WASHINGTON, Sept. 2, 2008
McCain Opposed Funds For Teen Moms-To-Be
GOP Candidate's Record Examined In Wake Of News That VP Pick's Teen Daughter Is Pregnant
-
-
Photo
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, left, smiles after introducing his Vice Presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, in Dayton, Ohio., Aug. 29, 2008. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
-
Photo
Bristol Palin, 17, at the campaign rally where Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., introduced Bristol's mom, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, as his vice presidential running mate in Dayton, Ohio, Friday, Aug. 29, 2008. (AP)
-
-
Play CBS Video
Video
Behind The Palin Pick
Democratic strategist Joe Trippi, who was involved with vetting Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, tells Maggie Rodriguez that Sarah Palin's statements may offer clues about McCain's VP selection process.
-
Video
Reactions To Sarah Palin Nod
Alaskans are proud of their governor as John Blackstone reports. But Democrats are questioning John McCain's VP choice, Bob Schieffer tells Maggie Rodriguez.
-
Video
Palin Family Friend Speaks
Karen Rhoades has known the Palin family for a decade and shares some of her insights with Maggie Rodriguez.
-
Photo Essay
Sarah Palin
Alaska's youngest and first female governor tabbed to be McCain's running mate.
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's announcement Monday about her daughter, Bristol, was aimed at rebutting Internet rumors that Palin's youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter's. Palin said her daughter intends to raise her child and marry the baby's father, who was identified only by his first name, Levi. The baby is due in late December.
McCain's record on issues surrounding teen pregnancy and contraceptives during his more than two decades in the Senate indicates that he and Palin have similar views. Until Monday, when the subject surfaced in a deeply personal manner, teen pregnancy and sex education were not issues in the national political campaign.
Palin herself said she opposes funding sexual-education programs in Alaska.
"The explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support," she wrote in a 2006 questionnaire distributed among gubernatorial candidates.
McCain's position on contraceptives and teen pregnancy issues has been difficult to judge on the campaign trail, as he appears uncomfortable discussing such topics. Reporters asked the presumptive GOP presidential nominee in November 2007 whether he supported grants for sex education in the United States, whether such programs should include directions for using contraceptives and whether he supports President Bush's policy of promoting abstinence.
"Ahhh, I think I support the president's policy," McCain said.
When reporters pressed McCain whether the government should provide contraceptives or counseling on contraceptives, he replied, "You've stumped me." McCain said later that he was sure he opposed government spending on contraceptives.
The McCain campaign on Monday did not respond to repeated requests for information.
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.
In 2005, McCain opposed a Senate Democratic proposal that would have spent tens of millions of dollars to pay for pregnancy prevention programs other than abstinence-only education, including education on emergency contraception such as the morning-after pill. The bill also would have required insurance companies that cover Viagra to also pay for prescription contraception.
McCain voted for the Family Support Act in 1988, which passed overwhelmingly in the Senate and required teen mothers who receive public assistance to remain in high school and, in some cases, to live with their parents.
"Young parents who have not completed high school will be required to stay in or return to school to complete the basic education so necessary to a productive life," said President Reagan, as he signed the law in October 1988.
McCain cited abortion, sex education and birth control as some of the issues on which he differed with Joycelyn Elders, former President Clinton's nominee for surgeon general. He quoted Elders as telling lawmakers that abortion has had positive health effects, including reducing the number of children "afflicted with severe defects."
"As a father of a number of young children, including an adopted daughter who was born with a birth defect, I am deeply, deeply troubled by these views," McCain said in a 1993 speech opposing Elders' confirmation.
Palin's fifth child, a son named Trig, was born in April with Down syndrome, a genetic abnormality that impedes physical, intellectual and language development. Conservatives supportive of Palin as McCain's running mate have praised her choice to deliver Trig even after the family learned about his condition during prenatal testing.
