Rick Santorum said during a campaign stop on Friday that the concept of equality comes from the "God of Abraham," not from other religions.
"I get a kick out of folks who call for equality now, the people on the left, 'Well, equality, we want equality.' Where do you think this concept of equality comes from?" said Santorum, according to ABC News. "It doesn't come from Islam. It doesn't come from the East and Eastern religions, where does it come from? It comes from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that's where it comes from."
Santorum went on to suggest that people who don't live according to what he termed "God's law" can't claim "equality."
"Don't claim his rights, don't claim equality as that gift from God and then go around and say, 'Well, we don't have to pay attention to what God wants us to do,'" Santorum continued to the enthusiastic crowd. "'We don't have to pay attention to God's moral laws.' If your rights come from God, then you have an obligation to live responsibly in conforming with God's laws, and our founders said so, right?"
The Huffington Post's Howard Fineman reported that South Carolinians generally despise "political correctness" and judge their politicians for their willingness to shun it. By that measure, Santorum succeeded.
However, the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned his remarks. "The Quran, Islam's revealed text, is the best refutation of Mr. Santorum's inaccurate and offensive remarks, which are unbecoming of anyone who hopes to hold our nation's highest office. Christians, Jews and Muslims all worship the same God and share religious traditions that promote justice and equality," said Director Ibrahim Hooper in a statement, reaffirming Islam's place as one of the Abrahamic religions.
Santorum faces an uphill battle in South Carolina, where Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are vying to win the state.