Updated

During a speech at the Detroit Economic Club on Thursday Rick Santorum said income inequality is part of the American system, and it should stay that way.

"There is income inequality in America. There always has been and hopefully, and I do say that, there always will be," said the former Pennsylvania Senator. "Why? Because people rise to different levels of success based on what they contribute to society and to the marketplace and that's as it should be."

Santorum explained himself this way, "We shouldn't have a society that has a President who envies or creates class warfare or envy between one group of people and another," said Santorum.

"We should celebrate like we do in the small towns all across American _ as you do here in Detroit. You celebrate success. You build statues and monuments. Buildings, you name after them. Why? Because in their greatness and innovation, yes, they created wealth, but they created wealth for everybody else. And that's a good thing, not something to be condemned in America."