McCain Squirms on Birth Control Question- " I don't know what I voted" (!)

[ErinBerin84]

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/07/09/mccain-squirms-on-birth-control-question


McCain Squirms on Birth Control Question
Elizabeth Holmes reports from Portsmouth, Ohio on the presidential race.

While John McCain often embodies an anything-goes attitude when talking to reporters, it doesn’t mean some subjects can’t make him sweat—say, birth control.

A female Los Angeles Times reporter inquired today about comments made earlier this week by McCain campaign adviser Carly Fiorina, the former head of Hewlett Packard.

At a breakfast with reporters, Fiorina suggested that individuals–and women in particular–be given more flexibility to determine what their health insurance plans should cover. “There are many health insurance plans that will cover Viagra but won’t cover birth-control medication. Those women would like a choice,” she observed.

When McCain was asked for his position on the issue, he said—with a nervous laugh–“I certainly do not want to discuss that issue.”

The reporter pressed. “But apparently you’ve voted against—“

“I don’t know what I voted,” McCain said.

The reporter explained that McCain voted against a bill in 2003 that would have required health insurance companies to cover prescription birth control. “Is that still your position?” she persisted.

During the awkward exchange, with several lengthy pauses, McCain said he had no immediate knowledge of the vote. “I’ve cast thousands of votes in the Senate,” McCain said, then continued: “I will respond to—it’s a, it’s a…”

“Delicate issue,” the reporter offered, to a relieved laugh from McCain.

“I don’t usually duck an issue, but I’m—I’ll try to get back to you,” he explained.

After a pause, another reporter posed a question closer to McCain’s comfort zone: “Can I ask you about Russia?”

[grannylib]

1. And after that, there are STILL women who will vote for this douchebag

over Obama????
Holy shit.
:wtf:

[ErinBerin84]

5. I wonder if this is on tape. I'd love to see the exchange!

Nahhh, if it is, I'm sure the reporter will kindly burn it, or save it for her shrine at home.

[grannylib]

18. There was a clip of it on Countdown tonight...

[WillParkinson]

2. Ah, that's nice...

Toss the older gent some softball lobs. And then when he can't answer a tough question simply answer it for him.

[ErinBerin84]

3. methinks the McCain campaign ought to "quiz" McCain a bit before the debates.

May I suggest flashcards :)

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. He's too freakin' old to have a baby anyway.

[Graybeard]

6. "I'll try to get back to you." (When I find out what I think.)

The problem was that he didn't have Lindsey Graham behind him feeding him the answers.

[ecstatic]

7. So much for straight talk (vomit)

:puke:

[dkf]

8. I think he really doesn't care about this issue.

Otherwise he would know what his position is.

Problem is, he seems to not give a damn about a lot of things. Thats why his decision making seems very arbitrary.

[ErinBerin84]

11. yeah, he is very apathetic and robotic.

[moriah]

15. Or he may be trying not to offend the Religious Right...

After reading some writings by hardcore Pro-Lifers, it changed the weight I give to a politician's abortion beliefs.

I am pro-choice. I had to make the choice once. It was a very painful decision, and I've discussed the circumstances behind it on here before. There were medical considerations, although my condition would not have killed me -- the treatment I was on for it likely would have harmed the baby instead. And that was why I chose what I did. I am glad it was allowed to be a decision I made with my doctors, in private, without the law butting in demanding to know why I made my choice.

It may seem an exaggeration to be afraid that not making insurance companies cover hormonal birth control could lead to a woman in my situation having to delay termination of the pregnancy because of legal restrictions, but some hardcore Pro-Lifers would like to see even hormonal birth control banned.

Why? Because the progestin-only pill, which is the only recommended hormonal birth control for lactating women, as well as the Depo-Provera shot, the hormonal implant, etc, do not act primarily by preventing conception in their eyes, but also by preventing implantation. Even the combination pill, which does a much better job of suppressing ovulation, occasionally fails to do so but the fertilized egg can rarely implant. They also feel that the IUD, since it prevents implantation as well (although the copper IUD is somewhat spermicidal as well, and the most common hormonal IUD, Mirena, is a combination product).

By this logic the only birth control methods that are not also abortificants are sterilization, abstinence, fertility awareness, or barrier methods. (Also this logic ignores the fairly established fact that not all fertilized eggs implant even without hormonal birth control, hence why the medical establishment holds that pregnancy begins at implantation.)

So I get nervous when I hear of politicians who want to allow insurance companies not to pay for birth control, or want to allow pharmacists to not distribute it if they feel morally obligated not to. I feel it is just as much of a slippery slope as banning a specific abortion method regardless of the health of the mother, the medical situation, or fetal age. There are women who are prescribed birth control pills to treat other conditions, and that kind of "off-label" prescription is common now to get insurance companies to pay for it. Many BCPs have went through clinical trials so that they are now approved to treat specific conditions, like acne or PMDD. But a woman and her doctor should not have to justify to bureaucracy why they make certain medical decisions, in my opinion.

And it's possible that McCain may feel he has to reach out to "values voters" .

[ErinBerin84]

16. then he should have admitted his voting record

where he voted against health insurance coverage for birth control. By balking at the question and not answering either way, he alienates both right wing conservatives and moderates.

[sakura]

9. "I don't know what I voted" -- because I'm senile!

So vote McCain for president!

[jesus_of_suburbia]

10. This man is so unstable! I can't wait for November... I think Obama has it easy.

And it's disgusting that insurance companies will pay for Viagra but not birth control.

[ErinBerin84]

12. I just turned on my tv (it was still on MSNBC from when I was watching Dan Abrams)

and of course, Morning Joe was on...I think that they used this segment for....NEWS YOU CAN'T USE! It was in the middle of the John McCain clip, so maybe they were just using another clip of when McCain had absolutely no response to a question for six seconds for News You Can't Use. Because you know, it's not disturbing or anything that McCain not only can not remember how he voted, but he doesn't even have the guts to formulate a stance on this issue on the spot. Is this indeed what the segment was, or was this another moment that they showed McCain unable to answer a question. Of course, the Morning Joe crew HOLLERED with laughter and just how GOD DAMN CHARMING McCain is, and Morning Joe said "Haha, after a pause, he was just honest and said he couldn't remember!"

Ah, heroic McCain...endearingly indept.

[Vinca]

13. The entire Morning Joe show is unwatchable.

If it's not Pat Buchanan permanently rooted to a chair campaigning against Obama, it's the rest of them going all warm and fuzzy over everything McBush does. Forgetful isn't funny, it's senile dementia.

[slinkerwink]

14. and that's why McCain shouldn't be President

[Coexist]

17. abortions illegal, birth control too expensive... yeah, this isn't about control...