Religious Right: Teen Pregnancy OK as Long as No Abortion

As someone who supports sex ed and safe sex, I was amazed that the religious right didn't have more of a negative reaction to Sarah Palin's teen daughter's out-of-wedlock pregnancy which was revealed shortly after McCain named her as his running mate.

The New Yorker magazine is running an article on this very thing today which got me thinking.

Now, don't get me wrong, if I had a teenage daughter who became pregnant, I'd be nothing but supportive; however, the concept of it, to me, is wrong. Not because I believe teenagers shouldn't have sex, but rather that I believe they should be taught that anything but safe sex is unacceptable.

I do not follow the concept of not teaching sex ed and safe sex to our young Americans. Bristol Palin was, no doubt, never taught that condoms are a must if you're having sex. She was no doubt taught that children are something for marriage only, but given no alternative to unprotected sex.

The New Yorker reports that more than half of evangelical young females who take the abstinence pledge, usually by exchanging rings with their fathers, break that pledge; and usually not with their eventual husbands.

So what does this mean? Well, to me, like most things, it's easy to put on a show for the public (as I believe most overly-religious people do), but when it comes to what you do behind closed doors, those pledges don't mean so much.

Again, don't get me wrong, there are plenty of good people, and plenty of good people on the right who actually do what they pledge (at least half or so of the young women too); the point being the public is more willing than ever to say one thing and do another.

Only The Final Score Counts

Is He Too Much?

Politico suggests today that Obama's upcoming "infomercial" on national TV may be overkill for some voters. Can't say I disagree with that, but I'm not sure it'll hurt him any. He's gotten alot of press for doing this, and for having far more donations than McCain. Some often say there is no such thing as bad press (I don't really believe that), but this could come close.