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Ear to the Ground

The Family Un-Planner

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Posted on Nov 22, 2006
Eric Keroack
From abstinence.net

Dr. Eric Keroack

Slate calls Bush’s new family planning chief, Dr. Eric Keroack, a “crazy” choice for the job. And reading Slate’s profile, it’s clear that Bush’s selection is akin to making Jack Abramoff head of an ethics reform panel.


Slate:

On Monday, the federal office that oversees the nation’s family-planning program got a new boss who doesn’t believe in birth control. Eric Keroack is a Massachusetts obstetrician-gynecologist who argues that abstinence until marriage is the only healthy choice for women. Until recently, he served as medical director of a pregnancy-counseling organization that runs down contraception and gives out scientifically false health information—for instance, that condoms “offer virtually no protection” against herpes or HPV. Keroack also promotes a wacky piece of pseudoscience: the claim that premarital sex disrupts brain chemistry so as to create a physiological barrier to happy marriage.

Keroack’s appointment, as deputy assistant secretary of population affairs within the Department of Health and Human Services, did not require congressional approval. The Bush administration picked him on its own. And women’s health advocates, editorial pages, and bloggers, along with Democratic members of Congress, are right to think he’s a crazy choice for this job.

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By Caroline Keroack, October 6, 2008 at 11:00 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Just so you all know. My father is an INCREDIBLY honorable man. or at least he was. He took his own life in april. so please have some respect and don’t go plastering my dad about his own past mistakes. you can’t tell me you havent done something stupid in your life. Yeah, my dad did stupid things, and fought his WHOLE LIFE to prevent people from doing the same thing. if you people knew anything at all you would know this is courage. This is perserverence, to go agaisnt all of you, and stand up for what he believes in. I love my dad with all my heart. And if you want to bash him i seriously ask you do consider this. My father wanted to abort me. He was young and afraid. he told me this story. But my mother said no, and they had me, and my dad became my best friend. MY BEST FRIEND. He wanted others to have the chance i did. To meet their parents, to find a best friend. I hope you know you have disrespected an incredibly honorable human being and you ALL ought to be ashamed of yourselves for judging a book by its cover. I’m 16 and i have more respect for people than the whole lot of you.

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By anonymous, May 15, 2007 at 4:13 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

What happened??  Did someone abort one of his children?

And what about oxytocin in men being “used up” by participating in multiple sexual partner activities????  If this a valid argument, why does it only apply to WOMEN??  Or does he adhere to “The Selfish Gene” philosophy as well?

An education has more value than just getting one a job, or money, or a medical degree, or status, or a fancy piece of paper hanging on a person’s wall.  Its about opening one’s mind and learning to think for yourself.  And that is just for starters.  That is just something I had to say a as result of an observation I experienced regarding this person. 

I have said my piece.  Thank you for listening.

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By MD, November 25, 2006 at 1:20 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

I knew this guy when he was in training to be an OB/Gyn doctor.  He was pompous and thought he knew it all back then too.  In addition, I find it very interesting that he stresses abstinence when he was unable to keep his own in his pants.  He not only cheated on his wife, he left her and ran off with one of the nurses.  A classic example of holier than thou types who tell you what to do while they completely violate their own principles.

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By Lawrence Gage, November 25, 2006 at 3:50 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Actually, it’s not premarital sex that changes brain chemistry, but sexual activity in general.  By changing brain chemistry, sex creates emotional bonds to your sexual partner.  Unfortunately, like scotch tape that’s been stuck too many places, people who’ve been sexually active before marriage have more difficulty “sticking” to their eventual spouse.

Such a result is certainly evolutionarily adaptive.  What better way to keep a couple together long enough to raise their children to adulthood?

LG

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By Lukman, November 23, 2006 at 12:06 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Who the boss will not much influence on the success of family planner. The program will be made by a team and I believe personal understanding and knowledge have a stronger factor than his appointment.

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By B, November 22, 2006 at 10:32 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

This country is keeping my stomach at a constant yellow alert. I feel like I could puke at almost any time. How much of a farse is this citizenry going to allow Bush to make us? His every appointment seems to come out of a bad issue of MAD magazine.

B

http://b-political.blogspot.com/

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By withheld, November 22, 2006 at 7:27 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

This is the kind of person who made it necessary for me to have an illegal abortion many years ago. Is he going to try to do the same to my granddaughters in the future? Not if I can help it. Not if all caring Americans can help it. Was he celibate until marriage or does he only advocate celibacy until marriage for women? He needs to join the 21st century and modern medicine before he dictates to American women and tells us what to do with our bodies and our consciences! This IS the land of the free, after all.

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By Socrates, November 22, 2006 at 6:42 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Oh dear, you can even see the “eyes glossed over” look in the photograph. I have no doubt he’s an incredibly nice guy, but he clearly has no business being in such a post.

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