Birth Control, Viagra Question Makes McCain Squirm (VIDEO)

McCain's Straight Talk Express hit an uncomfortable road block yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reports:

While John McCain often embodies an anything-goes attitude when talking to reporters, it doesn't mean some subjects can't make him sweat--say, birth control.

A female Los Angeles Times reporter inquired today about comments made earlier this week by McCain campaign adviser Carly Fiorina, the former head of Hewlett Packard.

At a breakfast with reporters, Fiorina suggested that individuals-and women in particular-be given more flexibility to determine what their health insurance plans should cover. "There are many health insurance plans that will cover Viagra but won't cover birth-control medication. Those women would like a choice," she observed.

When McCain was asked for his position on the issue, he said--with a nervous laugh-"I certainly do not want to discuss that issue."

The reporter pressed. "But apparently you've voted against--"

"I don't know what I voted," McCain said.

The reporter explained that McCain voted against a bill in 2003 that would have required health insurance companies to cover prescription birth control. "Is that still your position?" she persisted.

During the awkward exchange, with several lengthy pauses, McCain said he had no immediate knowledge of the vote. "I've cast thousands of votes in the Senate," McCain said, then continued: "I will respond to--it's a, it's a..."

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"Delicate issue," the reporter offered, to a relieved laugh from McCain.

"I don't usually duck an issue, but I'm--I'll try to get back to you," he explained.

[WATCH]

If McCain's still having memory problems, NARAL Pro-Choice American can tell him that he actually voted against birth control coverage twice.

Comments

[patriotic008]

what ticks me off even more is I go to CNN and they have half-a$$ed this story so much - they trivialize it and only include snippets of McCains reaction to this very relevant question.

We cannot let the media pick this POTUS - they did that in 2000 and 04 and we all can see how far that got us

[japobere]

Yeah, they have NOTHING about what Gramm said about us "whining" about the recession. Know what they do have? "Obama's bitter controversy resurfaces­." Then something about Jesse Jackson. It's a joke these days.

[Raymondf]

It's tough for him to answer questions when it comes to age. He probably takes Viagra so he can keep up with a young wife.

[loria]

I don't need that vision stuck in my head.

[ErnestineBass]

Yep. UGH...grue­some.

[ChiGuy]

She ain't so young.
He face is pulled tighter than a snare drum.

[Kenji]

No wonder he likes to beat her in public! (Figuratively)

[olivia]

She's 54, though she looks much older imo.

[Raymondf]

54 year old women still like to have fun. My wife is 60 and I'm 65 she's wild and I don't need viagra.

[LeftLeanWing]

He probably takes V iag ra just so he can P E E

[Seytom]

For goodness sakes, give me a break. Someone comes up with an inane supposed inequity that involves a lot of complicated issues, and he's supposed to momentarily have complete mastery of this? If you want to know why are politicians are so evasive, duck real exposure to the media and ususally provide nothing but pablum, this is a pretty good example.

I'm voting for O'Bama, but would really like to see an end to this kind of gotcha, entertainment based coverage, that gets lapped right up on the blogoshere.

[loria]

Come on. This isn't a one time vote. It's a voting pattern that goes well beyond one vote. This is a gotcha moment. He knows where he stands but doesn't want to say it.

http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/election-pr/06062008_mccainbc.html

[bbbear]

Exactly. Also this is a guy who chased and bedded a variety of women.. Yet his response seems childishly shy.... IMO, it's either contrived or senile.

[HHarvey]

Yes Seytom, he should have mastery of this. People are voting for him as a potential POTUS it is very relevant that he should remember his positions, especially since he is touting his experience over Obama in these matters. This is why the media asks the questions they do. I didn't think it was a tough question but obviously he didn't want to be painted into a corner. This shows a lot of non-finesse on his part that makes me suspicious of his lack of intelligence and incoherent quick thinking ability.

[Viper]

Not very complicated at all... The worlds population is above the level it can sustain. Talking about energy, the environment or food shortages w/o family planning is a waste of time.

