Another Gaffe: McCain unsure whether Condoms Prevent STDS (folks, this isn't a parody...)

[ErinBerin84]

I mean, I'm sure he knows, but what a doofus. Another "I need to check with my handlers moment" The is the man that the media tries to sell us as gutsy> I'll give him credit for the question about his daughter though.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-nickolas/another-gaffe-mccain-unsu_b_111971.html

Another Gaffe: McCain Unsure Whether Condoms Prevent STDs, Mark Nickolas

snip


Last spring, when McCain was pretty much ignored as a serious Republican primary candidate, he offered this remarkable response on whether condoms prevent the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases, during questioning about his position on public funding for contraception to help stop the spread of AIDS in Africa:

The bus had been rolling for a half-hour and McCain was holding court on everything from Iraq to college basketball. ("Who woulda thought? VCU," he exclaimed upon boarding.) And then someone asked about public funding for contraception in Africa to prevent the spread of AIDS.

"I'm sure I've taken a position on it in the past," he stammered as he looked to his communications director. "I'm sure I'm opposed to government funding."

Sensing a vulnerable moment, reporters kept the questions coming. What about sex education in the schools? Should it mention contraceptives? Or only abstinence, like President Bush wants?

"I think I support the president's present policy," he said, tentatively.

More questions: Do condoms stop sexually transmitted disease?

A long pause.

A stern look.

"I've never gotten into these issues or thought much about them," he said, almost crying uncle. (emphasis added)

snip


With less than four months from the general election, we know that McCain is unsure whether health plans should offer birth control (he doesn't). He's also not sure about whether condoms prevent STDs (they do) or whether we should spend federal funds to provide contraception in Africa to prevent AIDS (of course). He's not sure whether he supports President Bush's abstinence-only education policy (he does). He thinks he's pro-life but then says a 15-year-old should have the final decision on whether to have an abortion (until his staff tells him he doesn't).

And this man thinks women who support Hillary Clinton will find a nice home in his campaign?

[Ganja Ninja]

1. I think I've just come up with a new campaign slogan for Obama.

"This time, Vote for the Smart Guy!"

[Marrah_G]

3. Hhahaha- How true how true!

[Alter Ego]

8. "Barack Obama 2008: Listen To John McCain Ramble For 15 Minutes

And Tell Me You Don't Want To Shoot Him".

[Zenlitened]

22. Bam! That's awesome!

:dem: "This time, vote for the smart guy."

:applause:

[groovedaddy]

2. No wonder McCain doesn't want to debate. He'll come across for the idiot he is! n.t

[dipsydoodle]

4. McCain doesn't want to debate

unless its mass debate :rofl:

[madura]

6. are there any debates scheduled? is McCain really avoiding this?

I thot he ws all hot for debates a few weeks ago.
I am waiting in excited anticipation for Obama to pwn McSame - make him cry and walk off the stage.
Obama will be bringing his big guns to that fight and McCain will have nothing.

[groovedaddy]

17. McCain prefers "town meetings" to debates. n.t

[JaneQPublic]

5. McCain must have missed the training film in the service on how to prevent STDs

He would have learned about condoms there.

[yardwork]

10. McCain can't be expected to remember anything he's ever been taught.

Assuming he even showed up for the training film, which I doubt.

[uponit7771]

7. WTF?!?!?!? WOW, were in the hell did he get this from

[yardwork]

9. He got it from the "abstinence-only" crap that Bush has been funding.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been shoveled into abstinence-only "education" that is nothing but false propaganda, telling teens that condoms don't prevent HIV or STDs and that abortions cause breast cancer. No kidding.

[sourmilk]

11. "I think I support the president's present policy."

Listening to this guy is about as painful as watching Ronnie Ray-Gun attempt to remember things during the Iran-Contra Hearings...

[Fly by night]

12. As an epidemiologist, I must say that condoms must be worn on ALL appendages to prevent STDs.

A number of people who get oral-genital transmitted STDs seem to forget that point.

(No, not THAT point. THAT point.)

[bkcc]

13. I'm sure he knows. He's just pandering.

There are plenty of people he's courting for votes...people who want to live in a world where the president doesn't talk about uncomfortable things like sex, drugs, or (I want to type "rock and roll") any other thing else of consequence. And if he doesn't talk about these things, then they're not a problem. Out of sight, out of mind.

And that thinking is what has made the last 8 years so delightful.

:sarcasm:

[BurtWorm]

14. In his defense, maybe he just doesn't remember what they're for.

:shrug:

[KurtNYC]

15. they won't prevent the spread of genital warts, MRSA or

molluscum contagiosum but I don't think those facts were part of his non-answer.

[Barack_America]

16. In many ways, McCain is more disgusting than Bush.

At least you get the sense that Bush believes his bullshit. His beliefs are wrong, but I can at least respect that he has them. McCain, on the other hand, is Play-Doh willing to be molded into whatever it takes to further his ambition.

It's no wonder that he and Lieberman are thick as thieves; they're certainly cut from the same cloth.

:thumbsdown:

[tridim]

18. How do you prep a guy like this for debates that will be viewed by millions of people?

Good luck with that McCain handlers. :)

I can't wait to see the real-time "approve/disapprove" polling overlays during the debates.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

19. he's unsure of a lot of things - hope he doesn't let off a missile by mistake

what's that button for?

[truthisfreedom]

20. Which is why we are where we are today.

bush is the same man.

[Ian David]

21. He probably doesn't wash his hands after he uses the toilet, either. n/t