Palin on Contraception
Just finished watching the latest in the series of Palin/Couric interviews. You’d think at this point that Palin would just coldcock Couric anytime she saw her coming. But no.
Anyway, there was nonsense about gays (it’s a choice!), vague nonsense about feminism (everything’s equal!) and a fairly good explanation of her position on evolution in schools (she believes in creationism, but science is for science class - literally the best answer I’ve ever heard her give).
Things broke down a little bit during Couric’s question about Palin’s stance on emergency contraception (transcript from CBS):
Couric: Some people have credited the morning-after pill for decreasing the number of abortions. How do you feel about the morning-after pill?
Palin: Well, I am all for contraception. And I am all for preventative measures that are legal and save [sic - safe], and should be taken, but Katie, again, I am one to believe that life starts at the moment of conception. And I would like to see …
Couric: And so you don’t believe in the morning-after pill?
Palin: … I would like to see fewer and fewer abortions in this world. And again, I haven’t spoken with anyone who disagrees with my position on that.
Couric: I’m sorry, I just want to ask you again. Do you not support or do you condone or condemn the morning-after pill.
Palin: Personally, and this isn’t McCain-Palin policy …
Couric: No, that’s OK, I’m just asking you.
Palin: But personally, I would not choose to participate in that kind of contraception.
Okay, so what we have here is Palin not understanding how the morning-after pill (and contraception, more generally) works.
Like many forms of birth control, EC can either block ovulation or prevent fertilization - but it can also prevent implantation. If you believe life begins at conception, odds are that most forms of birth control - including EC - aren’t for you.
Not to mention that she’s ‘all for [contraception]‘, but ‘would not choose to participate’ in EC.
For the last time - EC is just a megahit of birth control.
If you’re pro-contraception, it makes no sense to be anti-EC. If you’re anti-EC, it doesn’t really cotton that you’re pro-contraception.
And finally, contraception is, of course, just about the easiest way to lower abortion rates.
Jezebel has the video embedded and more quotes from the interview.
Sphere: Related Content
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:22 am
RW sexual issues are so cock blockingly hotbutton that everything else that should be examined in a candidate who calls themselves a ‘christian candidate’ is all but abandoned. I would like to see an evangelical candidate grilled on their positions regarding the death penalty, poverty, just war, the messianic nature of American empire and the other works of mercy they are supposed to be compelled to do. If there’s one topic I did not need palin to tell me her position on it’s her thoughts on right wing sexuality. Did you really believe she would have answered differently? Futhermore, when Obama tried to roll out his faith based planks along these lines the media laughed it off as pandering to the RW. Thanks for propagating that line of pathos.