McCain-Palin on Sexual Education

[John McCain-SAC]

Various issues arise with each presidential election. Even though, some may seem more important than others; they are all just as relevant to improving the status and health of our nation. Individually we have our own opinions on the issues, but when choosing a side, or making a decision on where we stand, it is most important to be properly informed. One issue I feel is of highly importance in our society is sexual education. To some it may not seem as prominent an issue as others: such as, abortion, health care, the war in Iraq, etc., but it can be. Sex is a major part of the lives of our adolescents and youth. It is presented everywhere; from TV shows such as “The Hills”, “The OC”, “Family Guy”, etc., to highly popular music, advertisements and beyond. Proper sexual education can not only be productive, but preventive as well. And although Jane Friedman of CQ Researcher stated, “Teen-pregnancy rates have declined significantly since 1991” (Friedman 1). She also made the observation that, “American teenagers have more pregnancies, births and abortions than youngsters in other industrialized countries” (Friedman 1). Teen pregnancy is a growing problem in the United States. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention)

“International comparisons show that the United States could do much better in improving teen pregnancy and birth rates. U.S. teen pregnancy and teen birth rates are the second highest among 46 countries in the developed world.3 These data show that U.S. teens’ sexual behavior is similar to teens of other developed countries in terms of when they start to have sex and how often they are having it. Yet, U.S. teens are less likely to use contraception or to consistently use more effective methods of contraception when compared to the teens of several other developed countries.6“(CDC 1)

Most young men and women are making the wrong choices when it comes to this controversial issue. It may be strongly because they are not taught properly, or well informed of the consequences and risk factors at hand. Currently we have two different types or methods of sexual education courses. Denise Witmer explains in her Sex Education in Schools

Article” Depending on what your state or local school district mandates, your teen will either be learning the Comprehensive Sexuality Education or the Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage
Program” (Witmer 1). However, these courses are not divided equally within our educational system, but at least both are present. For example, most Texas schools according to Mark Agee are, “receiving more federal money for abstinence-only programs than any other state. About $17 million in federal funds is matched with $3 million in state funds annually” (Agee 1). Nevertheless he also reported,” Texas and New Mexico have the highest teen birth rates: 62 for every 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19, according to a July report by Child Trends, a nonpartisan research group in Washington, D.C. The national average is 41.9 births” (Agee 1). Even though Texas is one of the several states to practice the “Abstinence-Only-Until Marriage Program” not all Americans agree on what method is best (Witmer 1). An NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy School Poll reported:

Fifteen percent of Americans believe that schools should teach only about abstinence from sexual intercourse and should not provide information on how to obtain and use condoms and other contraception. A plurality (46 percent) believes that the most appropriate approach is one that might be called "abstinence-plus" -- that while abstinence is best, some teens do not abstain, so schools also should teach about condoms and contraception. Thirty-six percent believe that abstinence is not the most important thing, and that sex ed should focus on teaching teens how to make responsible decisions about sex.

Looking at this report further, you may conclude that even though abstinence-only programs are more favorable to the schooling system and government, the views of the Americans seem to alter. A majority (46 percent) of Americans agree that informing our adolescents of contraceptives, condoms, and birth control with abstinence present can be a better approach. However, not all Americans agree.


My Candidate’s Analysis
The importance of these issues, such as the one above, is discussed to advance the condition of our country. The views and opinions on where each candidate stands determine the outcome of our government. American citizens hone into the governmental debates to obtain the views of their applicants to determine whom they will essential vote for. Being well informed on the views of our candidates is a fundamental key to deriving a proper decision for our nation. Candidate John McCain, U.S Senator of Arizona, and presidential nominee for the Republican Party, and candidate Sarah Louise Heath Palin, governor of the U.S states of Alaska and the Republican Party’s vice-presidential nominee for the 2008 election, both stand firmly on the issue of sexual education. Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post wrote in an article titled, The Lesson of Bristol Palin, “Sarah Palin opposes programs that teach teenagers anything about contraception.”The explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support," she said in answering a questionnaire from the conservative Eagle Forum during her 2006 gubernatorial race” (Marcus 1). Palin feels that by teaching abstinence only we can help prevent teen pregnancy and abortion. Amy Schalet of the Washington Post reports on the same views of the candidate by stating, “Sarah Palin supports programs that contribute to that environment, favoring policies that prohibit teachers from explaining the benefits of contraception and condoms and that require teaching that sex outside of marriage is unacceptable” (Schalet 1). Mrs. Palin is more for the abstinent-only household taught sex ed. She believes it is up to the parents to discuss such an issue with their children. However Mrs. Palin has been recently questioned on her views due to the fact that she has an impregnated 17 yr. Old daughter, Bristol. According to Schalet though, “Palin has referred to her teenage daughter's pregnancy as a normal ''up and down'' of family life” (Schalet 1). Reported by Greg Mitchell, “The McCain team asserted that he knew about the pregnancy when he selected Palin” (Mitchell 1). Senator John McCain feels in no way will this affect his vice-presidents ability to fulfill her duties. McCain stands just as firmly as Governor Palin on this issue. In an interview with CBN News Senior National Correspondent, David Brody, he responded as furnished by his campaign:

