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McCain, Palin Both Oppose Teen Pregnancy Programs

Both support abstinence-only sex ed

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 2, 2008 6:03 AM CDT

(Newser) – Pregnancies in 17-year-olds like Bristol Palin are something John McCain and his running mate, her mother, agree on: neither believes the government should support sex education and pregnancy-prevention programs, other than encouraging abstinence, in schools. "The explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support," Sarah Palin wrote in a 2006 questionnaire for gubernatorial candidates.

McCain has voted against several bills to spend federal funds on teen-pregnancy prevention programs, AP reports. He's also appeared a bit fuzzy on the contraceptive issue. Asked by reporters last fall if he believed the government should provide contraceptives or counseling to prevent unwanted pregnancies, he replied: "You've stumped me."

Bristol Palin, 17, holds her brother Trig during a campaign rally.
Bristol Palin, 17, holds her brother Trig during a campaign rally.   (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Bristol Palin, 17, holds her brother Trig during the campaign rally where John McCain, introduced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate.
Bristol Palin, 17, holds her brother Trig during the campaign rally where John McCain, introduced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate.   (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, sits in her vehicle with an uidentified man after arriving on a chartered plane with Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., for the Republican National Convention at the Minneapolis International Airport in Bloomington, Minn., Sunday, Aug. 31,...
Republican vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, sits in her vehicle with an uidentified man after arriving on a chartered plane with Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential candidate...   (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Bristol Palin, 17, holds her brother Trig during the campaign rally where Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., introduced Bristol and Trig's mom, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, as his vice presidential running mate in Dayton, Ohio, Friday, Aug. 29, 2008. Sarah Palin said Monday, Sept. 1, 2008, that her...
Bristol Palin, 17, holds her brother Trig during the campaign rally where Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., introduced Bristol and Trig's mom, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, as his...   (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. and his vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, during a campaign rally Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, in O'Fallon, Mo.
Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. and his vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, during a campaign rally Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, in O'Fallon, Mo.   (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain and his vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, during a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio, Friday, Aug. 29, 2008.
Republican presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain and his vice presidential running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, during a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio, Friday, Aug. 29, 2008.   (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
John McCain hugs Tiffany Rochte after visiting a charitable organization facility where he helped pack Hurricane Gustav relief packages in Toledo, Ohio, yesterday.
John McCain hugs Tiffany Rochte after visiting a charitable organization facility where he helped pack Hurricane Gustav relief packages in Toledo, Ohio, yesterday.   (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
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John McCain • Alaska • teen pregnancy • Election 2008 • Sarah Palin • "Sarah: How a Hockey Mom Turned Alaska's Political Establishment Upside Down" • Bristol Palin • McCain-Palin

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