McCain "Stumped" on contraceptive question...

[rpritchard]

Once again, the "Straight Talk Express" loses it's wheels... McCain, a man who is trying to portray himself as a moderate, once again panders to the far right of the Republican Party, and finds himself in a position all too close to George W. Bush.

Take a look at what McCain had to say about contraceptives. He had simply no idea what he was talking about. I suppose he's just too old to know what contraceptives are.


Q:"What about grants for sex education in the United States? Should they include instructions about using contraceptives? Or should it be Bush's policy, which is just abstinence?"
Mr. McCain: "Ahhh. I think I support the president's policy."
Q: "So no contraception, no counseling on contraception. Just abstinence. Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?"
Mr. McCain: (Long pause) "You've stumped me."
Q: "I mean, I think you'd probably agree it probably does help stop it?"
Mr. McCain: (Laughs) "Are we on the Straight Talk express? I'm not informed enough on it. Let me find out. You know, I'm sure I've taken a position on it on the past. I have to find out what my position was. Brian, would you find out what my position is on contraception - I'm sure I'm opposed to government spending on it, I'm sure I support the president's policies on it."
Q: "But you would agree that condoms do stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Would you say: 'No, we're not going to distribute them,' knowing that?"
Mr. McCain: "Get me Coburn's thing, ask Weaver to get me Coburn's paper that he just gave me in the last couple of days. I've never gotten into these issues before."

Here's the link: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/16/mccain-stumbles-on-hiv-prevention/


What is wrong with this man?!?! I'm fourteen years old, and I could have answered that question! I simply do not understand why anyone trying to cozy up to the center would cozy up to the far right at the same time. As a student who should be receiving a bit of sex education I am floored at his response. I've seen all too many kids have their lives ruined because they didn't know how to have safe sex. While John W. McBush may want us to abstain from sex, some of us just won't. Shouldn't they have the right to be safe-- not only for their safety, but for that of the general public? Well, it's a no-brainer for me, but I guess once you hit 70 and you have to take naps in between campaign stops all questions get pretty tough to handle...

Remember that al-Qaede and Iran screw up? Well, apparently that was just the start of it...

[Brigid]

1. God help us all . . .

if this man gets elected. :banghead:

[chixydix]

4. We really need to get God's email address tuit suite, cause this idiot WILL be elected.

:eyes: :scared:

[bluesmail]

56. if he does it won't be by playing by the rules

[POAS]

86. I thought all God's email

was being intercepted by Homeland Security and forwarded to Bush?

[elocs]

15. Well, we have a certain percentage of both of our Democratic supporters

who claim they will vote for McCain if their choice does not get the nomination. Which are the bigger morons? Those who are born that way or those who choose to be morons?

[SharonAnn]

27. He want's "Coburn's thing" to explain his (McCain's) position? Coburn's a right-wing nut!

[chixydix]

2. I love you.

:D
:toast:
:hug:

[calimary]

46. Welcome to DU, to you, too!

Glad you're here! Now get to work.

[OwnedByFerrets]

3. OMG........

This is hard to believe, even from McSameasbush. McSameasbush to assistant, "would you please find out what I am supposed to say about this. I know we talked about it yesterday, but my memory isnt what it used to be" OMG!!!!

[pepperbear]

63. yeah, it's "which talking point was that again?" n/t

[dkf]

5. Wow that is bad.

He doesn't know where he stands...he has to ask someone else. Even George Bush could answer this one!

[supernova]

6. Dumb is the new Smart!

Didn't you know that?

:banghead:


The GOP went around the bend a long time ago.

[magellan]

7. You expect more from the party that brought you "Our kids isn't learning"?

Actually I think McCain's intentionally throwing it because he doesn't want to even risk being president with what's coming.

[depakid]

8. Linkage?

[rpritchard]

11. Link

I put the link in the message now,,, sorry about that; I just forgot it...

