When preparing to run for president, it's probably best not to hide the evidence of $95,000 in speaking fees, especially when one of the organizations paying those fees is biblically controversial. Rick Santorum is just starting to understand this lesson, after a filing revealed on Wednesday that the aspiring commander-in-chief took $6,000 in speaking fees from the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America. Politico's Kenneth Vogel describes the group as "a controversial religious group unpopular with some Jewish leaders because it seeks to convince Jews to accept Jesus." If you're familiar with the group Jews for Jesus, you understand the idea. 

Abe Foxman described the work of these "messianic Jewish" organizations as "duplicitous proselytizing." Since Foxman is the head of the Anti-Defamation League, an organization set up "to stop the defamation of the Jewish people," one could see how all this might pour some cold water onto Santorum's campaign, now lukewarm at best. Connections to a sibling of a religious group some consider to be anti-Semitic is not a good way to rebuild momentum. Neither is revealing that your campaign failed to disclose not only this $6,000 but an additional $89,000 in speaking fees. 

Look at the bright side, Rick. At least, you didn't take a sizeable campaign contribution from "a professional zombie slayer in Atlanta." Leave that kind of thing to Ron Paul.

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Adam Clark Estes