Lynn Sweet Corrects McCain On Obama And Sex Ed

Chicago Sun-Times:

While a state senator in Illinois, Barack Obama never championed a bill intended to teach kindergartners "comprehensive sex education," contrary to accusations by John McCain on Wednesday. McCain echoed a sexy--but misleading-- line of attack made last year by Mitt Romney and in 2004 by Alan Keyes, who Obama trounced in their U.S. Senate race.

McCain in an ad released on Wednesday tried to portray Obama as out of the mainstream when it comes to sex education. At issue is an extremist--and incorrect-- interpretation of sex ed legislation Obama backed in the Illinois state Senate.

Read the whole story: Chicago Sun-Times

Comments

[kevingiampa]

One thing is clear from all of this. John McCain supports child molestation. I was shocked, too.

[JJ30]

If you read the comments after Lynn's article, the ad the McCain camp put out there wasn't a total lie. It was a half truth but nevertheless, the ad is disgusting and low. The McCain camp needs to rise above all this negativity but they won't. But it is up to us, the voters, to seek and find the truth and become more educated and aware of the issues this country's faces and the plans both candidates have outlined.

[OBXartist]

I am fed up with the media tiptoeing around McCain's "Sex Ed" ad, and other McCain ads. Today the NY Times published a fact-check piece taking issue with the accuracy of McCain's obscene ad. But, the terminology that the NYT and other media use to debunk the ad is to claim the ad "distorts" and "misrepresents" the proposed legislation, that McCain's accusations are "wrong". Why do the media feel so compelled to be diplomatic? When you use words like "distortion" or "misrepresentation" the inference is that the accusations, while not wholly accurate, have some germ of truth. That's what people walk away with. When you say that McCain got it "wrong", you imply that he simply made a mistake. We all make mistakes, right? So let's call it like it is. These accusations are lies... LIES... Okay? When you exaggerate, that's a distortion. When you insinuate something beyond the actual facts, that's a misrepresentation. But, when you make claims that are wholesale, purposeful fabrications, that's a LIE! Why can't the media say so? I'm tired of the media whining about the level of discourse in this country, when it's the media who perpetuate filth like this.

And, if we find the Obama campaign putting forth lies like this, then nail them, too. We've got to put a stop to this mess! Disinformation campaigns like this one are not just unfairly damaging to a candidate, they are a travesty for the entire nation. It's inexcusable.

[rollingdivision]

Obama supports sex ed for kindergartners. Oh, he does want it to be "age appropriate" and he's ok with parents opting out. So what, who is for age inappropriate sex ed or any educational topic and parents having the right to opt out is normal for most all sex ed. Obama's problem on this issue is most parents do not support the government teaching their children about sex in kindergarten. It's not whether or not it's age appropriate or not whether or not parents can opt out. Obama supports sex ed for kindergartners, most parents don't. BTW sex ed is completely ineffective in preventing illegitimacy and stds.

[Whinger]

GOP and John McCain are extremist liars, fact of life!

Truth is pure, once twisted or embellished it becomes a lie.
I would have thought the devout christian GOP should have known that.

The blind leading the blind!

[Daisy1111]

It may be hard for some of you to believe but many parents don't want teachers talking to their 5 year olds about child molesters. Kindergarten is for songs and drawing and learning your numbers. Seriously -- this is the problem with neo-progressives - you don't realize your ideas about these subjects put you in the minority.

[obamanation31]

McCain has just reached a new low.

[Christabel4]

There is no honor in running this sleazy ad. I would like see McCain and Palin explain, face to face, to Obama's daughters how they could stoop so low. It is shameless. Palin is not the only candidate with children.

[AllenD]

I wish the Obama campaign would run an ad asking why John McCain coddles pedophiles?

[rmcneal103]

So let me get this straight, McCain and Palin are going after the child molester vote with this ad.

[chrissy22]

something about this ad freaks me out

[Freesia2]

It should. It appeals to the lowest common denominator.

And I noticed in Lynn's breakdown that it had provisos such as the education must be age appropriate and that if a parent wanted an opt out (as some would for religious or personal reasons) that was absolutely doable.

Thank you Lynn Sweet.

Shame on the pathologically ambitious John McCain.

[ccmd]

If only they had "age appropriate" sex-education for children in Alaska, Palin wouldnt be a new granny. =X
https://www.voteforchange.com/

[jmpurser]

It was not an "extremist--and incorrect-- interpretation". It was a lie. It was revealed as a lie. And McCain picked it up and used it again.

Quit putting lipstick on that pig.