[depakid]

23. Thanks. Aside from showing McCain is an extremist, it also shows signs of presenile dementia

and having lost my own father last year to vascular dementia, I don't toss that term around lightly.

[Brigid]

34. Yes.

That theory is floating around here lately. And you're right -- it's no joke.

[depakid]

41. You can also see it in his speech patterns and pronunciation at times

look for a tendency to sort of "slur" or lisp. It comes and goes- but my bet is you'll see it more often when he's tired or at night (it's part of what's known as "sundowners").

[samdogmom]

50. Perhaps...but he's not the brightest bulb in the box.

He graduated 894 in a class of 899 from the Naval Academy!!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCain

Guys, he's Dubya all over again! We do not need another STUPID President!

[rpritchard]

72. Oh, I know...

And he actually said, "Only in America can a man who finished 5th from the bottom of his class have a chance at the Presidency."

It's such a shame!

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. I can't believe he didn't come up with a position onf this issue before now. The truth is

his position was always the one that would pander to the religious right. He just didn't know what he could say to appease both that group and the person asking him the question.

Well, that's my theory anyway. Or he could just be a senile old man. :(

[frogcycle]

70. the article is a year old

[JerseygirlCT]

83. And how long exactly, does it take to come up with an opinion

on this, even if he hadn't bothered to consider it before?

What do you think about contraception?

As the OP said, any kid could answer that for you in about 15 seconds.

[HockeyMom]

10. The hell with the schools or the government

As a mother, I talked to both my daughters about BC when they were teenagers. Who is going to stop me from doing that? It is my right as a parent to impart my views to my children. Having a ring on my finger does not make me brain dead, i.e, a religious, right wing conservative. My older daughter did not need this talk. She is gay and came out to us as a teenager, but my younger daughter came to me and asked about my experiences on the Pill. I had trouble with estrogen and she seemed to be experiencing the same. No doctor, a school, or the government could give her that information.

Parents, TALK to your children.

[rpritchard]

53. I agree and disagree...

As a 14 year old, I have valued the education of my parents, and that in school equally. Sex Ed in school is vital!

[kimmylavin]

64. I agree.

My parents are Irish and Italian Catholics... you think they were talking to me about sex and contraception???

In fact, the only sex conversation I EVER had with my mother was when she told me that we're Catholic and we don't have sex until we're married. I didn't have the heart to tell her I'd been sexually active for a year by then...

All I can say is thank goodness for the comprehensive sex education I received in NJ public schools! And by comprehensive, I mean they taught us the harm AND the good of sex, the benefits of waiting until you were emotionally ready, and the HUGE benefits of using condoms.

[riverdeep]

12. He's not sure where he stands, but he knows it's with Bush? Pander much? n/t

[NJmaverick]

13. Do you have a link where this is from?

This is gold and plays into the "he's too old" fears. He sounds alded and confused.

[Brigid]

19. We need to send this to KO and his staff.

This needs to be on "Countdown" ASAP.

[moggie]

47. You know this is over a year old, right? n/t

[calimary]

59. Well, we didn't hear anything about it then, either.

You also know he's wanted to be president since AT LEAST 2000. Maybe farther back than that. You'd think by now, with all that history and ambition already set in stone long ago, he'd have formulated enough of a policy statement that it'd still be on the tip of his tongue.

Look, this is a guy who would be OUR commander-in-chief. OUR president. OUR leader. You don't think it's VITALLY important that as many of us as possible get the clearest, roundest, fullest, most extensive look at him?

All that went before feeds the now. Past is prologue. And we avoid it or ignore it or push it aside - AT OUR PERIL. As much of our country already did back then when bush first arrived on the national scene. I want as many of these anecdotes out there as far and wide as possible!!! Otherwise we risk "hiring" another embecile - stupid and willfully ignorant like the last one, but much older, doddering, and senile this time. And that doesn't even begin to address the frickin' hair-trigger temper he has...

