Sex According to McCain and Palin

Why on earth would Presidential Candidate John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin oppose sex education bills? What would be a valid reason, I find my self asking. Could it harm anyone? I don't think so, but then that's what makes horse races I suppose. The thing is, it's one thing to have a difference of opinion, and another to lead an entire country back to the 1950's.

"In Senate votes, McCain has opposed some proposals to pay for teen-pregnancy prevention programs. In 2006, McCain joined fellow Republicans in voting against a Senate Democratic proposal to send $100 million to communities for teen-pregnancy prevention programs that would have included sex education about contraceptives," according to AP reporter Sharon Theimer in an article published today. He opposed a similar bill in 2005. Palin has stated that she opposes funding sexual-education programs in Alaska. Why?

I don't know the exact statistics on teen pregnancy but I do know that it's still rampant in our country. I know because like Palin, I know a girl or two who have found themselves pregnant before finishing high school, or shortly thereafter. Young girls who mistakenly think that "just this once" or twice they can have sex without protective measures. This isn't a question of morality or whether you personally believe in birth control. It's a question of national sanity. In many cases it's a question of to live in poverty or not. It's the economy stupid as we were happy to say in the 90's.

Federally funded sex education programs are not about "how to have sex." They are about re-production. These classes are usually given in the 5th grade nowadays. It is a necessity because parents have the bad habit of waiting until it's too late to give those lessons at home. The thing that has the conservatives up in arms opposing them would be the part about how not to get pregnant; how not to contract AIDS and other STDs.

Wake up conservative America! Your children are going to find out how to have sex, one way or another. Some of them may learn from an older member of the opposite sex. Some may learn from you if you are brave enough. Some may learn from prostitutes or drug addicts. Don't shake your head no. You know this is true.

You don't want the government funding this type of program in your schools? Well, think about the consequences if they don't. No matter where you live; how much money you make; what your religion is; they will find out how to have sex. And, some of them will have it. Look at your daughter or your son. Do you really want their lives to be that complicated this early? Do you really want them marrying at 16 or 17 years of age? Do you really want them to risk becoming sterile or dying?

I didn't think so.