President Obama vs. Bristol Palin on Abstinence-Only Education

Why do you people deliberately take things out of context to suit what you were thinking in the first place? When Obama said he wouldn't want his daughters punished with a baby for having sex, he meant that females are the ones punished for sex, the male gets off with no change to his life. Hell, he can just move to another town and never pay child support. Fix THAT and you fix welfare. But of course, accidents are accidents. If we weren't so vicious to young unwed pregnant girls perhaps more of them would go full term and give their babies up for adoption. While you good, kind, Christian God-fearing folks are bad-mouthing them every chance you get, of course they and their families will take the 'easy' way out. Of course, anyone who was ever forced into an adoption or abortion situation will tell you it is a hell that never dies. How about we accept that children are going to get carried away with kissing and petting and some will end up having sex even though they didn't plan it? How about we accept raging hormones don't understand 'self-control' which is an adult concept alien to teenagers. And lots of things are in the Bible, very few of which are directing the majority of the views expressed in your posts.

Maybe some of you should research a little deeper. Obama believes that abstinence-only should be taught right along side of comprehensive sex education to ensure that teens know the safest method is practicing abstinence but if they choose to have sex they are given the information they need to do it as safe as possible. If educators are given the gag order on what they can teach and what they cannot, we are basically telling our teens just not to have sex and not really giving educated information on what happens if they choose to do it anyway!

Cut out all welfare programs for the girls that get pregnant and that would change their mind about abstinance. Having babies is cool as long as someone else pays for food, daycare and all aspects of support. But of course that is not what the democrats are all about. They want the rest of us to pay for their welfare programs. No morals for todays youth.

I agree with Tiffany (first comment).

I think the biggest thing we are missing in this whole debate, is that boys/men are not held accountable as they should be and that girls need to be taught and have instilled in them that their bodies are special. I think lots of that has been lost in a casual attitude towards sex.

He gets rid of this program and promotes abortions all over the world, Washington DC and allows public dollars to go to Legal Services Corporation who goes to court to promote abortions. I thought he wanted to "lower the abortion rate"? What a liberal liar with a big time agenda for this country. Thank you all who voted for this disaster!

Percy-
"According to the 2000 census, 46.2% of African Americans live in single parent families, while nearly 70% of African American females have babies out of wedlock. Maybe, just maybe, if some of these young African American females would have the courage to speak out, as Bristol Palin is doing, in favor of abstinence, one of the tragedies plaguing the African American population can be dampened."

No it wouldn't... all that would result in is a lot of african american teens making promises that they would later go on to break. As studies have shown, Abstinence only education does not work due to the fact that most teens taught it will not abide by the promises. Teens that take abstinence only education are just as likely to engage in sex as any other teen. What they should be teaching teens is general sex education and safe sex

While i'm not sure about this, i would say that the problem that a lot of african americans face is that relatively many of them live in poorer communities. This results in them getting a poorer education and in addition a not any kind of sex education. With good sex education programs, their teens would learn about safe sex and how to avoid pregnancy. By making more use of Safe Sex the unwed pregnancies would be reduced. Better schools in general would also help make for a better social environment that might help lead to couples having longer lasting relationships.

And no, sex education would not be taught on the radio... Sex education should be taught in school. back in my high school, sex education was a standard part of our health education program. We covered everything from methods of birth control to everything you needed to know about STD's. Our students were generally well prepared to use safe sex should they ever engage in it... and when it comes down to it, i don't recall ever hearing about teen pregnancies from students in my old school (though to be fair, just because i didn't hear about it, doesn't mean it didn't happen in once in a while... it was a rather large school)

Mom of 4-

Pay attention to science, Abstinence Only education DOES NOT WORK. Is Abstinence a sure fire way to prevent pregnancy and STD's, sure it is and i'm sure those who practice are plenty happy; but the problem is that those who are raised on Abstinence only education DO NOT practice it. As the studies have shown those who are raised on Abstinence Only Education are just as likely to engage in sex as those raised without it. Those who make the pledge later go on to break it. "You can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink it"

You see the problem with Abstinence only education is the fact that those who are taught it, often go on to break it and leave it... however since Abstinence ONLY education only tells teens not to have sex, it does not go far enough to tell them about safe sex and how to protect themselves should they engage in sex. The end result as the studies show, are teens who are just as likely to engage in sex as other teens, but less likely to use methods of birth control.

Hell Bristol Palin is living proof of the failure; she was raised by a mother who is a strong advocate for abstinence only education, and yet she ended up as unwed and pregnant at the age of 17.