McCain said the country unarguably had a problem with teen pregnancy, but said Elders' approach would only make it worse. He said Elders started a program to distribute condoms in schools, but the rate of teen pregnancy actually rose in those counties. When it turned out many of the condoms were defective, Elders decided to continue the program rather than halt it or inform the public of the risk, McCain added.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Video and Galleries from Politics
- MOST POPULAR
- Viewed
- Commented
-
Phelps Breaks World Record in Butterfly
At U.S. Championships, Olympic Star Shaves .18 Seconds Off Mark Set in 2005 for 100M Fly
-
Grief, Outrage over Grave Desecrations
Four Arrested for Digging Up Hundreds of Graves to Resell the Plots; Little Consolation for Victims
-
Did Private Pool Turn Away Minority Kids?
Pa. Investigating Claim of Discrimination and Racist Comments at Swim Club
-
Political Hotsheet
The Dicey Politics of a Second StimulusRepublicans See an Opening on Stimulus Spending as 2010 Election Looms; Democrats Sticking To Wait-And-See Approach for Now
Read Blog Post -
Econwatch
Warren Buffett Calls for Second StimulusBut Criticism of the First Continues, with One Republican Introducing a Bill to Repeal It
Read Blog Post -
World Watch
G8 Speaks Out Against Violence in IranLeaders Condemn Post-Electoral Violence
Read Blog Post






- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
...
- 7
- next
See all 326 CommentsIf McCain is still happy that he picked Palin, then his bad judgment is compounded by his stubbornness.
Which is why we must denounce contraceptions, and abortion, because it is very obvious this country is very willing to do whatever it takes to make sure these new borns have everything they need to become great additions to our society.
republicans have their heads way up their *****
The bias is obvious for anyone who looks to see what IS rather than what they want to see.
The bias is obvious for anyone who looks to see what IS rather than what they want to see.
blazercoach1, so you''re saying they should have cut out the ''Ahhh'' and printed it instead as ''I think I support the president''s policy''?
Does that really make McCain''s response sound all that better? It still sounds like either McCain 1) wasn''t sure what his position was on this issue or 2) has mixed feelings about this issue.
The issue is whether parents of teens who choose to have *** and end up with STDs or pregnancy should have to shoulder the cost or should it be ''society''s problem'' and subject to an expense free ride on the backs of tax payers. I happen to know of parents who raised their children to abstain and guess what...they didn''t and are now kicking in to support the young parent and baby with the help of programs like WIC. If anything has been proven hands down by now to be a complete failure it''s that passing out condoms and making kids feel like playing around with *** is absolutely fine if they simply use a condom. Putting the responsibility of the issue of teen pregnancy back to the parents, who feel helpless when the government is teaching and encouraging and promoting the very thing they don''t want to happen, where it belongs. But the government seems determined to take over that role as well. Welcome to the mind set of the Democrat.
GOP Candidate''s Record Examined In Wake Of News That VP Pick''s Teen Daughter Is Pregnant
----------------
So CBS decides to examine John McCain''s record in light of his running mate''s personal family issues.
Yet it has still refused to examine Obama''s record in light of the fact that he voted in favor of infanticide while he was with the Illinois Senate. Even when a baby miraculously survives the abortion process, Obama voted to deny it medical care to ensure that it dies.
Interesting what CBS chooses to examine. Obvious evidence of liberal bias.
I have to think greedy boy John is still the bigger Nut since he made the coice of sarah for Vice Nut.
how is this liberal bias, it is the truth.
*** = bad
contraception = bad
under-aged/un-wedded pregnancy = good
providing assistance to above = bad
shotgun wedding for above = good
Posted by armydog
------------------
Thanks for your question. It is liberal bias because even if it is true, the bias of CBS causes it to only report CERTAIN ''true'' facts. Why does it choose to examine McCain''s record on teen pregnancy while ignoring Obama''s?? That is the bias.
McCain may have voted against federal funds being given to teen mothers. But Obama voted to kill babies even if they manage to survive the abortion process.
To be fair and neutral, CBS should examine the full picture. It is fine to look into McCAin''s record, but to do so while simultaneously hiding Obama''s infanticide record is clear evidence of liberal bias.
