When the Abysmal Failure of Abstinence-Only Sex Education Comes Home to Roost

The recent disclosure of the pregnancy of VP nominee Sarah Palin's unmarried teenage daughter is a stark reminder that the abstinence-only sex education policies instituted by George Bush and strongly supported by the Alaska Governor have been an utterly miserable failure.

Abstinence-only education has been criticized in official statements by the American Psychological Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, the Society for Adolescent Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Public Health Association, and the American Medical Association, which all maintain that sex education needs to be comprehensive to be effective. Members of these groups are on the front line of education, prevention and treatment and are acutely aware of the disastrous consequences of ten years and over a billion dollars of the religious based 'wait till marriage' philosophy.

Commenting on the gravidity of the Republican VP pick's offspring, Senator Obama said, "I think people's families are off limits. And people's children are especially off limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics. It has no relevance to Gov. Palin's performance...as vice president."

I respectfully disagree with Senator Obama. Sarah Palin knew her daughter was 'with child' before she accepted the VP nomination. Palin had to have known that this news would break. You can cover a baby bump with an infant sibling for only so long during those pesky photo ops. Palin made a decision to advance her political career onto the national scene, rather than choosing to finish out her term as Governor of Alaska, a choice that would have granted her daughter some semblance of privacy.

It could also be argued that this unexpected pregnancy, not unwanted of course, because we all know there is no unwanted pregnancy among the religious right, is relevant to Palin's performance as vice president. As a woman and as a mom, Palin, if elevated to Vice President of the United States, will play an influential role in the health and educational policies affecting our children and teens. Her anti-condom, anti-birth control, abstinence only leanings have not served her family well. I highly doubt they'll be any more effective in reducing the national rates for teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

John McCain's camp was quick to rally around the newly announced VP choice during this current crisis. "Sen. McCain's view is that this is a private family matter. As parents [the Palins] love their daughter unconditionally and are going to support their daughter. Life happens," said Steve Schmidt, spokesman for John McCain.

Yes Mr. Schmidt, life does happen! For the Palin's 17-year-old daughter, I'm happy that life is happening while she has the support of her family, friends and the whole Republican Party.

But life also happens for that young 14-year-old girl who's forced to decide whether to raise her child alone or make the heart wrenching decision to terminate the pregnancy. Life happens when the promising high school athlete and future college scholar is forced to end his educational aspirations in order to support a new born infant. Life happens for that HIV infected gay teenage boy who didn't understand how the 'wait till your married' sex education he received in middle school could possibly apply to him. After all, the Alaska Constitution prohibits gay marriage, a constitutional amendment that Palin supported.

Perhaps life would have happened differently for all these individuals, including Palin's daughter, if they'd been given the opportunity to receive a comprehensive sex education instead of a Sunday School lesson.

Sent by David L. Wylie | 1:05 PM ET | 09-03-2008

Seems pretty ethical to me. How many politicians welcome investigation of an ethics complaint?

Sent by Greg | 1:13 PM ET | 09-03-2008

Will she also be asking for a public inquiry into her personal involvement in the dismantling and transferring of a state-run dairy to her friends? Troopergate isn't her only abuse of power. Interested parties should google "Matanuska Maid" and "Matanuska Creamery."

Sent by RG, Tampa, FL | 1:48 PM ET | 09-03-2008

Greg, ethical? She was simply attempting to quash the Legislative investigation in favor of a three person Personnel hearing. No doubt, she felt confident that she might be able to handle three people more easily. There is nothing ethical about this woman.

Sent by judy | 12:26 AM ET | 09-12-2008