Foster Friess: In my day, women "used Bayer aspirin for contraceptives"

 

Updated 8:05 p.m. ET

Foster Friess, a prominent backer of Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, raised eyebrows Thursday when he offered up his own idea for a possible contraceptive method: "This contraceptive thing, my gosh, it's so... inexpensive. Back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraceptives."

Friess's implication is that if women hold aspirin between their legs, they won't open them.

"The gals put it between their knees, and it wasn't that costly," he told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell.

Mitchell was visibly taken aback by the suggestion.

"Excuse me, I'm just trying to catch my breath from that, Mr. Friess, frankly," she said, after a pause.

Following the remark, the president of the National Organization of Women, Terry O'Neill, said Santorum and Friess should both "apologize."

In an interview with Talking Points Memo, O'Neill said Friess' comments were "deeply offensive" and that "[Santorum] should clearly apologize to the women of this country." She added that "Mr. Friess should apologize" as well.

Friess was a major contributor to Santorum's campaign in the days before his victories in the early nominating states made him a serious contender for the nomination. According to Federal Election Commission filings, Friess gave the Red, White and Blue Fund, a pro-Santorum super PAC, $331,000 in 2011. It's not yet publicly known how much Friess has contributed to the super PAC in 2012 so far.

Santorum has said in the past that he is "not a believer in birth control" and believes it is "harmful" to both women and society. And in October, Santorum discussed the "dangers" of contraception with an evangelical blog.

"Many in the Christian faith have said, 'Well, that's okay. Contraception's okay," he said. "It's not okay because it's a license to do things in the sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be. They're supposed to be within marriage, they are supposed to be for purposes that are, yes, conjugal, but also [inaudible], but also procreative. That's the perfect way that a sexual union should happen."

In a Tweet following the interview, Mitchell continued to express her disbelief over Friess' comment.

"Im still trying to get my head around this," she wrote on Twitter. "Tweeps what should i have said?"

Leigh Ann Caldwell contributed to this report.

[SuzyQZee]

OK, so if I get this right, this group of Republicans (1) are against contraception, (2) are against public education, saying that the Federal and State governments should not be responsible for the education of children and (3) are, at least according to Santorum's recent speech, feel that prenatal care is unnecessary and leads to abortions. So what will the future hold.

A bump in the birth rate for sure, but these new children would be born underweight or with other physical or mental deficits due to the lack of prenatal care and proper nutrition, or even vitamins. Of course, these children will not be able to get into the educational system that would be totally private pay under a Republican administration. And, of course, since there would be no social security or any programs to aid the poor, we will soon have poor, uneducated children, some of which may also have the burden of physical or mental deficits.

Doesn't ANYONE see the dangers of this at all? Or is it that people have finally reverted back to the animal (a phrase used in an earlier post) and just doesn't care about anyone but themselves anymore. A group of hyenas will fight over food and don't care that the smallest or weakest gets a share of the carcass. So this is what we have become? Somehow I don't think that Jesus would approve. But, oh yes, Jesus only loves "certain" people according to some clergy.

I'm so sorry to see that humanity has turned to this. As an older American I can only hope to meet my Maker soon and not be forced to witness the destruction of all REAL Christianity in this country.

[aaallison]

Is it too much too ask for the MSM to:
1. Write coherent headlines (it's not the legs which are shut by holding an Asprin between the knees!); and
2. Grow up. First, as the author of the quote points out, this bon mot has been around forever. Second, it makes the perfectly valid point that tightly pressed-together knees do pretty much eliminate the need for another form of contraception.
None of which, BTW, has anything to do with the Admministration's dictatorial attempt to override personal conviction.

[InspectorT]

I see the Taliban is making progress in turning Virginia into a Sharia state.

