McCain, Viagra, Incompetence

In addition to not learning from his mistakes like repeatedly referring to Czechoslovakia (a country that hasn't existed in 15 years), and repeatedly confusing Sunni and Shia, McCain also has reoccurring problems either knowing his position on contraception (or having any idea how contraceptives work), or just doesn't want to answer the difficult questions, so he plays dumb. Personally, I don't think it is an act, because I know he is pretty clueless, his anti-contraceptive positions are well known (just not to him), and answering "tough" questions wouldn't be nearly as painful as the awkwardness of this:

The question is in reference to comments by McCain's national co-chairwoman Carly Fiornia, who publicly lamented the fact that many health insurance plans cover Viagra but not birth control, a policy McCain supports (talk about off-message).



It's almost painful to watch. But I just can't stop.

And of course this isn't the first time McCain didn't know his own position on contraceptives:

Reporter: "Should U.S. taxpayer money go to places like Africa to fund contraception to prevent AIDS?"

Mr. McCain: "Well I think it’s a combination. The guy I really respect on this is Dr. Coburn. He believes – and I was just reading the thing he wrote– that you should do what you can to encourage abstinence where there is going to be sexual activity. Where that doesn’t succeed, than he thinks that we should employ contraceptives as well. But I agree with him that the first priority is on abstinence. I look to people like Dr. Coburn. I’m not very wise on it."

(Mr. McCain turns to take a question on Iraq, but a moment later looks back to the reporter who asked him about AIDS.)

Mr. McCain: "I haven’t thought about it. Before I give you an answer, let me think about. Let me think about it a little bit because I never got a question about it before. I don’t know if I would use taxpayers’ money for it."

Q: "What about grants for sex education in the United States? Should they include instructions about using contraceptives? Or should it be Bush’s policy, which is just abstinence?"

Mr. McCain: (Long pause) "Ahhh. I think I support the president’s policy."

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."

Q: "But you would agree that condoms do stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Would you say: ‘No, we’re not going to distribute them,’ knowing that?"

Mr. McCain: (Twelve-second pause) "Get me Coburn’s thing, ask Weaver to get me Coburn’s paper that he just gave me in the last couple of days. I’ve never gotten into these issues before."

What is really disconcerting is that McCain votes, and doesn't know what the hell he is voting for. He obviously doesn't vote against contraceptives for any good reason, he admittedly knows nothing about contraceptives, or HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. Does an intern or staffer make these choices for him or what? Is this someone you want to be president? Someone who has no idea what he believes, or what he has done in the past, and lacks basic, common knowledge about something as simple as contraceptives (so say nothing of major issues like foreign policy)?

Watch the video again. He has no idea what to do or say. He froze. It was a question about birth control. Can you imagine what he'd do if we were faced with a national disaster?? Oh wait, we already know that:


Bush and McCain celebrating McCain's birthday while New Orleans and the Gulf coast languished under the destruction of Hurricane Katrina

This man isn't fit to be president, period.