When the Pentagon announced Feb. 9 that it was shifting women closer to frontline combat, Santorum raised objections.

“I think that could be a very compromising situation, where people naturally may do things that may not be in the interest of the mission because of other types of emotions that are involved,” he said on CNN. “It already happens, of course, with the camaraderie of men in combat, but I think it would be even more unique if women were in combat. And I think that’s not in the best interests of men, women, or the mission.”

Turns out Santorum was referring to the emotions of men. Or at least that’s what he said the next day on NBC’s “Today Show.”

“When you have men and women together in combat, I think men have emotions when you see a woman in harm's way,” he said. “I think it's natural. It's very much in our culture to be protective. That was my concern.”