McCain Fought Teen Pregnancy Programs

WASHINGTON — Republican John McCain, whose running mate disclosed that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, has opposed proposals to spend federal money on teen-pregnancy prevention programs and voted to require poor teen mothers to stay in school or lose their benefits.

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, identified in news reports as Levi Johnston, 18, of Wasilla, a high school hockey player whom Bristol has dated for about one year. 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 a reporter asked McCain whether he thought contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV, he replied: "You've stumped me." McCain said later that he was sure he opposed government spending on contraceptives. Asked whether he would oppose condom distribution if he knew that condoms stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, McCain said he had never gotten into those issues before.

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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.

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Associated Press Writer Steve Quinn contributed to this story from Anchorage, Alaska.

(This version CORRECTS question to role contraceptives play in stopping spread of HIV.)

Comments

[bdschiers]

I am all for keeping candidates children out of the public debate. However, there are two factors about Sarah Palin that are important and not being commented on. First is the fact that Palin has always advocated that sex education be taught in the home, not in school. And she opposes all forms of contraception except abstinence. Maybe if she would have allowed her children to learn the facts of life in school, and maybe if she allowed her children to know that there are more methods of contraceptive than just abstinence, none of this would come into the debate. Unfortunately, Bristol has become a walking reminder that Sarah's archaic ideology just doesn't work in the real world.

[GoCards1978]

Well said. Responsible sex education, which includes abstinence and contraception, needs to be taught in schools.

[Richard22]

The Palin approach to sex education: "Hey kids, try abstinence! If that doesn't work, you make a lovely baby!!"

[Flawless]

The electorate will not vote for a party that has no soul. Jewish teacher and prophet once spoke, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.” The left wing media and Obama's zealots have become a wild pack of wolves attacking a precious young girl who needs our love not hate. This public stoning is reminiscent of the vile behavior of the Taliban who would not hesitate to stone this young girl in the public square. This is America we are better than this , we are a shining city on a hill. The Democrats will never win if we continue to act like this.

[IForgotMyName]

Funny that you mention the Taliban. Because there is not so much difference between the Taliban and the Evangelical Republicans.
And I don't know if you noticed but nobody ever attacked Sarah Palin's daughter. They just criticized her policies.

[tloyd]

Ummm...Ok, I don't know if you're a TROLL or not, but just let me say the Obama has denied and denounced this type of attack on Palin's family time and again, made it clear that not only does he not agree with such things, he would fire on the spot anyone in his campaign who has done so. You demonizing Obama and the Democratic party and the "left wing media" (which just let me say doesn't really exisit, it's a lie touted by the right to make the media afraid to challenge them) is not in line with the facts.
Yes we are better than this, which is why we should elect Obama president, because he doesn't do that kind of campaigning.

[biko6889]

For years the far Right Wing -- which Sarah Palin is a card-carrying member -- has been shoving moral values down our throat! They've based policy on "the Bible", oppose gay rights, women's right to choose, infringe their beliefs on all the rest of us -- judge, throw stones, get on soap boxes and basically are a bunch of pious busy bodies trafficking in everybody else’s life. And FLAWLESS is accusing "the Democrats" of behaving like the Taliban??? We're simply pointing out the blatantly HYPOCRISY that it's suddenly not open for discussion that maybe Sarah Palin possibly failed in the parental guidance department if her 17 year old unwed daughter didn't have the good sense not to get pregnant? Perhaps if she would have been taught the value of contraception??? And why didn't she choose abstinence? Why, “because teenagers make mistakes.” But when a poor black teenage in the inner-city makes a mistake – people like Rush Limbaugh single them out and say the problems of our society are the cause of poor black welfare mothers; but when the same situation happens to a pious, Christian, white bread family in Alaska – no problem. "She's just a kid." Where's the moral outrage now from the Christian Right? If this were Sen. Obama or Sen. Biden's kids – Karl Rove would be ALL OVER IT -- decrying the immorality of the Liberals and how they are destroying the fabric of the country... and you know it!

[FanofPaine]

Oh, so true.

[doctorwang]

O has nothing to do with this. He has called on the media to respect the privacy of Palin's family. O does not own the web. If the McC campaign had come out with info immediately, instead of waiting for some bloggers to expose it, their wouldn't be anywhere near the 'buzz' that you are seeing now. Blame McC, blame Palin, but you can't blame O. Again, he's got nothing to do with it.....

