Brit Hume and National Review Online: Keeping the Sex Ed for Kindergartners Lie Alive

What kind of guy would write, "Here's what the law says," when everyone else in the media read the actual words, which say the opposite? Somebody who can't read? A pathological liar who wants to get caught? Somebody who lacks the capacity to feel embarrassment or shame? A magazine editor with utter contempt for his readers?

Byron York is that kind of guy. In the National Review Online, he devoted 2100 words to explain why, "On Sex-Ed Ad, McCain Is Right." And as surely as the dusk follows the dawn, York's deception was echoed by Brit Hume on Fox News:

"It is widely agreed in the mainstream media that John McCain falsely accused Barack Obama of supporting a bill that provided sex education for kindergartners. The McCain camp made the assertion in a campaign ad released last week.

"The Washington Post called the ad 'dishonest and deceptive,' and The New York Times said, 'At most, kindergartners were to be taught the dangers of sexual predators.'

"But it appears those critics have not read the bill, which Obama backed as an Illinois state senator in 2003. It says curriculum in 'any of grades K-12 shall include instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV.'

"The Obama camp maintains the bill was intended to teach kindergartners only about inappropriate touching, but Byron York at The National Review writes, 'The 'touching' provision did not have the prominence that team Obama has suggested it had, and certainly wasn't the bill's main purpose.'"

York even hyperlinked the text of the bill in his NRO piece. As you can read for yourself, the bill applies identical standards and guidelines to three related and overlapping areas of instruction: Sex Education, Family Life, and the Illinois Comprehensive Health Education Program. And three times, the bill explicitly states:

"All course material and instruction in classes that teach sex education and discuss sexual activity or behavior shall be age and developmentally appropriate."

York ignores this language and suggests that the statute's wording imposes no such limitation. Also, and this distinction is probably too subtle for anyone at NRO, the statute does not direct that sex education be taught, only that classes that teach sex education follow certain guidelines. Of course, members of the legitimate press read the statute last week and confirmed for themselves that McCain's ad was dishonest.

York's analytic sleight of hand was repeated verbatim by Hume:

"The 'touching' provision did not have the prominence that team Obama has suggested it had, and certainly wasn't the bill's main purpose."

This is nonsensical in two respects. First, a legal statute is not a marketing brochure or a political speech. All of the words in a statute are controlling -- whether or not some nitwit like York deems them "prominent." Finally, the "prominence" of instruction to kindergartners was an invention of McCain's ad, not the Obama campaign.

Comments

[booker52]

Since this McCain ad came out and proven a lie the media has played it more then if the McCain camp had paid for air time!!! Then the GOP idiots then try and defend this ad!! Factcheck.org has said it's a lie, but is anyone listening???

[radiclib]

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Yes, of course, there is a propaganda factory in operation that includes York, National Review, Hume, Fox and all the shouters on right-wing radio. They have no ethical standards; they throw mud at the wall to see what will stick. It will get much worse in the next few weeks. Tell your friends to get out and vote the Republicans into oblivion.
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[yorkie]

THIS IS SHAMEFUL ..WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY JR. WOULD HAVE NEVER ALLOWED THIS DISTORTION AND ABSURD STORY TO RUN!!!! FRAUDS LIKE YORK AND HUME ARE LOSING CREDIBILITY FAST...HUM­E IS STEPPING DOWN AS A HOST AS HE'S AGING AND LOST WHATEVER CRED HE HAD LEFT FROM HIS ABC NEWS DAYS..... WHAT A SAD COMMENTARY THE NRO IS IN WITH GARBAGE BEING WRITTEN AND PASSED AS CREDIBLE CONSERVATIVE THOUGHT AND STORIES ETC...!!!! THE NRO WAS ONCE A SOLID INTERESTING PLACE OF REAL THOUGHT ,AN EXCHANGE OF CONSERV IDEAS ETC.... BUCKLEY SHOULD HAVE INSTALLED HIS SON CHISTOPHER BUCKLEY AS IT'S EDITOR AND PUBLISHER!

