Virginia GOP Candidate's Slogan Taken From Sexual Openness Campaign

The Republican Party's gubernatorial candidate in Virginia Bob McDonnell has chosen as a campaign slogan, a phrase used by the Coalition for Positive Sexuality (CPS) to promote "irreverent and unabashed sex education" for teens.

The former Attorney General, heading into the general election following an un-opposed primary, announced that he would be traveling the state on what he deemed the "Just Say Yes" tour. When he accepted the GOP nomination on May 30, he used the same phrase repeatedly to chastise the opposition as a bunch of do-nothing pessimists.

* "When it comes to promoting energy independence: They'll just say NO, we'll just say YES!"

* "When it comes to keeping Virginia competitive: They'll just say NO. We'll just say YES!'

* "When it comes to improving our schools: They'll just say NO. We'll just say YES!"

It is a rhetorical flourish that has been compared to Barack Obama's "Yes We Can," used during the 2008 president campaign.

The only problem is, well, Google.

Type in "Just Say Yes" into the search engine and the results that come back don't exactly resemble the platform of a GOP gubernatorial candidate from Virginia. The phrase is the title of a group that helps equip "youth to lead healthy and successful lives." It also, however, is the slogan for CPS' safe sex and sexual openness campaign.

"Just Say Yes is about having a positive attitude towards sexuality -- gay, straight, bisexual or whatever," reads the site. "It's about saying 'yes' to sex you do want, and 'no to sex you don't. It says there's nothing wrong with you if you decide to have sex, and nothing wrong with you if you decide not to."

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"You have the right to make your own choices, and to have people respect them," it goes on. "Sex is enjoyable when everyone involved is into it, and when everyone has the information they need to take care of themselves and each other."

The Google search -- on which, at this point, McDonnell's slogan does not have a high rating -- also brings up a song by the recording artist Avant, titled "Don't Say No, Just Say Yes." The lyrics read:

Open your heart and let me pour my loving Inside of you (...inside of you) You make me feel like living and breathing again I wanna touch you (...i wanna touch you)

Lest there be any doubt, McDonnell has touted abstinence education legislation in the past. So this is likely the first, and last time, he will be associated with the Coalition for Positive Sexuality, or, for that matter, Avant.

If anything, the episode reflects how in the age of Google, the difficulties in finding a trendy campaign slogan without complicating factors (Obama was accused of stealing his "Yes We Can" phrase from, among others, Bob the Builder) has drastically increased.

(h/t: The Shad Plank)

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Comments

[823redhorse]

McDonnell is portrayed in ads in Virginia as the leader of the state GOP who turned down the unemployment part of the stimulus money. Everyone in this state has a friend, or knows someone who is unemployed. Because of his actions people in this state will only receive an additional 7 weeks unemployment.
How popular do you think he will be among voters?
It will still be a tight election because there are alot of Virginia Republicans who are really mad.

[frogluv73]

They took the term "teabagging" and tried to make it something else. They're not that smart.

[Rog49Thomas]

He claims to be the "jobs candidate" who will promote jobs for Virginians by keeping Virginia's strong right to work law and opposing EFCA.

He's also for reducing the size of government, low regulation, and low taxes.

As I'm sure many of you will recognize many of these same policies were employed by Former President Pan to take our economy to its current fine state.

[twb6yz]

Need some better fact checking here.

"The former Attorney General, heading into the general election following an un-opposed primary. . . "

Actually he was not nominated by a primary. He was nominated at the statewide GOP convention. Doesn't really change the context of the article but it is sloppy.

[Phenlandia]

Proposal for a New Law: Every election cycle, each candidate spins the Wheel of Slogans, a giant wheel with corporate sponsored spots all the way round. Whichever product the wheel lands on, that product's current marketing slogan is now the official slogan of the candidate's campaign. Also, they get to stamp their logo on the candidate's tie, jacket, and hairpiece. That way, during the debates, whenever we catch ourselves staring to believe what some sweaty old man is saying, we notice the stamp on his hairpiece and remember it's all just a show.

[tel8034]

Being "Cool" and being "Republican" are not synonymous ............. So why do GOP candidates even try to be "Cool"?

It just makes them look even more out of touch with the people.

[LiberalForever]

Do Republicans have s ex?

[confidance government]

je vais baiser la GOP jusqu'à ce qu'elle l'aime

[Tommygun264]

Constantly, but only shrouded in guilt and shame.

[vortac2101]

Yes, sometimes in airport men's rooms.

[Rog49Thomas]

Brother Bob has 4 or 5 kids so the answer would appear to be yes.

[vortac2101]

That only proves that Mrs. McDonnell has sex.

[Whitley2009]

Yes, LiberalForever, Republicans do indeed have sex. Here in South Carolina we have a law that requires all married couples to have sex in the missionary position only. Recently, a Republican state legislator tried to get a bill through the S.C. legislature which would make the selling of all sexual objects, dildoes, DVDs, and pornographic books, etc. a FELONY offense carrying up to 10 years prison time and $5,000 in fines. Republipunk Rick Santorum wants all sex outside the bounds of matrimony in the Holy Mother Church, and in anything other in the missionary fashion between married couples, to be made illegal and carry the same criminal penalties as criminal incest and other sexual violations. Yes, Republican do have sex - sort of. Currently, most Republipunks in public office are undergoing a pandemic of impotency caused by the malady we call Obamaitis. You can read all about the Republipunk's sexual frustration in my new book Sean's Handbook of Fascism on Amazon.com. Whitley Hodges

[memphisviking]

I guess I'm showing my age, but when he repeats over and over, "They'll just say NO. We'll just say YES!," I keep thnking about Nancy Reagan's anti-drug slogan, "Just say NO."

I wonder if more people will think of him saying yes to drugs or yes to sex.

[confidance government]

yes to both. have a good time folks.

[BadDayInProgress]

LOL...The word "they" in the three phrases actually refers to the GOP, the party of NO.

[mariegachelin]

"No" to teenage pregnancy
"No" to high school drop outs
"No" to drugs
These are not bad to say no to. Everyone agrees I'm sure.

[eirrac]

This guy's clueless!

[BassMent]

I always enjoy when the comedy writes itself.

[pwiecek]

So when do you stop laughing long enough to take a breath these days?

[SuzyQ08]

This is too funny. LOL!

[confidance government]

Maybe this is his subtle way of admitting abstinence only sex ed is B$.

Either that, or he is trying to compete with Biden in the gaffe game.

[Travis bdboy]

Who the heck is advising this guy.....sounds like the incompetent people that advised McCain about Palin

[Horus45]

Probably is!

[johnthomson33545]

Teabagging, anyone? No wonder the gop is shrinking.