A conservative ex-senator from Pennsylvania is gearing up for a presidential run.

In an appearance recently at Bates College, it was quite telling what Rick Santorum conveniently sidestepped. You know, the big issues: The debt the government owes that could squash the nation’s economic future; deregulation on Wall Street that nearly kicked the nation back to the Depression; unemployment stuck at 9 percent; and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that cost billions.

Santorum’s focus? Islam.

Remember the mosque at ground zero that really was not at ground zero but up the street and around the corner near strip clubs? Santorum was against it.

Now Santorum implies Islam is just bad straight across the board.

Perhaps he should have turned on Fox snooze to see not one but two brutal dictatorships fall with an amazing streak of, um , peace.

Those two events were a snippet into the real Muslim world view. Huge masses of people bringing down brutal oppression, without violence.

If Santorum actually believes what he says about Islam, then he should break the cozy ties the U.S. has with Saudi Arabia. If he feels that Islam is so dangerous, why is the U.S. best buddies with the Saudis?

You can’t have it both ways — attack Islam yet cuddle Saudi oil money or brutal Muslim dictators whom the U.S. supported for 40 years unless, of course, you are Rick Santorum. Then you just talk out of both sides of your mouth and invent things as you go.

Chris Aceto, Lewiston