Other than they must have monstrous egos, to hold their beliefs to be of greater value than the lives and futures of their own children?
Oh - and I suppose you could say that they are probably Republicans...
It''s funny how God works....and brings truth to the surface. this time at least it is in time for the election!
Go Obama / Biden 2008
Did anybody see McLame in Mississippi this weekend and his interview about the Hurricane.
Wow What Carizima McLame has. He is so exciting and enthusatic it is to watch him on TV. McLame is a real attention getter McLame is like watching PAINT DRY.
I bet McLame Flip Flops on this Issue.
I think meternity leave is fine for most other jobs, but unacceptable for president.
For Palin to get pregnant at 44 was poor judgement. For her to carry a fetus to term who will never be a contributing member of society was irresponsible.
There are not good qualities for a VP or president.
What did Palin (former member of AIP along with hubby) say to the AIP Convention earlier this year: "Keep up the good work."
Typical American Family my behind, this lady is a total nutcase.
Federal funding for teen contraception is a federal issue and McCain/Palin/Bush/Cheney have the irresponsible position on that issue.
Federal funding for teen contraception is a federal issue and McCain/Palin/Bush/Cheney have the irresponsible position on that issue.
Posted by gwagener
John McCain has made it an election issue. The history of his votes in the Senate are public knowledge. "His I support the President''s view" is unacceptable. He changes his tune every time he is questioned on anything of substance, hence the name John McSame.
Let''s not forget his running mate is being investigated by her own State for "Trooper gate"
and has a possible Impeachment coming...perfect huh?
------------------------
Posted by yongamerica at 11:18 AM : Sep 02, 2008
They claim Bristol is due in Dec, so she was pregnant when Trig was born in April. Unless some part of the preceeding sentence turns out to be a lie, Trig cannot be Bristols son.
Besides, a Downs sydrome baby is almost unheard of for a 17-year-old mother, but very common for a 44-year-old mother. Which means it was very irresponsible for Palin to get pregnant at 44.
------------------------
Posted by deacon20081 at 11:27 AM : Sep 02, 2008
It is too soon to speculate on the "trooper gate" scandal, but since when do you get impeached for anything when the legislature and governor are both the same party?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by gwagener
==========================
Actually quite common when the mother is very young or very old.
When Sen. John McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate, he portrayed her as a strong opponent of wasteful federal spending. Paul Kane reports this morning that when Palin was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, she employed a lobbying firm to get almost $27 million in federal earmarks for that community 6,700.
[eq]
http://voices.washington
post.com/dot.comments/2008/09/palin_and_
her_earmarks.html?hpid=topnews
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by gwagener
=========================
When you are a maverick that has taken on the establishment, so we dont have to worry about that.
Posted by exhausted3 at 11:33 AM : Sep 02, 2008
Ya hear that, America''s high school gals?
One is OK with the Republicans...they''ve loosened up the definition of what seperates the "poor, unfortunate girls" from "welfare mommas".
Of course, no neocon will address the issue, despite the fact that since then the Vader''s out-of-the-closet daughter has begun a family with her lover.
Now we have another possible VP who, together the John "DRRRRILLLL" McCain, refuses to spend federal money on "the facts of life" education in school, but expects sympathy for her daughter who, apparently didn''t know the "facts of life"; something you would have expected her mother to tell her about since the educational system couldn''t!!!
In light of all this, it makes John Edward''s "gooody-two-shoes" act look like typical VP material.
SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, "FAMILY VALUES", McCain!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by ibsteve2u
======================
SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE HAS "CLASS-ENVY".
President Palin? YIKES LOL!!! Now THAT''s scary!
Here''s another group that Senatot McCain denied funds for, Hurricane Katrina victims:
Though McCain issued a statement the next week (after Katrina) calling on Congress to make sacrifices in order to fund recovery efforts, he was quoted in The New Leader on September 1 [2005] cautioning against over-spending in support of Katrina''s victims. "We also have to be concerned about future generations of Americans," he said. "We''re going to end up with the highest deficit, probably, in the history of this country."
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
...
- 7
- next
See all 326 Comments