[fishretired]

On a positive note, the american public was smart enough to see a lie right from the get go and this whole sex ed add of McCain seems to my eyes to have backfired on McCain. Could be other items on top of this, but the lies seem to becoming common and the public is clearly taking note.

[NKISI]

I am not sure why people should worry about anything that comes from the GOP, McCain or his supporters. They made it clear from the outset that they can only win this election through lies and deception - this is evidenced from many commentators. These persons must be treated with total derision. Listening to Senator McCain's words and shifts - anything they say must be taken with a pinch of salt.

[PumaAnn]

The issue was actually about O's smear ads, that Mac is dishonorable. That charge is ridiculous. Mac's ad is no more misleading than many of O's ads. In fact, I agree with Rove that both candidates should be very careful right now. They have maxed out the negativity factor with the public. If they keep this up, the public will be loathe to vote for either of them.

[chuk98death]

Don't know why I am responding to u but...did u see the CNN fact check on the ads that Obama has up as opposed to McCain. Obama is charged with at times leaving out info and or hyperbolizing some claims. McCain on the other hand LIED in many of his ad and some of what he said.

Ve3ry important distinctions

[imfedup]

One of the things they charge Obama with is claiming that McCain says we may be in Iraq for 100 years. For some reason, they say Obama twists what McCain meant to say. McCain apparently MEANT to say that we could have a presence there as we have in other countries, even after the active conflict is over. I have seen that clip, and it sure sounds exactly like what Obama said it did to me. Anyone else notice that?

[KyotoProto]

Wow. Someone points out the distortions and outright lies, which are repeated ad absurdum in the media and suddenly it's called a smear by the same outlets. Negative campaigning is apparently telling the truth on the one side. When responding with a truthful statement about an obvious lie is equated to telling that lie and both are deemed "negative" campaigning, then those self-appointed experts on negativity need to have a cleansing enema because they are so obviously full of it.

[Gidster]

There is a HUGE difference in less than full disclosure and fabrication!
Political ads usually are all a bit misleading saying the candidate believes A when the truth is he believes A and B, that is politics at work, slimy as it is.

Fabrication, or distortions of fact is not in the same league. Lies are just that.

[maxfax]

This is not a surprise, they have nothing else. Are they going to say what geniuses McCain and Palin are?

[Rashnak]

I read the bill- I agree with McCain- sex education for kids age 5 is what this bill does.

[Waltb31]

Then you need to go back to kindergarten to learn how to read.

[Palmz]

sure you do.

Here is your last chance to repent.

Vote Obama. Clear your conscience.

[Neff]

Legislative drafting is a tricky craft, but you should be able to figure this out. As Fiderer notes, nothing in the language says sex ed must be taught, only that if it is, it has to conform to certain guidelines. One of those guidelines in that it needs to address STD prevention, as noted in the first paragraph, but that provision is subject to the further provision that all teaching be age-appropriate. Age-appropriate instruction on STD prevention for kids who are too young to be voluntarily sexually active is a whole lot of nothing.

If this interpretation seems strained, well, that's how legislative language goes. You might note the following passage, which puts it together a little more clearly: "Whenever such courses of instruction are provided in any of grades K through 12, then such courses also shall include age appropriate instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including the prevention, transmission and spread of HIV AIDS." Again, you don't have to teach it, but if you do, you must include STD instruction, but on an age-appropriate basis.

[Gidster]

Then you read it poorly.
Age appropriate. That is the key phrase! Did you teach your 5 year old what bad touching is? or stranger danger? This is meant to be an institutional reinforcement of those lessons.
Age appropriate!

[contemporarymom]

WHO determines age appropriate? This is what you continue to overlook.

Age appropriate is no guarantee that it would be something the majority would agree with.

So what happened, why didn't it go through?

[pkafin]

Perhaps you are not familiar with how to read a bill.

If something is required to be "appropriate" regarding age or developmental, then compliance with the requirements of the bill is judged with extreme laxity.

