Now that he’s surged into contention in tonight’s Iowa caucuses, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum’s statements are more important. They suggest the kind of general election candidate he’d make, and ultimately what kind of president he might be. Which is why his accusing Barack Obama in Iowa the other day of engaging in “absolutely un-American activities” is so troubling.

Buried deep in a New York Timesstory , Santorum’s quote, as George Packer at The New Yorkernotes, is unexplored. Presumably, political reporters have just become so cynical and accustomed to these kinds of baseless lies that covering them just isn’t worth it anymore.