McCain Sex-Ed Ad Launched; Obama Camp: "Perverse"

John McCain is out with a response ad to Barack Obama's attacks today on his education policy, accusing the Democratic nominee of not accomplishing a single education-related goal other than to promote "comprehensive sex education" to kindergartners. Seriously, it's come to this.

The spot, titled "Education," comes after the two candidates went back and forth over education issues most of Tuesday. It is an attack the Obama campaign should be ready for. The same lines were used against the Senator during his run for office in 2004 by challenger Alan Keyes, and were brought up during the primary by Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

In essence, Obama supported "age appropriate" sex-education for children as a means of teaching them what was proper or inproper touching, as well as to protect them against pedophiles, his campaign has said. Used in the context of the McCain campaign ad, however, Obama's stance becomes another one of those cultural issues that seems designed to alienate the Illinois Democrat from more socially moderate voters.

And very quickly, the Obama campaign came out with a hard hitting response, pointing to a series of education accomplishments made by Obama, and calling McCain "perverse" for the latest attack.

"It is shameful and downright perverse for the McCain campaign to use a bill that was written to protect young children from sexual predators as a recycled and discredited political attack against a father of two young girls - a position that his friend Mitt Romney also holds. Last week, John McCain told Time magazine he couldn't define what honor was. Now we know why," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.

Read more: McCain's Ad Cites Articles That Rip Him Worse Than Obama

Here is the script of that ad that the McCain folks say will be airing in "key" states.

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Education Week says Obama "hasn't made a significant mark on education".

That he's "elusive" on accountability.

A "staunch defender of the existing public school monopoly".

Obama's one accomplishment?

Legislation to teach "comprehensive sex education" to kindergartners.

Learning about sex before learning to read?

Barack Obama.

Wrong on education. Wrong for your family.

Comments

[voteobamaBiden2008]

The ad and Senator McCain's endorsement are an
in cognizant attack on the innocent children who have
suffered crimes of sexual predators.

Senator McCain's advertisement shows little regard for thoughtful
politics and exemplifies the maverick attitude of shoot first
and ask questions later.

Senator McCain apparently leads by the adage, "Ignorance is
bliss". If Senator McCain, took the time to learn about the
child sexual abuse issue, he would have been enlightened
by the following facts:

The statistics are shocking

* 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18.
* 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18.
* 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet.
* The median age for reported abuse is 9 years old.

Programs like Good Touch / Bad Touch (trademark) run by
childhelp.org teach children to recognize and report sexual
abuse. Education is one of the key means of reducing this
heinous crime. Protection of children is a universal goal, to
which we should all strive. Because Senator McCain endorses this
advertisement he has bartered the safety of our children for his
own political gain.

Many Americans have been unfortunately affected by this
important issue either directly or indirectly.
Please give consideration of this issue when deciding
the course of the next four years.

Senator McCain espouses accountability and personal
responsibility. I encourage Senator McCain to have
conviction in his words; honor in his actions; truth in his
thoughts and to denounce the

[mach]

Whats untruthful about the ad..?

heres the bills verbage:

Each class or course in comprehensive sex
14 education offered in any of grades K 6 through 12 shall
15 include instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted
16 infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread
17 of HIV AIDS. Nothing in this Section prohibits instruction in
18 sanitation, hygiene or traditional courses in biology

[llylabrat]

8 (a) No pupil shall be required to take or participate in
9 any class or course in comprehensive sex education if the
10 pupil's his parent or guardian submits written objection
11 thereto, and refusal to take or participate in such course or
12 program shall not be reason for suspension or expulsion of
13 such pupil.

[Lulu82]

Wow.

I really feel for you, Americans. If I lived over there, I would be tearing my hair out over this bullshit. Over here in the UK, I don't think that ad would even be allowed.

I knew the facts of life before I could read. And guess what? I've never had an unwanted pregnancy, never had to have an abortion, never took the morning after pill. If Bristol Palin had been taught sex ed at a young age, perhaps she wouldn't be in her current situation.

[ActivistModerate]

PALIN AND HER HUSBAND ELOPED FOLLOWED BY THE BIRTH OF THEIR SON TRACK EIGHT MONTHS LATER.

THIS CANDIDATE, AND HER FAMILY, ARE THE POSTERCHILD'S FOR ABSTINENCE ONLY EDUCATION.

PHARISEES.

[edwarvir]

John McCain doesn't know what he wants or supports. He doesn't
have one clear thought on any issue. He doesn't tell you what
he would do differently, or why he thinks it wrong. Since when does
arming your children with the proper information become something
to criticize AND to suggest that Senator O is advocating anything
other than arming our children with information so that they will be
safe is GOING FAR BEYOND THE PALE when I met him in the
debates if I was Senator O i would make him explain how he
reached this misleading decision. I would stay on that One subject
until he did.

[lapdogs]

You betcha McCain is against teaching young children how to identify - and get away from - a pedafile person.

This ad proves it.

And why should he want to protect kids? After all, his Grand Ol' Party is full of pedafiles.