[CL696]

And remember MC wants a 100 year war too!

[Zigi]

If you read the whole curriculum there are many things for conservatives to be worried about. It suggests things like some families are not the traditional man, woman, baby. So it will be threatening.

THe curriculum specifically says that the teachers are not supposed to just read the concepts to the kids. The curriculum gives teachers the tools they need to address topics age appropriately that will lead to children growing up into functional healthy adults. And of coarse children need to be taught about reporting inappropriate touching.

Kids are bombarded with sexual images and pressure constantly in our society. It is shocking, some of the things I have heard elementary students saying. They didn't learn it from school, but from their parents and media and their hormones that are kicking in earlier and earlier due at least in part from having more fat and consuming lots of animal hormones. So these kids come to school and talk and teachers need to be able to also. My understanding is that teachers, is teachers more and more have only been able to repeat the abstinence mantra (and not even that until middle school). This doesn't work in our society.

Obama gathers information, considers issues carefully and then makes intelligent plans for achieving goals. McCain admits he just goes with his gut, makes a quick decision and the "deals with the consequenc­es." I trust Obama's decision on this bill and to have his finger near the button.

[cct1984]

I read the bill and what Byron York reported is accurate. The "touching" provisions is given no more emphasis than any other portion or section or the bill. It does indeed stipulate that any classes or instruction on sexual education "shall" include instruction on the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Though the law does state "age appropriate" sex education, since when is it appropriate to teach kindergartners about STD/HIV prevention? Is that where we've come to in public schools, teaching kindergartners how to use a condom?

[knighthowl]

Perhaps you overlooked the opening provision that gave parents complete control over what their children were to be taught. Somehow I missed the part about teaching kindergartners how to use a condom. Oh, maybe because there is no such provision. I have learned that a key requirement to be a Republican is to know how to lie, but you need to learn to do it better.

[cct1984]

"Somehow I missed the part about teaching kindergartners how to use a condom."

Well let me type a little slower for you then...how do you propose to teach kindergartners about STDs/HIV and preventative methods, as mandated by law, without talking about condoms? Unless you plan to simply tell them "don't have sex" and leave it at that. Which, of course, begs the question, why would you even need to say that at all?

[mcartri]

cct1982, sex ed. was evidently not taught in school or in the families of Sarah & her husband-to-be. Their first child was born 8-months after their "elopement". It won't be that long after marriage her young daughter gives birth. Casting stones at the houses of hypocrites is in order. The fake "Family Values' Party of the GOP, abetted by Plastic Chritians like Dobson are simply selling snake oil to the soon-to-be Raptured "Christian Republicans". Sarah Palin's concern for her fellow females was shown in her charging rape victims for rape kits as major of Wasilla. The state legislature forced her to stop this barbaric practice. Sarah is a member of
Feminists for Life". They oppose the "Morning After Pill" as abortion. In the rape kit was that pill. That is why she wanted raped women to pay $1,200 for their own kit.

[cct1984]

What does Bristol's pregnancy have to do with teaching kindergartners about STD prevention? One thing has nothing to do with the other. And just because Bristol has fallen short of the values her mother holds, doesn't make Sarah a hypocrite.

[pkafin]

"shall" in legal language is not the same as "must". It is more similar to "will".

Moreover, the inclusion of "age appropriate" renders any actual requirements moot.

[TequilaMockingbird]

Good grief... All the materials used in these age appropriate classes are available to parents for review prior to the classes and parents have the right to exempt their children from these Age Appropriate classes if they find the material to be objectionable. I found the materials used in my Ten year old's class to be age appropriate, easy to understand and a great jumping off point for our Own Family discussions on Sexuality and related topics.. As far as I can tell, the most lasting Impression my child (as well as the majority of the kids who took the class) has taken from the whole Experience was 'I am so WAY to young for sex!!!!" and that is a direct quote from my ten year old.....

