LOGO: Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines. A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.Best Political Blog Winner, 2007 Webby Awards, People's Voice and Jury.   Gore Vidal and Mr. Fish - Exclusive Truthdig Gifts for the Holidays
 
December 1, 2008
Log in / Register

 Choose a size
Text Size

Most Read

Afghanistan in Crisis

Report: WMD Terror Attack Likely

Confronting the Terrorist Within

Bush’s 11th-Hour Bid for Secrecy

They’re Here, They’re Queer, and They’re … Well-Organized

Most Comments
Most Emailed

Reports
Afghanistan in Crisis
Our Dear Leader

Ear to the Ground

A/V Booth

Arts & Culture

Digs
Financial Meltdown 101
Vetting Sarah Palin

Truthdig Bazaar
Hands Washing Water

Hands Washing Water

By Chris Abani
$11.70

more items

 
Ear to the Ground

Bush & Co. Pushing Abstinence on Adults

Email this item Email    Print this item Print   
Posted on Oct 31, 2006
Bush and abstinence
From Salon

The federal government is expanding the scope of its abstinence programs to people up to age 29—proving yet again that the federal government takes its marching orders from Christian evangelicals who believe that Jesus is offended by premarital sex.

(h/t: Huff Po)

  • A relevant aside: H.L. Mencken defined puritanism as “the haunting fear that somebody, somewhere, is having a good time.”

  • USA Today:

    The federal government’s “no sex without marriage” message isn’t just for kids anymore.

    Now the government is targeting unmarried adults up to age 29 as part of its abstinence-only programs, which include millions of dollars in federal money that will be available to the states under revised federal grant guidelines for 2007.

    The government says the change is a clarification. But critics say it’s a clear signal of a more directed policy targeting the sexual behavior of adults.

    “They’ve stepped over the line of common sense,” said James Wagoner, president of Advocates for Youth, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that supports sex education. “To be preaching abstinence when 90% of people are having sex is in essence to lose touch with reality. It’s an ideological campaign. It has nothing to do with public health.”

    Link

    TAGS:


    Email Newsletter

    Get truth delivered to your inbox every week.

    Previous item: Not So Straight Talk

    Next item: French Students Turning to Sex Work?

    Jump to Comments

    Advertisement


    Elsewhere: .

    Comments

    Are you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig.

    By Leslie, November 2, 2006 at 12:44 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    This guy is an egomaniac.  I can’t wait until the Bush family fades into the sunset and is never heard from again.  People that need to worry about others sex life are usually frustrated sexually.  You’ve done enough dammage to this country.  Leave our sex lives alone..

    Report this

    By Jana, November 1, 2006 at 11:31 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    This is the same guy who talks about ‘putting food on your families’ and how people and fish can co-exist! Does this guy have ANYTHING between his ears? This man already runs our soldier’s lives, and now he’s trying to run the rest of our lives, too.

    Report this

    By GW=MCHammered, November 1, 2006 at 10:30 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    I’m with the GOP on this one:

    And I blame Clinton too… Hillary Clinton. If she weren’t more machismo than all men rolled into one, Bill would not have been launched toward chunky chicks under the age of twenty-nine. According to a Republican official at NASA, Hillary is a potent cocktail of politico black hole and neoliberal uranus. A hermaphroditic, planetary flip-flopping, sexual crooner that an abstinence-only gay predator could love. That’s why I’m writing in that neocon uber-mensch with all the lover-man moves, Foley for President in 2008. Because we Virilicrats can’t risk having as Chief Executive someone with a bigger political thruster than ours… especially when that chief is a chick!

    Yahweh bless Americana, brutha.

    (the previous message was for entertainment purposes only - no insult intended to any existing or non-existing person, sexual preference, alien race, deity, news agency, body part, or Disney character)

    Report this

    By Rhonda, November 1, 2006 at 10:03 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Is it just me, or does Dear Leader’s resemblence to an Islamo-fascist get stronger every day?

    Report this

    By Lillian, November 1, 2006 at 7:26 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    It was the George & Barbara Bush who should have abstained.

    Report this

    By mickeyjay31, October 31, 2006 at 3:52 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Well, I have to say this comes as no surprise.  Of course, GW doesn’t want people to have sex before marriage.  In fact, rumor has it, he wants to outlaw it all together.  I’m sure wife, Laura, will be his strongest backer.  Who the hell wants a drunk toad, crawling all over you while reciting the 23 Paslm and promising not to tell Donald Rumsfeld.  Ah, come on.  Does this not set a pattern?  He doesn’t want gays having sex because he’s afraid it will begat more gays.  Of course, if Hispanics engage in sex, all those little ones will be scurring under the 700 mile fence he wants to erect.  And speaking of erections, America’s been riding this Right Winged screwing long enough! What we do with our sex life and when we do it is nobody’s business--married, single, straight, or gay.  George, go home and try and get you some before she heads for the hills and you’ll have to do it yourself.

    Report this

    By yours truly, October 31, 2006 at 2:48 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Next he’ll be checking on who’s having wet dreams.  The first thing there’’ll be this questionaire everyone has to fill out.  Then when the answer he gets invaribaly is “Of course I don’t!’), Bush will be forced to decide who among us will be asked to agree to submit to the latest scientific test that determines whether or not one is guilty as charged.  And then knowing that the penalty fits the crime

    That’s the bad news.  The good news is that there is a way out for us, which is that Tuesday next we change the world.  We win, that’ll be the start.  The follow-up?  That’s up to us. .

    Report this

    By Kate, October 31, 2006 at 1:10 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Seriously? I think we need to get into the habit of questioning everything

    Report this

    By Maricia, October 31, 2006 at 11:40 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    What a joke!!! Ain’t never going to happen!!! Maybe the gals should wear BURKAS!! Or perhaps people should cast stones!!

    Report this

    Add Your Comment

    Posts by unregistered readers are moderated. Posts by members
    are published immediately. Why wait? Register today!






    Notify you when others comment on this article?


    Are you a human?
    Retype the word you see here.


    Please read and abide by our comment policy.
    By submitting this comment, you agree to this site's terms and conditions.

    Newsletter

    Get Truthdig in your inbox

    Privacy Policy

     
    Click here to advertise with Truthdig
     

     
    Join the Liberal Blog Advertising Network
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
    Copyright © 2008 Truthdig, L.L.C. All rights reserved.