GOD HELP US if he gets elected.

[rpritchard]

67. I'm tired of media short-term memory lost...

I believe that a statement as egregious as this should be brought back into the public eye, for it shows the true depth, or lack there of, of McCain and his policies.

[whistler162]

14. Instead of...

"Barbara Ann" the esteemed Senator from Arizona should be singing "Wonderful World".

"
Don't know much about history
Don't know much biology
Don't know much about a science book
Don't know much about the French I took

But I do know that I have no clue
And I know that if you have no clue too
What a wonderful world this would be

Don't know much about geography
Don't know much trigonometry
Don't know much about algebra
Don't know what a slide rule is for.

"
My apologize for the desecration of a great song.

[calimary]

60. Good one! And Welcome to DU!

And you didn't desecrate the song. He would, however, if he were to try singing it. I can see the two of them trying it - john w. mcbusn and his wife, Leather-Babe.

[Thickasabrick]

16. OMG - he is McBush!! nt

[IndependentDem]

17. K&R great post--- this dude is a freaking idiot!! WE MUST ALL VOTE DEMOCRAT!

and its nice to see a young person on this site and politically minded. good for you!

[Speck Tater]

18. It will be SOOOO awesome to watch him try to debate with Obama! NT

[Brigid]

20. Obama will mop up the floor with McBush.

It's that simple. And it will be fun to watch.

p.s. I like the nickname "McBush." :P

[JerseygirlCT]

84. Yup. And he'll do it politely and eloquently - further pointing

out their differences.

[Quantess]

30. Oh yeah!

I know I will have a grin on my face watching THAT debate! :toast:

[rpritchard]

52. Amen!

[Muttocracy]

21. What?!

You know, I'm sure I've taken a position on it on the past. I have to find out what my position was. Brian, would you find out what my position is on ________

Fill in the blank with anything. They're not asking about some detailed accounting rule or technical engineering regulation. How can you not know your own position on the issues and ask someone else?!?

Boggles the mind.

Good post - if it was up before I missed it. And nice avatar! :D

[rpritchard]

22. Ahhh...

Great to see another Bidenite!! I love it!

[Muttocracy]

38. yep

Feel free to come by the Biden Support, I mean Supporters, Group if you don't already.

(Took out my welcome since you've been here longer than me, just not goofing off on DU as much! :blush:)

[C_U_L8R]

24. Good gravy... Mr Magoo is running for President

[Muttocracy]

36. LOL!

:rofl:

OK, there's a cartoon to be made right there...

[Ilsa]

25. If he was to just say that he didn't know, I wouldn't feel so

critical of him or his ignorance. The fact that he wants to use a paper written by that idiot Coburn on sexuality makes me want to puke. He's playing with people's lives here, but acts like he doesn't want to disappoit Coburn and the rest of that group by bringing home the wrong flavor of ice cream.

[Crunchy Frog]

26. I don't think they had contraceptives back when he was of reproductive age.

Welcome to DU. :hi:

[bullwinkle428]

39. When I was a young whippersnapper, we used BURLAP SACKS!!

AND WE LIKED IT!!!!

[rpritchard]

54. HAHAHAHAHA!

[BattyDem]

28. "Brian, would you find out what my position is on contraception"

:wtf: :banghead: :wtf: :banghead: :wtf:

[40ozDonkey]

31. Ohhhhh you win!

Whycome I no checkee replies!? Arrrrgh.

Well played. :D

[BattyDem]

33. LOL ... great minds think alike!

It's a draw. :toast:

[40ozDonkey]

29. "Brian, would you find out what my position is on contraception?"

I think we've found our new meme.

[tridim]

32. He's going to fall to pieces at the debates

It'll be must-see TV.

[Brigid]

35. Oh, yes. Absolutely.

:evilgrin:

[CTyankee]

37. "Get me Coburn's thing." I love it.

This guy is so insulated from reality it is funny, but also frightening.