Abstinence Only Education is nothing more than a maladaptive response to the human body's biological imperatives and it certainly hasn't worked very well for many families including the Palin Family. If Sarah Palin wants to force her daughter into a shotgun wedding at the age of 17, then I suppose that that is her 'right', but that isn't a choice I would ever want to find myself having to make for or with my Child. It is my opinion that making a few pragmatic choices with your children about Education/Birth Control/Human Sexuality earlier in life can shelter them from from having to face much much harder choices later on.. The Choices that can scar souls and ruin lives..

[imfedup]

I reckon there will be a lot of shotguns at that wedding. Bet it's gonna wait until after the election. And bet it won't happen at all if McCain/Palin don't win.

[mezz1962a]

Wheres the lie? The sex education is for grades K-12
Hello K=Kindergarten

[knighthowl]

Hello? Age appropriate. Parent approved. Nothing about "explcit". Can you spell "liar"?

[drblack]

The real story is that Sarah Palin ,as Governor vetoed a bill which would step up police efforts against child molesters and rapists in Alaska.
Palin also got rid of a provision while mayor of Wasilla Alaska that paid for evidence gathering ,rape kits and Palin wanted rape victims to pay for the Rape kits.
Palin has twice helped rapists and child molesters. What is she thinking? How could anyone vote for a person who has helped rapists and child molesters.
This is all a matter of public record.

[Aaror]

Where is the counter ad?
"John McCain criticized a law Obama supported to protect children from sexual preditors. Why does John McCain want to protect people who rape children?"

[pithy]

You know we could win this election for sure? By becoming like them.

It's the Dems misfortune, perhaps, that we simply could not.

And for that alone, our souls are saved.

Funny, isn't it - we're trying to stop the killing fields of war - and for that we're ridiculed as "weak." We care about educating the less fortunate - and for that we're smeered and jeered. We manage to get a pittance of a minimum wage increase legislated, and 9-11 commission enacted, and we're told "we do nothing."

I am so thankful to God that I awoke today as a Democrat.

[proudloudlib]

Thank you for that. They (Republicans) make me so spitting-mad sometimes, it's nice to be reminded that we are better than that.

[BluzySuzy]

I think about those kid of things all the time. It just doesn't make sense to me some of the right wing perspectives -- pro life; support the death penalty -- christian values; step on the poor -- God fearing; pollute His planet?!

[tjdestry]

I worked in local TV about 30 years ago, and our station was sold. The new guy came in and was appalled that we had these guys doing the news who were not particularly lively and attractive, so he cleaned out the newsroom and brought in attractive, lively guys who really brightened up the newscast. But this was the switchover from Old to New, just as the networks began with guys like Robert Trout and Irving R. Levine who were not particularly lively and attractive, but knew what the hell they were reading on the air and had actually thought about and even reported some of it. A generation that has grown up on blow-dryer airhead newsreaders is understandably contemptuous of "the mainstream media" and idiots like Britt Hume don't help -- especially when they have long resumes like Hume, who would have been run off the set a generation ago. If the current generation of productive adults doesn't know how to analyze the news, it's because their parents generation raised them with hairsprayed morons as newscasters who didn't know, either.

[Gregorio]

How absolutely right you are. The move toward news as "infotainment" was best revealed by the live "bear chase" seen via KO last night. The local commentary was scintilating. As someone who lived near San Dimas many years ago, bears were a commonplace. On a day when our embassy was bombed, the economy continued its dive into the toilet and November 4th. with all its issues and candidates loomed on the horizon, we are getting live updates on bears. But this is CUTE!!! And oh so SCARY!!! Of course, one could do a commentary on WHY bears are roaming the HILLSIDE developments, cutting deep into ecosystems where bears and other animals used to roam freely with little human contact, but that's EW!!! BORING!!!

[proudloudlib]

I thought the bear was cute, but what was that this morning about a Kitty Killer on the loose in NY. Joe kept referring to it, but I never heard the story.

[knighthowl]

My only point of disagreement is the thought that Britt Hume is - or ever was - attractive. Given that he is not, I see no reason for having him on TV. I mean if he were intelligent that would matter, but he is not.