If the right wing was not a bunch of disingenuous idiots, they would be cheering this news. After all, they continually rail against teen sex, labeling the mothers as 'evil abortionists' or 'future welfare queens', depending on whether they keep the pregnancy or not. So, reducing the abortion rate and the rate of overall teen pregnancy by a significant amount should be a good thing.

Of course, since this came as the result of contraception use and related services, this too is a serious evil that must be stamped out. The cognitive dissonance here is mind blowing.

Obligatory:

Teens are now abstinent.

Birth and abortion rates among U.S. teens fell to record lows in 2008

And this is all Republicans will read before coming in here and saying that this is all the result of Bush and the end of education about contraceptives.

It has nothing to do with contraception. Most teens in America have heard about Newt Gingrich's many blow jobs. They've all been rendered incapable of arousal.

James!: It has nothing to do with contraception. Most teens in America have heard about Newt Gingrich's many blow jobs. They've all been rendered incapable of arousal.

or they googled Santorum. Same effect, either way.

Grand_Moff_Joseph: James!: It has nothing to do with contraception. Most teens in America have heard about Newt Gingrich's many blow jobs. They've all been rendered incapable of arousal.

or they googled Santorum. Same effect, either way.

I am MUCH more disgusted by Gingrich than Santorum.

Grand_Moff_Joseph: If the right wing was not a bunch of disingenuous idiots, they would be cheering this news. After all, they continually rail against teen sex, labeling the mothers as 'evil abortionists' or 'future welfare queens', depending on whether they keep the pregnancy or not. So, reducing the abortion rate and the rate of overall teen pregnancy by a significant amount should be a good thing.

Of course, since this came as the result of contraception use and related services, this too is a serious evil that must be stamped out. The cognitive dissonance here is mind blowing.

Well, from a purely "what they want point", they are pretty straight forward: They want all people to only have sex with someone of the opposite sex that they are married to, they must have that sex without contraception because sex is only to bring life, and then obviously you cannot terminate the pregnancy on your own accord.

So, from that perspective, obviously, they are not happy that people are using contraception to come to that outcome... they would rather that outcome be achieved by everyone only living the lifestyle demonstrated above. The fact that having that world is as much a fantasyland as most of the other stuff they believe is besides the point, unless they are somehow suggesting death penalty for anyone who has sex outside of marriage, sex with contraception, or has an abortion.

James!: It has nothing to do with contraception. Most teens in America have heard about Newt Gingrich's many blow jobs. They've all been rendered incapable of arousal.

In related news, sales of Marshmallow Fluff have plummeted by 600%.

Clearly those purity rings were successful!

Contraception is not controversial.

Dusk-You-n-Me: Contraception is not controversial.

Maybe we should be more like Europe. Instead of contraception just have an affair.

Dusk-You-n-Me: Contraception is not controversial.

Tell that to the Catholics, please.

Good thing we have the GOP campaigning on a platform of making it illegal.

cameroncrazy1984: Tell that to the Catholics, please.

It's not even the Catholics. 98% of Catholic women who have had sex in the past have used contraception. 58% of Catholics agree with the statement: "employers should be required to provide their employees with health care plans that cover contraception and birth control at no cost." Link (new window)

It's the radical medieval evangelical backwards bigots who dictate Republican policy that are responsible. They couldn't get a personhood amendment passed in Mississippi, and they still get to call the shots? F*ck them and everyone who takes their opinions seriously.

"One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is I think the dangers of contraception in this country.... Many of the Christian faith have said, well, that's okay, contraception is okay. It's not okay. It's a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be." - Rick Santorum

Dusk-You-n-Me: cameroncrazy1984: Tell that to the Catholics, please.

It's not even the Catholics. 98% of Catholic women who have had sex in the past have used contraception. 58% of Catholics agree with the statement: "employers should be required to provide their employees with health care plans that cover contraception and birth control at no cost." Link (new window)

It's the radical medieval evangelical backwards bigots who dictate Republican policy that are responsible. They couldn't get a personhood amendment passed in Mississippi, and they still get to call the shots? F*ck them and everyone who takes their opinions seriously.

Unfortunately, it is that other 2% of catholic women, the catholic women who don't have sex, and the men who are the loudest about it. Remember... Santorum is a Catholic, not evangelical, even though it usually seems like he is.

