This dude better not become president.

"Do condoms help stop AIDS?"

Yes and no.

Yes, they'll reduce the risk of you getting it.

No, they won't cure it if you've already got it.

No, they won't prevent it if used as a water balloon instead of its intended purpose.

Somehow, I don't think McCain has had a lot of indiscriminate sex w/strangers, so maybe he never had to worry about getting AIDS?

The reporter should have used the word "prevent" instead of "stop". Either way, I think the intent of the question was clear enough for McCain to have given a better answer.

As bad and as out-of-touch sounding as McCain's answer was at least he didn't recommend using leeches.

Condoms don't stop aids. They just reduce the risk of getting it.

Brettster808: The reporter should have used the word "prevent" instead of "stop". Either way, I think the intent of the question was clear enough for McCain to have given a better answer.

As bad and as out-of-touch sounding as McCain's answer was at least he didn't recommend using leeches.

Well, stop kind of implies motion forward. Will they "help" stop the spread of AIDS. Ermmm...

McCain is too willing to admit that hasn't researched or even thought about some issues, like this one (or the economy). If he thinks that the president's policy on promoting abstinence is working, he should take a look at the rates of std infection and teenage pregnancy.

Teaching abstinence to teenagers is the stupidest idea ever. You might as well try teaching tigers to be vegans.

BobtheFascist: Condoms don't stop aids. They just reduce the risk of getting it.

The headline was off by quite a bit and misused quotation marks as usual. Here is the question he was asked: "So no contraception, no counseling on contraception. Just abstinence. Do you think contraceptives help stop the spread of HIV?"

Here was his answer: (Long pause) "You've stumped me."

That's still better than his grossly irresponsible comments on immunization and autism. I wouldn't care that much about it but presidents seem to get so much say on AIDS prevention policy and having an idea about how it's spread and how to reduce the spread would be nice.

This man has an illegitimate black baby, do you think he knows anything about birth control or STDs?

King Something No, they won't prevent it if used as a water balloon instead of its intended purpose.

something tells me the type of person who uses a condom to make water balloons has a very small risk of engaging in the type of behaviors that could give you HIV

Scientists and the government says that wearing condoms reduce the risk of AIDS. I

have no idea what the hell that means. Apparently, neither does John McCain.

What precisely is the issue here? Did the Daily Kos run out of things to biatch about?

angryjd: have no idea what the hell that means. Apparently, neither does John McCain.

Then you both need to go back to English reading class.

On the plus side, at least he's willing to admit he's completely clueless about some things, unlike some recent presidents who shall remain nameless.

When my Dad was his age he was alert and playful too.

What frightens me is that he just asked a staff member to tell him what he thought about something. Now, the reporter wasn't asking detailed information about an economic policy he had constructed, this is pretty basic stuff.

Is McCain too old to know what he's supposed to think about things?

I was a bit disturbed that he said this: "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"

He took a position on something and doesn't remember what it was??? It's condoms for crying out loud, not some small issue, not some tiny detail. This man is so out of touch with science it's scary.

Isn't it great to have such an intelligent man who can't even remember his own positions to be running for president? I know I'm relieved that this is the cream of the Republican crop.

Scientists and the government says that wearing condoms reduce the risk of AIDS. I

have no idea what the hell that means.

Fortunately, then, you're probably also too stupid to breed.

He doesn't know because he doesn't have sex. What's the big deal?

ComicBookGuy: Somehow, I don't think McCain has had a lot of indiscriminate sex w/strangers, so maybe he never had to worry about getting AIDS?

WHAT?! Ol' John was a stud in his day. He farked anything that moved. It's just that by the time he started to settle down, AIDS was not an issue.

Back in his day contraception was tying an onion to his belt.

Because he's old. Get it?!

I'm so original.

Look, there are a lot of condom hating Christians out there who believe we should overpopulate the earth until we all starve ourselves into God's arms.

The Christian conservative right perpetuates a series of condom urban legends. One of which is that condoms are porous and actually increase HIV infection rates. They quote an old article written about latex gloves.

He's pandering to the Christian right by refusing to answer that question correctly.

Which makes him an intolerable douche.

I want to see McCain using a condom properly right now!
Um, on second thought ...

ComicBookGuy: Somehow, I don't think McCain has had a lot of indiscriminate sex w/strangers, so maybe he never had to worry about getting AIDS?

since when is that an excuse for being so totally out of touch?
it's been common knowledge for what almost 30 yrs now? And he's voted to reject funding for condoms for Africa several times.
He doesn't even know what he's denying to these people?
How long does it take to ask someone in that 30 yrs and oh so many votes ago?

But the thing that really stuck me wasn't that he didn't know.
it was that he was afraid to see without seeing what the party line on the subject was.

Hobodeluxe: t was that he was afraid to see say without seeing what the party line on the subject was.

ftfm

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."

WOW. This man should not be President with answers like those in bold. If he can't remember what his position on this was, then that's just scary. Even scarier is the implication of "Whatever Bush thinks"

I like McCain, but he's coming across as more and more of a 2nd term Reagan. He's not even under attack right now - the Democrats have given him at least a 3-4 month vacation. I'm concerned about what he will do and say as soon as the general election gauntlet is underway.

It should have been him in 2000. I think it's just too damn late, now.

/still, an Obama vs. McCain election was my dream scenario, and I never thought it could happen - gives me hope
//assuming the lying sack of shiat Hillary goes away, of course

Personally, I can't wait until Hillary finally gets dragged off the stage kicking and screaming so the press can turn its full attention to what a douchebag McCain is.

