet, and Santorum in "a crowded gay bar in the Castro district of San Francisco."

Oh, to see Rick Santorum in a crowded gay bar in the Castro…

Businessman Herman Cain has an odd sense of humor:

Washington (CNN) – The head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus is calling out GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain for controversial remarks he made over the weekend that if he was in charge he'd build an "electrified" 20-foot high US-Mexico border fence with a sign displayed "that says it will kill you."

The businessman and radio host has since said he was joking. But Texas Democratic Rep Charlie Gonzalez is not laughing and released a written statement Monday criticizing Cain.

"Words have consequences, both in shaping ideas and inspiring actions. Whether or not he made his comments in jest, Mr. Cain's words show a lack of understanding of the immigration issues our country is facing and a staggering lack of sensitivity," Gonzalez said.

Because after all, killing people is well, funny.

And not to be outdone by Herman Cain, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann on Saturday signed a pledge in Iowa to push for construction of a fence along the entire length of the border with Mexico. And there’s more:

Two days after she focused on immigration in her campaign stop in Iowa, Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann is scheduled to be in Arizona Monday to discuss the U.S.-Mexico border.

Bachmann, who is seeking her party's nomination to run for president in 2012, will be meeting privately with Republican legislators and other supporters of a state-sanctioned campaign to raise donations to pay for additional fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The stop in the state that became the symbol of mounting frustration with federal inaction on illegal immigration continues Bachmann's growing focus on immigration as a key part of her campaign.

To know Texas Gov. Rick Perry, is to (dis)like him:

Gov. Rick Perry would like folks to believe that he’s the only candidate with a heart when it comes to Latino issues in his home state.

But Latino voters don’t seem to be buying it.

The first poll of Latino registered voters nationwide in this election cycle shows that all three frontrunners–Perry, Mitt Romney and Herman Cain–will have an uphill battle when it comes to the Latino vote. Although Perry’s the best-known of the three among Latino voters, he’s also the least liked.

We’re not stupid.

And finally, for a fascinating take on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his Mormon faith, take a read here, at the New York Times. Ain’t religion, grand?