The same groups against abortion are also against contraception. Most contraceptive methods including birth control bils dont prevent fertilization as much as they do the egg attaching to the uterus ( thats an abortion).

Originally when the Pill came out states passed laws that only single woman could buy them, not a married woman. Its only been 50 years since then.

The issue is very simple. As simple as the repug platform that would not allow a 13 year old girl rapped by her father to have an abortion.


Regards

[kjlowryTX]

Any woman that votes for a republican while knowing their platform..­.either hates herself and has no respect for others of her gender, or is terribly confused and ignorant.

About McCain...w­hat good is experience when he is incapable of remembering his? He is a frightening possibility as President.­..when I see him making jokes about killing innocent citizens of other countries, laughing and singing songs about bombing them, the look on his face makes me cringe! The man is an insane warmonger!

[MaineJayne]

I'm guessing you're a guy because I don't know too many women who feel birth control is an "innane" topic. McCain is running for POTUS, the highest office of the land. He obviously feels he is the best man for the job, having put himself out there. How is expecting him to have a clue about issues he has voted on a number of times inappropriate?
I recently saw another instance where he was touting his wonderful VA support and his 'great' voting record on VA issues in a recent townhall meeting. When questioned about and confronted with his actual voting record, he sidestepped the answer, instead claiming credit for the recent VA bill passed, that he fought agains all the way. When the Vietnam Veteran who asked the origional question wouldn't accept his sidestep and instead started reading McCains voting record on VA issues to him, McCain talked down to the guy, denied the record was true, and utterly dismissed the guy. Give me a break. If he is gonna base his election on his vast senatorial experience, then his darn well better know what that experience is ie:his voting record!

[JimMan35]

It's not inane at all. It's linked to the anti-abortion groups' strengthening their position that not only is abortion wrong and should be illegal, it is also wrong to disrupt a woman's reproductive cycle with birth control.

These are the folks who brought us the abstinence-only government funded programs that are an abysmal failure. They are the ones who don't want our precious children to know about condoms. They want women to not be able to even PREVENT all pregnancy because, and this is what they really say, it gets in the way of God's Plan. People should submit joyfully to God's Plan in their lives and welcome any children that "He" sends their way.

These folks are strongly influencing the legislative process and those wanting to get elected continue to cave and pander to this nutjob wing of the Republican Party. So now we have Republican politicians waffling around on their stance on birth control. It's INSANE, not inane.

[SouthFloridaDem]

For crissake, this isn't 1789. (McCains birth year.)

[mary82]

he,he,he

[sheikwil]

PumaAnn, you can't just abort a baby when it's beyond the time limit, just because you are stressed, aborting at 5 months is not an abortion, it's a full baby by then. Obama was talking about late term abortions.

[ChiGuy]

Gosh...I hope he wouldn't stumble that much when he got the 3 a.m. phone call.

[ErnestineBass]

I can hear it now...

"WHO is this? Who? Where am I?"

[loria]

or - D****it. Do you know what time it is? Do you know who I am? How dare you wake me at this hour. Call me back in the morning and I'll decide if I want to talk with you then. And, don't ever call me at 3am again.

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

How the **** would I know who I'm bombing today???

[Viper]

Apparantly he has more problems killing eggs and sperm cells than he does entire nations of fully developed beings.

Regards

[loria]

That was my thought too. He values the unborn all the way back to the egg and the sperm. But those Iraqi and Iranian babies don't have quite the same value to him and to the many who are pro life and pro war.

[frankel1205]

No kiddin, truegreen. Any man who would call his wife a c*%t doesn't care about birth control, however, he would care that men get their Viagra. I hope all the Hillary supporters, who claimed they were going to vote for McCain, now that Obama is the nominee, will watch this. Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face......

[Raymondf]

Yes, but I hear that paying of Hillary's debt isn't going so well.

[RealityBaseCamp]

I do love those stills. He's trying to remember how to put on a condom.

[loria]

LOL

[sleepless]

maybe his last dose of viagra is kicking in. I just made myself sick.