46 REPUBLICAN PEDOPHILES
http://dfa.meetup.com/boards/thread/2075382

[Libmom]

Did any of you read the bill? Too broad! I dont have enough faith in teachers that you wont get some wacked out liberal thinking my 6 year old needs to know about sex and transmitted diseases! Ok for my 16 year old, but not my 6 year old! Once again Obama followers. You are wrong....so what does that say about you that you dont even know what bills he passes...maybe he should have voted present on that one too! Feel free to read the bill http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=3&GA=93&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=99&GAID=3&LegID=734&SpecSess=&Session=

[valleygal]

Here is the newest ad from Planned Parenthood setting the record straight:

http://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/

[drjehr]

The GOP slime machine at work. How anyone can vote for them after the last 8 years is beyond me. The only way McCain can win is to convince people he's a Republican - but not a Republican. Hopefully there are enough people with the intelligence to see through their lies and elect Democrats to the White House, Congress and Senate, with large enough majorities so that sweeping CHANGE can happen.

Their campaign is "more of the same"; why would anyone believe that their governing wouldn't be "more of the same."

[Mybunchofgrapes]

McCain is called out on his political ads ...the statements made are from privilege minded republicans that actually do not give a damn about what direction this nation should go. I swear I am looking at a Cheney moment.

[SENATORCALLENBOWE]

WHATS THE BIG DEAL? I LOST MY VIRGINITY IN PRE-SCHOOL TO MY TEACHER :) WHATS WRONG WITH THAT?

[Bullfrog]

OK, Once again, the Obama Pushers are completly missing the point. Its about who does the educating, the parents or the teachers.

[thepoliticalcat]

It really doesn't matter who does the education. Not all parents are comfortable with, or equipped to, or even want to, teach their children this stuff. Given the high rates of child abuse, it is imperative that children know the difference between good and bad in this arena.

[alexis d]

Are you suggesting teachers shouldn't talk to their students about what is appropriate and inappropriate treatment, and what they should do if someone's treating them inappropriately?

[CJ1]

Oh, yeah, like the bang-up job Sarah Palin did teaching HER daughter??? Riiiight....Teach it in school or we have to shell out tax money tt feed and house and educate the mistakes, etc.!

[ddb]

Sometimes -- most of the time -- when there is sexual abuse of a child, the perpetrator IS a parent or family member. How likely are these parents to teach their children about inappropriate touching? Even under normal circumstances, education is a partnership between parents and schools. It is not an either/or thing. What about drug education? Do you think that is ONLY the parents' responsiblity? Only the schools' responsibility? Doesn't it make sense that the best outcomes occur when children get eduction from all sources?

[Pete Ross]

"A disturbing fact continues to surface in sex abuse research. The first
best predictor of abuse is alcohol or drug addiction in the father. But
the second best predictor is conservative religiosity, accompanied by
parental belief in traditional male-female roles. This means that if you
want to know which children are most likely to be sexually abused by their
father, the second most significant clue is *whether or not the parents
belong to a conservative religious group with traditional role beliefs
and rigid sexual attitudes*. (Brown and Bohn, 1989; Finkelhor, 1986; Fortune,
1983; Goldstein et al, 1973; Van Leeuwen, 1990). (emphasis in original)
["Sexual Abuse in Christian Homes and Churches", by Carolyn
Holderread Heggen, Herald Press, Scotdale, PA, 1993 p. 73]

[knowleged]

If the only thing he sposored in education is sex ed for children he has to answer for that. It's not the schools job to teach that to kids to begin with it's the family's responsibility. How can you people run around calling people liars when the facts are in front of your face?

[thepoliticalcat]

Then you must not know (or have bothered to find out) that he has done a great deal on education issues. You can call a person a liar when they state something as a fact that is not true. The Oldy Mc Moldy campaign stated sex education as the Senator's sole accomplishment in this field. That is not true, i.e., it is a lie.

Senator O has nothing to answer for. Senator M has to answer for his lies, though.

[CJ1]

Excuse me? Did you read...oh, lemme guess...Creationist reading, maybe? creationist logic, too? You repugs lie so bad you don't even know the truth when he runs up and bites you re your pinoccio noses

[LM1045]

I don't think "knowleged" can read. Of course, as his name implies, he must imagine that he's a genius.

[bobpomeroy]

I noted one of the pundits stating rather smugly that they believed the ad was "factually correct". I thought we had settled that rape was not sex, and by implication, child molestation as well. What I mean is that this blonde female pundit in her smugness was touting child molesting as sex. She, and others making this claim about a child protective law should have their faces rubbed in it, but it apparently left more reasonable voices so agog as to be speechless. Come on Candy -- get with it!

[simkmer]

I get fired up every time I see and hear Obama talk. He was fabulous last night on the Presidential forum on service. One of my favorite things about Obama is that he knows how to inspire. This is one of my favorite things that Barack said last night: "In inspiring young people to serve is something that the President is uniquely positioned to do." Thats what I am talking about!!!