You want self control? how about the self control to engage in safe sex, to be responsible, and to take every measure needed so that you can have sex but still prevent pregnancy and STD's. This is the kind of things that are taught by teen pregnancy prevention programs that HAVE proven to be effective in reducing teen pregnancy. THAT is what these parents teach their kids, how to be safe should they ever give in to their urges.

Short version... Teens raised on abstinence only education end up being more likely to become pregnant than teens raised on other teen prevention programs... both end up just as likely to engage in sex, but only the later is prepared to do it safely

Abstinance is a great idea, but totally unrealistic. Sex feels great. Sex is fun. teenagers are going to have sex because of those two reasons. The best options for preventing teenage pregnacy is passing out comdoms, sexual education, parents talking with there children about being safe during sex. Accidents are going to happen. Its not 100% fool proof but it will help. Attacking the govenment and the Palin family is totally uncalled for. I think everyone just needs to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. We wouldn't have been given the gift of pleasre during sex if it was not to be enjoyed..teenagers are smart..there going to figure it out one way or anouther. Give them the tools to be safe and hope for the best.

It's amazing that people honestly believe that teens are incapable of self-control. What do you parents teach your kids? That it's OK to drop your pants whenever you feel like it? How's about teaching your kids that if you want something, just put it on the credit card! You can just make monthly payments for the next 20 years to pay for it - no big deal. You want to have a diet of Big Macs and fries every night? Why not? If you have a job, it's your money and you should be able to eat whatever you want.

How ridiculous is that? You teach your kids self control in ALL areas of their life - including sex. As a family counselor, I've seen more teen's lives messed up by having a sexual relationship before they were mature enough to handle it. Sex and teens is a recipe for disaster every time, and I have 30 years of experience to back this up. Self control must be taught from early childhood. Kids who are taught this are much happier and content as adults. Teens are not mature enough emotionally to handle a sexual relationship. Kudos to Bristol Palin for being honest enough to admit she made a mistake. You want your kids to be truly happy during their teen years? Tell them to keep their pants up. That is 100% effective against STD's and teen pregnancy. Parents, DO YOUR JOB!

"I wonder what Obama teaches HIS kids."

Obama said, "But if they (my daughters) make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby."

Imagine thinking of your own grandchild in this way, a punishment.

The Gop , Rnc and Religious Right Strong Armed The Bush Admin For Abstinence Only Programs In Return For Votes And It All Worked Out For Bush , Now As For Teenage Girl It Did Not Work-Out So Well Because They Just Had Unprotected Sex And Got Pregnant So The Whole Thing Is A Bust , Nature Will Win Ever Time. Now The Better Solution Would BE Teach Abstinence And What To Do If That Does Not Work For You.(Birth Control And Condoms That Is )But The Radicule Right Will Never Get This.

The Bush Admin was strong armed by the religious right for votes in funding abstinence only programs and it worked out for him, Now for young teenage girls , they just had unprotected sex and got pregnant,teach kids to wait to have sex but also teach them what to do if they decide to have sex. How hard is this.

I wonder what Obama teaches HIS kids.

Best way to stop unwanted teen pregnancy is to stop rewarding bad behavior with welfare, free medical, free housing, and Eic payments. Duh!! Bush and Obama are both wasting money and only encouraging more bad behavior.

Posted by: PresGov | May 9, 2009 12:00:41 AM
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That has to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard. So what you support would be punishing a newborn baby by making sure it doesn't have a proper diet, healthcare, housing etc..... and that proves wht exactly?

I would have loved to seen Palin as VP then president......she and most everyone else would have been much better than the morons Obama and Biden, but her daughter needs to get a clue.

Best way to stop unwanted teen pregnancy is to stop rewarding bad behavior with welfare, free medical, free housing, and Eic payments. Duh!! Bush and Obama are both wasting money and only encouraging more bad behavior.

Anyone want to argue that maybe FEDERAL money has no business attempting to shape someone's sexual ethic? Reject the premise.

FedUp -- You are right. It is so much fun to pick on a now 18 year old girl while safely sitting behind a computer screen. Let's keep throwing mud and see what sticks. There's nothing better than calling the Palin's names and saying they caused all kinds of bad things. Oh yeah, they're stupid, too, really stupid, not like FedUp and me. They're super stupid cause they live in Alaska, and, people in Alaska are stupid and cold. And, they probably have polar bears for dinner, probably cold polar bears cause that's how stupid they are. I got your back on this one FedUp.

"I wish more people remembered that Bristol Palin is just a kid. A scared kid whose private indiscretion was viciously plastered across the internet, the evening news and the tabloids. She's a brave kid."........... OH PLEASE I've had enough of this one. Her mother chose to run, knowing she was pregnant, and her mother made a statement to the press about it. It got reported. WHAT is vicious here?