Rick Santorum zings absent Rand Paul, but is warned about inviting a Google search

In his closing remarks at Thursday night’s GOP undercard debate, Rick Santorum managed to squeeze in a last minute zinger against Sen. Rand Paul, who chose to skip the debate rather than sit at the “kids’ table.”

https://twitter.com/AlexPappas/status/687785893957136384

I'm going to take some of Rand Paul's time here for a moment, Rick Santorum says as the bell chimes

— lesley clark (@lesleyclark) January 14, 2016

"I'm going to take some of Rand Paul's time here for a second" — Santorum. #GOPDebate

— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) January 14, 2016

Santorum: "I'm gonna take a little of Rand Paul's time." #nprdebate

— Jessica Taylor (@JessicaTaylor) January 14, 2016

Part of that closing statement, however, was an invitation for audience members to Google “Rick Santorum” — advice which reporters and others strongly disagreed with. The Internet at large hasn’t been particularly kind to Santorum, it seems.

Santorum: "Go and Google Rick Santorum…"

— Patrick Svitek (@PatrickSvitek) January 14, 2016

https://twitter.com/tbagtag/status/687789132131766272

.@RickSantorum just invited people to Google him. Not sure that's a good idea. #GOPDebate

— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) January 14, 2016

Santorum just told people to Google Rick Santorum? Umm ……

— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) January 14, 2016

Dude. Don't tell people to Google "Santorum." #GOPdebate

— jon gabriel (@exjon) January 14, 2016

A reminder: don't let your kids google Rick Santorum.

— Rebecca Sinderbrand (@sinderbrand) January 14, 2016

If you google Santorum, just make sure not to choose "I'm feeling lucky". #GOPDebate

— Joey the Horse Head (@JManneen14) January 15, 2016

INTERNET DO NOT GOOGLE "SANTORUM" NO MATTER WHAT HE TELLS YOU. #GOPDebate

— Emily Zanotti’s Great & Unmatched Wisdom (@emzanotti) January 15, 2016

https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/687785858825613312

Santorum: 'Google "Rick Santorum"'

I'm not falling for that one again, Rick. #GOPDebate

— gillian. (@aGillianHames) January 15, 2016

https://twitter.com/lachlan/status/687789049625579522

You could say that. The Urban Dictionary definition has moved down a couple of places, thank goodness.

See the #3 google hit for santorum #GOPDebate https://t.co/aQAmp61IBt

— Pete Quily (@pqpolitics) January 15, 2016

Can it get worse than that? Maybe. At the moment, the first Google News result for “Rick Santorum” links to a Daily Caller opinion piece titled, “Rick Santorum Needs To Give It Up And Go Back To Virginia.”