Former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wy.) weighed in on the Republican presidential primary on Wednesday, calling Rick Santorum "rigid and a homophobic."
In an interview with CBS News' Bob Schieffer, Simpson faulted the Republican field for making issues like same-sex marriage and reproductive rights central to their platforms, warning that they would lose favor with voters if the conversation does not change.
"I am convinced that if you get into these social issues and just stay in there about abortion and homosexuality and even mental health they bring up, somehow they're going to take us all to Alaska and float us out in the Bering Sea or something," said Simpson, long known for colorful commentary. "We won't have a prayer."
He continued, "I watch Republicans, they give each other the saliva test of purity, and then they lose and they bitch for four years."
Simpson, who said he is supporting Mitt Romney in the primary, saved his harshest criticism for Santorum.
"He is rigid and a homophobic," Simpson said. "He said, 'I want a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage,' and they said, 'Well, what about the people who are already married?' And he said, 'Well, they would be nullified.' I mean what is, what's human, what's kind about that? We're all human beings, we all know or love somebody who's gay or lesbian so what the hell is that about? To me it's startling and borders on disgust."
Now the co-chair of President Obama's debt commission, Simpson retired from the Senate in 1997 and has often been outspoken on issues concerning his party.
Last April, Simpson made similar comments about Republicans who prioritize issues like abortion and gay marriage. "I'm not sticking with people who are homophobic, anti-woman, you know, moral values while you're diddling your secretary while you're giving a speech on moral values," he said on MSNBC. "Come on. Get off of it."
When asked by Schieffer on Wednesday if he believes that Romney would be able to get through a rough primary and still stand a chance in the general election, Simpson said he believed the former Massachusetts governor could do so.
"The stuff that has come out on Romney has now been rolling for a long time," he said. "Now, Santorum is caught in the roll. He hasn't had the searchlight on him. Every time the searchlight falls -- on Cain, or Newt, or whoever, you know the emperor's riding nekkid [sic] down the street."
Watch the full interview:
Look through more of Simpson's history of colorful statements below:
