Home > Opinion > Bonnie Erbe > It's Time for Sarah Palin, John McCain, and the GOP to Abstain From Abstinence-Only Education—It Doesn't Work

It's Time for Sarah Palin, John McCain, and the GOP to Abstain From Abstinence-Only Education—It Doesn't Work

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This is absolutely right. There shouldnt be any of this nonsense

A guy from town of 3:23PM October 24, 2008

I am the Right. I will not be voting for McCain/Palin.

Margie of NM 8:52PM September 13, 2008

My liberal friend said that it was ok to talk about Palin's daughter because palin started the fight by opposing sex education in school and wanted it out of schools in alaska. After further investigation, I learned that her explanation of the issue was a bit of a stretch. I discovered the difference between comprehensive sex education and "abstinence only" sex education. I understand that many republicans believe that sex education is a family issue and should be handled by families. I understand that democrats think that we are in a crisis and that comprehensive sex education needs to be available in all schools (which means public funding).
We have sex education in our school system. I am not sure what kind. But I do know that my liberal friend has always been open about discussing sex with her children. She herself has had a child out of wedlock. In addition, she has two children who have had a child out of wedlock.
The message is simple. If you justify bringing up her family situation over and over again in the media simply because she opposed explicit sex education, then should my friend (who justified this media frenzy) be held accountable for her support of comprehensive sex education and frank open sexual discussions with her children if they, in fact, also had children out of wedlock.
Could we say she deserves scrutiny of her position?
I will not stoop to the level of my friend who is obviously wrong and has some issues when it comes to passing federal judgement on others without stopping to look in the mirror.
It is my opinion that teenage girls get pregnant with or without education, so why are we spending money on either position. Maybe the real problem is that we all work too hard and watch too much tv or spend too much time on these silly emails making a point to no one who is actually going to listen. Maybe we need to get back to spending more time with our kids.
We all need to stop using rediculous arguments so our "team" wins the election. It really impedes any progress and any attempt we all have at getting along.
Well, I have to get back to my kids now. I feel bad about spending too much time on this comment.

Carolyn Sollenberger of PA 7:02PM September 03, 2008

Fact: There is no one approach to the issue of teen pregnancy which will work for all. Kids will continue to make the disasterous decision to have unprotected sex but that does not relieve adults from doing everything that can be done to impact this and the concomitant results.
Fact: After a modest decline in teen pregnancy rates, it is increasing again.
Fact: Teen pregnancy is a tragedy for everyone involved: girl, boy, baby, their families and the country at large as we grapple with how we care for, educate, and respond to these children. To treat this issue as just a minor social ill of the day is to be working with a real lack of facts.
In order to alter the often generational cycle of teen pregnancy, some things must happen differently. Where does the responsibility lie? First and foremost with the kids doing the act. There was a glaring omission in Sarah Palin's speech concerning the role of responsibility of Bristol and her guy in all this. These kids are responsible for this new life and need to be held accountable. I can't help but wonder how that will look in the Palin family as they pledge their love and support.
Secondly, the parents have a responsibility to dialogue with their children and have a clear set of standards on these issues. It's not about sinning or guilt or shame; it's about making healthy choices so that you do not find your life, goals and ambitions forever altered at 16 or 17.
Third. It's about the position of our country and its leaders. Education can't be myopic. To take the stance that there is only one way to win and the other is to lose- is to lose. Kids need many and varied ways of help with these decisions. To do otherwise is only to give lipservice to the statement "We love our kids". After all, love is not a noun; it is, however, an action verb.

Gayle Hamby of TX 2:59PM September 03, 2008

Sarah Palin is definitely not against birth control, and near as I can find, has never really been asked about her views on teaching about birth control in sex ed. People have said that she's for abstinence-only education, but she's never said that. She was offered two bad choices, "explicit sex ed" and "abstinence only" and all she said was that she wasn't going to choose "explicit". Seems more like a bad interview.
She's a member of Feminists for Life which is generally pro-contraception.
Here's the actual exchange:
Q: Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?
SP: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.
Not supporting distribution of contraceptives is not the same as supporting abstinence-only programs.
Perhaps journalists should ask the campaign about her real opinion instead of assuming.

Pierce Wetter of AZ 1:58PM September 03, 2008

I believe sex education should, in a perfect world, start at home. However, the kids that are more "at risk" are the ones who often don't have that privilege. Hence, It becomes the State responsibility to provide a comprehensive education for all. If a politician is as narrow minded as to put an agenda such an abstinence only program ahead of a comprehensive program that also involves abstinence but it is not limited to it, perhaps that politician should not be chosen to serve all. Preventing unwanted pregnancies is the surest way to prevent abortions. It sad to see a country where people so intent in outlawing abortions are the same that are increasing their numbers.

educator of CA 11:10AM September 03, 2008

seems to be the next question. When Palin debates Biden, how does he make his point against her "abstinence-only" policy without seeming to be a bully or someone who is bringing her personal life to the forefront? Remember the comments made by Kerry about Cheney's daughter and how well that played out?? I fear McCain knew this when he picked her and realized that once Obama's running mate wasn't Hillary, he could put a woman on is ticket and cower his way out of controversy. The GOP may be out of touch, but they sure know how to pull together and fight dirty. The Dems should steal their playbook on how to attack without the other party yet still hold their heads high. I am waiting for Planned Parenthood to find a way to use this moment in an opportunistic fashion...........and I will be the first to welcome it!

Lisa of NJ 8:23AM September 03, 2008

McCain won't win if he drops her.
The Right loves her.
It brings back the side he lost, being one of the most liberal republicans to have ever existed.
The right was wanting to vote for itself, they just needed a reason.

Lisa of AR 10:05PM September 02, 2008

McCain won't win if he drops her.
The Right loves her.
It brings back the side he lost, being one of the most liberal republicans to have ever existed.
The right was wanting to vote for itself, they just needed a reason.

Lisa of AR 9:40PM September 02, 2008

I agree wholeheartedly with your post. I would posit, however, that teenagers hormones are exactly the way nature intended them to be. The powerful sexual urge to reproduce is embedded in our genes -- young strong bodies are designed for reproduction. Social and religious mores have tried for centuries to thwart those strong biological forces to no avail.
Trying to stop teenage sexuality is akin to trying to stop the tide -- impossible.
The only real problem with teenage sexuality is that it produces babies the teenagers are usually not in a position to support and care for due to the breakdown of the extended family and the need to pursue higher education.
The sexual urges of teenagers should be respected as biological fact. They must be educated to use birth control methods to preclude producing babies until they are able to support them.
Consensual teenage sex is natural, not immoral, and should be treated that way by our society.
Good contraceptive education will greatly reduce the abortion rate, which should make everyone happy.

Justina of HI 5:46PM September 02, 2008