[booksnmore4you]

Oh, the poetic justice abounds.

[scrutiny]

indeed

[suppressed08news]

Election 2008 Obama McCain Spread
RCP National Average 49.0 43.0 Obama +6.0

[swift goat pet for truth]

The issue is NOT pregnancy. It is JUDGEMENT.

McCain showed POOR JUDGEMENT.
The GOP was crowing that the Palin announcement took Obama's speech out of the news cycle.
Are they happy with it taking the GOP Convention out of the news cycle?
Well, maybe with their poor performance, they are.

The Issue is also BASIC INCOMPETENCE.
They did not vet this woman.

[TheWordman]

This is all irrelevant - a lot of people have messed up teens. Some will relate to this, and it doesn't suit us to allow Palin to play victim. The media is certainly swarming around Alaska like flies on you know what as I write. What they turn up about her views, lobbyist cash, bridge to nowhere, Troopergate, etc. will be the real issue, as well as McCain's blatant cow-towing on his first major decision, the questions of his judgment and vetting process.

[DoTheMath]

Brought to you by the anti-abortion, pro-gun lobby, it's that time-tested family-planning technique, the SHOT-GUN WEDDING!

In a new twist on the old standard, the barrel is now aimed directly at the bulging bride.

That's right, fellas, IT'S OPEN SEASON ON WOMEN!

They've go nowhere to run even in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother's life.

When you're packin' weapons like those, boys, who needs guns?

[Higherground]

Um, don't the repubs like to run on values? This story is pandora's box.

Don't open it. the economy and the war, stupid.

[Donnat]

MCAIN'S bad record? Palin's doesn't look too good from all I've read so far...

[T-Bear]

I feel really bad for these kids. It has to be a lot of pressure being thrown into the national scene like this. Bristol now has to deal with the pressure of a decision made by her mother to run for a national office. Everyone is saying that Palin is sticking to her beliefs and her values, but what about her little girl. Do they even want to get married? This topic was brought up in my youth group, yesterday. A lot of the teenagers were really harsh on Sarah Palin. They felt that this was an example of why teaching abstinence should be coupled with sex education and they felt that her views are out dated. The question of morality and faith came up with the decision to have sex, not the fact that she got pregnant. They each felt that she should not have to get married just because she may have made a mistake (they each stipulated that we have no idea if Bristol and Levi want to get married or not). They also did not like the fact that Palin is being portrayed as a hero for standing up for her beliefs but Michelle Obama has been portrayed as radical for being strong and having her own career and identity. The teenagers wanted to know why John McCain and Sarah Palin would want to subject Bristol to this type of exposure. They were more concern with the adults’ judgment than Bristol’s.

- From the mouths of

[keepemhonest]

so much for the Evangelical Rightwinged Zealot abstinence only theory for reducing unwanted teen pregnancy.

[NewArtz]

Sarah Palin's deficit is not her gender, it's her politics. Any advantage women may be given by government is in her gun scope and targeted to be hunted down and destroyed. I understand she's a good shot, and the Vice Presidency certainly decreases her range. You could say she is focused on women's issues and aims to bag her prey.

[malloy56]

So....do you think FIX NEWS will run a nice no parisan banner during its telecasts refering to Bristol as a "Babies Mama"? Fair and Balanced people....FAIR AND BALANCED!

[judyc]

With this reckless pick of a VP--McCain has emerged as the "risky" candidate--not Obama.

[DannyEastVillage]

WHAT?? don't you GET IT? McCain was a POW for five years!

[AnotherToerag]

This puts Palin and McCain in a tough position.

That said, I applaud Bristol Palin on this one for being upfront about it. That girl has got to be scared as all hell and she needs support at a time like this. I find it appalling that her mother would accept the VP nod when doing so would mean that she wouldn't be able to support her daughter like she needs to at a time like this.

...and to think the GOP considers themselves the 'family values' party...

[OutragedMom]

I feel sorry for this child. She has been thrown to the wolves by her own mother's ambition. We really don't know how Bristol feels about anything. Her mother is making all the decisions.