Senator McCain strongly opposes efforts by the Democratic-controlled Congress to eliminate abstinence-only sex education classes for school-aged children. Senator McCain believes the correct policy for educating young children on this subject is to promote abstinence as the only safe and responsible alternative. To do otherwise is to send a mixed signal to children that, on the one hand they should not be sexually active, but on the other here is the way to go about it. As any parent knows, ambiguity and equivocation leads to problems when it comes to teaching children right from wrong. Senator McCain believes that there are many negative forces in today’s society that promote irresponsible and dangerous behavior to our children. The public education system should not join this chorus of moral equivocation and ambiguity.” (Brody 1)

Having read this statement one can conclude that both Palin and McCain are tough believers of abstinence only programs. They strongly oppose any “comprehensive sex” ed programs and funding for those courses.

Work Cited

“Adolescent Reproductive Health: Home” Centers for Disease Control and Preventive.27 October 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/AdolescentReproHealth/
Agee, Mark. “Abstinence-only sex ed hasn’t stopped Texas teen pregnancies”. 22 September 2008. 28 October 2008. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/200/story/52899.html
Brody, David. “John McCain Campaign to Brody File: Eliminating "Abstinence Only" Programs is Wrong”. CBN News. 24 May 2007. 28 October 2008. http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/164102.aspx
Friedman, Jane. “Teen Sex”. CQ Researcher. 16 September 2005. 28 October 2008. http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/toc.php?mode=cqres-related&level=2&values=Sex+Education
Marcus, Ruth. “The Lesson of Bristol Palin”. Washington Post. 2 September 2008. 28 October 2008 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01
NPR/Kaiser/Kennedy. “Sex Education in America”. NPR. 28 October 2008. http://www.npr.org%3Ftemplates/story/story.php?storyId=1622610
Schalet, Amy. “A Question for Sarah Palin”. Washington Post. 9 October 2008. 28 October 2008. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/08/AR2008100802928.html
Wilson, Brenda. “Teen Sex, Sex Education And Sarah Palin”. NPR. 28 October 2008. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94332508
Witmer, Denise. “Sex Education in Schools” 28 October 2008. http://parentingteens.about.com/od/teensexuality/a/sex_education.htm

Written by Monique Martin

[Krystal Margaret Reyes]

Although I believe that abstinence is key to preventing teen pregnancy, I am fully aware that many young people do not practice this. Everyday, it seems as though the rates in teen pregnancy are continuously growing. My seventeen year old cousin just gave birth to a child and I now learned of another teen pregnancy in my family, and it makes me wonder if they were informed about how to practice safe sex. I understand that by telling kids about how to use condoms and other contraceptives condones sex, but I think that we still need to teach kids about sex and how to be safe because this will help prevent teen pregnancies as well as STDs. For the benefit of our youth, I feel that we need to give our children a better sex education, so that they can make the decisions on how to handle some of the toughest situations they will face.

[Jackie]

I believe that teaching abstinance is important but i also believe that sex is everywhere and kids are going to hear about it and be curious, so teaching how to be responsible i think is something that needs to be taught. People fear that if their kids are taught about protection then their kids are going to go out and have sex but reality is that kids make their own choices and knowing how to be protected from std's and uplanned pregnancies is what kids need to hear. I think they should emphasize abstinance but also be informative and help kids be responsible and maybe it will help our pregnancy and std problem just a little bit.

