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."
Although Santorum, played by Andy Samberg, had only a limited roll in the sketch, he was portrayed as upset and uncomfortable.
New Hampshire radio station WGIR asked Santorum on Sunday about the sketch — the former Pennsylvania senator said that while he hadn't yet seen it, he had been "hammered" for his support of conservative principles.
"We’ve been hammered by the left for my standing up for the traditional family and I will continue to do so," Santorum said. "The left, unfortunately, participates in bullying more than the right does. They say that they’re tolerant, and they’re anything but tolerant of people who disagree with them and support traditional values."
Santorum has been a frequent target of gay-advocacy groups, who have denounced his stances on gay marriage and the repeal of the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy. Last month, the candidate said that the gay community had "gone out on a jihad" against him for his stance against gay marriage.
"I welcome the criticism, go ahead. I'm going to stand up for the values that made this country great," Santorum said.
