McCain Not Sure If Condoms Stop STDs
I know, Senator McCain, that you have a hell of a lot of stuff you have to know about–and not all of it is health related, but come on:
Q: “So no contraception, no counseling on contraception. Just abstinence. Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?”
Mr. McCain: (Long pause) “You’ve stumped me.”
Q: “I mean, I think you’d probably agree it probably does help stop it?”
Mr. McCain: (Laughs) “Are we on the Straight Talk express? I’m not informed enough on it. Let me find out. You know, I’m sure I’ve taken a position on it on the past. I have to find out what my position was. Brian, would you find out what my position is on contraception – I’m sure I’m opposed to government spending on it, I’m sure I support the president’s policies on it.”
pander pander pander incompetence pander.
Yeah, it looks like the point to take home is, “I hate promiscuity just as much as you do.” There is no significant thought behind it.
Is this for real?? I almost can’t believe it. Do you have a reference?
And one wonders why Republicans don’t have a healthcare plan? Clearly, it’s b/c they don’t understand health in the first place!
Yeah. Click on “come on,” it’s a link to the NYT blog/story.
The reality is that condoms do not protect against all HIV — do you want people to play russian roulette with HIV, the odds are that 70-80% percent of the time condoms will be protective against HIV. What about the other 30% — and 30% against multiple encounters? McCain at least was smart enough not to just cave to pressured questions?
Kristy,
Your logic is frightening, and you clearly have no understanding of risk reduction or public health. I don’t know what they’re teaching you at The University of Nebraska (I hope to god you’re a student), but condoms provide an 85% risk reduction in the transmission of HIV.
Read the studies, and you’ll see that the 85% is in people with multiple encounters, and some studies for other STDs were done in sex worker populations.
Besides, that wasn’t the question McCain was asked. He was asked if they *help* stop the spread, not if they’re 100% effective.