I hope to god we have a video clip of this to show in a campaign ad to demonstrate how out of touch he is to every day people in America. I'm sure he hasn't had to use birth control for many years but plenty of fertile people are also voters and they won't see this as a good thing!

This guy keeps piling it higher and deeper!

[opihimoimoi]

40. OH MY GOD...he is Worse than BUSH>>>>>>HELLO...this 2008 not the 70's

McCanes brain is trapped at the high school level....

Why is it the Pubs want Another One? I don't get it...Is it a habit???

[margotb822]

42. This is pathetic

Does he even tie his own shoes?

[rpritchard]

44. Of course he doesn't tie his own shoes...

He has the orthopedic shoes that Velcro... Much easier for the old geezer!

[margotb822]

58. Or maybe some stylish slip-ons?

WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER PRESIDENT WHO CAN'T THINK!!!!!! HOW HARD IS THAT FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND!?!?!?!

[boston bean]

43. Asking for anything of Coburns is a red flag! WTF

[JerseygirlCT]

85. Exactly! Hello any woman out there thinking McCain is a moderate

who gives half a shit about you: if this doesn't tell you otherwise, you're probably past hope.

[calimary]

45. Welcome to DU! You're 14??? Wow - you're VERY astute for your age.

john w. mcbush! I like that, too.

You're scarcely in the double-digits, age-wise, and you're already a formidable asset!

:toast:

[rpritchard]

48. Why thank you...

I give all credit to my parents! They have been a wonderful role model for me throughout my life, and thanks to them I don't have to rely on a 70 year old man for sex ed. They've instilled in me a great sense of right and wrong!

[calimary]

61. I have a kid only a year older than you are. He's quite awake and aware too, I'm glad to say!

www.myspace.com/acidicband - that's some of his music.

[rpritchard]

66. Impressive!

[IamyourTVandIownyou]

"I have to find out what my position was"

That about says it all, doesn't it.

[IamyourTVandIownyou]

49. "I have to find out what my position was"

That about says it all, doesn't it.

[rpritchard]

73. Absolutely!

[Mz Pip]

51. Pretty pathetic

when you don't even know what your position on an issue is without checking what the current administration's position on an issue is.

Is this guy capable of an independent thought?

McCain - Like Bush, only older.

[Quantess]

75. what's my position on..huh? oh, contraceptives. Just look up what W said.

I say that too! What W said.

....zzzzz..HUH WHAT?...oh... Bush's policies are fine, uh huh...
NURSE!

[Lorien]

55. Yep, that's pathetic. But I hear that he's about as sharp on a lot of topics

my unfortunate neighbor, a British news journalist, has been assigned to cover McCain for the duration of his campaign. He says that McCain generally appears "confused and feeble minded" when asked about just about anything that doesn't relate to war (and sometimes those topics that DO relate to war). When he asked McCain about our economic crisis and how he planned to improve matters, he simply answered "I'm not too good on the economy. Ask me about something else". Does this guy think that the MSM and Diebold are just going to do it all for him? He isn't even going to phone in a little effort?

I swear, the repugs treat the presidency as if it were the special olympics; they'll give their boy a star just for showing up!

[asdjrocky]

57. Welcome to DU!

Wow, fourteen. Great post, K&R, and make sure you keep your nose clean, we have to run you for Congress in a few more years.

[rpritchard]

62. Thanks a lot!

I can only hope to have the great honor of serving this nation!

[asdjrocky]

65. You're serving it now.

Keep up the good work.

[Warren DeMontague]

68. Here's a quick primer: The GOP doesn't even think contraception should be LEGAL, much less

mentioned in sex education.

The game plan all along has been to outlaw abortion, then birth control. Hopefully things won't get that far. But McCain may not be clueless here, so much as not wanting to to touch this particular third rail.

Given that the HLA plank in the GOP platform would effectively criminalize oral contraceptives (which the major anti-choice groups consider morally equivalent to abortion) someone really needs to ask McCain point blank if he believes contraception should be legal. Period.