JerseyTim: "One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is I think the dangers of contraception in this country.... Many of the Christian faith have said, well, that's okay, contraception is okay. It's not okay. It's a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be." - Rick Santorum

I wonder what he'd do if he learned that his sick daughter's disease is caused by genetic issues with him and his wife. Would they stop producing children? Would they say, "Well, no more sexy time for us!"

Is tubal ligation or vasectomy considered contraception? What it it's done to prevent children who have a high likelihood of having genetic issues?

cameroncrazy1984: Dusk-You-n-Me: Contraception is not controversial.

Tell that to the Catholics, please.

Isn't raping alter boys a form of contraception.

You mean less unplanned pregnancy is directly correlated with a lower abortion rate?!?!?!?!

This is big, no, HUGE news. I mean, we may need to rewrite the biology textbooks, not to mention the statistical ones as well!!!!!!1

Who knew that fewer unplanned pregnancies led to a lower abortion rate? It's not even remotely an obvious correlation.

I am seriously, seriously flabbergasted!!!!!11

dletter: Santorum is a Catholic, not evangelical, even though it usually seems like he is.

With statements from him like the one JerseyTim posted, what's the f*cking difference? Use whatever label you'd like, he's still a radical medieval bigot.

Quasar: James!: It has nothing to do with contraception. Most teens in America have heard about Newt Gingrich's many blow jobs. They've all been rendered incapable of arousal.

In related news, sales of Marshmallow Fluff have plummeted by 600%.

Have you seen what has happened to sales of mocha lattes?

//Hold the foam please...

SAVE US RICK SANTORUM!!!!!

Dusk-You-n-Me: dletter: Santorum is a Catholic, not evangelical, even though it usually seems like he is.

With statements from him like the one JerseyTim posted, what's the f*cking difference? Use whatever label you'd like, he's still a radical medieval bigot.

I'm not disagreeing with that, I am just stating that he is Catholic, not evangelical. Hardline Catholic's basically have the same anti-abortion, anti-contraception, anti-non-procreation sex viewpoints as Evangelicals... the Evangelicals just add in the fun of trying to promote events in the world to get us to what they think needs to happen for the rapture.

Why do certain religious groups oppose birth control/abortion? Short answer, because giving women power to control their reproductive system fosters hope in the future and self reliance... two qualities that some religions see as a threat to their future.

Long answer: There is a common thread among fundamentalist religions of every stripe that goes something along the lines that fear of the divine is what keeps the faithful free of sin. This concept is combined with the idea that God and the Devil are in a constant battle actively taking part in the lives of every single person. When something bad happens to the faithful it is the work of the Devil, when something good happens is a reward from God for being faithful.

This type of fundamentalism is a surrender to the Will of the divine, and acting in a proactive way that in their eyes subverts that Will is a prideful sin. The leaders of these religions though can see that when a population takes control of their own lives through proactive action (like controlling reproduction) they do not need to depend on religion as much to explain to them that their shiatty life is the Will of the divine.

Planning pregnancies through birth control (and in extreme cases abortion) demonstrably improves a culture's quality of life and standard of living. But it also reduces the influence of religion in that same culture. The fight on the conservative side to make birth control services more difficult to obtain is an attempt to retard the social advancement of the nation and our culture's growth away from religious influence.

Contraceptives are evil and dangerous. I know this because I saw a documentary at Jesus Camp.

Speaking as a sensible conservative who is also catholic......

1- I dont care if your employer pays for your contraception. The federal government should not force the issue however. Take your paycheck and buy some condoms for crying out loud.

2- I understand why my church does not want to pay for its employees contraception. I also understand why people dont want their tax dollars paying for religious proselytizing in public schools. Both sides seem reasonable to me.

3- I dont want public money spent on abortion or contraception. Period. Its not a needed public finance issue, contraception is inexpensive and universally available.

4- I also dont want public money spent on any type of private life issue, its your private life, you finance it.

5- Its clear that some form of abortion should remain legal, but it is also clear that many poor people use it as a contraception of last resort after not bothering with primary contraception. That is a tragedy.

6- How you raise your child has more to do with whether or not they get pregnant than their access to contraception. Rich kids with generous allowances and cars and the ability to go to any CVS and buy condoms still get pregnant. I'm related to a girl in that situation right now. Her parents are wishing they had put a stop to her 'goth' phase....

This really doesn't fit the narrative of the GOP. I wonder how it's actually completely inaccurate. i'm sure limbaugh or one of those guys will tell us soon.