Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum (R) paid a visit to "The Colbert Report" to promote his new film, "The Christmas Candle" on Tuesday night. The erstwhile presidential candidate turned conservative film mogul talked about the 2016 presidential race, his definition of marriage as well at the new film, which is the first production out of the studio that is currently helmed by Santorum.
Colbert maintained his "conservative commentator" persona throughout the interview, heaping praise upon Santorum and saying that it's unusual to have Republicans on the show "because they know I'm just going to agree with them the entire time."
He congratulated Santorum on coming "damn close" to the 2012 Republican nomination, then said, "Let's make some news. Let's make some news, right now," attempting to get Santorum to go on the record as a contender for the nomination in 2016.
"I am not...," Santorum said, pausing a beat, "sure."
"Let's get you sure," Colbert said, then set about trying to convince Santorum that the GOP owes it to him as the "last man standing" in the race against former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) in 2012.
"Yeah," Santorum agreed, "I think that's right. I'm there."
Colbert said that what he admires about Santorum's style is that he is plainspoken and that he sincerely believes in his far right Christian conservative principals.
"You're appealing directly to the heart," he enthused, "of not enough people to win."
The two went on to discuss Santorum's film company, EchoLight Studios, which "produces and distributes high-quality movies for families of faith," according to its website.
How does one go, Colbert asked, from being a "culture warrior calling out the crimes of Hollywood" to being "part of the problem?"
"You stop cursing the darkness and light a candle," Santorum simpered. Rather than worry that Hollywood entertainment is corrupting Christian people, he said, his organization is making content designed specifically to entertain and comfort that audience.
Watch the video, embedded below via Comedy Central:
The Colbert Report
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