AP Interview: Obama says Romney distorts his record

[TeamJordan23]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2007/07/19/ap_interview_obama_says_romney_distorts_his_record/

AP Interview: Obama says Romney distorts his record
By Philip Elliott, Associated Press Writer | July 19, 2007

SUNAPEE, N.H. --Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said on Thursday that Republican Mitt Romney was only trying to "score cheap political points" when he told a Colorado audience Obama wanted sex education for kindergartners.

"All I said was that I support the same laws that exist in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, in which local communities and parents can make decisions to provide children with the information they need to deal with sexual predators," Obama said in an AP Interview.

Romney on Wednesday targeted Obama for supporting a bill during his term in the Illinois state Senate that would have, among other things, provided age-appropriate sex education for all students.

"How much sex education is age appropriate for a 5-year-old? In my mind, zero is the right number," Romney said.

Obama said Romney was wrong to take the shot and incorrect on its basis.

"We have to deal with a coarsening of the culture and the over-sexualization of our young people. Look, I've got two daughters, 9 and 6 years old," Obama told the AP. "Of course, part of the coarsening of that culture is when politicians try to demagogue issues to score cheap political points."

Romney himself once indicated support for similar programs that Obama supports.

In 2002, Romney told Planned Parenthood in a questionnaire that he also supported age-appropriate sex education. He checked yes to a question that asked: "Do you support the teaching of responsible, age-appropriate, factually accurate health and sexuality education, including information about both abstinence and contraception, in public schools?"

Obama said Romney should stay on his own side of the aisle.

"I think he should worry right now about his primary," Obama said.

Obama said candidates who exploit their play to the base miss a chance to lead.

"I want to be saying the same thing in the primary as I'm saying in the general election as I'm saying in the Oval Office. I don't want to make promises that I cannot keep. I don't want to simplify issues or demagogue issues simply to win short-term favor," Obama said. "We need to be straight with the American people."

[napi21]

1. Did you hear the Romney spokeswoman on Hardball tonight???

I sincerely doubt anyone paid any attention to her because she sounded like a bad broken record, but WHAT AN IDIOT! Of course, the Rev. who was supposed to be speaking for Obama wasn't doing very well either!!!! To me he sounded like another hack who wouldn't answer the questions in a straight forward manner!

[illinoisprogressive]

2. she was nuts. and barnicle told her he remembered Romney supporting this back when

[sandnsea]

4. He let the nutball bury herself

And I thought he made Obama's point perfectly fine. He didn't have to say anything with the insanity that nutball was spewing. Nobody thinks like that in this country.

[C_U_L8R]

3. Above anyone else, Romney is a man in dire need

of a fiercesome wedgie.