Santorum backer Foster Friess apologizes for contraception comment

Santorum backer Foster Friess on MSNBC.

/ MSNBC

Foster Friess, a major donor to the super PAC backing Rick Santorum, has apologized for a joke about contraception that prompted outrage from women's groups.

"Back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraceptives," Friess said on MSNBC on Thursday, adding: "The gals put it between their knees, and it wasn't that costly."

The implication was that women held the aspirin between their legs, which left them unable to open them.

In a statement on his website, Friess said the "joke bombed," writing that "many didn't recognize it as a joke but thought it was my prescription for today's birth control practices."

"In fact, the only positive comments I got were from folks who remembered it from 50 years back," he continued. "Birth control pills weren't yet available, so everyone laughed at the silliness on how an aspirin could become a birth control pill."

Though Friess' statement is dated today, February 17, it appears to have been written last night.

"After listening to the segment tonight, I can understand how I confused people with the way I worded the joke and their taking offense is very understandable," he writes. "To all those who took my joke as modern day approach I deeply apologize and seek your forgiveness. My wife constantly tells me I need new material--she understood the joke but didn't like it anyway--so I will keep that old one in the past where it belongs."

Appearing Friday on "CBS This Morning," Santorum called Friess' joke "stupid," but added that he's "not responsible" for comments by supporters.

"I'm not responsible for any comment that anybody who supports me makes and my record stands for itself," he said.

Santorum said the comment does not reflect his record on contraception and said questions about Friess' comments reflect "gotcha politics that you get from the media."

In his written apology, Friess' went on to write that Santourm "publicly stated he would not ban contraception; he has said if he were a member of a state legislature which introduced such a bill, he would vote against it; and he has incurred the wrath of his more conservative friends for voting to fund contraception to fight AIDS in Africa."

Santorum has been criticized this week for comments suggesting he opposes contraception, including a 2006 statement that he is "not a believer in birth control."

"I think it's harmful to women; I think it's harmful to society," Santorum said. In a different interview - this one from October - he said contraception is "not okay" and vowed to "get rid of any idea that you have to have abortion coverage or contraceptive coverage."

In an interview on Fox News last night, Santorum addressed his own views on contraception, saying he did not think it should be a government issue.

"Not everything...that I disagree with morally should the government be involved in," he told Fox's Greta Van Susteren. "It's something that people have a right to do in this country. And it certainly will be safe to do so under the Santorum presidency."

Friess wrote in his apology note that women "appreciate [Santorum's] clear stance on contraception which they favor."

"His strong personal convictions on the subject are well-known and he has never attempted to turn his personal preference into public policy unlike the stand President Obama has taken in forcing Catholic institutions to embrace his world view," wrote Friess.

According to Federal Election Commission filings, Friess gave the Red, White and Blue Fund, a pro-Santorum super PAC, $331,000 in 2011. The super PAC raised $764,000 overall. Friess' 2012 support for Santorum is not yet known.

"To those who applauded my comments and remembered the joke, thanks for your encouragement," Friess concluded his apology. "To those who thought I was callously encouraging that as a prescription for today, I kindly ask your forgiveness."

[erpicferl]

i think what he said is actually kinda funny and not hateful. he actually has a point. most women nowadays spread their legs way too easily and what we need is to go back to a different mindset where people had a little SELF RESPECT.

[DRN_DRN_DRN]

I think the dudes who keep getting these chicks pregnant should have some SELF RESPECT as well.....................

[thebob-bob]

The Republican stance on birth-control? Give 'em an aspirin!! Ha! In their backward minds, women are for sex (bad girls) and babies (good girls).

It's the role of Church and Government to make sure they are.

Fear, hatred, distortion, distraction and division is all Republicans have to offer America.

[marilyn4886]

Yes shut your mouth and just throw your money away supporting the loser Santorum.

[kansas1946]

LOL. Now that is funny, Mr. Friess. I guess you think everyone is really stupid about not getting the "joke." I have heard that joke my whole life, and still think it is funny, but you didn't stop there, did you. You went on to explain your position, by saying that "all of those other Christians" are wrong to think birth control is alright and the idea that insurance companies should not provide birth control to women while covering viagra is somehow interferring with your freedom of religion is ludicrous. You are a fool, a shallow thinker, and chauvenist, and if you back Stantorum, that that is all anyone really needs to know about Santorum.

[doofus-slapper]

Foster Friess exposed his understanding of women.
His wife is probably the most embarrassed.

[LarryMoe2012]

I think she is most proud of her husband.

[insightig]

What I find to be disturbing about his "joke" is he left out the fact that back in his day when that "aspirin" failed we lost hundreds of our daughters to back alley abortions.

[signseeker1717]

THANK YOU. This is the point some people seem to be missing.

[LarryMoe2012]

Insightig:

The aspirin did not fail. A rapid decrease in knee pressure was the problem.

Old Days - we did lose hundreds of wonderful young ladies in back allies because they made the choice to take that risk. However, millions of wonderful young ladies back then made the choice to keep their baby or to put their baby up for adoption.

Now Days- we have lost 50 million babies and millions of our wonderful daughters will spend their lives knowing they chose to kill their baby. What a horror we have allowed. This is why our nation is in decline.

[P1022]

Too bad Foster's mother didn't keep an aspirin squeezed TIGHTLY between her knees.

[cbs_tom]

The truth always hurts!

[thomasmc1957]

Santorum has made it clear he would like to ban the Pill, and condoms, too.

[The_General_1968]

This guy is out of touch and so is the candidate he is supporting. You can't legislate morality, only live a moral life. Threatening war against any country who doesn't live or think the way we do is immoral, and it doesn't justify the killing involved with it.
Here's an easy way to make an educated choice about who to vote for in November:
Google and watch these youtube documentaries:
"Power of Nightmares" - foreign policy truth BBC documentary
"Money as Debt" - clearly explains who controls the money and power
"Michael Scheuer Iran" - ex-CIA head Bin Laden unit explains our foreign policy and fear of Iran
Google and watch "Predictions in Due Time"
Then you can consider yourself educated and ready to cast your vote for the candidate with an 11 point plan that will actually do something to help solve our problems.