[Randall Flores]

i have to say i agree with roger about being too late to stop it. although going with an abstinence only teaching method would be foolish. quinn even said that by the time some kids are juniors in high school most of them have had or or at least engaged in sexual activity. teaching abstinence and methods of contraception is the best course of action. think about it. if parents tell thier kids not to drink and do drugs the first thing a kid is going to do when they go to a party is get a cup of beer and probably smoke a little pot. some kids will almost always go in the opposite direction. rather than just saying "Don't have sex" lets say. "Don't have sex, but if you do, be sure to protect yourself, and here is how."

[Jessica]

I think talking about sex to kids is a good point since sooner or later they need to know about this topic... I think there is nothing wrong with them learing about this theme. the youth people specially girls are getting pregnant and stds because maybe their parents or teachers didnt talk to them about sex. Like I said I think there is nothing wrong about it, instead schools should talk to the kids about this topic that is just another typical topic. Maybe for some people think that schools should not talk about sex to their kids but not neceesarly because is sex is a dirty topic and something that they "don't need to know", I think sex is part of our life ( not saying it in a bad way) but is true but the earlier they know, the most they will know.

[Eric Sawyer]

I think teaching young teens about sex is a very important issue. The fact that American teens are #1 in pregnancy is not a good race to be winning. I think we need to inform teens about the consequences of having sex and also how to use protection. I don’t think it is all the child’s fault though the parents need to step up and inform there kids about sex and let them know about std’s. John McCain has a great idea about supporting absonence programs in schools. The earlier the children know about it the better

[Christopher t]

Teaching young teenagers about sex is very important in my opinion. One would see to many pregenant teens in high school. One is too much at this point, and sexual education is a effective way to do it. Yes it does not stop pre-marital pregnancy, but it decreases the rate at which it happens. the only problem with this method of sexual education is that it only works if the person actually takes heed and pays attention to the class. I am not really sure how, but there has to be some way to decrease it even more. Even if the states make it illegal to have sex before the age of 18 teens will do it regardless because no one is reinforce what they have learned.

[Johanna Estrada]

I totally agree with you teaching kids about sex is a good thing because they should star knowing what could the consequences be if they do things that they don’t suppose too. I really like your essay it had a lot of information it could be notice that you have spend a good amount of time doing this but sincerely is a great job everything was well done and explain I really like it. As you have shown us graphs on your information make your essay look even more interesting than it have been already. I am totally in shock with all these teens that are becoming pregnant in an early age but that is why they should start to learn what are the consequences of doing sex in an early age.

[Laura]

i believe that yes teaching kids about sex education is very good for them, i mean the need to know what is and how to protect themselves and all that stuff.Promoting abstinence is a good thing but many kids don't really wait as soon as they can they rush into it,and i think they should be informed of all the other options they have incase they decide to take such a step.I mean lets open our eyes and see what is really going on.

[Quinn Kevresian]

McCain proves he's too old to know how teens think. Almost all of them have had sex by the time they're juniors in high school and haven't used protection or any form of contraceptives. At this point in time, I believe that it's more important to at least promote abstinence as a good way to go, but enforce protected sex or use of contraceptives strongly. Just so that teens know what the deal is. Many of them don't know what kind of forms of contraceptives there are, or are just too embarrassed to ask about safe sex, so they just stick to what "seems cool" and have unprotected sex. Many of them have numerous partners as well, and that spreads stds like wildfire and most teens, again, don't know what those are or what the effects are, or what can happen to them in the long run. Unprotected sex last maybe 30 minutes ,if that, and an std can last a lifetime if not treated correctly. I'd rather have more teens be educated on this issue and at least know how to have safer sex, rather than just knowing abstinence.

[Rogelio X Gutierrez]

I’m not really sure I agree with Senator McCain’s plan. To me, I make it seem like he is trying to stop a flood with a fallen down tree rather than building a dam. At this point and time it is too late to try and teach and enforce abstinence only. I agree though that there needs to be a better education program for sex-ed. and that abstinence is the best way. I would think at this point and time that safe sex with and emphasize on abstinence would be a better route. In response to Mark, yes parents do have a responsibility for teaching and talking to kids. The blame cannot always be the parents fault. The reality is that the system is the issue. Parents are not sure how to handle things now a days. There’s no more discipline at school anymore, corporal punishment, or even prayer or moment of silence. Parents are even afraid to disciple children without fear of being reported for child abuse. The system just needs to change because the way it is now. It is not working.