[Daly]

The guy has voted against birth control at every chance and he knows it.

http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/election-pr/06062008_mccainbc.html

[loria]

If he can't remember how he voted, maybe his staff should show him this article to refresh his memory.

[shelobo]

His' staff 'may be in the limp mode at the moment ?And can't remember which way is UP or which way is down ?I can't believe I just typed that ,errrr wait ,I don't REMEMBER what I typed.

[bola47]

so, all of you women who want to vote for mcsame because hillary lost, what do you say to this?

[shelobo]

I,m a Woman but I can't remember if I voted Dem or Gop,since I am an Independant "I think" I don't use B/C at my age it would be a waste of money.....­.but if those little pills come in flavors I might flip on that.

[Daly]

I am not sure of flavors, but tey do come in pretty colors. Will that do? :)

[keepemhonest]

RnR - you're being disingenuous. Many large health insurance companies that DO cover Viagra and DO NOT cover birth control pills. THAT'S THE POINT!

Point is: IF: A health insurance company covers Viagra THEN: That same company SHOULD cover birth control.

McCain voted AGAINST that logic.

Since McCain cannot remember his voting record (again) - The Reporter asked McCain his "opinion" on that logic & McCain said, "I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT TO GIVE YOU AN INFORMED ... ah ah ... ANSWER.."

Digest McCain's quote, "I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT IT TO GIVE YOU AN INFORMED ... ah ah ... ANSWER.."
a) McCain knew enough about "IT" to cast a NO VOTE (that he forgot.)

b) McCains72 year old man, that fact alone, just being a 72 year old man by itself --McCain SHOULD have formed an opinion about "IT" by now.

McCains dodging his own voting record again!

Partial list McCain dodged and/or LIED about his voting record.
* GI Bill (6/2008)
* Medicare Bill (7/9/2008)
* McCain/Kennedy Immigration
* McCain/Feingold finance reform
* Bush Tax Cuts
* Vets Hospital(VA) Funding in 2003,2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
* HIS OWN AMENDMENT to outsource our national security contracts with China & France.
* Abortion
* FISA - McCain says he is FOR the Bill & didn't even show up to vote. Accused Obama of being against the Bill even though, Obama (unfortunately) voted FOR THE BILL.

NO ONE can trust McCain - like Bush, he lies with a straight face.

[shelobo]

He does not lie with a straight face ,haven't you been watching the 'Body Language' experts ,McCain BLINKS constantly when he's stuped or lieing or he's just can't Remember anything! Watch the man closely ,note his BLINKING !! It gets really intense when he says the famous "My Friends"

[Gina322]

How anyone would ever consider voting for this corpse is beyond me. I will never understand how you still have 44% of the country who still support this fool.

[HHarvey]

because there are a majority of republicans who are single issue voters and would rather praise the lord than put food on their tables to feed their families. Poor republicans would rather starve than have a black man or a democrat who could possibly improve their economic situation. Voting against your economic stability is bat S*ht crazy.

[loria]

HHarvey,
Unfortunately, there are some on the left that will do the same. This isn't just and issue with the Republicans. It is happening with dems too.

[LPK]

If he sweats this much over a question on birth control, imagine the state of mind this man would be in when face with a question about going to war?

[camipco]

If only the questions about going to war would cause him to pause. His answer to that will be "yes" without hesitation.

The problem here though isn't that it takes him so long to answer. I don't mind a thoughtful candidate. The problem is that his real answer, as shown by his voting record, is "I'm against birth control because I think the votes of a handful of religious extremists are worth more to my campaign than slowing the spread of AIDS or preventing unwanted pregnancy.­"

[rabrophy]

He has no problem talking about and supporting KILLING babies, but gets all flustered when talking about MAKING babies
LOL

[edwarvir]

Enough Already!!!!!! There is no WAY I could take four years of this.

[smilodon1]

Lack of birth control gave us Bush and McCain.

[MACS]

.
ABORTIONS gone bad???
.