I think he was confused by the word "condoms." Back in his day, they used to call them "rubbers," which was the style at the time. Now, if you didn't have a rubber, you could tie an onion onto your wackadoo, but white onions weren't available because of the war. So you had to use one of those big yellow ones...

McBush!! Like Bush but senile!!

He deserves a bucket of green slime over his head for that answer.

I don't give a shiat what McCain or Obama thinks about condoms.

Ask those guys about the Constitution, Iraq, Medicare, Social Security, Supreme Court, and other things that matter. Those gotcha questions are another reason why most media types should DIAF.

ComicBookGuy: Somehow, I don't think McCain has had a lot of indiscriminate sex w/strangers, so maybe he never had to worry about getting AIDS?

At least in the areas where I live it's not about indiscriminate sex with strangers - IIRC one in four women around my age (20's) has an STD. Even if you're sleeping with someone you know extremely well, unless you've both been tested recently, use a condom.

Sure, it's not as enjoyable (ugh, far from it) but it's safer, more responsible and if you're a stereotypical American, should something happen you're sitting on a Goldmine of a lawsuit.

barneyfifesbullet: I don't give a shiat what McCain or Obama thinks about condoms.

Ask those guys about the Constitution, Iraq, Medicare, Social Security, Supreme Court, and other things that matter. Those gotcha questions are another reason why most media types should DIAF.

The question was related to whether condoms/info on contraceptives should be used to combat the spread of HIV in Africa which is an enormous foreign policy issue. I wouldn't really call that a "trap" question.

Latex Condoms?

Boy I sure would like to live in one of those.

barneyfifesbullet: Ask those guys about the Constitution, Iraq, Medicare, Social Security, Supreme Court, and other things that matter. Those gotcha questions are another reason why most media types should DIAF.

A gotcha question? You've got to be kidding.. It's a freaken True/False.

King Something: "Do condoms help stop AIDS?"

Yes and no.

Yes, they'll reduce the risk of you getting it.

No, they won't cure it if you've already got it.

No, they won't prevent it if used as a water balloon instead of its intended purpose.

Umm, that's why it's help stop AIDS. So yes, in not no

The right's obession and fixation on abstinance is revolting. They are so damn puritanical, they feel they can enforce their "moral" beliefs on sex on others.

Because of this article, and because of what McCain said, I'm going to go find some chick to have sex with...

/And I am going to scream McCain's name as I'm going at it...
//Ok...maybe not, that would probably freak her out.
///"Ummmm...Who's 'John'"?

So Weaver95, did you get the senator Mr. Coburn's paper?

Shaggy_C: So Weaver95, did you get the senator Mr. Coburn's paper?

heh, my first thought too.

ComicBookGuy: Somehow, I don't think McCain has had a lot of indiscriminate sex w/strangers, so maybe he never had to worry about getting AIDS?

I feel uncomfortable with a president who is unable to gain knowledge in ways other than firsthand experience.

Condom?

Of course not. Only Sailors wear condoms.

NOT IN THE 90s AUSTIN!

Well they should the filthy buggers they go from port to port.

Don't call McCain old. Fox will point out the hypocrisy of how discriminating against old people is bad.

Point out his memory must be bad, or he doesn't look into issues before taking a position, or maybe he's senile.

Don't call him old though.
Black people vs. old people is not a battle to put in Obama's lap.

This thread was a major deal... about a year and 2 weeks ago.

But today some semi-literate Digg user linked to the same New York Times article and it blew up there.

We really have become Digg's bottom-feeders, haven't we.

Think abou tit!

Edsel: On the plus side, at least he's willing to admit he's completely clueless about some things, unlike some recent presidents who shall remain nameless.

Something tells me he only gave this answer because the last time he tried to answer one of these brainbuster science questions, his nuts were roasted for claiming that vaccines are linked to autism.

Empanda: I was a bit disturbed that he said this: "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"

He took a position on something and doesn't remember what it was??? It's condoms for crying out loud, not some small issue, not some tiny detail. This man is so out of touch with science it's scary.

This is what politics is. It has been that way for years. If you think that you're voting for a person based on their actual beliefs then you're probably wrong. Career politicians tailor their lives for public office. Their positions exist solely to get themselves elected. People like Sen. Clinton make it all to obvious when they advocate for both sides.

You are voting for a person that you hope will continue to vote as they have in the past, nothing more. Voting record trumps any policy statements and promises.

Welcome to the program.

deevo: This thread was a major deal... about a year and 2 weeks ago.

But today some semi-literate Digg user linked to the same New York Times article and it blew up there.

We really have become Digg's bottom-feeders, haven't we.

Digg only has shiatty comments. Even if fark became a mirror reflection of Digg, i'd still come here.

/not to say fark doesn't have shiatty comments

m0llusk: I want to see McCain using a condom properly right now!
Um, on second thought ...

thank for that immage

NewportBarGuy: ComicBookGuy: Somehow, I don't think McCain has had a lot of indiscriminate sex w/strangers, so maybe he never had to worry about getting AIDS?

WHAT?! Ol' John was a stud in his day. He farked anything that moved. It's just that by the time he started to settle down, AIDS was not an issue.

Naval aviator in country not getting around? According to those who knew him pre-captivity, he was Mr Mack Daddy. I have no doubt the HM2 on his ships gave him lots and lots of condoms.