[chumbug34]

lmao that IS funny. the funny part about is...the guy is right. why spend money on birth control when all you have to do is keep your legs shut? if you dont want to be pregnant then dont open your legs. It is the peoples responsibility to take precautions. not societies job nor the governments job to take responsibility for someones irresponsibility.nor anyone elses job to foot the bill. why do my tax dollars have to go for these government run programs when I know that if i dont want or cant afford children to not put myself in the position to get pregnant? I NEED my government to take care of me? NO Its MY job to take care of myself not my governments job. I sure as hell dont want any of my money going to pharmaceutical companies because someone else doesnt want to take responsiblity for their own actions. mind you there can be forms of contraception (ie, condoms), but NOT government run programs. Nor state programs. There used to be principals, morals and values in our society, that used to be instilled into children, like "keep yourself sacred till marriage". now its oh you dont have to save yourself for the special one in your life because you can take birth control, or the morning after pill. lmao ok! nothing like teaching irrisponsibility, or "the easy way out". Also, I agree girls shouldnt be taking birth control. thats unnatural hormones added to a young girls body. Its not natural,it says its ok to have sex! Hell no! I was raised to just NOT have it. My parents knew where I was, who I was with and if I wasnt where I was supposed to be, well, my fathers voice assured me I sure as hell didnt want to find out what would happen. I dont allow my children to wander the streets. I raise my children the same way I was raised. As a woman, I sure as hell dont want government in my life, on how I raise my children, nor do I need them. Its MY job as a citizen in my country to DO for my country not TAKE handouts and add to the deficit. Our governments job is to protect the people. nothing more. ensure our constitution is upheld. You want the government to take care and feed and regulate you...reread our declaration of independence. Our constitution, bill of rights. read where our constitution came from. I sure as hell do NOT take offense to that mans statement. I, myself am responsible for my own actions. I dont want to be a burden, nor should I be on my country or fellow citizens. we as a society put too much emphasis on "making our lives easy" but talk out the other side of our mouths and say "life isnt easy" but dont want to do the work that is needed to ensure a better way of life for ourselves and children. Too much tv, cell phones video games. instead of gardening teaching our children about all the nasty stuff in foods that are in the store. I walk into my sons highschool all the time and ask students if they knew how a bill is passed and get blank stares. I ask if they know about how and why we have pasturized milk and if they know that our pasturized milk is not allowed in other countries, get blank stares. our children are fat and lazy. too plugged in. they want hand outs, are disrespectful, look gross with pants halfway down their legs, listen to crappy noise and are nasty. hell social security numbers arent supposed to be used for identification purposes. but, im sure your saying "well you cant get a bank account without providing it". well its because society became so suppressed and went "mainstream" and got greedy! look it up! society got too afraid of government. dont know why when our government is supposed to be run by US. But of course we as a society want government in our lives!! ahhahahahha at least THIS family DOES for his country and neighbors and community...the way it should be! :)

[Focus503]

The Girlfriend says that the way it worked was as long as girl held the aspirin between her knees she couldn't open her legs far enough to get pregnant. Another parochial, blame the victim, misogynist prick. The worst part about is that he is both serious and thinks it's funny.

[Focus503]

This is also how a woman prevents rape too isn't it? By keeping her legs shut.

You may not take offence to his statement but your statement is also offensive. <strong>Your childern</strong> may be fat and lazy, but mine certainly aren't.

I'll bet you a dollar the YOU are fat and lazy compared to me.

[mferrari100]

No different than Michelle Obama saying keep your pie hole shut.

[teejay454]

citation, please; or are you just making up stuff?

[mari1963]

WOMEN CARRY THE BABIES AND GIVE BIRTH TO THEM AND ARE ALWAYS THE ONES WHO END UP HAVING TO RAISE THEM ALONE!

BUT WOMEN DON'T GET PREGNANT ALONE!

MEN ARE THE ONES WHO MAKE THEM PREGNANT!

MR FREISS IS A MAN WHO SHOULD KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT!

[Susiesumtymes]

How sad that to have self control, to practice discretion and to live by a code of ethics that not only preserves ones health but peace of mind has become something to scoff at. I look forward to the day we become human again and stop being proud of less than animal behavior.

[Xeppo]

I looked at the posts here over the joke from friess. I remember the joke from the 70's.

"The vatican has finally approved a new contraception method. It is a aspirin held firmly between the knees."

The political silly season is in full force.

[kevin_hunt]

Forget about the "war on drugs", the "war on sex" is the next big growth industry for the government. All sex acts will be strictly regulated by the government. You will need to show a valid marriage license and two forms of I.D. to get it on in Santorum's not-too-distant future. Violators will be sent to prison for "sex re-education" by their cellmates, as is currently done. Of course, members of Congress and the executive branch will be exempt from the regulations.

[noloyalisti]

Maybe this stupid firm father figure conservative idiot should keep his mouth shut. He should put some aspirin between his lips, that might work.

[SuzyQZee]

Excellent reply. It made me laugh, even in these sad times.