Bet you don't get a straight answer on that one, too.

[Warren DeMontague]

69. Coburn is the asshat who thinks abortion doctors should be put to death, too.

Which means he also thinks women who use the pill should be put to death.

[frogcycle]

71. I like the cut of your jib, kid

that logo does it for me

note: the article is a year old. Doesn't make it any less appalling that he needs someone to think for him, but does perhaps explain the lack of readiness for the topic.

Back when it came out he was a laugher; nobody expected him to be the last republican standing. Maybe the others were sharp enough to duck and run, and he is standing out in the field with the rainstorm drenching him, wondering where all the other ballplayers went. Saying, "I know I have a position on coming in out of the rain; could somebody please tell me what it is?"

Oh, and welcome to DU. Don't let the idiots corrupt you.

[kdpeters]

74. Technically, it's called a prophylactic if it helps prevent the spread of disease

Contraceptives help to prevent pregnancy. A condom is both prophylactic and contraceptive.

That was just a nitpick, I don't mean to distract from the point or criticize the questioner.

[Quantess]

77. No, you are wrong.

Condoms are what you put on bananas.

:evilgrin:

[kdpeters]

89. LOL!! On what then, would one practice proper technique?

:evilgrin: :evilgrin:

[cynatnite]

76. He doesn't want to piss off his RW nutjob base...

That's all it is.

[Life Long Dem]

78. Sounds like a lot things happening with him

One day he's angry with reporters the next day he doesn't know about protection, the economy, and is very conservative on assistance for foreclosures.
McCain is saving up for his 100 year Iraq war and is giving Iraq assistance before his own country. I'd never vote for him. I don't know what the hell NH saw in him. I think it was sort of like the Al Gore thing - where they think McCain should have won. Screw him.

[rpritchard]

80. OLD

That's all...

[Lochloosa]

79. Welcome to DU rpritchard

It's nice to see the next generation involved.

:toast:

uh...no beer for you.

[Orsino]

81. McCain is the candidate of Big Ignorance...

...for a generation of Americans so spoiled that they think they don't need to think about complicated questions.

[JerseygirlCT]

82. He has to ask someone what his position is???? Oh. My. Goodness.

THIS is a man who wants to be president? He doesn't have a clue where he stands on a pretty basic issue - and he has to ask someone to tell him what he thinks?

[MiniMe]

87. 2 words that don't belong together, contaceptive and "stumped"

I would say that "stumping" would be a very effective method of contraceptive.

[suffragette]

88. Great find, especially since the media chose not to report on it

much earlier.

Found this about it from Medimatters:

http://mediamatters.org/items/200703190008

McCain's "stumble" was not reported in the pages of The New York Times or The Washington Post, despite the March 16 entries in each paper's weblog. Nor was it reported on ABC or NBC, even though ABC senior national correspondent Jake Tapper had praised McCain on the March 15 broadcast of World News with Charles Gibson for his "willingness to entertain any question" and NBC News congressional correspondent Chip Reid reported on March 15 that McCain was offering "straight talk about Iraq and his support for the war."

McCain's HIV prevention "stumble" has drawn only scant attention from The Politico -- senior political writer Ben Smith linked to Nagourney's Caucus entry in a March 16 entry to his own blog on Politico.com, writing: "And Nagourney's going to get himself tossed off the Straight Talk Express if he keeps, like, demanding answers to stuff." Politico senior writer Jonathan Martin, who was traveling with the McCain campaign on March 16 and whose Politico.com blog purports to focus on the 2008 Republican presidential candidates, linked to the On the Campaign Trail entry, writing simply: "The Bus giveth and The Bus taketh away." Martin has, however, posted several blog entries on McCain and the "Straight Talk Express" since March 16, one of which was titled "The Well-Oiled McCain Machine."

Welcome to DU! :hi: