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Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
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wednesdayam
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
I don't want to sign up for that website, but some of the comments annoy me, particularly by one guy whose name implies he is a Pastor. He mentions that abstinence only prevents people from feeling guilt. THIS is what enrages me... that anyone(any woman) who has had sex outside of marriage or didn't keep themselves saved for "THE ONE" *must* carry with them the rest of their life some sense of guilt or shame.

Know what? I lost my virginity at 18, after graduating high school. I had comprehensive sex ed, so I only engaged in sex in a safe manner with someone I had known for a while and felt okay exploring my body and experiences with. And know what, Mr. Pastor? I have no sense of guilt at all. Nor do I have guilt about any other man I have shared that experience with. Know why? Because I respect myself and feel my decisions were sound, and I'm pretty darn certain there are plenty of other people, even *gasp!* women, who feel exactly that same way.

Stop telling me I should feel bad about something that is natural and that I take part in in a mature and responsible manner. Dick.
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ArtfulSlinger
05/07/09

@wednesdayam: He'd lose his job if people didnt feel guilty.
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Ramseylicious
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
One of my caveats with this article: We live in a big world, one where you can contract a life-long STD, have an unplanned pregnancy, or get date-raped, just to name a few of the dangerous results of having sex.

Date rape is a result of having sex? Whhhaaaa?
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Ramseylicious
05/07/09

@Ramseylicious:
With Meghan McCain's article, I mean.
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ArtfulSlinger
05/07/09

@Ramseylicious: Like it or not, rape is sex - just not consensual. Any sexual act that can lead to pregnancies needs to be addressed. Im actually shocked that she said this.
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Ramseylicious
05/07/09

@ArtfulSlinger:
But rape isn't a consequence of having sex. You don't have to be sexually active to be raped. My interpretation of what McCain said is that only sluts and whores get date raped. Which may or may not have been her intention.
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ArtfulSlinger
05/07/09

@Ramseylicious: I didnt read it that way. But I see what you mean. I dont personally think she meant it this way and while Im only guessing, I think she was attempting to make this argument bigger. Abstinence only creates the idea that children are really not learning anything about protecting themselves, meaning no information on safe sex. This was discussed yesterday in the Bristol Palin thread that we really do never discuss rape or date rape or abuse as a reason for kids/teenagers to learn how to protect themselves.
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Anthony Sarkees
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
"We live in a big world, one where you can contract a life-long STD, have an unplanned pregnancy, or get date-raped, just to name a few of the dangerous results of having sex."

I know it's probably just an error, but it's odd that she characterized being raped as a "dangerous result of having sex." I'm probably reading too much into it, but it sort of evokes the idea that if you have consensual sex with someone once, you're likely to be raped by that person later. Am I reading it incorrectly?
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Ramseylicious
05/07/09

@Anthony Sarkees:
Yes, yes, I wondered about this too and commented below. I also twittered her about it. (Nerd.)
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Bunsen Honeydew
05/07/09

@Anthony Sarkees: Not to sound insensitive, but when I read that, I just assumed she hadn't proof read and didn't think to herself "gee, this would be better if it was 'the dangerous results of having inadequate information about sex." or something like that.
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LolaQuinn is full of beans
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
This is a great step in the right direction. Frankly, I think abstinence-only ed is a public health hazard and should absolutely be BANNED from public schools. My high school had comprehensive sex ed, but then once a year they sent in some lady to talk about abstinence. The shit she said was totally contradictory to the real sex ed, and it sent the message that "the stuff you learned about before doesn't work, so don't even try it." BTW, we had a pretty high teen pregnancy rate. There's nothing wrong with reminding kids that abstaining is helpful, but there is A LOT wrong with making dismissive comments about the efficacy of birth control methods.
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TheGuvnah
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
Too bad Obama's budget continues the discriminatory prohibition of abortion funding for women relying on medicaid or IHS, or who are in the Peace Corps, or work for the federal government, or live in DC, EVEN IF THEIR HEALTH IS AT RISK.

epic fail, Hyde Amendment. And shame on Obama.
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LolaQuinn is full of beans
05/07/09

@TheGuvnah: That surprises me. I haven't heard of it. Is there a story written about this somewhere?
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TheGuvnah
05/07/09

@LolaQuinn: You can read CRR's press release on the budget here, which sums it up:

[reproductiverights.org]

The Hyde AMendment has been around since 1976. We had hoped that Obama would strike it in his budget but he didn't.
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green_ipod
05/07/09

@TheGuvnah: I think you should keep fighting that hard for what you believe in, but at the same time, I have to say that a President, any President, and any Member of Congress can only do so much at a time. I don't think this is a shame on him situation, but I understand your position and welcome it. I mean, political change is not sexy. It is incremental and the result of compromise. Inch by inch. I am always a little sad to see someone who is trying to make this sluggish, hostile process move forward castigated because they didn't get everything done in one fell swoop. At the same time, without pressure like yours, they might not fight all these little incremental important battles all of the time, just wait out the big victories...
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TheGuvnah
05/07/09

@green_ipod: i appreciate your perspective but we are talking about a president with a high approval rating and this wouldn't require him to "do more" - a budget outline is just a budget outline, the details and hard work is left to the Congress. But it would have been a powerful statement for Obama to stand up for the low-income (and mostly minority) women who are screwed over every day by the Hyde Amendment.
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stacyinbean
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
It pains me to know my government had a program called the Compassion Capital Fund.
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ronaldpagan
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
Go common sense! But I thought Meghan wasn't even registered as a Republican until her dad was running last year? Real Republicans still prefer that kids learn about sex from IM conversations with Mark Foley.
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kelsium
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
I am not about to start handing out big sugar cookies with "#1 GOP" on them in red white and blue frosting.

Megan McCain may be making a critique of the Republican party that is needed from the inside, but the truth is that 1) none of this is new information, 2) she is speaking from a place of relative safety as John McCain's daughter, and 3) it's not going to make a difference. I am glad she's saying it, but she's not going to get a standing ovation from me for offering platitudes that merely straddle the line between liberal and conservative attitudes.
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Scoithniamh
05/07/09

@kelsium: Agreed. She's not an elected official, or someone running for office as a Republican. She has nothing to lose. I would not be surprised in the least if while running for office, she changes her tune.
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A Small Turnip
05/07/09

@kelsium: No, she doesn't get a cookie for talking total fucking sense. But you know what? I appreciate the effort she's making to change minds. And I really appreciate that Meghan McCain is trying to find some common ground between liberals and conservatives. I don't share most of the political ideals that McCain appears to hold, but by Christ, at least I feel like I could talk things over with her. We may not agree, but we can at least communicate, and that's far more than I can say for most Republicans. I'll take it, man. I'll take it.
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kelsium
05/07/09

@ASmallTurnip: Oh, definitely. I'm not going to condemn her for talking total fucking sense, as you so perfectly put it. But I'm not about to throw her a party welcoming her to this newfangled concept called Feminism, either.
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bluebears
05/07/09

@kelsium: agreed! thank you. everything you said, seconded.
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MissyMcCLung
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
I am a little confused. Does this mean that public school will have to stop teaching abstinence only education programs? 'Cause that would be awesome.
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Shamrockette
05/07/09

@MissyMcCLung: The only thing they can do is take away funding for Abstinence only education. It's up to individual states to decide whether or not to continue with abstinence only.
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BrutallyHonestBabes (aka Mrs. Sarah.of.a.Lesser.Hobbit)
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
Oh, Barack, you make my lady parts tingle... tingle with educashun!
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R-Star
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
See, this is why I completely don't understand the onservative push for abstinence-only education. It seems to me that if you want to reduce abortion, you have to educate people about how to prevent pregnancy. I just think at some point even the most conservative Christian needs to take a step back and weigh out the options. We can't force teenagers to behave in any particular way and it's naive to assume we can. I'm so glad to see that things are finally moving in a different direction.
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EkaterinaBallerina
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
This confirms what my parents and grandmother have been telling me since I was a toddler:

"Abstinence-only is fucking ridiculous."

Good to know they've always been right. Heck my grandmother had me chanting "ERA NOW!" when I was 2.
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deeemer
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
All this funding for BC has some. . interesting results. I hate to say this, but it's a bit too much. My friend and her spouse have lost their jobs, and don't have enough money for food.

She can't get food stamps. But she's received free birth control! She jokes that they're going to have Seasonalle with a dash of spermicide for supper. Top with parsley, and delicious!
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Grim Reaper of the Forest
05/07/09

@deeemer: Well, I can imagine that an unplanned pregnancy at this point would be the last thing they need.
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stoprobbers
05/07/09

@deeemer: How has the BC funding directly impacted their jobs? Did they work for an abstinence-only program?
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kelsium
05/07/09

@deeemer: If they had a child and could get food stamps those food stamps would not help buy diapers. It is not either or. The whole system is flawed, but the more control women of all economic levels have over their reproduction the easier it will be for them to become financially stable.
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stoprobbers
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
Free at last!

Progress.. it feels GOOD.
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Shamrockette
05/07/09

In reply to Meghan McCain & Barack Obama Talk About End of Abstinence-Only
Meghan McCain has given me just a teeny bit of hope for the future of the Republican party.

Thank you for talking sense.
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